From Olympic bronze to world indoor gold: the Cuban-born naturalized Italian triple jumper recognized for his commitment to solidarity in sport.

Andy Díaz Hernández now stands among the most prominent figures in Italian athletics. In the summer of 2025, his already remarkable career reached a new high when he was honored with the Fair Play Menarini International Award in the Sport and Solidarity category. The prize recognizes far more than his results on the track, it celebrates the way he approaches competition: with dedication, respect, and generosity.

Born in Havana in 1995 and naturalized Italian in 2023, Díaz rapidly ascended to the top tier of global triple jump. His Italian debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics brought a bronze medal; his momentum only grew from there. In early 2025, he won the European Indoor title in Apeldoorn with a 17.71-meter jump, then claimed gold at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing weeks later, leaping 17.80 meters to set a new national record. These results attest to his consistent growth and technical polish, hallmarks of an athlete who has truly come into his own in Italy.

Widely seen as one of Italy’s strongest medal hopes for Los Angeles 2028, Díaz has set his sights on another podium finish, and on securing his position at the very top of the sport.

When Díaz arrived in Ostia, on the coast near Rome, he found more than a place to train: he found a family. Fabrizio Donato, an Olympic bronze medalist in triple jump at London 2012 and a Menarini Fair Play Ambassador since 2017, welcomed him with open arms. Alongside his wife Patrizia Spuri, Donato guided Díaz through every phase of his path to the top. «He’s my father, my coach», Díaz says, describing Donato as the man who not only revived his competitive career but also helped him navigate the complex bureaucratic process of obtaining Italian citizenship.

That citizenship was granted on February 23, 2023, by the Ministry of the Interior with support from CONI, in recognition of his outstanding athletic achievements. Having previously competed for Cuba at the international level, Díaz could now proudly don the Azzurri jersey, and he remains deeply grateful to all those who helped him begin anew.

Díaz’s journey offers a powerful lesson for young athletes: it is a story of trust, resilience, and transformation, but also of the courage to pursue a new path while honoring the spirit of fair competition. His unassuming nature makes him one of the most genuine embodiments of fair play today: a champion who triumphs without compromising his principles and who invites others to share in his story.