1992 – Roberto Balado (Cuba)

The gifted Cuban was a two-time World amateur champion when he entered the ’92 Games in Barcelona, and won the World championships again a year later.

He beat Nigeria’s Richard Igbineghu in the final to claim gold, and was awared the Val Barker tropy for best boxer of the tournament. As a Cuban, the option of turning professional would only have been possible had he defected but in his native country he was a hero.

Tragically, in 1994 aged just 25, Balado died. He was driving and grew impatient at a train crossing when he decided to pass an slow-moving school bus, moving slightly onto the tracks. A train struck his car, though Balado was able to return home. He later went to hospital but could not recover from his injuries.

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