
{"id":315895,"date":"2025-01-02T18:56:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T23:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=315895"},"modified":"2025-01-02T18:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T23:56:03","slug":"oncuba-survey-who-are-the-best-cuban-athletes-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/sports\/oncuba-survey-who-are-the-best-cuban-athletes-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"OnCuba Survey: Who are the best Cuban athletes in 2024?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long-awaited dream of an Olympic year without the shadow of a global pandemic became a reality again in 2024. Paris became the epicenter of world sport and Cuban athletes, whether those who represented the national athletic movement or emigrants who competed for other countries, made themselves felt with historic performances and legendary finishes that are already part of the rich Cuban memory under the five rings. And beyond the summer event in the City of Light, the island\u2019s athletes also left their mark on professional leagues or circuits of the highest level on an individual basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After this active calendar full of contrasts, <\/span><b>OnCuba<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> launched the second edition of its survey to select the 20 most outstanding Cuban athletes of the year and the best of each sex, under the maxim of uniting in a single list all Cuban athletes, wherever they are, both conventional and disabled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this inclusive selection, in which only the competitive criteria and the performance of the athletes prevailed, we called on more than 100 Cuban professionals linked to journalism, residing in different parts of the world. We included reporters from provincial, national, foreign and independent media, as well as freelancers and statistical analysts, all specialized in the coverage of sporting events.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are grateful for the collaboration of the 69 colleagues who responded to our call and who, based on their knowledge, have made this selection, which is a recognition of the most successful Cuban athletes of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without further ado, we present the winners of the second edition of the OnCuba survey to select the best Cuban athletes of 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Best female athlete: Omara Durand<\/b><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315899\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315899\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/458582908_860244109591173_814819957845210977_n-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omara Durand won three titles at the Paris Paralympic Games and said goodbye to the tracks. Photo: Calixto N. Llanes\/JIT Newspaper (Cuba).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After her meteoric farewell in Paris, with three Paralympic titles and that feeling that no one can defeat her, it is not a surprise that Omara Durand has dominated the votes as the best Cuban athlete of 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The undisputed queen of the tracks in Paris, the Santiago native got 47 of the 69 votes from the specialists, followed by volleyball player Melissa Vargas (19), winner of the last edition, Yarisleidis Cirilo (1) and Yusneilys Guzm\u00e1n (1). They all had weighty merits to aspire to the throne, but the value of Omara\u2019s triumphs prevailed in her farewell to active sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the legendary Stade de France, the indomitable athlete added to her legend with the titles in the 100, 200 and 400 meters flat in the T-12 category (visually impaired), always alongside her guide Yuniol Kindel\u00e1n. Omara, in tears and at the top of the podium, entered history as the Cuban athlete with the most crowns (11) in the Paralympic Games after an impressive dominance from London 2012 to Paris 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Best male athlete: Mija\u00edn L\u00f3pez<\/b><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315900\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315900\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315900\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27-1024x777.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27-768x583.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mijain-Lopez_final-27-750x569.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315900\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mija\u00edn L\u00f3pez completed one of the most impressive feats in the history of the Olympic movement in Paris. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No one had won five consecutive Olympic crowns in the same individual event, until Mija\u00edn L\u00f3pez ascended to the top of Olympus for the fifth time in a row in Paris. There were doubts about the Caribbean\u2019s chances due to the long period of competitive inactivity he had accumulated, but they were cleared up with his overwhelming performance at the close of his sports career. In our survey, there was no coincidence, although the victory was not unanimous, as many thought. The enormous season of triple jumper Jordan D\u00edaz deserved a dozen votes to be the best Cuban athlete of 2024. However, the majority of voters (59) rewarded the historical value of Mija\u00edn\u2019s fifth Olympic medal, who gave a demonstration of mastery on the Parisian mats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pinar del R\u00edo native achieved four fights and four indisputable victories on French soil, where he once again impressed with his physical strength and his technical and tactical skill. On his way, he ousted the Iranian Amin Mirzazadeh, current world champion, and the Cuban-Chilean Yasmani Acosta, two of the most demanding competitors in the division. At the end of the crusade, Mija\u00edn left his shoes in the center of the Parisian mat as a farewell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Top-20<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>The best Cuban athletes of 2024<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cuban sports fans had the opportunity to celebrate several triumphs of Cuban-born athletes in 2024. Olympic and Paralympic titles, stellar performances in top-level professional tournaments and relevant events in less media-friendly specialties marked the athletic calendar. The spectacular reigns of Erislandy \u00c1lvarez, Guillermo Varona and Yunier Fern\u00e1ndez in the event under the five rings, the milestone of the Antillean women in wrestling and canoeing in Paris, another championship of a Cuban baseball player (Andy Pag\u00e9s) in the Major Leagues, the overwhelming dominance of baseball5, the constancy of Erick Hern\u00e1ndez and Jhoen Lefont in the control of the ball, the contagious energy of Jorge Luis Alayo and Noslen D\u00edaz in the sands of beach volleyball or the phenomenal shot of the discus thrower Yaim\u00e9 P\u00e9rez are among the events that took our breath away in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on so many achievements and so many stars, at <\/span><b>OnCuba<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we