Idalys Ortiz says goodbye without medals from

May 25, 2024

Cuban judo legend Idalys Ortiz said farewell to her last World Championship with her head held high despite failing to reach the podium in her category, +78 kilos individual.

Her loss to Turkish competitor Kayra Ozdemir, although painful, does not tarnish a career full of achievements and unforgettable moments. And, furthermore, she still has on the horizon her last challenge before the final farewell: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Since Ortiz announced that she would retire from professional sports after the Paris Games, all the competitions in which she participates have a certain flavor of farewell. It happened last year at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, where she said goodbye to that continental competition in the best possible way: with two gold medals, one in +78 kilos individual and another in mixed team events alongside the rest of Cuban judokas. And it happened now, at the Abu Dhabi World Championship.

The trajectory of Idalys Ortiz is a testament to perseverance, dedication, and talent.

From her first steps in judo to becoming one of Cuba's most recognized athletes, Ortiz has demonstrated exceptional skill and strength. She has been a four-time Olympic medalist (gold in London 2012, silver in Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016, and bronze in Beijing 2008), an eight-time World Championship medalist (world champion in 2013 and 2014), an 11-time Pan American champion, and gold medalist in the last four Pan American Games.

However, Idalys Ortiz's legacy transcends medals and titles. It is a story of a woman who, with her courage and effort, has taken Cuban judo to its highest level and has inspired countless people to follow their dreams.

In an interview with Olympics.com after her last final at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, the Cuban explained how she faces her last year as a professional judoka and how she would like to be remembered: "I believe that with five Olympic Games it is enough for an athlete to make the decision to step away from at least active sports. But I will always be linked to it."

And regarding the legacy she would like to leave after her retirement, she noted: "That all my teammates and fellow competitors in our sport continue giving their best so we can continue with these beautiful stories that move humanity so much, that fill us so much, that we work so hard to do this beautiful sport. May it be the legacy we have built with our own hands, and may they do it all for love, because that is truly what is worthwhile."