CubaBiography
Cuban Olympic champion, former world record holder in javelin. First female javelin thrower who breaks 70 metres barrier in history (after new design - since 1999).
Started to practising athletics at age of 12, became World U20 champion five years later. In 1998, she won both Central American Games and World U20 titles with more than six metres between second-placed Chinese rival.
Menendez won Pan American Games title in age of 20 with championships record over 65 metres as she landed to Sydney 2000 one of the main contenders. She contested in the final with fellow Cubans Sonia Bisset and Xiomara Rivero, and took bronze medal with 66.18m effort.
In 2001, she became first woman to break 70 metres mark in history to record 71.54 metres in Rethymno Meeting in Greece. Very same year, she secured first seniors World title and two other global gold in Universiade & Goodwill Games.
Menendez tumbled in 2003 Pan Am Games where she competed with a knee injury and finished third unexpectedly (and only managed season best 63.96), but came back to the scene strongly in Olympic year. The 25 year-old Cuban produced 71.53 Olympic record at the first attempt in the final to reach ultimate goal of her life: Olympic gold.
After her Olympic glory, she also managed to win second World and Pan American titles though. She catapulcted own world record to 71.70 in 2005, which eventually broken by Barbora Spotakova in 2008.
Menendez returned to javelin runway for her third Olympic final in Beijing to retain her title, but did not managed that. The Cuban star recorded only one mark (63.35) in her six attempts and finished sixth at the final, later upgraded to fifth place after Russian Mariya Abakumova's doping offence.
YEARLY PROGRESSION
1994: 53.98
1995: 54.30
1996: 62.64
1997: 66.92
1998: 68.17
1999: 67.59 / 66.49 (new model)
2000: 67.83
2001: 71.54 WR
2002: 67.40
2003: 63.96
2004: 71.53
2005: 71.70 WR
2006: 65.02
2007: 62.34
2008: 65.02
2009: 63.11
2010: 61.13
2011: 57.40
2012: 53.90
TRIVIA
♦ Discovered at school by local coach Noel Serrate. Then moved to Havana to working with Dionisio Quintana, 1982 CAC Games champion. She worked with him in whole career.
♦ Her manager was high jump legend, Javier Sotomayor.
♦ Mother, Dora, also was a local athlete in her youth.
♦ Studied Physical Education.
♦ Her official name "Olisdeilys", but after her name mistakenly recorded in several competition. After that, her name changed to Osleidys for common, she explained in an interview. (26.02.2019, Sierra Maestra ITW)