present a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/encuesta-oncuba-los-mejores-deportistas-cubanos-en-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>list of 50 candidates<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of 50 candidates to select the 20 best Antillean athletes of 2024 and the most outstanding in each sex. Apart from our call, we left the space open so that the surveyed specialists could add other athletes with relevant results in the year. In this way, ten more athletes were added to the initial list of 50, which is logical in an exercise of great wealth due to the large number and diversity of criteria. We were very pleased, for example, by the inclusion of Oney Tapia, Paralympic champion with Italy, or the young Cuban weightlifting promise, Marifelix Sarr\u00eda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In total, 60 athletes received at least one vote, 35 exceeded 25% of the votes and 17 of those included in the Top-20 needed at least half of the votes. In general, the selection process was classified as complicated, because 20 seats were not enough to award all the Cubans who left their mark on competitive arenas around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h4><b> Erislandy \u00c1lvarez (67 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315901\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315901\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315901\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Erislandy-Alvarez-9-750x512.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315901\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Erislandy \u00c1lvarez (right) was the great sensation of Cuban boxing in Paris. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cienfuegos native was the great revelation of the Caribbean delegation at the Paris Olympic Games, where he gave a master class in boxing to take home the gold medal in the lightweight category. Erislandy defeated the seasoned Frenchman Sofiane Oumiha in the final, who was unable to assert his status as host in the ring set up on the legendary Roland Garros track. In this way, he joined the exclusive list of Cuban lightweight champions under the 5 rings, made up of stars \u00c1ngel Herrera, Mario Kindel\u00e1n and Andy Cruz. As if that were not enough, he is already one of the most promising figures in professional boxing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Yordan \u00c1lvarez (57 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315902\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315902\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315902\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yordan-Alvarez-2024_8-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315902\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yordan \u00c1lvarez (right) was the main Cuban protagonist of the Major Leagues in 2024. Photo: Isaac Esquivel\/EFE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was the best Cuban player in the Major Leagues in 2024, a year in which he hit 35 home runs, with 86 RBIs and an impressive offensive line of .308\/.392\/.567 wearing the Houston Astros jersey. The slugger from Las Tunas became the third player from the island with 4 consecutive seasons of more than 30 home runs, something that only Rafael Palmeiro and Jos\u00e9 Canseco achieved in the steroid era. Yordan once again confirmed his class and achieved his third participation in the All-Star Game, in addition to finishing as a finalist in the race for the Silver Bat as the best-designated hitter in the American League.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Jordan D\u00edaz (56 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315903\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315903\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315903\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721-1024x593.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_221721-750x434.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315903\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordan D\u00edaz made the definitive leap to stardom with great records and crowns at the Olympic Games and the European Athletics Championships. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With exquisite planning, without exposing himself in any of the Diamond League stops and focusing only on 2 major competitions, Jordan D\u00edaz closed a perfect year. The triple jumper from the capital who represents Spain <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/inedito-triplistas-cubanos-copan-el-podio-olimpico-en-paris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>was crowned at the Paris Olympic Games<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with an unprecedented final in which 3 Cubans climbed onto the podium representing other nations, while at the European Athletics Championships held in Rome, he left everyone speechless after achieving a stratospheric jump of 18.18 meters, the third best in history in the modality. Of the 8 events in which he participated this year, Jordan won them all, and in 6 of the,m he achieved marks above 17.50.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Raidel Mart\u00ednez (55 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315904\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315904\" style=\"width: 1124px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315904\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raidel-Martinez-3-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315904\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cuban pitcher Raidel Mart\u00ednez had an impressive season as a closer in Japan and won a million-dollar contract with the Yomiuri Giants for 2025. Photo: Chunichi Dragons \/ Archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pinar del R\u00edo native reaffirmed himself as the best reliever in Japanese baseball after another dream season with the Chunichi Dragons. The Cuban closer recorded 43 saves, shattering the personal record he set in 2022 with 39 saves. In this way, he reached 166 saves in the Asian circuit since his debut in 2018. This year, he also achieved a pair of victories, so he participated in at least 45 of his team\u2019s 60 victories. Raidel struck out 59 in 59 innings of work and only allowed 7 earned runs in that span, with an ERA of 1.09. The speedy right-hander did not commit a wild pitch throughout the season, gave away only 12 walks (2 of them intentional) and hit a couple of balls, proof of his excellent control. His performance has put him on the verge of signing a new contract with the powerful Yomiuri Giants, who propose to give him 16 million dollars for the next 2 seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Yusneilys Guzm\u00e1n (53 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315905\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315905\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315905\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240806_122012-750x428.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315905\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yusneilys Guzm\u00e1n (red) went down in history as the first Cuban woman with an Olympic medal. