Idalys wins gold for the third time at the Central American Games

June 29, 2023

In the division of over 78 kilograms, there has been no rival in the area in recent years who can surpass the multi-medal Olympic and world champion in this multisport event, one of the flag bearers of the delegation from the largest of the Antilles participating in the competition.

Already near the end of my career I am closing with a flourish, she asserted about her third title in the Central American and Caribbean Games; and when pressed on the question of whether these would be her last CAC Games, she preferred to say "they could be," accompanied by a smile.

The taboo is in the mind; as human beings we go as far as we propose to ourselves, she remarked immediately after winning the final of her division against Colombia's Brigitte Carabali with Ippon by immobilization.

The team leader assured that although they are not entirely satisfied, "because there are some medals that have gotten away from us," Cuban judo has performed well in San Salvador.

Now to go for the team crown, remarked the 33-year-old from Artemisa.

For all of us the Central American and Caribbean Games are a very important event because of the repercussion they have for the region— she added—; and going forward I will continue preparing myself.

We will be soon at the Pan American Open in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a competition that serves as training for the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile, where I will also be competing for another gold medal, she insisted.

After three days of competitions, judo has accumulated eight titles, three silver medals and two bronze; in addition to a fifth place, results with which at the close of the discipline it will lead the medal count by countries by a wide margin.

Five years ago, at the 2018 Barranquilla edition, the Island's harvest was eight golds, three silvers and six bronzes.