Yasmani Acosta

Acosta started wrestling in Cuba when he was 10 years old. While representing Cuba, he won multiple medals in South American competitions such as the Pan American Championships and the Cerro Pelado International.^[7] After competing at the 2015 Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile, Acosta never returned to Cuba, stating that, since three–time Olympic Champion Mijaín López was always the wrestler who represented Cuba at the biggest tournaments in his weight class, he would have way more opportunities if he represented Chile. However, Acosta was not able to represent Chile, as he did not have Cuba's permission.^[8] As a result, Acosta worked as a security guard for two years without training of any kind while trying to get permission. When he got consent in 2017, he started competing internationally again, residing in the Chilean Olympic Center.^[9]

He quickly saw results during his first year officially competing for Chile, earning a silver medal from the Pan American Championships and a bronze medal from the World Championships.^[9] In 2018, Acosta was granted Chilean citizenship.^[8] During the year, he went on to win a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships, a gold medal at the South American Games, and placed eighth at the World Championships. In 2019 he earned a bronze at the Pan American Championships and competed at multiple Grand Prix around Europe. In 2020, he won the Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament and earned a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[10] He competed in the men's 130 kg event.^[11]

He won one of the bronze medals in his event at the 2022 Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Acapulco, Mexico.^[12] He won the gold medal in his event at the 2022 Bolivarian Games held in Valledupar, Colombia.^[13] He competed in the 130 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.^[14] He won the gold medal in his event at the 2022 South American Games held in Asunción, Paraguay.^[15]

He won the gold medal in his event at the 2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Acapulco, Mexico.^[16] A few days later, at the Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Acapulco, Mexico, he earned a quota place for Chile for the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.^[17][18]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yasmani Acosta.

• Yasmani Acosta Fernandez at the International Wrestling Database (alternate link)
• Yasmani Acosta Fernandez at United World Wrestling
• Yasmani Acosta Fernandez at Olympics.com
• Yasmani Acosta at Olympedia
• Yasmani Acosta at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games (archived)