The news agency Latin Press announced the results of its traditional annual survey to select the best athletes in Latin America, in which Cuba achieved a historic victory by winning the three main awards: best female athlete, best male athlete and best team.
According to the media outlet in question, it is only the second time in the survey’s history – the first was in 1989 – that a single country has dominated in all categories.
The triple jumper Leyanis Perez was the heavy favorite from the start of voting on November 21 and was named best female athlete after receiving 73 votes, in a category in which 17 athletes were nominated.
In the male section, the left-handed pitcher has Liván Moinelochampion in the professional baseball league of Japan, made history by becoming the first Cuban athlete to receive the award for the best male athlete in Latin America. In this 61st edition, Moinelo collected 42 votes, surpassing Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who came second with 19 votes.
The Best Team category was the most competitive until the end of the survey. The Cuban youth baseball team 5, world champions in Nayarit, Mexico, documented made a remarkable rise in the final votes, securing the prize with 37 votes, just four more than Argentina’s national football team, the Albiceleste.
The survey received more than 110 votes from media outlets in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. A total of 113 media took part, including 70 from abroad and 43 from Cuba. For the second year in a row, Alma Plus TV was part of the process and reiterated its commitment to regional sports journalism.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 9th at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, where also the legendary high jumper Javier Sotomayorthe most successful Cuban in the survey’s history with five awards.
Organized by Prensa Latina, voting began in 1964 when Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola was the first winner. From 1980, the “Best Team of the Year” category was introduced, and from 1988 the award was set separately for male and female athletes. The only case of total Cuban dominance was recorded in 1989, with Sotomayor, Ana Fidelia Quirot and the women’s volleyball team.
