Yasmani Copello Escobar (born 15 April 1987) is a Cuban-born

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...

hurdler Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle (sometimes known as 'burgles'), landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. Today, ...

who represents Turkey internationally. His personal best for the

400 metres hurdles The 400 metres hurdles is a track and field hurdling event. The event has been on the Olympic athletics programme since 1900 for men and since 1984 for women. On a standard outdoor track, 400 metres is the length of the inside lane, once ...

is 47.81 seconds, set in the final of the

2018 European Athletics Championships The 2018 European Athletics Championships were held in Berlin, Germany, from 6 to 12 August 2018. The championships were part of the first European Championships with other events happening in the United Kingdom. For the second Championships in ...

in Berlin. While representing Cuba he won a silver medal at the

2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships The 2008 in athletics (track and field), 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics were held at the Estadio Pedro Grajales in Cali, Colombia between 4–6 July 2008 in athletics (track and field), 2008. A total of 44 events we ...

and was a gold medallist in the

4×400 metres relay Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...

team at the 2008 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics. He won two silver medals in the hurdles and two relay gold medals at the

ALBA Games The ALBA Games (Spanish: ''Juegos Deportivos del ALBA'') are a multi-sport event organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA). The games are held once every two years. It was originally intended only for athletes of the ALBA mem ...

in 2007 and 2009. He moved to Turkey in 2012 and began representing his adopted country in 2014.

Career

;In Cuba He began competing at national level in Cuba as a teenager in 2006. That year he placed fourth in the

at the Cuban Athletics Championships and came fifth at the Olimpiada Cubana. He began 2007 with a series of personal bests. He improved in the 400 metres flat to record 47.48 seconds at the Rafael Fortun National Meeting and a 400 m hurdles run of 50.43 seconds in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

.Yasmani Copelloescobar
Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2014-06-27. In his first international appearance he came runner-up to fellow Cuban Omar Cisneros to take silver at the 2007 ALBA Games in a new best of 49.99 seconds. He teamed up with Cisneros to help Cuba to the gold medals in the

at the event. Copello won another title with the Cuban relay team at the 2008 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics. He ran individually at the

, securing the silver 400 m hurdles medal behind Jamaica's

Isa Phillips Isa Phillips (born 22 April 1984) is a Jamaican hurdling athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdles. The Kingston native made his international debut at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics, finishing sixth in the 400 ...

as well as running in the heats of the

110 metres hurdles The 110 metres hurdles, or 110-metre hurdles, is a hurdling track and field event for men. It is included in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympic Games. The female counterpart is the 100 metres hurdles. As part of a racing event, ten hu ...

. He was provisionally named in the relay squad for Cuba at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but ultimately did not compete. At the 2009 ALBA Games he repeated his finishes of two years earlier, coming second to Cisneros before sharing in a relay victory. His return at the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics was less successful however, as he finished out of the medals in fifth place – the medallists, Javier Culson, Félix Sánchez and Jehue Gordon were all finalists at the

2009 World Championships in Athletics The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics () were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg ...

. That year brought new heights in performance, however, as in February in Havana he ran 21.44 seconds for the

200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...

, 46.77 seconds for the 400 m, and 49.56 seconds for the 400 m hurdles. Copello competing sparingly in 2010, with highlights being a second place at Cuba's Barrientos Memorial and a win at the 2010 Olimpiada Cubana. He won the 2011 Copa Cuba meet, but that proved to be his last win in his home nation. He moved to Turkey in 2012 and began competing for Fenerbahçe Athletics, winning at the national club championships. At the 2013 Meeting Val de Reuil in France, he achieved a personal best and Cuban record of 49.54 seconds for the uncommonly held indoor 400 m hurdles. This made his indoor best faster than his outdoor one – a highly unusual feat for a 400 m hurdler. ;In Turkey He opted for Turkish nationality in October 2013, and on 30 April 2014, he became eligible to represent Turkey internationally.Transfers of allegiance
IAAF (2014-05-27). Retrieved on 2014-06-27.

Personal bests

– 21.44 seconds (2009) * 400 metres – 46.77 seconds (2009) *

– 14.35 seconds (2008) *

(outdoor) – 47.81 seconds (2018) *400 metres hurdles (indoor) – 49.54 seconds (2013)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Copello, Yasmani Living people 1987 births Cuban male hurdlers Cuban male sprinters Cuban emigrants Immigrants to Turkey Cuban expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Naturalized citizens of Turkey Turkish male hurdlers Turkish male sprinters World Athletics Championships athletes for Turkey European champions for Turkey European Championships (multi-sport event) silver medalists European Athletics Championships winners Fenerbahçe athletes Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for Turkey Olympic bronze medalists for Turkey Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics World Athletics Championships medalists Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games silver medalists for Turkey Mediterranean Games medalists in athletics Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic male hurdlers Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Turkey Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games gold medalists in athletics Place of birth missing (living people) Islamic Solidarity Games silver medalists for Turkey