The sporting merits of Isabel Cortavitarte Mediavilla have continued one after another in the world of judo and sambo wrestling since her incorporation. … to martial arts. And forty-five years have passed since its first national recognition, after having previously stood out in Asturias, when women’s individual contact sport was barely known. This Cancienes competitor paved the way with her personal example and the faith of an athlete who stood at the top of the tatami world in March 1980, in Madrid, where her legend began and which lasts to this day.
The Madrid triumph was a reward for her previous efforts, since at only twenty years of age she was already the woman to beat on the court. In fact, in this success she beat the current champion of the time, the unforgettable Kasper from Valencia, in the grand final. After starting off by losing by koka, Isabel Cortavitarte surprised her opponent with a gari bear that earned her a draw and a subsequent victory that would lead her to the final victory in the light heavyweight category. It was the greatest joy of the regional representation in these championships, since the Asturian Rosa Reguela and Marisa Gómez also won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in their categories.
Isabel Cortavitarte’s career had only just begun and for the next two years she was one of the most feared rivals in women’s judo. He would retain successes in the national championships that were held in Madrid in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, and did the same in the one held in Pamplona in 1988. His first presence on the continental podiums took place on March 13, 1983 in the capital of Norway, Oslo, with a meritorious bronze medal that won him He became a regular in the Spanish judo team.
She achieved a creditable fifth place at the European Women’s Championships held in London in 1986, which preceded the silver medal obtained in 1987 at the Arlon Open (Belgium). However, his peak in the world of judo was to be achieved in December 1988 with the university runner-up finish in Tbilisi, in the light heavyweight category. And no less relevant was the successful 1989, with a fifth place in the World Championship held in Belgrade and the same place in the European Championships in Helsinki.
His extensive resume in the elite took him until 1992 with a third place in the Budapest Tournament and another bronze in the Spanish championships that were held that year in Alcobendas.
Isabel Cortavitarte had opened a gap in Spanish judo and served as an example for other competitors, right up until the year of the Barcelona Olympic Games, in which other teammates managed to get on the podium of this world event.
sambo fight
Isabel Cortavitarte also delved into another form of martial arts that had gained strength in Asturias thanks to her contact with José Antonio Cecchini and the University of Oviedo: sambo fighting. And in fact she was very good at it, since she was champion of Spain and the World between 1983 and 1985.
At that time she was on a scholarship at the Blume Residence in Madrid and was training under the orders of Rafael Ortega, who did not hesitate to state that “she is an ideal student. He trains a lot, almost more than he studies. His judo is characterized by power and security. On the ground it is also a machine.
Cortavitarte has a degree in Physical Education from the INEF, as well as a instructor and coach in sambo wrestling, judo and swimming, sports that she combined with teaching in various educational centers in Asturias and Madrid.
His path has been followed by other local athletes such as Óscar Fernández, another accomplished Avilés and national judoka, and even the Avilés City Council has awarded him this year the award for sporting career, which joins other previous awards such as the Medal of Sports Merit, the Ace Trophy, the Plate of the Federation of Madrid and Asturias and the Diploma of Honor from the Asturian judo gala in 1988.
A true example to follow for women’s sports in Avilés for which she has given so much since her birth in Cancienes on October 1, 1960. And she still has much more to contribute given her extensive experience.
