Guillermo Martínez (javelin thrower)
A Cuban javelin thrower who launched himself onto the global stage with a monumental throw at the 2009 World Championships.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Cuban javelin thrower·Birthday: June 28·Millennials
Biography
Guillermo Martínez emerged from Cuba's rich tradition in field events to become a force in the javelin. His career was defined by a single, explosive moment in Berlin in 2009, where he unleashed a personal best throw that not only won him a world championship silver medal but also announced his arrival among the event's elite. Competing in an era dominated by European giants, Martínez carried the flag for Latin American throwing, consistently reaching finals at major championships including the Olympics. His powerful, technically sound approach made him a consistent threat on the international circuit for nearly a decade, inspiring a new generation of athletes in the Caribbean and Central America to take up the spear.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Guillermo was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Guillermo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Guillermo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the silver medal in the javelin throw at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.
- Represented Cuba at multiple Olympic Games, including Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
- Achieved a personal best throw of 87.20 meters, one of the longest in Cuban history.
- Earned a gold medal at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena.
Did You Know?
His silver medal at the 2009 World Championships was Cuba's first ever world championship medal in the men's javelin.
He initially trained as a baseball player before switching to track and field.
He studied physical education at the University of Matanzas in Cuba.
“The javelin is an extension of the will; you either commit or you fail.”
