Marlon Herrera wins judo gold in nine seconds, dedicates victory to late grandmother

Marlon Herrera secured a gold medal in the 73-kilogram judo category at the Central American and Caribbean Games with a swift victory, concluding the final in just nine seconds. The young Cuban athlete displayed exceptional technique, leaving his opponent unable to respond.

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This medal had a clear destination from the moment I got on the plane, I dedicate it first to my grandmother, who is deceased. Also to my mom, my dad and all my family who have followed me from Holguín. I came here to win this gold for them and for all the Cuban people.

Emerging from the tatami without visible exertion, Herrera's triumph was tinged with emotion. He dedicated his win to his late grandmother, his mother, father, family, and all of Cuba. "This medal had a clear destination from the moment I got on the plane," Herrera shared, his voice thick with emotion, "I came here to win this gold for them and for all the Cuban people."

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I went for the leg, that was the exact instruction: start with the attack on the extremity and then transition to my shoulder technique. We had rehearsed it during warm-up and it came out exactly as we planned.

The decisive win was not a matter of chance but the culmination of rigorous physical preparation and a precisely planned strategy. "I went for the leg, that was the exact instruction: start with the attack on the extremity and then transition to my shoulder technique. We had rehearsed it during warm-up and it came out exactly as we planned," Herrera explained.

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Losing elimination rounds within the selection or missing the podium in events like the Pan Americans in Santiago, Chile were painful lessons, but necessary for growth.

His journey to this victory was forged through years of dedication and overcoming significant setbacks. Herrera recalled painful losses in selection trials and missing the podium at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, as crucial lessons that fueled his growth. He now stands as a leading figure in Cuba's 73-kilogram division, supported by world-class teammates like Iván Silva and Andy Granda, who act as mentors within their close-knit judo family.

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We help each other a lot, both psychologically and physically. We are a family, we practically spend more time with each other than in our own homes.