# Yamila Figueroa Ruiz, Glory of Cuban Fencing, Has Died

**Date:** 05/05/2026

Cuban fencing is in mourning. Yamila Figueroa Ruiz, one of the finest female épée fencers in Latin American history and a recognized "Glory of Cuban Sport," passed away on May 2, 2026, in Santa Clara, at the age of 63, from a respiratory arrest.

The news was confirmed by Granma, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba, which published a tribute article titled "Armas en alto por una grande de la esgrima" ("Arms Raised for a Great of Fencing"). Born in Camagüey on June 11, 1962, Figueroa first took up fencing under coach Oscar Santana and went on to train at the "Cerro Pelado" Sports Initiation School in her home province.

She represented Cuba in foil before switching to épée, and in 1987 was named captain of Cuba's first-ever women's national épée team — a post she held until her retirement from active competition in 1992. Her honors include team gold at the Central American Championship in Curaçao (1980), individual and team gold in Puerto Rico (1983), and a gold sweep in both events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic (1986). At the Pan American Games in Indianapolis (1987), she captured silver in both disciplines.

In 1988, at the peak of her career, she won two World Cups in France and the Netherlands, and took silver at the prestigious Noyon Épée Tournament in France, against the world's eight best teams. Between 1989 and 1990, she dominated the Espadas Doradas international tournament, with her most celebrated victory being an emphatic 8-3 defeat of reigning world champion Brigitte Benon of France. In 1991, she won silver at the Pan American Games in Havana, and in 1992 was among the top eight women in the world at the Masters.

After retiring as an athlete, Figueroa dedicated herself to coaching, nurturing the next generation of fencers in Camagüey and Villa Clara, where she worked at the EIDE "Héctor Ruiz" sports school. Among her most notable students is Zuleydis Ortiz, a world championship silver medalist in épée. Cuban sport has lost one of its most revered figures.