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Paris 2024, \u201cLa Chiqui\u201d became the first Cuban woman with a medal in wrestling at the Olympic Games since the Antilleans debuted in the modality in 2004. The 50-kilogram Havana native made it to the final by chance, after the disqualification of Indian Vinesh Phogat, who had beaten her in the semis. In the discussion for the crown, Guzm\u00e1n could not beat the American Sarah Hildebrandt, but her name was already inscribed in the record books.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Yarisleidis Cirilo (53 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315906\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315906\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315906\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_143444-750x499.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315906\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yarisleidis Cirilo won in Paris the first Olympic medal for a Cuban woman in canoeing under the five rings. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never before had a Cuban woman climbed to the Olympic podium in canoeing, but in Paris 2024 the curse was broken with the Guantanamo native, who finished third in the C-1 sprint at 200 meters. Cirilo entered history after engaging in a bloody battle with the Canadian Katie Vincent and the American Nevin Harrison, whom she could not defeat in the final. \u201cIt was a very fast, very difficult race, that is why coming away with a medal is so special,\u201d said the Antillean to the media after a historic bronze, which places her in the stellar planes of Cuban canoeing. In addition to the medal in the City of Light, the Antillean also achieved third place in the World Cup in Szeged, Hungary, held last May.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/h4>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Liv\u00e1n Moinelo (51 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315907\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315907\" style=\"width: 1220px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315907\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1220\" height=\"891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb.jpeg 1220w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb-300x219.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb-1024x748.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb-768x561.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb-750x548.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/livan_moinelo_npb-1140x833.jpeg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1220px) 100vw, 1220px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315907\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liv\u00e1n Moinelo impressed in his first season as a starter in professional baseball in Japan. Photo: @beisboljapones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were some doubts about whether Moinelo would achieve a stellar performance as a starter with the Softbank Hawks in Japanese baseball after spending his entire career in a relief role, but the left-hander gave a master class in pitching in his new role. The Pinar del R\u00edo native finished as the leader in ERA (1.88) in the Pacific League, with 11 wins in 25 starts and 155 strikeouts in 163 innings of work. In addition, he won the Gold Glove as the best defensive pitcher in his circuit. Moinelo added her sixth consecutive season with an ERA below 2.00 and her overall ERA after 8 campaigns in Japan is 1.92.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Milaimys Mar\u00edn (51 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315908\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315908\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315908\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349-750x499.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240811_140349-1140x759.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315908\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Milaimys Mar\u00edn (right) won a historic medal for Cuban women\u2019s wrestling at the Olympic Games. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last Cuban medalist in Paris 2024 was the capital native, whose only stumble in the Olympic competition came in the quarterfinals against the American Kennedy Blades. By a minimal difference and with a battle until the last second, the northerner cut Mar\u00edn\u2019s winning streak, who later proved relentless to win the bronze medal. Together with Yusneilys Guzm\u00e1n, she wrote a historic page for Cuban women\u2019s wrestling, which for the first time climbed onto the summer podium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Pedro Pablo Pichardo (49 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315909\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315909\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315909\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923-1024x843.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923-768x632.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240809_215923-750x617.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315909\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pedro Pablo Pichardo became the first Cuban triple jumper with two medals at the Olympic Games. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He arrived in Paris with the label of reigning monarch and he certainly defended his Olympic crown in an unforgettable duel against Jordan D\u00edaz. The Santiago native, who has been competing under the Portuguese flag for some years, managed 4 jumps of more than 17.50 and 2 over 17.80 in his particular hunt against the Cuban-Spanish, but it was not enough to repeat his Tokyo title. Nevertheless, Pichardo became the first Caribbean triple jumper with two medals at the Olympic Games. In addition, he won the Diamond League title after winning in 2 stops, including the final in Brussels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Leinier Dom\u00ednguez (48 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315910\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315910\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315910\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leinier-Dominguez-en-Fide-Grand-Prix-de-Berlin-2048x1365-1-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315910\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cuban GM, naturalized American, Leinier Dom\u00ednguez had another year of good results. Photo: FIDE \/ Archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cIdol of G\u00fcines\u201d started 2024 in eighth place in the world chess ranking with 2,752 ELO points, and throughout the year he showed that it is not by chance that he is among the best chess players on the planet. Competing for the United States, Leinier won the team silver medal at the World Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary, where he mostly played third board behind Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So. His performance was not stellar, but he finished with a positive balance (5.5 points out of 9 possible) and became the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/leinier-dominguez-logra-historica-medalla-en-olimpiada-de-ajedrez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>first Cuban<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a team medal in World Olympiads. To top it off, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/ajedrez-leinier-dominguez-finaliza-segundo-en-el-campeonato-de-estados-unidos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>he finished second<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the very strong United States National Championship, held last October, and in recent days he finished undefeated and in fourth place overall in the World Rapid Games Championship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"11\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Wilfredo Le\u00f3n (46 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315911\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315911\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315911\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Wilfredo-Leon-750x499.