Extraordinary performances in Tokyo 2020, all with medals, by Carapaz, Dajomes and Salazar, make it unavoidable to divide the distinction of 2021.
The tradition began in 1964, when the microten player Jorge Freile Ycaza was the first athlete that Diario EL UNIVERSO chose as the best of the year after winning the youth South American title in Lima.
On Friday, January 1, 1965, this newspaper announced that Freile, a 15-year-old student in the fourth year of the San José La Salle school, was the best athlete of 1964. The historic vote was carried out by members of this newspaper: Carlos Pérez Perasso and Francisco Pérez Febres-Cordero, Assistant Directors; Ricardo Chacón, Jaime Rodríguez, Alberto Sánchez Varas, Luis Hungary and Jaime Márquez de la Plata, from the sports writing; Xavier Benedetti, sports columnist (he wrote under the pseudonym Zeta B); Agustín Pérez Aguirre, editor; Jaime Díaz Marmolejo, special chronicler; Humberto Salinas, assistant to the administration (formerly a journalist for the sports section); and Luis Arévalo, graphic chronicler.
The recognition with which, for 64 years, the athlete who has had the greatest international success in a season has been awarded to legendary stars such as Jorge Delgado (swimming), Miguel Olvera (tennis), Galo Legarda (billiards), María Patricia Cabrera (micro tennis player), Gonzalo Cruz (boxing), Fernando González (swimming), Raúl Viver (tennis), Mario Pons (cycling), María Cangá (judo), Jorge David Arroyo (weightlifting), Álex Quiñónez (athletics).
Record men
The record of awards is held by the ex-marchista from Cuenca Jefferson Pérez Quezada, with seven (thanks to a youth world title, a three-time world championship in the absolute category and two Olympic medals, one gold and one silver in 20 kilometers). It is followed, with six, by former tennis player Andrés Gómez Santos (a Roland Garros title in singles and another in doubles, and one in pairs at the US Open, among other consecrations).
Repeating names
In recent seasons there are names that have become assiduous in terms of the designation of the best athlete of the year by Diario EL UNIVERSO, like the weightlifter Neisi Dajomes, in 2018. The gold medals that he won at the World Youth Championships, at the Pan American Games, at the South American Games weighed in his election; in addition, the silver medal in the South American Cup and the bronze in the Absolute World Cup assured him his appointment.
In 2019 Richard Carapaz became one of the greatest Ecuadorian athletes of all times by taking over the Giro d’Italia, one of the most traditional cycling events on the planet. For that reason, he was the best athlete of that year, an award that was repeated by the Carchense in 2020.
In 2021, for the first time in six decades, this newspaper chooses three athletes as the best of the year. The extraordinary performances, all with medals, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games make it unavoidable to divide the distinction between three aces.
Carapaz won gold in the road test, in a route of 234 kilometers. Without a large team, without logistical help such as that of a masseur, the cyclist shook the country with a feat accomplished in 6 hours, 5 minutes and 26 seconds. Then it was Dajomes’ turn, who got the gold metal from the 76 kilogram division in Tokyo. And another weightlifter, Tamara Salazar, made history with her silver at 87 kg. They are eternal and they are the best of 2021. (D)
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