| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | |
| 5 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2004 | Athens, GRE | |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2010 | St. Petersburg, RUS | |
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2009 | Herning, DEN | |
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2007 | Baku, AZE | |
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2005 | Budapest, HUN | |
| 2 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2011 | Istanbul, TUR | |
| 2 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2006 | Guangzhou, CHN | |
| Pan American Games | ||||
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2011 | Guadalajara, MEX | |
| Pan American Championships | ||||
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2012 | Colorado Springs, CO, USA | |
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2009 | Maracaibo, VEN | |
| World Cup | ||||
| 1 | Greco-Roman 120 kg | 2009 | Clermont-Ferrand, FRA | |
Nickname
'The Kid', as a reference to his big posture, and 'The Terrible', for his fierce nature on the mat. (Athlete, 31 Jul 2008; cubaplus.ca, 10 Oct 2011)
Hobbies
Listening to music, spending time with his family. (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Occupation
Athlete, Teacher
Education
Physical Education
Family
Wife Maylin Gonzalez
Language(s) spoken
English, Spanish
Club name
Cerro Pelado, Havana, CUB
Coach
Pedro Val from 2000 (cmhw.cu, 17 Aug 2011)
Handedness
Right (Athlete, 31 Jul 2008)
Other sports
His brother Michel won a boxing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Injuries
He had surgery on an elbow injury in early 2010. (lapatriaenlinea.com, 13 Feb 2010)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
He started wrestling around the age of 10. "My brothers, Misael and Michel, fell in love with boxing and Michel won a bronze medal in Athens in 2004. But I didn't fancy the ring and from the age of 10 I trained in wrestling at a small school in my native province of Pinar del Rio. Then I went to the nearest School for Initiation into Sport [EIDE] and later the national headquarters for Athletic Perfection [ESPA] in the youth category." (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Reason for taking up this sport
He always wanted to practise a powerful sport, and his naturally large size made him ideal for wrestling. (Athlete, 31 Jul 2008)
Ambitions
To defend his 2008 Olympic title in London in 2012. (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Talking about his fondest Olympic memories: "I'll never forget my semi-final bout in Beijing against an Armenian wrestler. Everyone thought that I was losing, but in the end I won and was able to go on to fight for the gold medal. I also remember the final like it was yesterday." (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Hero
Cuban wrestlers Hector Milian and Filiberto Azcuy, and Cuban baseballers Omar Linares and Victor Mesa. (olympic.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Most influential person in career
His mother. (Athlete, 31 Jul 2008)
Awards
He was named flag bearer for Cuba at the Opening Ceremony of the 2011 Pan American Games. (cubasi.cu, 11 Oct 2011)
He was voted Cuba's Athlete of the Year in 2010 by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation [INDER] and sports journalists. (cubadebate.cu, 24 Dec 2010)
In 2009 he became the first Cuban wrestler to win three world championships [2005, 2007]. He won a fourth world championship in 2010, the most won by any Cuban wrestler. (cubadebate.cu, 07 Sep 2010)
He was one of three athletes named Athlete of the Year in Cuba in 2009 by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation [INDER] and sports journalists. (cubadebate.cu, 22 Jan 2010)
Named Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year for 2007 by Cuba's National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation [INDER]. (Cuba News Agency, 24 Dec 2007)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008, Athens 2004
