Cuban judoka Idalys Ortiz wins her fourth Pan American crown

November 3, 2023

Cuban judoka Idalys Ortiz obtained her fourth gold medal in Pan American Games at Santiago 2023.

The flag bearer of Cuba's delegation at the continental event reaffirmed herself as one of the best judokas in history, by winning in the over 78 kilogram division, in which she already had gold from Guadalajara 2011, Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019.

The also four-time Olympic medalist (gold in London 2012, silver in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and bronze in Beijing 2008) defeated Colombian Brigitte Carabalí by disqualification, in a match in which there were very few actions.

In this way, the two-time world champion joined another legend of that discipline, her compatriot Driulis González, the only one who possessed four titles in Pan American judo, in her case achieved in Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999, Santo Domingo 2003 and Rio de Janeiro 2007.