San Salvador 2023: Idalis, three times Idalis

Stellar Cuban judoka Idalis Ortiz did it again. And she did so with her usual calmness while fighting, as the gold medal fight seemed just like a protocol and this way, she earned her third gold medal in Central-American and Caribbean Games.

There is no opponent in the 78+ kg division in the area who can beat the many times World and Olympic medalist, one of the flag bearers of the Cuban delegation.

I am closing with a flourish my career, she pointed out on her third gold medal in this sort of event. And she responded with a “maybe” to the question of whether this could be her last Central-American and Caribbean Games.

The mindset is very important. We, as human beings, reach the goal we propose, she highlighted after beating in the final combat Colombian Brigitte Carabali.

She is the leader of a team that is not totally happy since “there are some medals that we thought we could win, and we could not.” Nonetheless, Cuban judo has performed pretty well in San Salvador.

She will now compete in the team event, noted the Artemisa native who turned 33 years old.

The Central-American and Caribbean Games are very important for all of us and this multi-sport event has big repercussion in the area —she added. I will continue training.

We will compete in the Pan American Open in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This is an event that will prepare us for the upcoming Pan American Games to be held in Santiago de Chile, where she will quest for the gold medal as well.

After three days of competition, the Cuban judo has earned 8 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals, in addition to a fifth place, which guarantee the delegation the first place among countries in the final standing of this sport discipline.

In Barranquilla 2018, Cuba earned (8-3-6).

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff