Matanzas Crowns Mario Alberto Díaz and Daniela Fonseca as 2025's Top Athletes

Discus thrower Mario Alberto Díaz and table tennis player Daniela Fonseca were named today as the top athletes of 2025 in the Cuban province of Matanzas.

Díaz earned the laurels as the best male athlete, thanks to a year of excellent results, with special highlight given to his fifth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and several medals in international circuits.

Fonseca stood out for her performance at the World Championships in Qatar, where she reached the 16th spot in the mixed doubles, and for winning one gold and two silver medals at the Caribbean Cup held in Barbados.

The deputy director of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder) in Matanzas, Gerardo Crespo, stated in a meeting with the press that the distinction for Rookie of the Year was awarded to diver Frank Abel Rosales, gold medalist in the one-meter springboard at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.

The list of the ten best athletes included judokas Iván Silva and Andy Granda, multi-medalists in international events in 2025; table tennis players Diomar Arguelles and Rosalba Aguiar; and shooters Layna and Dianelys Pérez.

The list was completed by Aniel Molina (athletics), Natalie Morales (rowing), Julio César Suárez (canoeing), and Rachel Silveira (cycling), Crespo informed.

Crespo highlighted as the event of the year the award for coaching career trajectory granted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to Raúl Trujillo, an illustrious figure in Cuban wrestling and a guide, among others, for the career of five-time Olympic champion Mijaíl López.

During the event, recognition was also given to the best grassroots coaches, activists, school and youth athletes, referees, team and individual sports of the year, athletes with disabilities, best contracted athlete, and special sport athlete, the latter awarded to Guinness record holder for ball control Jhoen Lefont.