Ismael Borrero Molina at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Borrero Molina’s inspiring journey from Olympic Champion to U.S. Greco-Roman Coach
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by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling
Earlier this year, the U.S. Greco-Roman program gained a leadership boost with the addition of Ismael Borrero Molina to its coaching staff. A past Olympic gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Games, Borrero Molina brings a wealth of experience from his time with Cuba's national team. He is also a two-time Olympian (2016, 2020) and a two-time World champion (2015, 2019).
Borrero Molina’s transition from competing to coaching was facilitated by Alan Vera, who introduced him to Herb House, the National Greco-Roman Head Coach for Team USA. After wrestling in an event in Denver, House asked Borrero Molina about his interest in coaching or competing. Recognizing the lengthy process to transfer eligibility to compete for the U.S., Borrero Molina saw coaching as a more viable path.
“It’s been overall amazing since he’s been here. He’s brought a lot of energy into the room. He’s helped us a lot with technique and showed us a different approach to how he became an Olympic champion,” said House. “He’s a great asset to our program.”
As a coach, Borrero Molina’s favorite aspect is the support he receives from the team. He believes the athletes have great potential but have lacked the structure of a championship program, especially in Greco-Roman wrestling. In Cuba, athletes are constantly surrounded by elite coaching, a structure he aims to replicate in the U.S.
Some key lessons he instills in his athletes include mental preparation. “Things aren’t going to be easy just because you train or do everything right. You’re not going to win just because you want to. They have to keep moving forward, whether they have good coaches or even if the officials are making bad calls against them. Whatever happens, they must keep moving forward,” Borrero Molina explained.
Justin Ruiz, the National Greco-Roman Program Director for Team USA, has played an integral role in Borrero’s acclimation to the United States.
“I think it’s great having him here; he’s a great coach. In Cuba, their system is focused on sports. They study everything related to sports, including wrestling, so in addition to experience, there’s a lot of classroom theory behind it. Coming from a country with a rich Greco-Roman history, it’s been great having him share that.”
Ruiz has even re-evaluated his approach to coaching after seeing Borrero Molina’s approach in the room.
Borrero Molina’s journey into wrestling didn’t begin out of passion. Initially, he had no interest in the sport and had never seen it before. In Cuba, coaches recruited kids from schools, and Borrero Molina started weight training just to avoid going home, as after-school training was mandatory.
His absences from weight training caught the attention of wrestling coaches, who suggested he try wrestling, hoping he would take more interest in it.
Early on, he enjoyed the practice sessions, and grew to appreciate the sport as he found more success on the mat. Borrero Molina continued to excel and progressed through the ranks to the Senior level. “There was never a moment when I said, ‘this is what I want to do,’ I just kept winning, so I kept moving up,” Borrero Molina explains.
He credits much of his success to Cuba’s youth coaches, who helped develop his skills and conditioning more than the Senior level coaches. Their mentorship and encouragement were pivotal during his early development.
In 2012, Borrero Molina made his debut at the Senior level, winning gold at the Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His success continued, with gold at the Cerro Pelado International and the Pan American Championships in 2013. He finished 11th at his first Senior World Championships in 2013, hinting at a promising future.
His success carried into 2014, winning gold again at the Pan American Championships. Later that year, he narrowly missed a medal, finishing fifth at the Senior World Championships.
A pivotal moment in his career came in September 2015, when he won his first World title at the Senior World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Earlier that year, at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, he lost a close match to Spenser Mango of the United States in the first round, eliminating him from the tournament.
Reflecting on the most pivotal moment of his career, Borrero Molina cited his loss to Mango in 2015. “That was really hard for me," he explained. "I felt like I let everyone down when I lost. In Cuba, everything is political, and there was a lot of focus on me losing to an American.”
As fate would have it, Borrero Molina got the chance to face Mango again in the first round of the World Championships, and grinded out a 3-3 win. “When I saw him in the bracket, I knew I was going to win. That was my opportunity, and I wasn’t going to have another,” Borrero Molina added.
Winning the 2015 World Championship was a major milestone but brought incredible pressure with the 2016 Rio Olympics approaching. His victory made him a target, with everyone aware of who he was and how he wrestled.
In Rio, Borrero Molina dominated, winning four consecutive matches to claim the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 18-4, including a decisive win over Lumin Wang of China in the quarterfinals, a 4-1 victory against Elmurat Tasmuradov of Uzbekistan in the semifinals, and a technical fall against Shinobu Ota of Japan in the final, winning 8-0.
Although winning Olympic gold brought a sense of accomplishment, Borrero Molina quickly found himself asking what comes next. His relentless drive overshadowed the joy of becoming an Olympic champion.
Ismael Borrero Molina wins gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games#
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In 2018, Borrero Molina faced a challenging period, placing 16th at the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. However, he rebounded in 2019, capturing his second World title at the Senior World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The experience felt similar to 2015, as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics loomed on the horizon.
Competing at 67 kg in Tokyo, Borrero Molina’s Olympic run ended abruptly after a 10-0 loss to Ramaz Zoidze of Georgia in the first round. When Zoidze failed to advance to the finals, Borrero Molina was eliminated from medal contention.
Throughout his career, spanning from 2012 to 2021, Borrero Molina competed in 24 international tournaments, winning gold in 17 of them. From 2014 to 2018, he consistently placed in the top 10 at every event.
After competing in the Tokyo Olympics, Borrero Molina faced a life-altering decision. The control the Cuban government held over his life and potential threats to his family forced him to seek a new path. In May of 2022, he left Cuba and initially arrived in Mexico. When pressure from the Mexican government grew, and the threat of being sent back to Cuba became a possibility, he knew he could no longer stay.
Eventually, he made his way to the United States. Initially, Borrero Molina lived in Wisconsin for six months, where he began coaching at a local club before moving to Colorado.
Despite the challenges of adjusting to life in a new country, and Spanish being Borrero Molina’s first language, it hasn’t been a significant barrier to his coaching. “Some athletes prefer verbal explanations, but there’s more to it than just listening,” Ruiz said. “You see someone doing it, and you feel how it’s supposed to be done. When we speak in Spanish, it’s easier for him to express himself.”
Looking ahead, Borrero Molina’s ultimate goal is to sit in his athlete’s corners and watch them win medals, knowing he played a part in their success. His journey from an Olympic champion for Cuba to a coach for the United States is an attestation to his strength and dedication to the sport of wrestling.
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This feature is part of USA Wrestling’s ongoing content series to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Stay tuned to USA Wrestling’s website and social media platforms for continued coverage of Hispanic Heritage Month as we spotlight the contributions to wrestling made by this unique community of individuals.
