Veitía, the architect of the triumphs of Cuban women's judo, died Monday in Havana at the age of 75 due to complications associated with the illnesses he suffered and which worsened in recent months.

Havana, Dec 6 (RHC) On Monday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel sent condolences to the relatives of the outstanding former coach of the Cuban women's judo team, Ronaldo Veitía.

My condolences to family, friends, and the sports movement of #Cuba. "Veitía leaves us forever the fond memory of the continuous and emotional victories of Cuban women's judo. May his school never die," President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on his official Twitter account as he expressed his condolences to family and friends.

For his part, the president of the Cuban Sports Institute (INDER), Osvaldo Vento, also mourned the death of the legendary strategist.

His contribution to the greatness of Cuban women's judo assures him a place of honor in the history of our sport. We share the pain of the family and friends of this patriotic fighter, faithful to his principles, he commented on the same social network.

Veitía directed the Cuban women's judo team for almost three decades, leading it to 55 medals in world championships (16 gold), 25 Olympic medals (5 gold), and several dozens in Central and Pan American competitions.

Among his illustrious students were Olympic and world champions Idalys Ortiz, Driulis Gonzalez and Legna Verdecia and other laureates of the stature of Daima Beltran, Odalis Revé, Estela Rodriguez and Sibelis Veranes.

Under his command, the Cuban women's judo team took first place by country at the Sydney-2000 Olympic Games, and at the world championships in Shiba-1995 and Cairo-2008.

The professor went into retirement in 2015 and then devoted himself to training children in the Havana municipality of El Cotorro, where he lived.

After being hospitalized for several weeks in a hospital in Alicante, Spain, due to a stroke, he had returned last October 18th to Cuba of his own free will.

Veitía, the architect of the triumphs of Cuban women's judo, died Monday in Havana at the age of 75 due to complications associated with the illnesses he suffered and which worsened in recent months.