Dominican judo will have in the Hall of Fame one of its most genuine athletes when it comes to high competition.
We are talking about the female judoka of the 20th century, Eleucadia Vargas, one of the most successful Dominican athletes of any sport in international competitions.
Vargas, a native of San Cristóbal (February 14, 1970), was announced today as the sixth athlete chosen to enter the immortality of the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame.
The election was made by the members of the Standing Committee of the Hall of Fame, after evaluating his excellent record of service representing the country in international competitions.
Dionisio Guzmán, who chairs the Permanent Committee, informed that Vargas will be exalted during the 56th Ceremonial on Sunday, November 13, to be held in the auditorium of the Pavilion of Fame, of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.
He specified that Vargas is the sixth athlete selected to be exalted in the 2022 Immortal Class, joining former pitchers Francisco Cordero and Efraín Valdez, NBA basketball player Francisco García and propellers Héctor J. Cruz and Fernando Teruel.
Sixth immortal in his sport
The daughter of Juan Bautista Vargas and Vicenta Reyes, is the sixth judoka to reach the Hall of Fame.
Now Eleucadia will share the judo table inside the Pavilion of Fame with Radhamés Lora, a pioneer among judokas, exalted in 1992; John Chalas, 2003; Sweet Mary, 2012; Andrea Hernandez, 2016 and Jose Vicbart Geraldino, in
Double Pan American medalist
Vargas competed for more than 15 years, most of them being part of the national team in all its categories. He began in the sport under the tutelage of coaches Luisa Guzmán and Israel Caraballo, who began to carve out his immortal career.
She was the first athlete in her sport to win two medals at the Pan American Games, winning two bronzes in the Havana ’91 (Cuba) and Winnipeg ’99 (Canada) versions, in 63 and 61 kilograms, respectively.
Vargas joined the national team in 1987, showing his credentials at the National Games that same year held in his native San Cristóbal.
At the national level he won 21 gold medals, three silver and one bronze. Likewise, she was a perennial champion in the Military Sports Games of the Armed Forces and the National Police, defending the colors of the Dominican Air Force.
In international competitions specific to his discipline, he won nine gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
While in official competitions he was on the podium at the Pan American Games in Cuba and Winnipeg (bronze), as well as in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico ’90, Puerto Rico ’93 and Maracaibo ’98 (bronze).
She also competed in the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata ’95 (Argentina) and in the versions of the Olympic Games in Spain 92 and Sydney 2000, where she was the closing flag bearer of the Dominican delegation. She also competed in five versions of
the World Cup of Judo (Barcelona, 91, Canada 93, England 95, Barcelona 98 and Sydney 2000.
Vargas exhibits as the most relevant achievements in judo competitions his golds in the Colombia International Tournament, 1991; Olympic Festival of Mexico, 92; Iberoamerican of Valladolid and the International Tournament of Navarra (Spain), 95; International Championship of Santo Domingo, 96 and 2000; and Pan-American Circuit of Colombia, 97.
Also, five medals in the Caribbean Championships, such as the golds in Santo Domingo 94 and 96; silver in the two versions of 97 and 98 held in this country and bronze in Puerto Ordaz 98, Venezuela.
In Pan American Judo he won silver in Puerto Rico 96 and Uruguay 99, bronze in Canada 93 and Santo Domingo 98. Similarly, gold in the Olympic Festivals of Mexico 92, 94 and Puerto Rico 96. He won the gold metal in the Pan American Circuit Isla Margarita 99 (Venezuela) and silver at the United States Open in 2000.
Among his personal achievements are five Athlete of the Year awards, both from the Dominican Olympic Committee and the Association of Sports Writers of Santo Domingo (ACD).
She was president of the Judo Association of San Cristóbal, coach of the women’s national team and treasurer of the Sports Union of her province.
