Yamila Figueroa Ruiz

Yamila Figueroa Ruiz (Camagüey, June 11, 1962 – Santa Clara, May 2, 2026) was a distinguished Cuban fencer, widely regarded as one of the finest female épée fencers in Latin American history and a recognized "Glory of Cuban Sport." She competed in both foil and épée, becoming the first captain of Cuba's national women's épée team in 1987.

Discovered by coach Oscar Santana, she trained at the "Cerro Pelado" Sports Initiation School in Camagüey. Her career was defined by success at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, and international tournaments. Among her most significant achievements were team gold at the Central American Championship in Curaçao (1980), individual and team gold in Puerto Rico (1983), and gold in both individual and team events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic (1986). At the Pan American Games in Indianapolis (1987), she won silver in both disciplines.

In 1988, at the height of her career, she won two World Cups in France and the Netherlands and took silver at the Noyon Épée Tournament in France, competing against the world's eight best teams. In 1989 and 1990, she dominated the Espadas Doradas international tournament, delivering her most celebrated performance with an 8-3 victory over reigning world champion Brigitte Benon of France. In 1991 she won silver at the Pan American Games in Havana and was a finalist at the 1992 Masters.

After retiring from competition in 1992, she devoted herself to training the next generation of fencers in Camagüey and Villa Clara, where she coached at the EIDE "Héctor Ruiz" sports school. Among her most notable students is Zuleydis Ortiz, a world championship silver medalist in épée. Yamila Figueroa Ruiz passed away on May 2, 2026, in Santa Clara, at the age of 63, from a respiratory arrest.