Yalennis Castillo

Yalennis Castillo, born on May 21, 1986, in Moa, Holguín, Cuba, is a distinguished judoka who has made significant contributions to the sport. From a young age, she dedicated herself to judo, honing her skills and competing at various levels.

Her journey in competitive judo began to flourish in 2004 when she secured medals at the Pan American Championships and the Leonding Tournament in Austria. Castillo's prowess continued to shine as she earned a silver medal in the women's team event at the 2006 World Team Championships and a bronze at the 2007 World Cup in Vienna. That same year, she showcased her talent on the world stage at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Castillo's most notable achievement came in 2008 when she claimed a silver medal in the ‍–‍78 kg category at the Summer Olympics, in a closely contested match against the local favorite, Yang Xiuli. Her remarkable year also included victories at the Torneo de Cuenca in Ecuador, the Tre Torri in Italy, the Super Cup of the World in Hamburg, Germany, and the Pan American Championships in Miami, USA.

Despite facing challenges, including injuries and personal commitments after marrying Cuban baseball player Frank Morejón and becoming a mother, Castillo made a triumphant return to the sport by 2014. She competed again at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she reached the quarterfinals but ultimately finished in fifth place after losing the bronze medal match through the repechage.