Osleidys Menendez, the Olympic women’s Javelin Throw champion and World record holder, was awarded the title of best Cuban sportswoman of 2004, in a Gala held at the Great Havana Theatre, Havana, Cuba on Monday (17 Jan).
Menendez claimed her country's top sports award for the third time, following her 2001 and 2002 trophies.
”This is one of the most beautiful experiences I have had as an athlete, after our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro's welcome coming from the Olympics. I am very proud of the award and it's a great boost to keep going", said a happy Menendez while signing some autographs.
The 25-year old from the western province of Matanzas threw a massive 71.53 on the first round, just 0.01 short of her world mark, more than enough to earn her the Olympic gold and record.
In total, she won 12 of her 14 outings last year, including the World Athletics Final in Monaco, other four IAAF Grand Prix meetings (Iráklio, Madrid, Linz and Berlin), plus her first Iberoamerican crown in Huelva, Spain. She confirmed her dominance with the best seven throws of the year, the only woman over 66 metres, and 11 of the 15 furthest efforts in 2004. She also owns 11 of the best 20 marks in the all-time list.
