During the 20th century, Venezuela experienced important moments in different areas - mainly economic, social and cultural - but it is worth noting that in sports it did not escape surprising performances with world championship feats.
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Thus, collectively, baseball honored us with the Heroes of '41 as world champions. In 1965, Carlos "Morocho" Hernández emerged as the first Venezuelan boxing champion; in the 70s, the Carrasco sisters, María Victoria and Ana María, excelled in water skiing; and Johnny Cecotto became a two-time world motorcycle champion, a feat later emulated in 1983 by Carlos Lavado.
However, a young woman of just 18 years old, from Caracas and a psychology student at the UCV, excelled in a sport that was trying to gain space in the Olympic Games but that first had to pass the demanding world championship test: the judoka Natasha Hernández.
Road to glory
The year was 1984, and the beautiful city of Vienna, the capital of Austria, was preparing to host the XV World Judo Championship on November 10th and 11th, an exclusive event for female athletes from 32 countries where only 8 managed to win medals.
Natasha Hernandez was one of the 184 judokas on the tatami and paved her way in the -61kgs by defeating the Nigerian Jekele in her first fight; then Ann Hughes of Great Britain (quarters); in the semifinals she eliminated the Italian Laura Di Toma and in the final the Dutch -now Netherlands- Martine Rottier to give the gold medal to Venezuela, the only one obtained so far in a World Championship of the specialty.
National jubilation
From then on, Natasha Hernández went from being an "unknown girl from the halls of the UCV" to a national figure sought after by media and multiple specialized magazines.
“I feel like I’m in a dream right now, it’s come true,” she said as soon as she got off the plane that dropped her off in Maiquetía, surrounded by cheers and applause.
Reflecting 41 years later on the whirlwind of her career, she says, “Sometimes life goes by and you forget the things you do. You're so busy racing, chasing whatever comes next, that you forget everything you've done, everything you've worked so hard for. I was just surprised to hear about everything I've accomplished. When did it all happen?” she remarked, now a graduate psychologist and successful life and health coach.
Now in the 21st century, other talents are emerging, such as Anriquelis Barrios; Elvismar Rodríguez, Aramantha Urdaneta, Leosmaris Ruiz and Karen León, the latter an Olympian in Paris 2024. Willis García and Luis Pariche, who undoubtedly follow step by step the legacy of a legend who set the standard within Venezuelan judo.
International achievements
Natasha Hernandez's career was mainly developed between 1980 and 1987: World Championship 1984 Vienna, Austria Gold -61 kg.
- World Championships 1982 Paris, France 5th Place –56 kg
- World Championship 1980 New York, USA 7th Place -58 kg
- 1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, USA Silver -61 kg
- 1983 Pan American Games, Caracas, Venezuela. Silver medal –56 kg
- Pan American Championship 1986 Salinas, Puerto Rico Gold –61 kg
- 1984 Pan American Championships Mexico City, Mexico Gold –61 kg
- 1982 Pan American Championship, Santiago, Chile, Gold -56 kg
