The sports world is mourning the loss of Mary,
said Espinosa Gonzalez. The star judo athlete who represented Cuba
in the 2016 Olympic Games,
has died at age 34,
the Pan American Judo Confederation confirmed on January 22nd.
A statement on the Confederations Instagram page,
translated from Spanish, reads in part.
With deep sadness, we bid farewell to a legend of
Pan American and Cuban judo.
Rest in peace, Our dearest Mary set our condolences to
her family and Cuban judo.
Your spirit and your achievements will last forever.
A separate statement shared to Facebook on January 22nd by
the Cuban Sports University says Cuban judo is in mourning.
Mary said Espinosa Gonzalez passed away with great pain.
The University Community of Cuban Sports receives the news of
the death of the outstanding Cuban judoka,
Mary, said Espinoza Gonzalez. On behalf of our teachers,
workers and students, we extend our deepest condolences to their
families,
friends and colleagues. A cause of death for Gonzalez has
not been shared.
Mary Said was born on January 2nd,
1990 in Havana, Cuba. She was the Pan American Judo
champion in 2013 and 2014,
according to Inside Judo. She also competed in multiple Cuban
championships and won the bronze medal at Grand Slams in
Rio de Janeiro,
Tokyo and Baku. She competed in the 2016 Olympic Games
in Rio in the women's 63 kilogram event,
but was eliminated in the second round.
The following year, Gonzalez retired from the Cuban national judo
team after 10 years per inside judo.