Sitting quietly on the edge of the tatami, a little intimidated but impatient to make contact, the children from the Robespierre neighborhood center watch the champions train. Dressed in their black belts and blue kimonos, the athletes of the Cuban judo delegation perform a series of holds and tackles on the ground.
Intense preparation for the Paris Olympics in Vitry
Hosted for around ten days in Vitry as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympic Games, they followed an intense program: training at the Gosnat dojo in the morning, bodybuilding in the Arrighi gym and gymnastics at Gabriel-Péri in the afternoon.
“We chose Vitry for the ties of friendship that bind us to the municipality and because the city’s sports facilities present all the necessary conditions for our preparation,” explains Rafael Manso Reyes, president of the Cuban judo federation, in thanking the city for the quality of its welcome.
That morning, the athletes take the time to meet Kadiatou, Ibrahim, Mariama and Kolly. At each dull sound of falling bodies, the children widen their eyes a little wider. “I would have broken my back, that must hurt!” However, at their call, they did not hesitate for a second to join the Cuban judokas on the mat. After a few joyful and complicit chases as training, the children are introduced to the different holds. And even manage to make athletes fall.
“It was so good,” they say in unison, stars in their eyes. They are strong and they are kind, we hope they will win at the Olympics!”
Give birth to vocations
Ibrahim, who swore only by football, even talks about taking up judo. “It’s not every day that they can meet real athletes, it gives them pleasure and it opens them up to other sports, it can give rise to vocations,” smiles Naida Saïdi, deputy director of the leisure center of the Robespierre district.
“It’s very interesting for young people to meet athletes from other countries,” emphasizes Abdelhafid, director of the center. This meeting is a continuation of our project of the year on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and solidarity.”
During their stay, the Cuban athletes also took the time to meet and interact with a class from the Marcel-Cachin elementary school and the judokas from the Entente sportif de Vitry.
The elite of Cuban judo in Vitry
The Cuban judo delegation hosted for ten days in Vitry as part of its preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is made up of the elite of Cuban judo. We can mention the star Idalys Ortiz, category over 78 kg, multi-Pan American and world champion. She won four Olympic medals (1 bronze, 2 silver, 1 gold). This year she is collecting her 5th medal. Maylin Del Toro Carvajal, under 63 kg category, won several Pan American titles and a bronze medal at the junior world championships. She hopes to obtain her second qualification for the Paris Olympics and win a first Olympic medal this year. Idelannis Gomez and Lianet Cardona, respectively double gold medalist and gold medalist at the Pan American Games in Santiago in 2023, want to obtain their first qualification for the Olympics this year. Maykol Cobas, Daile Ojeda, Aleannis Carbonnel and Leodan Almora, all national champions, are in the running for qualification for the 2024 JOPs.
Video : On the occasion of the visit of the Cuban judo delegation to Vitry as part of its preparation for the Paris Olympic Games, Idalys Ortiz Boucurt, Cuban judo champion, talks about her journey and the place of women in sport in Cuba.
2024-03-04 07:07:39
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