Irene Forbes was twice Cuban foil champion (1972-73). Her biggest achievement internationally was at the 1971 Pan American Games when she won a bronze medal individually and a silver in the team foil. After her sporting career she became a sportswriter, graduating with a journalism degree in 1974. She became one of the top females in Cuba in that profession and also wrote several books. Her biography of Ramón Fonst, Ace of Spade, won the book award from the Cuban Book Institute. In 2003 she was given the Order of Sporting Merit by the Cuban government.
Cuba