The Greek cyclist Mijaín López and the sprinter Omara Durand were chosen today as the best athletes of the year in Latin America and the Caribbean in the 60th edition of the annual Prensa Latina Sports Poll.

Both legends consolidated their reigns by ascending to the Olympus in their respective disciplines and categories and were awarded by the vast majority of the 101 media who cast their votes on behalf of 19 countries.

Mijaín, the only one to win the same individual event in five consecutive Olympic Games and who a few days ago received the distinction of Hero of the Republic of Cuba, received 84 votes to sweep all his contenders as he did on the mats throughout his career.

Omara, a Paralympic gold medallist in the 100m, 200m and 400m and distinguished as a Heroine of Labour, obtained 40 votes to beat conventional athletes, including Dominican runner Marileidy Paulino (18) and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade (16), both gold medallists in Paris.

The sprinter from Santiago is an example of how physical limits do not define human potential and how it is possible, as a mother and athlete, to balance personal life and a professional career at the highest level.

Finally, in the Best Team of 2024 category, the Cuban Baseball5 squad, twice crowned champions of the world, received 35 nominations, but fell behind the Argentine men’s national football team (46), holders of the Copa América, which has won it seven times.

The Latin American agency’s voting began in 1964 with the victory of Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola.

In the men’s sector, the top winner is Jamaican legend Usain Bolt with six victories, followed by Cuban prince of heights Javier Sotomayor (5).

Colombian high jumper Caterine Ibargüen and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas top the list of female winners, dominating the voting on five occasions.