Ronaldo Veitía, Glory of Cuban Judo, Passes Away in Havana

December 5, 2022

The renowned coach and glory of Cuban judo passed away on December 5th in Havana after several weeks in delicate health, according to information provided by the president of INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller.

Ronaldo Veitía, emblematic coach of Cuban judo, passed away this Monday in Havana while admitted to the Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital. His contribution to the greatness of Cuban women's judo assures him a place of honor in the history of our sport.

For several weeks, Veitía was hospitalized in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Spain. After some days of uncertainty, the guide of generations of Cuban judokas managed to overcome death and, after several efforts, returned to Cuba.

INDER responded to the request for help made by the son of the Cuban judo legend, Ronaldo Veitía, for his father's return to Cuba. Now on the island, the Institute of Sports Medicine designed a strategy to provide follow-up and accompaniment to his recovery process.

Despite this, Cuban sports received the unfortunate news of his death on Monday afternoon, at 74 years of age.

Under his command, Cuban women's judo experienced a period of splendor, with several Olympic and world medalists. Veitía managed to establish a true dynasty of success, to the point that his mere presence beside the tatamis impressed the rivals of his "little Cubans."

Just as stated on the back cover of the book Cuban School of Women's Judo: "Cuban judo, in its female version, is the fruit of many predecessors and of the enthusiasm, optimism, confidence, passion, intelligence, will, capacity to learn and apply the most innovative knowledge to which he has access and to fight, always fight, that Professor Ronaldo Veitía possesses."