Interview: Adriana Artiz – Cuba

Name: Adriana Del Carmen Artiz Ataury
City / Country
: Cienfuegos, Cuba
Birth Date: 16/12/1997.

At what age did you start in Badminton and how do you get into this sport?
“When I was 12, I saw children playing, I liked it, I tried badminton and I fell in love with this sport.”

In how many tournaments did you participate and what were your best results?
I have participated in 12 tournaments and my best results were Gold in Mixed Doubles and Silver in Team Event at the Central American and Caribbean Games Barranquilla 2018.


To how many countries have badminton taken you?
“I have visited about 8 countries: Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.”

Which are your short and medium-term objectives as a badminton player?
“I would like to win a Pan-Am medal and participate in the Olympic Games.”

Do you perform other activities in parallel to your career as an athlete such as study or work?
“Yes, I’m studying at University, I’m in second year.”

How sacrificed is it to train and study at the same time?
“It is very sacrificed because sometimes I have exams and I can not study because I’m training and other times I can not train full time because I have to study.”

In addition to sport satisfactions, what others things does badminton give you?
“Badminton has given me discipline, friendships and responsibility. It has given me the opportunity to know other countries and many joys.”

Which are your favorite hobbies?
“I like to get out with friends, dance, watch some movies and go shopping.”

Who was your first coach?
“My first coach was Maydel Reyes.”

What is the hardest thing of being a high-level athlete?
“The most difficult thing is when things do not go as you want, sometimes due to internal factors or other times due to external factors that are more difficult to solve.”

Is Badminton popular in your country?
“Not really.”

What would you say to people who want to practice badminton but see that it is not very popular in their country?
“I would tell them to encourage themselves to practice it. If they like Badminton and it give them happiness they can make badminton better known.”