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315911\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wilfredo Le\u00f3n was once again an important figure for Poland in 2024, as well as reigning with Perugia in his final season in the Italian Super League. Photo: Volleyball World.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He started the professional season at half speed due to physical discomfort, but he warmed up and gave memorable performances, at the height of his real quality, both at club level and with the Polish national team, which he has represented for several years. With Perugia, Le\u00f3n was proclaimed champion of the Italian Cup in January almost without playing, and 3 months later he achieved the longed-for Scudetto of the Super League, the only title he was missing in the transalpine country. In 2 of the 4 games of the final he scored more than 20 points in his farewell to Perugia. His international season did not have the golden climax that was expected, but he won bronze in the Nations League and silver at the Paris Olympics, in the latter event as the leading scorer and the best in service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"12\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Robiel Yankiel Sol (44 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315912\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315912\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315912\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Robiel-Yankiel-Sol-11-750x499.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315912\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Robiel Yankiel Sol is emerging as the new face of the Cuban Paralympic movement after the retirement of Omara Durand. Photo: Calixto N. Llanes\/JIT Newspaper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although he was unable to come close to his impressive world record of 7.84 meters, the Cuban jumper won the title in Paris 2024 after a tough battle against the Chinese Wang Hao, who had a spectacular sequence with 6 jumps over 7 meters. At only 21 years old, Robiel Yankiel already has 2 Paralympic titles, so the possibility of becoming a legend in the future is in his hands (or his legs).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Melissa Vargas (43 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315913\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315913\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315913\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/melissa-vargas-turquia-paris-2024-5-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315913\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cuban naturalized Turkish Melissa Vargas ended the hopes of victory of the Netherlands in a spectacular duel. English:Photo: Mohammed Badra\/EFE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The winner of the first edition of our survey for Best Female Athlete of 2023 continued her overwhelming pace this year. Consecrated as one of the best volleyball players in the world, she is the undisputed leader of the Turkish national team, a country she has represented for a couple of years. This year she finished as the top scorer and best attacker in the Nations League, as well as occupying second place in service. In Paris 2024 she offered a scandalous show, scoring more than 25 points in 4 of the 6 games played, including 2 of more than 30 points and one (against China) with the incredible figure of 42 points. Unfortunately, Turkey was on the verge of the bronze medal after losing to Brazil for last place on the Olympic podium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"14\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Yunier Fern\u00e1ndez (38 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315914\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315914\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315914\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yunier-Fernandez-1-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315914\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yunier Fern\u00e1ndez (S6) celebrates at the Para table tennis awards ceremony at the Paris Sur Arena during the Para sporting event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, on August 6, 2024 in Indre, France. Photo: Calixto N. Llanes\/JIT Newspaper (Cuba)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Artemisa native had a brilliant performance at the Paris Paralympic Games, where he became the first Cuban champion of para table tennis at summer events. In the discussion for the title in the MS1 category, he swept the British Robert Davies with scores of 14-12, 11-7 and 11-4. In his third Paralympic experience, Fern\u00e1ndez accumulated 4 resounding victories against renowned rivals. His title allowed Cuba to surpass the number of crowns from Tokyo 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"15\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Yasmani Acosta (37 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315915\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315915\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315915\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2-1024x752.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yasmani-Acosta-2-750x551.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315915\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yasmani Acosta (right) became the first Chilean wrestling medalist at the Olympic Games. