News02 Feb 2004


Moreno - best Cuban sportswoman of 2003

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Yipsi Moreno of Cuba after winning the women's hammer throw (© Getty Images)

Yipsi Moreno, the double women’s World Hammer throwing champion was declared the best Cuban Sportswoman of 2003, in a ceremony held at Havana's Hotel Nacional last Sunday (1 Feb).

"I am very happy to be selected the best in my country, where there are so many good athletes. It is a great reward for all the hard training and sacrifice we face almost all year round", said a delighted Moreno after receiving the trophy from the hands of Cuban Sports Minister Humberto Rodriguez.

As well as retaining her World title in Paris (73.33, 28 Aug) the 22-year old from the central-eastern Cuban province of Camaguey also added the Pan American gold (74.25m, 5 Aug) to her pedigree in 2003.

Also, just prior to the Pan Am win, her 75.14m effort in Savona (17 July) established a new Area record.

Moreno capped her marvellous season with a 73.42 (7 Sep) in Szombathely to win the inaugural World Athletics Final.

"I am aiming to win a medal in the Athens Olympic Games to improve my fourth place in Sydney. The World record is a secondary goal for me", she added.

Moreno succeeded women’s World Javelin record holder Osleidys Menendez, who was awarded the best Cuban sportswoman in 2001 and 2002. 1999 World 400m hurdles gold medallist Daimi Pernia won the award in the year of her victory.

Moreno, leads a group of 30 Cuban athletes who have already qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games. She is expected to make her 2004 debut later this month.

Top juniors

The two exceptionally talented athletes, triple jumper David Giralt and long jumper Yudelkis Fernandez, were selected as the best male and female juniors.

World Junior champion Giralt became the 15th Cuban ever to break the 17m barrier in the Triple Jump. He won the Pan American junior title in Barbados and finished fourth in the 2003 World Championships in Paris. He ended his junior career with a respectable 17.31m leap, which places him fourth in the all-time junior list.

Fernandez, 18, claimed a Long and Triple Jump double in Barbados. She also improved the national junior record in her strongest event to 6.69 meters. In the Triple, she landed at 14.03.

Others…

In the 2003 Cuban sportsman of the year title went to amateur boxer Mario Kindelan claimed his third world title in Bangkok and went undefeated last year in the 60kg division. He also won the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

The Cuban baseball squad, winner of the Pan American, world and Olympic qualifying tournaments, was chosen the best team of the year.

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