Their performances have filled Cuban sports with glory. Photo: Archivo/Granma

Havana, December 15 (RHC)-- The annual survey by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder) and Cuba's circle of sports chroniclers revealed Wednesday that wrestler Mijaín López, judoist Idalys Ortiz and runner Omara Durand were selected the country's best athletes in 2021.

Mijaín, of Greco-Roman wrestling, topped the male athletes in individual sports, an honor that was joined by being distinguished as the protagonist of the main event of the year, when he became a four-time Olympic champion.

Idalis stood out among the women in individual disciplines, as a reward for the subtitle achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she won her fourth consecutive podium in events under the five rings (1-2-1).

For her part, Omara stood out among athletes with disabilities, in view of the three titles she won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Other award winners were boxing as an individual sport, the tandem canoe of Fernando Dayán Jorge and Serguey Torres (best in non-individual event), while the most outstanding rookie status went to canoeist Yarisleidis Cirilo.

José Antonio Miranda, general director of Inder's high performance department, informed at the meeting held this Wednesday at the sports organization that the awards gala will be held on December 23.

Miranda added that the main protagonists of the excellent Cuban performance in the First Pan American Junior Games of Cali 2021 will also be present at the event.

The selection of the best athletes in the youth category will take place in early 2022 and the awards ceremony will be coordinated with the Union of Young Communists.