Cuban judoka Dayle Ojeda, who was set to compete in the +78 kg category for the national team at the Paris Olympic Games, has left the delegation just days before the competitions were scheduled to begin. The portal Cubalite reported that the athlete from Havana had separated from the national squads in 2024, following the completion of training for Idalys Ortiz, the top figure in the +78 kg division, with whom she had been collaborating. Both were in Paris, and when it was time to return to Cuba with other judokas fulfilling the same role, Ojeda decided to leave the team, the cited media explained.
Ojeda, who will turn 31 in August, was a silver medalist in the Pan American Open in Varadero (2023 and 2024), where she was defeated both times by her compatriot Naomis Elizarde. She also competed in the 2017 Pan American Championship, where she lost in the bronze medal match to American Nina Cutro-Kelly.
The first Cuban athlete to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, which have not yet been officially inaugurated, was archer Hugo Franco. In judo, competitors include Iván Felipe Silva and Andy Granda from Matanzas, Idalys Ortiz from Artemisa, and Maylín del Toro from Santiago de Cuba.
Another judoka, Magdiel Estrada from Matanzas, had a chance to participate but left the delegation during the Pan American and Oceania Championship this year in Brazil. Similarly, Mairelys Inojosa Polanco from Sancti Spíritus left the team in Europe during a tour of the Old Continent following the World Championship in Abu Dhabi at the end of May.
The exodus of Cuban athletes has increased in recent years amid the widespread crisis on the island. At least 21 Cuban athletes will compete under other flags in the world's most important multi-sport event.
Exodus of Cuban Athletes: Key Questions and Answers
The departure of Cuban athletes from national teams has become a notable trend, raising questions about the causes and implications of this phenomenon. Here are some key questions and answers.
Why are Cuban athletes leaving their national teams?
Many Cuban athletes are leaving due to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Cuba, seeking better opportunities and living conditions abroad.
How does the exodus of athletes impact Cuban sports?
The departure of athletes weakens national teams and reduces the country's ability to compete at high levels in international competitions.
Are there specific sports more affected by this trend?
Sports like baseball, boxing, and judo have seen significant numbers of athletes leave, impacting Cuba's historical strength in these disciplines.