The best Cuban athletes of the year 2023 awarded

Havana, Dec. 27.- The famous Sports City Coliseum once again vibrated as it hosted the cultural spectacle where the best Cuban athletes from a year full of sports competitions were honored.

The gala was dedicated to Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, the main promoter of the Cuban sports movement, to the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, to the day of the educator and to the figure of José Ramón Fernández, who was lifetime Honorary President of the Cuban Olympic Committee.

With the presence of State and Government leaders, sports directors, leaders of mass organizations, ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba, sports and family glories, those honored came down from Olympus to receive their awards amid the applause of the grateful spectators.

Prominent teaching and sports professors presented the awards in an evening that had its climax when the world champions Yarisledis Cirilo (canoe) and Luis Orta (Greco-Roman wrestling) took the stage, chosen as the best of the year in their respective sexes.

I really feel very good because this has been a year of many competitions and there are many athletes who have had very good results. I feel great emotion for having been chosen the best of the year again in a country with such good athletes, Cirilo declared to Prensa Latina.

Emotional was also the moment when world-record parathletes Omara Durand (sprinter) and Robiel Yankiel Sol (long jump) and Pan American record holder Ulicer Aguilera (javelin) were applauded, who monopolized the decorations among athletes with disabilities.

For me this is more than a merit because we have worked all year to achieve achievements and we were able to achieve it thanks to my dedication and the work of my coach, Sol told the agency.

Screenings of videos of sporting feats, special recognitions and lots of music were the seasoning of the activity that culminated with a performance by singer-songwriter Raúl Paz.

Complete list of winners:

Most notable team: beach volleyball (m).

Best individual sport: wrestling.

Best in individual sports: Yarisledis Cirilo (canoeing) and Luis Orta (wrestling).

Best in team sports: Yilian Tornés (softball) and Jorge Luis Alayo (beach volleyball). Mention: Miguel Ángel López (volleyball).

Rookie of the year: Cristian Abreu (Basque pelota).

Non-individual event: mixed doubles table tennis (Jorge Campos and Daniela Fonseca).

Top 10: Julio Cesar La Cruz (boxing), Idalys Ortiz (judo), Leyanis Perez (athletics), Oscar Pino (wrestling), Gabriel Rosillo (wrestling), Lazaro Martinez (athletics), Andy Granda (judo), Leuris Pupo (shooting), Arlenis Sierra (cycling) and Jose Ramon Pelier (canoeing).

Highlights in other categories

Event of the year: table tennis results.

Contract standout: Raidel Martinez (baseball).

Mentions (gold medalists in San Salvador 2023 and Santiago 2023). Athletics: Rose Mary Almanza, Yunisleydi Garcia, Yarima Garcia, Zurian Hechavarria, Laura Moreira, Enis Perez and Lisneydi Veitia. Judo: Maylin Del Toro, Idelannis Gomez, Orlando Polanco, Magdiel Estrada and Ivan Silva. Weights: Arley Calderon.

Fights: Daniel Gregory, Yusneylis Guzman, Alejandro Valdes and Yurieski Torreblanca. Rowing: Reydi Cardona, Carlos Ajete, Leduar Suarez and Roberto Peace. Table Tennis: Andy Pereira.

Mentions (world medalists). Athletics: Cristian Nápoles. Boxing: Erislandy Álvarez, Saidel Horta, Fernando Arzola, Alejandro Claro and Yosbany Veitía.

Mention: Baseball team, fourth place in the V World Baseball Classic.

Best community projects: Venga la Esperanza and Wushu Chinatown in Havana.

Featured in the Central American and Caribbean School Games of Venezuela 2023: Yanet Coronado (judo) and José M. Fernández (wrestling).

Standouts in special sports: Lemay Gutiérrez (underwater) and Johen Lefont (ball control).

Featured in sports for people with disabilities:

Most notable of the year: Robiel Yankiel Sol (parathletics).

Most outstanding female: Omara Durand (paralymping).

Most outstanding male: Ulicer Aguilera Cruz (paralympic).

Top 10 paraathletes: Sheyla Hernandez (judo), Yuset Montejo (wrestling), Yenigladys Suarez (throwing), Yunier Fernandez (table tennis), Yordani Fernandez (judo), Daniel Milanes (track and field), Ever Rene Castro (track and field), Guillermo Varona (athletics), Di Angelo Loriga (sport shooting) and Michel Ernesto Suarez (taekwondo).

Mention: Manuel Alejandro del Rosario (badminton).

Best referees: National: Dirtho M. Fernández Cabrera (volleyball).

International: Luis E. Charadán Pierre (badminton). (PL) (Photo: Cubadebate)