Havana Cuba.
Idalys Ortiz, The Cuban judo legend, who will compete in the Santiago de Chile Games for his fourth continental crown, had to refine his technique while fighting with men, as he never found rivals of his level on the island.
At 34, Ortiz has a track record that impressive:
- Four Olympic medals (1-2-1)
- Eight World Cups (2-2-4)
- And three consecutive crowns at the Games Pan-American (Guadalajara-2011, Toronto-2015 and Lima-2019).
In what will be his farewell to these continental competitions – he has already announced his retirement after the Paris 2024 Games -, Ortiz I will go to the Chilean tatami for his fourth consecutive title, a sporting feat achieved only by his idol and compatriot Driulis González, now retired.
However, this mass of strength and refined technique admit that this will not be the case “easy”. In Chile, she could face the Brazilian Beatriz Souza, nine years her junior and her tormentor for two years.
“It won’t be easy, but the challenges are really what magnify human beings”, » declares this woman of 1.73 m and 115 kg, with an easy smile and tender gestures.
Ortiz was crowned this year at the Pan American Championships of Guayaquil and the Santo Domingo Open, and won a silver medal at the Pan American and Oceania Championships in Calgary.
In this Canadian city she fell in the final and for the third time in her career against Souza, who had already left her without a medal at the 2022 World Cup.
- The two have met eight times, with a record of five victories for the Cuban.
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