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After becoming the second Chilean wrestler at the Olympic Games three years ago, the Matanzas native returned in Paris 2024 to try something never seen before in the southern nation, for which he has been competing for some years. Acosta sought to give his host country its first medal in summer wrestling and more than fulfilled his goal by winning the silver medal in the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman style division. The final fight was an all-Cuban duel against the legendary Mija\u00edn L\u00f3pez, Acosta\u2019s idol since his beginnings in the sport. This fight marked the farewell of the \u201cGiant of Horseshoe\u201d and probably also marked the end of Yasmani\u2019s career at the Olympic Games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"16\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Guillermo Varona (35 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315916\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315916\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315916\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/guillermo-varona-paris2024-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315916\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Guillermo Varona won the javelin throw, F46 category, at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Photo: Calixto N. Llanes\/JIT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since May of this year, the javelin thrower from Camag\u00fcey had launched his candidacy to be among the best Cuban athletes of 2024, since at that early date he won the world crown in Kobe, Japan. The left-hander took the crown in the F-46 category with a throw of 65.16 meters, a record for the competition. That was the prelude to his victory at the Paris Paralympic Games, where he surpassed his personal record and established a new American record with a throw of 66.14. Varona beat the Indians Singh Ajeet (65.62) and Sundar Singh Gurjar (64.96); the first, owner of the world record, and the other, with a world title on his record.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"17\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Briandy Molina (35 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315917\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315917\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315917\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-768x462.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-1536x925.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-750x452.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Briandy-Molina-1-1140x686.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315917\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Briandy Molina (right) and Haila Gonz\u00e1lez were two of the best players in the Baseball5 World Cup. Photo: WBSC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the second time, Briandy Molina was named the Men\u2019s MVP of the Baseball5 World Cup, after the 29-year-old player showed lightning form throughout the tournament held in Hong Kong. The capital native continued to inspire and lead a team that set the pace against all rivals and repeated his MVP award won at the first Baseball5 World Cup held in Mexico in 2022. On Asian soil, Briandy had the most runs (43), the third-best batting average (.709), and was second in RBIs (29) and hits (73).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"18\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Raisel Iglesias (34 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315918\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315918\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315918\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Raisel-Iglesias_EFE-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315918\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raisel Iglesias had one of his best MLB campaigns. Photo: Erik S. Lesser\/EFE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.95 ERA, fifth season with more than 30 saves, the best reliever in the National League in August\u2026 That was the result of 2024 for Iglesias, who reaffirmed himself as one of the most important players in the Atlanta Braves. His campaign was dazzling, especially between mid-May and September, a period of 41 outings in the center of the diamond in which he only allowed 5 runs, and the opponents hit him for an anemic .101. In that period he linked a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/beisbol\/36-2-innings-los-dodgers-ponen-fin-a-la-racha-inmaculada-de-raisel-iglesias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>chain of 36.2 innings without allowing earned runs<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the longest by a Cuban reliever in the Majors and the tenth among all the firefighters in the history of MLB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"19\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Loren Berto Alfonso (31 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315919\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315919\" style=\"width: 957px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315919\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"957\" height=\"745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036.jpg 957w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036-768x598.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20240728-WA0036-750x584.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315919\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loren Berto Alfonso (left) was runner-up in Paris and along the way managed to eliminate Julio C\u00e9sar La Cruz. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A multi-world and European medalist and bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Loren Berto Alfonso was no satellite in Paris 2024, where he made a comeback by eliminating the star Cuban Julio C\u00e9sar La Cruz in his first fight. The Cuban, who competes under the Azerbaijani flag, destroyed \u201cLa Sombra\u2019s\u201d fight plan with a style also based on quick combinations and constant movements in the ring. With that strategy, he advanced in the City of Light to the silver medal, accompanied at all times by his coach Pedro Roque, another Cuban representing other nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol start=\"20\">\n<li>\n<h4><b> Rafael Alba (29 votes)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_315920\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-315920\" style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-315920\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1140\" height=\"759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20240810_205033-750x499.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-315920\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rafael Alba became the first Cuban multi-Olympic medalist in taekwondo. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Santiago native started his career in Paris 2024 on the wrong foot, as soon as in the second presentation he lost to the unknown British Caden Cunningham, a 21-year-old boy who surprised everyone by making it to the final. Alba was then left to his own devices by way of the repechage, where he came back to beat the Nigerian Abdoul Razak Issoufou. Then, in the bronze medal match, he <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/deportes\/paris-2024-rafael-alba-gana-bronce-y-cuba-se-sostiene-entre-los-30-primeros-del-medallero\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>ousted<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Croatian Ivan \u0160apina, a double world medalist, and became the first Cuban taekwondo exponent with two medals in the Olympic Games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-315898\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ.png 80w, https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/dep-separ-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 80px) 100vw, 80px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Who answered the survey?