Photo: EFE
Text: Cuba News 360 Writing
The outstanding Cuban coach Ronaldo Veitía died this Monday, December 5 in Havana after several months with a delicate state of health.
The President of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller, gave the sad news through his Twitter account where he acknowledged that “her contribution to the greatness of Cuban women’s judo assures her a place of honor in the history of our sport.
The Cuban director also offered his condolences to the family and friends of “this fighting patriot and faithful to his principles.”
Last October, Veitía was hospitalized in Spain, from where his son made several requests to the Cuban authorities to help transfer his father to the island.
After various efforts, INDER and the Cuban Embassy in Spain responded to requests for help and the Cuban judo master was transferred to Cuba, where the Institute of Sports Medicine designed a strategy to accompany and monitor his recovery.
Despite medical work, Veitía died at the age of 74 in Havana, while he was admitted to the Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital.
For his part, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also expressed his condolences to family, friends and the Cuban sports movement.
“Veitía leaves us forever the pleasant memory of the continuous and emotional victories of Cuban women’s judo. May his school never die, ”the president wrote on his Twitter account.
Ronaldo Veitía propelled Cuban women’s judo to the top of the international podiums. Under his command, this sport achieved several Olympic and world medals, positioning the island’s women among the favorites of this sport worldwide.
Professor Veitía was decorated as Glory of the Cuban sports movement with the Order of Sports Merit, the highest distinction granted by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba to personalities with an impeccable career in sports.
Among other recognitions, Veitía was named a National Hero of Labor and was recognized worldwide as one of the best judo coaches, accumulating more than 20 Olympic medals during his time as coach of the women’s national team of that sport.
