Yurisleydis Lupetey Cobas

Cuban judoka in the 57-kilogram category. She was world champion in Munich 2001 (Cuba's only title in that tournament) and won an Olympic bronze medal in Athens 2004. She also won world bronze in Osaka 2003, and gold medals at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo that same year and in Guadalajara 2011.

Her record shows six gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in nine Pan American championships between 2001 and 2012, the year she retired from active competition after attending her third Olympic Games in London.

Born in the Rolo Monterrey neighborhood of the city of Moa, in the province of Holguín. She began her studies at Abel Santamaría school and was later transferred to the Revolución de Octubre primary school.

From an early age she felt drawn to practicing judo, despite having practiced karate for a brief time. Her first steps in judo were satisfactory, with remarkable results.

At age 12 she was recruited for the EIDE in Holguín and in 1996 she was promoted to the National ESPA in Havana.

In 1998 she began participating in international events, competing in two world championships, the cadet championship (for those under 17 years old) and the junior championship (under 19). In the first she won a gold medal and in the junior championship held in Moscow she placed third.

She then moved to the senior national pre-selection, and under coach Ronaldo Veitía's direction, she attended the Junior World Championship in Tunisia, where she won the gold medal and was elected the best judoka of the tournament.

The year 2001 was of great importance in her athletic career. She had a good tour of Europe, where she won several Class A tournaments and competed against most of the best athletes in her division. The gold medal at the University World Games held in Beijing ended that year.

In 2002 she won nine major events, including Villa de París, the World Masters in Germany, and the Opens in Hungary, Tunisia, Portugal and Holland. She was undefeated in the team world championship where they finished second.

At the World Championship in Munich, Germany, she won the gold medal. Among her most important victories was the semifinal triumph over one of the favorites for the crown, the Olympic champion from Sydney, Spain's Isabel Fernández, and her success in the final against Dutch competitor Deborah Gravenstijn. For the quality of her matches and the technique displayed, Lupetey was selected as the most outstanding judoka of the competition.

From 2002 onwards she was named captain of the fencing team, another challenge, because she had joined the national team while very young and was always highly regarded by the most decorated teammates. That is, it was simply a matter of continuing to lead by example among girls like her, but with different characteristics, though they always supported her. There were three generations as captain. First with the accomplished Driulis, Legna, Dayma, Amarilis, among others. Then those who arrived together, like Yurisel Laborde, Anaisis Hernández. Finally Yanet Bermoy, Yalennis Castillo and Idalys Ortiz, to mention just a few, who are undoubtedly part of the history of the Cuban judo school. That honors her greatly.

Injuries were another obstacle. She underwent eight surgeries on her elbows and knees, in addition to other ailments typical of this sport, but she always came back. Many other times she competed with injuries. For example, in 2003 she went to the Pan Americans, the Daegu Universiade (bronze) and the world championship with a broken rib and a leg tendon problem.

In 2007, her greatest triumph was retaining the crown at the Pan American Sports Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Throughout her career she experienced great joys and also sorrows. The athlete believes that overall the good moments prevailed, because reaching the world and Olympic podiums demanded much sacrifice and effort, and especially having great coaches like Veitía and others who always provided her with comprehensive training.

Some poor arbitral decisions and injuries greatly influenced the final balance of her career's achievements.

On July 30, 2012 in the British capital she closed her athletic career by losing in the round of 16 against Russian Irina Zabludina. Since 1998 she accumulated 209 international matches, with 157 victories, and a total of 44 titles in foreign competitions.

She was always an athlete very dedicated to training, even when she had injuries she devoted herself to strengthening exercises for rapid recovery. She was a very strong fighter with a very broad technical-tactical arsenal.

In early 2016 she received the official farewell tribute in her province of Holguín, where a renovated atheneum "Fernando de Dios" welcomed the applause of her audience, family members and coach Ronaldo Veitía, awakening feelings that should also have reached her unborn son.

Results

1997: Gold at the Olympic Festival, in Mexico City (61 kilograms). Bronze at the International Golden Judoka Tournament.

1998: Gold at the I Junior World Games (Cadets) in Saint Petersburg, Russia and at the National Adult Championship. Bronze at the International Golden Judoka Tournament (held annually in Cuba) and at the Junior World Championship in Cali, Colombia. Fifth in tournaments in Australia and Italy and Seventh in Holland.

1999: Gold at the Budapest Cup, Hungary, Villa Tunissins, in Tunisia and at the Junior National Championship. Silver in Italy. Bronze in Australia and Germany.

2000: Gold at Cita Roma, Italy, Junior Tournament in France, National Adult and Junior Championships, Junior World Championship in Nabout, Tunisia and Team Tournament in France. Silver in Tunisia. Seventh at the Budapest Cup, Hungary.

2001: Gold at the World Championship, Munich, Germany, Universities Beijing, China, Budapest Cup, Hungary, Citta Roma, Italy, Pan American Tournament, Fukuoka Cup, Japan, National Championship and Pan American Team Tournament. Silver at the World Masters, Germany. Bronze at Villa de Paris, in France and Holland.

2002: Gold at Villa Paris, France, National Championship in Santiago de Cuba, World Masters in Germany, Intervilla in Valdimero, Spain, Villa de Tunis and Pan American Tournament in the Dominican Republic. Silver at the World Team Cup in Basel, Switzerland. Bronze Citta Roma in Italy and Tournament in Hungary.

2003: Gold at the International Judo Tournament in Japan. Gold at the Pan American Games.

2004: Bronze at the Olympics in Athens.

2005: Bronze at the International Judo Cup. Gold International Championship.

2009: Selected among the 10 best athletes in Cuba.

2010: Gold Pan American Games in Salvador. 5th at the World Cup in Brazil.