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El judo femenino constituye una de las granddes fortalezas actuales del deporte nacional
Women’s judo is one of the great strengths of current national sport
foreseen, not even the gym teacher who obviously saw something in Idalis that made him ask her to practice judo, was that at the age of 18, she would become the youngest Olympic medalist in the heavyweight category, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and that four years later, at the 2012 Olympics in London, she would win the gold medal. In 2011 she had achieved the best world ranking in the 78 kg category for a Cuban. In 2012 she won the World Cup in Warsaw, and at the London Olympics, she was the first Cuban woman to obtain the title in her category, beating judo legend Wen Tong from China, who weighed 78 pounds more than Idalis and who had been undefeatable since 2007.
The experienced teacher and coach Ronaldo Veitia, who is idolized by his pupils, established a tactical plan against Tong which Idalis rigorously followed-- initiative in making attacks, control in grappling the sleeves of the judogi and defense based on countertechniques. Idalis, with her multicolored braids, made the entire island of Cuba vibrate when she won the bout against Tong, who had been forecasted as the probable winner. In her native Candelaria, she was received as a heroine with tears and cheers from her fans, and the warmth of a people who celebrated her gold medal as their own. With her usual smile and
unaffected manners, the judoka said that she only believed it when she had the Olympic medal on her chest. But Idalis has not rested on her laurels. So far in 2013, she has won first and second places in important international competitions, she was crowned as the National Champion and is already dreaming of the next World Cup in Rio de Janeiro and the 2016 Olympics. Her explosiveness on the tatami belies her gentle spirit. “I make time for my family, my home and my husband. I like peace and quiet, reading, watching TV, hanging out with friends…I love doing my nails and looking smart.” Having said this, whoever thinks that Idalis is a representative of the so-called weaker sex, I suggest they ask Wen Tong.