Affiliates from 11 nations took part in the vote organised by the continental section of the world sports media organisation.

Cuban wrestler Mijaín López and US gymnast Simone Biles were chosen as the best athletes of 2024 in the Americas, according to the continental section of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

Affiliates from 11 nations on the continent participated in the voting to choose the most outstanding in each gender, as well as the best in the categories of best athlete, team and press centre.

In the latter two categories, the Argentina men’s national football team and the media facilitation team covering the Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia received the most support.

The Horseshoe Giant, considered a living legend of world sport, received seven votes and was ahead of Ecuadorian walker Daniel Pïntado (2) by a wide margin.

Mijaín won his fifth consecutive Greco-Roman crown at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and his image of him leaving his shoes in the middle of the mat became one of the most memorable of the event.

Since then, he has not stopped receiving tributes and awards in different parts of the world, including being voted best in the men’s category and the protagonist of the sporting event of the year in Cuba.

Biles also shone under the five rings in the French capital, where she won four medals and demonstrated her ability to overcome the psychological problems that forced her to abandon the competition for Tokyo 2020.

Guatemalan shooter Adriana Ruano and sprinter Julien Alfred of St Lucia also earned accolades from the continent’s media.