Changes in Cuban judo

Cuban judo will start 2025 with some major changes, perhaps more than expected in the dawn of a new change of Olympic cycle, always marked by generational change.

After the expected retirements, the first change occurred in the offices, where Andrés Taño was named national commissioner.

It is really not a surprise, since he is the general secretary of the National Federation, and a man linked to this sport for decades, even head of delegation in some international competitions in recent times.

He has also been in charge of the organization of important events held in our country, such as the Varadero Judo Carnival, for example.

Rafael Manso remains as president of the Cuban Federation, a position from which he has raised the name of Cuba in global forums and obtained the support of the International Federation of the discipline on many occasions, in this context of so many economic difficulties.

Both of them have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that Cuban judo recovers from the hard setback suffered at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when an admirable streak, that had begun in Barcelona 1992 of winning medals in every edition under the five rings, was broken.

But the most eye-popping change will be that of the division of Iván Felipe Silva, one of the main figures of this sport in the last decade.

The world runner-up in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2018, double Pan American and Central American champion, dominated for several years the division of up to 90 kilograms in the continental competitions, but now he moves to the next higher category.

With the debt of a medal in the Olympic Games in his mind, at 28 years of age, the Matanzas native decided to go up to 100 kg, so as not to have to lose as much weight as in recent times, which already made it quite difficult for him to stay at 90.

The ideal time is now, when he starts with a clean slate. Otherwise, he would have lost the points earned in the world ranking that took him to Paris 2024.

His new category will require greater physical strength and the most important thing will be that, by gaining muscle mass, he does not lose too much speed, which will surely be his fundamental weapon.

From the previous cycle, he, Andy Granda (100+ kg) and youngster Jonathan Charón, who was close to reaching the City of Light in the 60 kg, but entered the ranking late, must remain.

Meanwhile, from the women's team we now have as the main figure Maylín del Toro (63 kg), who must assume her role as a veteran to welcome the new girls who will inevitably be the majority on the roster.

These are the new developments in Cuban judo for 2025, which will be crucial in shaping what could happen at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff