Throughout the last decade, Frank Chamizo Marquez went from a solid, but unknown World medalist to one of the most popular athletes in the sport of wrestling.
At 55 kg, Chamizo earned World bronze for Cuba. Chamizo’s physical growth, along with the rise of perennial contenders Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez and Alejandro Valdes Tobier, essentially bumped him out of World team contention for Cuba.
Chamizo used his family ties to Italy to secure a transfer. Often, wealthy nations without high-profile athletes of their own will facilitate those transfers and sponsor foreign competitors, although the physical location usually doesn’t actually change.