This October 29, the best Holguin athlete of all time, the judoka Legna Verdecia Rodríguez (52 kilograms), Olympic and World Champion, turns 49 years old. As a tribute to that illustrious one of the tatamis I offer you four important moments, among many, of her walk, made journalism.
* World Youth Gold: And his first big moment has arrived! He travels to Dijon, France, to fight in the World Junior Championships. On April 2, 1990, a cable, dated in that French city, electrifies us, announcing that the Cuban Legna Verdecia had won the crown of 48 kilos. It was then the highest international triumph achieved by a woman from Holguin in sports of all time.
* World Adult Gold: When the extraordinary event took place on October 2, 1993, we dedicate these lines to it: “Legna, when early on Sunday the great news woke me up, your prophecies of May returned to my ears: You said, almost in a whisper, but firmly: ‘Don’t say it now, but you will see that the gold in the World Cup will go to Cuba, Holguín and me.’ Your coach Veitía also entrusted it to me.
“I thought they were too optimistic. Perhaps the disappointment of the Olympiad and other troubles of 1992 were doing their thing; However, then I shared that hope and I already knew deep down that it would not be a surprise … your coach’s mastery gave you confidence; your bravery and skills made the feat possible in Hamilton.
“You forever marked your name and surname: Legna Verdecia Rodríguez, in the golden pages of Cuban and Holguin sports. You are the first World Champion for adults in Holguín, the fourth Cuban woman to achieve it in an individual discipline, and the first in the country to join her junior title in the world to that of seniors; you are, therefore, at the same time, princess and queen of the planet; you only need the Olympic parchment … “
* Olympic Gold: Happy Sunday morning (Sydney-2000), which Legna decorated with the golden laurel of Olympus, so that history will never forget that day and its great protagonist! It was a debt that life refused to pay you in Atlanta-96, but it was impossible for that gold to continue to avoid your showcase full and shiny, that’s why in Sydney you tutored glory with your impeccable judo.
“Fate could not steal that honor from you. It would have been extremely unfair to the best Holguin athlete of all time.
“How I wanted to complete the phrase of Princess and Queen of the Planet with that of the Olympic Monarch! Never before have I written lines like these about an athlete with such satisfaction. For this reason, Legna Verdecia Rodríguez, that was not only your dream, it was also mine and that of many other compatriots. Shared thorn for eight years, when you left blank in Barcelona, and that now you masterfully extracted … It is an award that could not have had a better recipient … I give myself the license to proclaim to you, in advance, The Athlete of the Twentieth Century of Holguín. I am convinced that the countrymen will agree with me. Nobody better than you to deserve that high award. “
* Farewell: Among so many great culminating moments of her brilliant career as an uncompromising judoka, Legna Verdecia included with an indelible tint the evening of Tuesday, January 16, 2007: the day in which her people from Holguin, happy and grateful, offered her the greatest and sentimental ceremony of farewell to active sports that occurred in this region at any time.
Photos: Archive.
And it could not be otherwise, if it is the sportswoman with the most relevant historical competitive results in Holguín and with privileged places among the athletic glories of Cuba and universal judo, who won the sympathy of thousands and thousands of hearts for her modesty, simplicity, discipline and greatness.
Legna toured the city of Holguín, which welcomed her when she was barely one year old, watched her grow and rise to the top. Then she arrived at the stage of the Fernando de Díos Buñuel Athenaeum, accompanied by her two offspring, where a representation of the people of Holguin was waiting for her, led by their highest authorities, Miguel Diaz-Canel, member of the Political Bureau and first secretary in this province, and Alberto Olivera Fis, president of the government in the territory. In the background the images and narration of her final fight in Sydney-2000, which made her eternal among the queens of Olympus.
Then came the avalanche of recognitions, distinctions and gifts with which the political and mass organizations, agencies and institutions, paid tribute to the best athlete from Holguín of the twentieth century and included in the stellar hundred of that century in Cuba.
She all fury on the tatami, now she could not help the tears. This is how she received her promotion to sixth dan of judo, the first Cuban woman with such a high degree and the Ring of member of the Hall of Fame of the Pan American Union of that sport, accredited in 2006. On her hands they also placed El Aldabón del Portón de the Periquera, awarded to the national women’s judo squad, which was so prestigious, and which he had already received individually. And she observed with emotion how her main coach and whom she considers her second father, Ronaldo Veitía, were awarded El Hacha de Holguín, the highest distinction in this province, which she also has among many decorations received in her colossal career.
Hugs, kisses and congratulations continued at the Athenaeum, and later continued at the crowded Mayor General Calixto García stadium, where more emotions awaited her and she greeted thousands of people, who cheered her on, while she received other recognitions.
Day that has already been marked for Holguín, his sport and Legna, who did not say goodbye, as she is still linked to the tatamis of her life, forming new judokas that will continue in the Olympic and world firmament.
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Author: Calixto González Betancourt
Master in Social Communication, Bachelor of Journalism. Specialized in sports themes. Responsible for the Column “In this Series” for more than 30 years.
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