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Luis Delis forged a marvellous record as a competitor, never failing to
win a medal in major international competitions. He was also renown for
often coming from behind to snatch a medal in the latter stages of the
competition. His first major international meet was the 1980 Olympics
Games in Moscow. Delis was lying fifth coming into the last round, but
then unleashed a throw of 66.32m which gained him the bronze medal, only
0.06m behind the second-place getter and 0.32m behind the winner,
Russian Viktor Rashchupkin. A lot of controversy surrounded the judging
of the field events at the Moscow Games, and one example cited was
Delis's last throw. Videotape footage showed that his throw was
mis-marked, certainly robbing him of silver, and possibly gold as well.
At the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki he won the silver medal
behind Czech Imrich Bugar, producing his longest throws on his final two
efforts. At the next World Championships held at Rome in 1987, he was
only lying 7th after the first four rounds. On his next throw he
improved to fourth place, and on his final throw he reached 66.02m, good
enough for the bronze medal, and only 0.20m short of the silver. His
most significant record in international competition came from his
performances in the World Cup, although his level of success was
undoubtedly helped by the selection criteria for participation. His
World Cup record consists of a bronze medal in 1979 at Montreal; a
silver medal in 1981 at Rome (with his last throw just missing gold by
0.12m); a bronze medal in 1985 at Canberra; and finally a silver medal
at Barcelona in 1989.
His marvellous career ended on a sour note when
he was suspended for two years in 1990 following a positive drugs test. (Ron Casey).
After retiring he became a coach, training 1992 Olympic champion Maritza Martén.
ANNUAL PROGRESS.
1993 61.76 Stuttgart 16 AUG
1987 66.06 Roma 03 SEP
1985 70.00 La Habana 31 MAR
1984 69.74 La Habana 19 MAY
1983 71.06 La Habana 21 MAY (personal best)
1982 70.58 Salinas, CA 19 MAY
1980 66.32 Moskva 28 JUL
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Career highlights.
1993 Central American and Caribbean Games - silver medal
1992 Ibero-American Championships - bronze medal
1988 Ibero-American Championships - gold medal
1987 World Championships - bronze medal
1987 Pan American Games - gold medal
1986 Central American and Caribbean Games - gold medal
1985 Central American and Caribbean Championships - gold medal
1985 Central American and Caribbean Championships - silver medal (shot put)
1985 Universiade - gold medal
1983 World Championships - silver medal
1983 Pan American Games - gold medal
1983 Pan American Games - silver medal (shot put)
1983 Universiade - gold medal
1982 Central American and Caribbean Games - gold medal
1982 Central American and Caribbean Games - gold medal (shot put)
1981 Central American and Caribbean Championships - gold medal
1981 Central American and Caribbean Championships - gold medal (shot put)
1980 Summer Olympics - bronze medal
1979 Pan American Games - bronze medal
1978 Central American and Caribbean Games - gold medal
1977 Central American and Caribbean Championships - silver medal