Slugger Orestes Kindelán played in all of the first three official Olympic baseball tournaments and won two gold medals (1992 and 1996) and a silver medal (2000). In 1992, playing left field, he batted .344 and hit two home runs with eight runs batted in (RBIs). As Cuba's designated hitter at the 1996 Games, Kindelán set Olympic records by hitting nine home runs in nine games and batting in 18 runs. One of his home runs went 521 feet (158.8 metres) and was the longest home run in the 30-year history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. His batting average for the 1996 Olympics was .432. In 2000, Kindelán played first base, batted .353 and added two more home runs and eleven runs batted in, including all three of Cuba's RBIs in their semifinal victory over Japan. His career total of 36 RBIs is an Olympic record. As an amateur representing Cuba, Kindelán hit a total of 487 home runs. Then, in 2002, at the age of 38, he began playing for Shidax in Japan's corporate league.

Atlanta, Fulton County Stadium, 21 July 1996, Games of the XXVI Olympiad: Takayuki TAKABAYASHI from Japan congratulates Orestes KINDELAN from Cuba at the end of the Japan-Cuba baseball game (7-8) during the preliminaries. Cuba went to win the gold medal and Japan the silver medal. Credit: Getty Images/Jed Jacobsohn

Sydney, Olympic Park, 26 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Orestes KINDELAN from Cuba in action during the baseball semifinal game against Japan (3-0). Cuba went on to win the silver medal. Credit: Getty Images/Jed Jacobsohn

Sydney, Olympic Park, 22 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: the baseball Cuba team celebrates his victory against Australia (1-0) during the preliminaries. Cuba went on to win the silver medal. Credit: Getty Images/Hamish Blair

Credit: IOC

For further info., please visit http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=66898.