Ana Fidelia Quirot
Burned over a third of her body in a household fire, she came back to win two world titles
Ana Fidelia Quirot was born in Palma Soriano in eastern Cuba and named after Fidel Castro. She was a powerful 400 and 800 metres runner who was almost unbeatable in 1989, and she won bronze in the 800 metres at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
In January 1993, seven months pregnant, she was doing housework in Havana when a kerosene stove flared and set her clothes alight. She suffered burns over more than a third of her body, mostly on her arms, neck and chest. Her daughter was delivered early and lived only a few days. Quirot spent months in hospital and had a long series of skin grafts, and the doctors treating her said she would be lucky to lead an ordinary life, let alone run.
She was back on the track before the year was out, wearing a long-sleeved top to cover the scars, and won silver in the 800 metres at the Central American and Caribbean Games that November. In 1995 she won the world championship in Gothenburg. At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 she took silver behind Svetlana Masterkova, and in 1997 she won the world title again in Athens.
She retired the following year and has since worked in sports administration and politics in Cuba.