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to select the best Cuban athletes of the year, it was essential to have the opinion of multiple specialists who, day after day, follow the athletes\u2019 achievements and publish their chronicles on various platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our initial call included more than 100 Cuban press professionals and once again the idea was very well received, with a total of 69 responses. Among all the participants we found very diverse criteria, with very different ways of interpreting sport, something that has enriched these results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The selections rewarded the great results of the Cubans in the Paris Olympic Games, but attention was also paid to the performance of our athletes in professional circuits who did not have the opportunity to compete in Paris.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a serious and responsible exercise, for which we reiterate our gratitude to the specialists who dedicated part of their valuable time and knowledge to achieve this selection, strictly based on sporting aspects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This survey aims, above all, to honor and encourage athletes born in Cuba, without distinguishing where they have decided to develop their careers and their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Journalists who voted:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abel Castro<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alejandro Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alejandro Rodr\u00edguez Ulloa<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alexis Carmona<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alexis R\u00faa<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aliet Arzola Lima<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andy Jos\u00e9 Rivera<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andy Lans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An\u00edbal Oliva<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arian Alejandro<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arley Puyol<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aynel Mart\u00ednez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benigno Daquinta<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boris Luis Cabrera<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Camilo P\u00e9rez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carlos Hern\u00e1ndez Luj\u00e1n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charly Morales<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dairon Medina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel de Malas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel Mart\u00ednez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day\u00e1n Garc\u00eda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duanys Hern\u00e1ndez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dubler V\u00e1zquez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eduardo Gonz\u00e1lez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eduardo Grenier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enio Echazabal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ernesto Amaya<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eyleen Rios<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fabio Quintero<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">F\u00e9lix Anazco<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fidel Manzanares<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flabio Guti\u00e9rrez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Francys Romero<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gabriel Pe\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gregorio Oquendo<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gretel Yanet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guillermo Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harold Iglesias<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">H\u00e9ctor Miranda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heeney Figueroa<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Javier Orizondo<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Javier Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jhonah D\u00edaz<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joan Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joel Garc\u00eda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">John Vila Acosta<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jorge Luis Coll<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jos\u00e9 A. Portela<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kitin Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leonardo Ruiz<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lilian Cid<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manuel Alejandro P\u00e9rez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Miguel Hern\u00e1ndez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelson Alejandro Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oscar S\u00e1nchez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pablo Enrique D\u00edaz<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raiko Martin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ra\u00fal del Pino<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ra\u00fal Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reinier Batista<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reinier Gonz\u00e1lez Jr.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ren\u00e9 Navarro<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Robiel Vega<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vivian Gonz\u00e1lez<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yasiel Cancio<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yuniet \u00c1vila<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yusimi Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The long-awaited dream of an Olympic year without the shadow of a global pandemic became a reality again in 2024. Paris became the epicenter of world sport and Cuban athletes, whether those who represented the national athletic movement or emigrants who competed for other countries, made themselves felt with historic performances and legendary finishes that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2445,"featured_media":315897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[34961,34846,14967,19256],"ppma_author":[33669],"class_list":["post-315895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-2024-overview","tag-best-cuban-athletes","tag-cuban-sports","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>OnCuba Survey: Who are the best Cuban athletes in 2024? | OnCubaNews English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The results are in! In the second edition of the survey, 69 journalists participated with their votes, in which they voted from a list of 50 preselected athletes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/sports\/oncuba-survey-who-are-the-best-cuban-athletes-in-2024\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"OnCuba Survey: Who are the best Cuban athletes in 2024? | OnCubaNews English\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The results are in! 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