Born: February 5, 1974 (Santiago de Cuba)
Biography:
Sibelis Veranes Morell, born on February 5, 1974, in Santiago de Cuba, is a Cuban judoka who has left an indelible mark on the world of women’s martial arts. Standing at 1.64 meters tall, Veranes embarked on a remarkable athletic career in the middleweight division, showcasing her immense talent and unwavering dedication.
From the years 1988 to 1994, Veranes, then known as Odalis Revé, reigned supreme in the Cuban National Championships, consistently clinching victory after victory. In 1991, she finished second for the first time, and that remained her position for the next four championships. However, from 1995 to 2000, Veranes claimed the coveted title, establishing herself as Cuba’s leading judoka in the middleweight category.
Veranes first showcased her prowess on the international stage in the fall of 1996 when she clinched the title at the Pan American Championships. This triumph served as a precursor to her remarkable performance in January 1997, when she and her Cuban teammates emerged victorious in the World Team Championships. In February of the same year, Veranes secured her first World Cup tournament victory in Leonding, signaling her ascent as one of the world’s top judo athletes.
Her success extended into the summer of 1997, as Veranes triumphed once again at the Pan American Championships. In 1998, she displayed her dominance by winning both the Tournoi de Paris and the Pan American Championships. Moreover, Veranes played a pivotal role in leading Cuba to a successful defense of their World Team Championships title.
The summer of 1999 witnessed Veranes achieve an unparalleled winning streak, clinching three consecutive titles. She began by emerging victorious in the 1999 Summer Universiade, where she defeated Japan’s Miki Amao in a thrilling final. She continued her journey of triumph at the 1999 Pan American Games, triumphing over Xiomara Griffith of Venezuela to claim the gold medal. Veranes’s crowning achievement during this remarkable year came at the World Championships in Birmingham, where she overcame Belgium’s Ulla Werbrouck in an epic final, ascending to the pinnacle of the judo world.
In the lead up to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Veranes encountered a minor setback, losing her opening match at the Tournoi de Paris to Miki Amao. However, undeterred, she embarked on a formidable winning streak, clinching victory in four out of five World Cup tournaments in February and March. Only at the Polish Open in Warsaw did Veranes face defeat in the final against the Czech athlete Andrea Pažoutová. Nevertheless, Veranes’s stellar performances cemented her status as a top contender for Olympic glory.
The 2000 Summer Olympics proved to be a moment of triumph and glory for Veranes. Displaying impeccable skill and determination, she navigated her way through formidable opponents, defeating Yvonne Wansart of Germany, Sandra Bacher of the United States, and Cho Min-sun of South Korea. In the final, Veranes faced off against Britain’s Kate Howey and emerged victorious, securing the coveted gold medal and etching her name in Olympic history.
After a brief hiatus, Veranes returned to the international stage in 2002, once again showcasing her exceptional talents. She helped lead her team to victory in the World Team Championships and continued her dominance by capturing the title at the Pan American Championships. These victories further solidified Veranes’s status as a trailblazer in women’s judo.
Sibelis Veranes’s illustrious career stands as a testament to her remarkable skill, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to her craft. Her achievements on the judo mat have had a lasting impact, inspiring countless athletes and leaving an indelible mark on women’s martial arts.
Awards:
– Olympic gold medal in the women’s middleweight division in 2000