Leuris Pupo y Ana Laura at the top of Holguín sports in 2023
- Written by Calixto González Betancourt
- Published in Sports
- Hits: 2955
The Champion and Olympic runner-up Leuris Pupo Requejo, specialist in rapid-fire pistol at 25 meters, was chosen as the athlete of the year in individual discipline for the ninth time, along with the rower Ana Laura Jiménez, after announcing the best of Holguín sports in 2023.
According to the votes, carried out by the sports directors and the specialize press in the territory, Leuris won his third crown in the Pan American Games (JP), together with a bronze and fourth place in the 2023 Central American Championships (JCC) and ranked fourth in the World Cup and classified for the Paris-2024 Olympics. 
On the other hand, the Mayari rower Ana Laura is winner of one gold and two silver medals in the Centrocaribe in San Salvador and a bronze in the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
In collective disciplines were selected as the best athletes the basketball player Bettzy Y Alfonso, with outstanding performances with the Cuba team, and the baseball player Yordan Manduley.
The award for most outstanding contracted athlete went to soccer player Yasnier Matos, who plays in a Guatemalan League, while the rookie of the year status went to Lauren Ducas, artistic gymnastics player.
Rowing in individual discipline and soccer in collective disciplines were chosen as the most outstanding sports, both with great performances during the year in national and international events.
Among the ten athletes of the year are:
- Marlin Pérez (Taekwondo)
- Alejandro Parra (Cycling)
- Andrey Barnet (Rowing)
- Juan Columbié (weights, 109 kilos)
- Taimara Oropesa (badminton)
- Yordan Danilo Ferrer (fencing, sword)
- Eddy Antonio Vázquez (shooting)
-Jorge Manuel Soto (boxing, 60 kilos, World Cup runner-up)
- Eleyannis Estupiñán (baseball, fielding, fifth place in the World Championship).
- Dennier Infante (sailing, World Cup participant, JP and JCC)
The Javelin thrower Ulicer Aguilera (fourth in the World Cup and gold in the Parapan-American Games, with a record) was recognized as the best in the men's branch in sports for the disabled.
Merits for the judoka Sheila Hernández , more than 70 kilos (world silver and bronze and Parapan- American gold).
The most outstanding parathletes are Yanelis Silva (table tennis, international medalist and fifth in the Parapan American Games), Héctor Luis Fuentes and José Luis Escobar, both chess players with good results in national competitions.
In the youth category Adriana Sanamé (modern pentathlon) and Marlon Herrera (judo), were the most outstanding in 2023, while the ten best athletes are Lizabeth Godales (rhythmic gymnastics), Geovanis Claro (handball), Andrey Alejandro Mendoza (rowing), Edgar Eduardo Ávila (rowing), Edmanuel Raúl Betancourt), Yan Carlos Reyes (cycling), Lisandra Reyes (cycling), Marco Antonio Campo (soccer), Álvaro Omar Cobas (baseball, pitcher) and Leandro Alejandro Guerra (baseball, infielder.
The Sports Directorate selected Reynerio Castellanos (Physical Education teacher), Wilfredo Vicet (coach, soccer), Fredy Bernal (activist), Ernesto Enrique Hernández (international referee, water polo) and Andrés Ramón Cruz (national referee, weightlifting) as the best for their performances during the year.
