Olisdeilys Menéndez

Osleidys Menéndez is a retired Cuban javelin thrower, born on 14 November 1979 in Martí, Cuba. One of the most dominant athletes in the history of the women's javelin, she combined explosive power with exceptional technique to become both a World and Olympic champion.

Menéndez claimed Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Games and won the World Championships title in 2005, where she set the world record with a remarkable throw of 71.70 metres. That record stood for seven years until Barbora Špotáková surpassed it in September 2008 with a throw of 72.28 metres. Her personal best of 71.70 metres remains the North, Central American and Caribbean area record and places her second on the all-time list.

Menéndez's legacy in Cuban athletics is defined by her remarkable consistency at the highest level, winning the Cuban National Games in 2004 and representing her country with distinction on the global stage. Her world record throw in Helsinki remains one of the most memorable moments in javelin history, cementing her status among the all-time greats of the event.