Who is Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez? Olympian Dies of Heart Attack

Who is Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez? A Cuban Olympian, has died from a heart attack dies after undergoing breast enlargement surgery.

TMZ reported the news on Wednesday, January 24th 2024.

According to the tabloid, Gonzalez died just a few days after undergoing surgery, reportedly from a heart attack.

“Judo champion and Olympian Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez has tragically died after apparently suffering a heart attack … just days after she reportedly went under the knife,” TMZ wrote.

TMZ adds that it’s unclear if the surgery played a role in her death.

In the article below, we learn more about the late Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez.

Who is Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez?

Maricet Espinosa González was a Cuban judoka.

She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the women’s 63 kg event, in which she was eliminated in the second round by Yarden Gerbi.

Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez was born on 2nd January 1990 and died on January 21st 2024.

She died aged 34.

Her death was announced the Manuel Fajardo Cuban Sports University on Facebook.

“With great pain, the university community of Cuban sport receives the news of the passing of the outstanding Cuban judoka Maricet Espinosa González,” the university said on Facebook.

“On behalf of our teachers, workers, and students we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues.”

The University concluded: “‘La Mole’… stood out as a member of our national judo team, achieving two titles and a Pan American silver, all in the -63kg category. On behalf of our teachers, workers and students we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.”

According to reports, Maricet died of a heart attack a few days after underoing breast enlargement surgery.

“According to local media, Espinosa had breast enlargement surgery on January 21 before tragically suffering complications,” the Mirror UK reported.

A brief bio of Maricet on judoinside.com read: “Maricet Espinosa González was double Pan American Champion. She retired in 2017 but had been in the team for over ten years.

“In 2013 she became Pan American Champion, as well as in 2014. She was a multiple Cuban champion and was victorious at the Pan American Open in Lima in 2016 and Panam Open in Buenos Aires. She competed at many Grand Slams and won bronze medals at Grand Slams in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Baku.

“She fought the final of the Grand Prix in Havana in 2016 against former World Champion Yarden Gerbi. Her nickname was “La Mole”. She passed away aged 34 in 2024,”

Reacting to her death, sports journalist Robiel Vega said: “It is with terrible pain that I received the sad news of the death of Maricet Espinosa, ‘La Mole’, as she was known in the world of judo since she was just a child.

“She was an excellent athlete and a former National Team member. I send my deepest condolences to her friends and family. Rest in peace, champion.”

Cuban singer based in the US, Alejandro Santoya, better known as “El Yonki”, also said on Instagram: “Santos Suárez (neighborhood of the Havana municipality of Diez de Octubre) is in mourning. Maricet Espinosa, an excellent Cuban judoka in the 63 kilogram category. She passed away unexpectedly this January 21. May God bless her. We lost a sister. You are loved, my black woman, take care of your loved ones from heaven.”

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Maricet Espinosa Career

A native of Havana, Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez was a multiple Cuban champion and was victorious at the Pan American Open in Lima in 2016 and Panam Open in Buenos Aires.

She had previously won the Pan American championships in 2013 and 2014.

She won bronze medals at Grand Slams in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Baku.

Nicknamed “La Mole”, Maricet participated in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and in her first fight she defeated the Nepalese Lhamu Khatri by wazari.

However, in the second round she lost again to Israel’s Yarden Gerbi, her most frequent opponent in her career.

Other famous athletes she fought included Clarisse Agbegnenoum Tina Trstenjak, Urska Zolnir, Yoshie Ueno, Lucy Renshall, Telma Monteiro, Yuka Nishida, Junxia Yang, Ketleyn Quadros, Annicka van Emden, Margaux Pinot, Gevrise Emane and many more since her international debut in 2008.

Shawn Barber

Canadian athlete, Shawn Barber died a similar death recently raising questions.

Canadian world champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber died at the age of 29, his agent Paul Doyle confirmed to the media.

“More than just an incredible athlete, Shawn was such a good-hearted person that always put others ahead of himself,” Doyle said Thursday.

“It’s tragic to lose such a good person at such a young age.”

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His death has raised questions with people wondering – did Shawn Barber take the covid vaccine?

Shawn Barber died at his home in Kingwood, Texas, on Wednesday from medical complications, according to a statement from the University of Akron’s athletics department.

The statement read: “The University of Akron Department of Athletics is saddened to announce that World Champion, Olympian, and three-time NCAA Champion Shawn Barber passed away at his home in KIngswood, Texas, from medical complications on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

“Barber had fallen ill and had been experiencing poor health for some time,”

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