Ronaldo Veitia awarded by Cuban Sports Institute

Famous Cuban coach Ronaldo Veitia Valdivie who officially retired from his impressive career as the head coach of the female Cuban national team was honoured at the Grand Prix of Havana. In his path through judo, ‘Ronaldo’ as every one fondly called him, achieved outstanding results.

Ronaldo coached at six Olympic Games from 1992 to 2012 and obtained 5 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze medals. During the same period, he guided his athletes to 16 gold, fourteen silver and twenty seven bronze medals at the Senior World Championships. Ronaldo Veitia was also the successful coach of the Cuban team at many other international events including the World Team Championships and University and Pan-American competitions. This is without counting the numerous medals won in the other age categories, making him the coach with the largest number of Olympic medals in the history of judo.

Several of his athletes received prizes and were awarded as the most outstanding and technical athletes. Ronaldo Veitia is an eighth dan and in Havana, surrounded by all of his athletes, he received the recognition of the Cuban sports movement. After having been awarded on Friday by the IJF President Marius Vizer, and for his relevant contribution to the Cuban Judo School which allowed him to achieve all his results, Ronaldo Veitia was presented with a special award, signed by PhD Antonio Becali Garrido, President of Cuban Sports Institute INDER. The award was given by Jorge Polo Vazquez, INDER Vice-President. Then the legendary coach was also awarded by the Cuban Judo Federation and by the Pan-American Judo Confederation’s President Manuel Larrañaga.