Benidorm recognizes its most outstanding athletes of the 2023-24 season at the 11th Sports Gala

Benidorm hosted the eleventh edition of the Sports Gala last night in the Cultural Center auditorium, where nearly 500 people gathered for the major event for Benidorm sports. The event recognized the work and achievements of the best local athletes and sportspeople in the 2023-24 season.

The event was attended by the Mayor, Toni Pérez, and the Councilor for Sports, Javier Jordá, who were joined by other members of the municipal council and the regional representative José Ramón González de Zárate.

Javier Jordá, who opened the event, first thanked "all the people who make it possible for Benidorm to continue to be a sporting benchmark" and congratulated all the award winners at the gala, for whom he had a few words, each one "because your achievements are a source of pride for the city," although he emphasized that what was truly being celebrated was "your perseverance and the spirit of improvement that you demonstrate every day." The councilor also had a few words for the posthumously recognized athlete, Juan Carlos Hernández Villaescusa, "for everything he did throughout his life for the sport of swimming and lifeguarding."

The councilor emphasized that Benidorm "is a vibrant, modern city committed to sports" and affirmed that the City Council "will continue working to ensure there are more and more spaces" for sports practice.

Following the Sports Councilor, the corresponding commemorative plaques were presented to the awardees, who this year specifically recognized the athlete Liliana Fernández Steiner for her brilliant performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and her third-place finish in last year's World Tour. The Benidorm native was unable to attend the presentation, although she sent a moving video, and her award was collected by her father, Luis Colombo. The Gala also posthumously recognized Juan Carlos Hernández Villaescusa for his life dedicated to swimming and lifesaving, and the Anemona rowers who were in Venice last year.

After the awards ceremony, Mayor Toni Pérez closed the event by addressing the young athletes, telling them that "the important thing is not the medal, but having fun, preparing, and learning the values ​​that sport conveys." He expressed his gratitude "for those who promote sports activities" and also for the clubs and institutions "that make the dreams of thousands of boys and girls come true." "More than 5,000 people practice sports in Benidorm," he stated. The mayor concluded his speech by wishing "a better society every day" and congratulating "all the nominees and winners and all those who believe that sport helps us make a better world."
Winners
•    Daniel Valiente Zabalza. Chess. Junior Category. La Vila Marcelux Club
•    Benidorm Basketball Club. Mixed junior team. Preferred Category.
•    Benidorm Foietes Handball Club. Iván Molina Casagrande and Junior Beach Handball team.
•    Benidorm Swimming Club. Tamira Álvarez, Paula Rogel, Carlos Rogel, and Diego Cortés
•    Benidorm Beaches Volleyball Club. Junior boys' team. Sara Garrigós.
•    Benidorm Foietes Football Club. Girls' A12 8-a-side football, Boys' A12 8-a-side football, Girls' A11 8-a-side football, Senior Girls' and Senior Boys' teams.
•    Club Deportivo Titanes sin barreras. Adaptive football
•    Motorcycling. Enzo Zaragoza. Junior.
•    Track Cycling. Valeria Rico. Cadet.
•    Lope de Vega Sports Club. Julio César Porras, Senior Tennis, and Carlos García, Karate Master
•    Poniente Benidorm Beach Volleyball Club. Under-21 Youth Team (Sofía Gasé and Bella Huesca) and Senior Men's Team.
•    Benidorm Tae Club. Denis Petiov Hristov (junior), Lucas Mencía (junior), and Eder Changue (junior)
•    Benidorm Cable Ski Club. Ane Armas
•    Ps Water Benidorm Swimming Club. Brianna Álvarez and Natasha Server
•    Doble Amor Centre. For their participation in the Upapsa Adaptive Sports League
•    Benidorm Athletics Club. Carlos Alberto Alegre and Men's Master Team
•    Posthumous recognition to Juan Carlos Hernández Villaescusa for his lifetime dedication to swimming and lifesaving.
•    Benidorm Nautical Club. Fernando Pardo de Amos Senior Windsurfing.
•    Individual Swimming. Melanie Marín Rueda. Master.
•    Referees: Ismael Marco Moreno, Maikel Ferrari, Tomas Edmon Obelli, and Patrick Romero
•    Benidorm Pilota Valenciana Club. José Luis Calvo and senior team.
•    Benidorm Football Club. Men's U14 B team, Men's Cadet C team, and Men's Senior team
•    Beach Volleyball. Liliana Fernández Steiner. Senior. 9th Paris 2024 Olympic Games and 3rd World Tour 2024.