There was a desire to see each other again. I really want to celebrate. Lyou AS Sports Awards, which in 2020 had to be delivered in a reduced format and with only a handful of guests, returned today to the Hotel Palace in Madrid, its traditional setting, to bring the whole sports family together again. Just as the competitions got underway, the Olympic and Paralympic Games They served to bring together the best of humanity and send a message of hope, just as football knew and could play a European Championship, the League, the Champions or the Europa League. Or that tennis experienced the explosion of new stars, the 15th edition of the AS Awards also closed the year with an event as close to normal as possible, with happiness and joy in a year in which the light is making its way through the shadows.
A day to watch together after the derby Karim Benzema Y Luis Suarez, to listen to Novak Djokovic celebrate the “beauty” of the recognition of his 20 Grand Slams in the country of Rafa Nadal, to enjoy the golds of Sandra Sánchez, Alberto Ginés, Alberto Fernández Y Fatima Galvez The Susana rodriguez. With the records of Saúl Craviotto and Teresa Portela. To bristle the skin again with the embrace of Ana Peleteiro and Yulimar Rojas after his flights to Olympus. Clench your fists with the fire drives of Paula Badosa and Carlos Alcaraz. Feel the sparkle in the eyes of the Ballon d’Or Alexia putellas. Scream again with the 51,000 inhabitants of Vila-Real the title of the Yellow Submarine and the fans of the Metropolitan with its 11th League. Collect one of 4,725 rebounds from a legend like Felipe Reyes. Or join any of the projects of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, like its Valencia Marathon.
Because Vicente Jimenez he wanted to start the act with a toast and not leave it until the end. “We are going to celebrate many successes, all deserved, but if the athletes who have suffered so much effort and suffering allow me to achieve what they have achieved, for us in AS, humbly, the greatest success is to have all of you here again. For what it means, for what it is worth in times that are still uncertain and worrying, “the AS director encouraged the two hundred attendees.
And among those who raised their glasses, in addition to the athletes, very special guests. Miquel Iceta, Minister of Culture and Sports; José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid; Marta Rivera de la Cruz, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Community of Madrid; Blanca Fernandez Morena, Minister of Equality of the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha; Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee; José Manuel Franco, Secretary of State for Sports o Marisol Casado, member of the International Olympic Committee.
An institutional representation that they welcomed Carlos Nunez, president of Diario AS; Rosauro Varo, vice president of PRISA; Juan Canton, General Director of Press at PRISA Media and Jiménez.
“It has been fifteen years recognizing the best, fifteen years of titles, records and unforgettable deeds and, like this 2021, fifteen years of excitement, entertainment and passion for sport”, Susana Guasch introduced, that the Gala presented. “The competitions have returned and, what is more important, the public has returned to vibrate with the sports, the teams and the athletes they love,” the Movistar journalist continued to give way to the parade of stars.
First, a huge guy in every way, who is contemplated by 24 club titles and ten medals in the National Team. The lighthouse of ‘La Familia’ and Real Madrid, Felipe Reyes, who collected the lifetime achievement award after retiring in June at the age of 41. “They told me I had no qualities for basketball,” recalled the now ambassador of the white club.
And from history to the future: Carlos Alcaraz placeholder image. At 18 years old, he has managed to excite again to the fans. “This year has been the boom and I want more. I am going to put the award in the best place in my house. It is a pleasure to be at this gala surrounded by so many great people “, said the teacher NextGen, with wide eyes before the constellation of stars to which he will soon join. A cast that already includes Paula Badosa, champion in Indian Wells .
Stars like Susana rodriguez, Paralympic and world triathlon champion who deserved the cover of ‘Time’ for her work as a doctor during the pandemic. A true Madridista, happy to share the award with Karim Benzema, the Galician described her year as “magical”. She was the protagonist in the summer, at the Tokyo Games. Like the shooters Alberto Fernández and Fátima Gálvez, the climber Alberto Ginés or the karate fighter Sandra sanchez. Pure gold. Olympic champions. “I would tell those who are starting to fight for what makes them happy,” warned the Talaverana.
They are people who have materialized what they imagined. Did Teresa Portela, who at 39, and in her sixth Games (the Spanish with the most participations) finally won the medal that resisted him. Another canoeist Saul Craviotto, he became the most awarded Spaniard after silver with the K4 500 that added to two golds and a bronze. “Legend? I’m just an ordinary canoeist with good results,” he warns. Modesty is also rewarded.
Or resistance. The one of Atlético de Madrid, who won the league title in the last game, true to its tradition. He received the Enrique Cerezo award together with Luis Suárez, who also won the AS América Award. The Uruguayan scorer, with his 21 goals, was key to winning the trophy. Targets that were sung in the various editions of AS in Latin America and the United States, which make this medium a leader in sports information in Spanish. He also resisted Villarreal, who won his first international title, the Europa League, after knocking down a colossus, Manchester United, in a shoot with 21 penalties. The Xavier Mariscal trophy was collected by José Manuel Llaneza (vice president) and a myth like Marcos Senna from the hands of Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga.
Alexia putellas, champion of the Champions with Barça, he rounded off his year with the second Ballon d’Or for Spanish football. A star with world significance, such as Djokovic. One of the greatest athletes in history who received the distinction with “pride”. Admiration for him and for institutions such as the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and his patron Juan Roig, makers of dreams. Dreams as beautiful as seeing AS’s family reunited again.
