Honor and glory for the indisputable individual stars of 2015 in Cuba: pole vaulter Yarisley Silva, gymnast Manrique Larduet, boxer Julio César La Cruz, basketball player Clenia Nolet, and big time hitter Alfredo Despaigne, along with boxing and baseball as best sports.
The surprising gymnast from Santiago, Larduet - multi-medalist in the Pan American games, second in high scores accumulated worldwide - and boxer
La Cruz, from Camagüey - chosen as the world’s best boxer after his third consecutive title - share this year’s distinction as the country’s best male athlete of the year in individual sports. The female honor was captured by Pinar del Río’s Yarisley, seemingly headed for the clouds when she vaults.
The results of the customary vote conducted by Cuba’s sports authority, the Institute of Sports, Recreation and Physical Education (Inder), with the participation of journalists, also revealed almost unanimous support for young boxer and champion Yohany Argilago, as Rookie of the Year.
Noblet and Despaigne, leaders on the national basketball and baseball teams respectively, emerged on top, among individuals participating in team sports, while the Domadores boxing team led the vote for Best Team of the year.
The Top Ten was completed with multi-championship and Olympic winner, wrestler Mijaín; world champion triple jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo; Denia Caballero, discus world champion; Lázaro Álvarez and Arlén López, boxing title holders; Ismael Borrero, another world champion wrestler; Rafael Alba, tae kwon do star; Ángel Fournier, elite rower; Yusmary Mengana, with three gold medals in Pan American canoeing; and stellar judoka Idalis Ortiz.
In the category of athletes with disabilities, the individual honors went to runner Omara Durand, champion and world record holder, representing the National Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ANCI). Also in track and field, Yunidis Castillo and Lenier Savón, won the female and male distinctions respectively, with Yunidis representing the Cuban Association of Persons with Physical and Motor Disabilities (Aclifim), and Lenier, ANCI.
The Top Ten in this category inlcuded: Leonardo Díaz (Athletics-Aclifim), Luis Felipe Gutiérrez (Athletics-ANCI), Lorenzo Pérez (Swimming-Aclifim), Ernesto Blanco (Athletics -Aclifim), Juan Castillo (Swimming-Aclifim), Danilo Rodríguez (Weightlifting-Aclifim), Yordanis Fernández (Judo-ANCI), Oniger Drake (Weightlifting -Aclifim), Yangaliny Jiménez (Judo-ANCI) and as Rookie of the Year Leyds Rodríguez (Weightlifting -Aclifim).
In the juvenile category (recognized separately) elected as the most outstanding were world champion boxer Dainier Peró among male athletes, and Yulenmis Aguilar, female javelin continental title and world record holder. The Top Ten included Iván F. Silva (judo), Maykel D. Massó (athletics) Alexei Rodríguez and Edel Acosta (boxing), Luis E. Patterson (fencing), Cristian A. Nápoles and Yanna A. Armenteros (athletics), George L. Barcelán and the duo of Arlet Hernández-Daniela Darriba (jai alai), and Gretel Mendoza (gymnastics).
The gala awards ceremony will be held December 23 in Havana’s Convention Center, when special activities will also take place to honor Erick Hernández (ball handling); activist Silvia Tabío; Best International Referee Lourdes E. Pérez (volley ball); and Best National Referee Carlos Agüero (athletics).
Special mentions will also be awarded world medalists, including Erislandy Savón, Yasnier Toledo and Yosbany Veitía (boxing), Lisandra Guerra (cycling), Robelis Despaigne (tae kwon do), Jhoan L. Torreblanca and Armando Chappi (jai alai).
