The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, presided over the 2024 Andalusia Sports Awards gala at the Gibralfaro Castle in Malaga, which recognize the best athletes, clubs, and sports entities in the autonomous community from the past year. «These awards represent public and institutional recognition of the efforts and merits in sports that lead Andalusia to the top of national and international sports competitions,» she stated.
During her speech, Patricia del Pozo explained that «the 2024 edition of the Andalusia Sports Awards is marked by the excellent performance of our athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, where we were represented by 58 athletes –43 Olympians and 15 Paralympians– who won eleven medals and twenty diplomas, contributing to the greatness of the national team.»
The Sports Minister also addressed the recognized athletes, clubs, and entities, stating that they are «the mirror in which Andalusian sports are reflected today, with personal and social values; examples of self-discipline, effort, and perseverance, as well as humility, sportsmanship, respect, and camaraderie. They are also role models for many other athletes, especially the youngest ones, and that carries a great responsibility.»
«We have the challenging and exciting goal of surpassing the records set by Andalusian sports in Paris 2024 within three years, where a historic harvest of medals and diplomas was achieved. That’s why, in the first call of the new Olympic cycle for Los Angeles 2028, we have increased the budget of the Andalusia Olympic Plan by 60%,» stated Del Pozo, emphasizing that «Andalusian sports are in very good health.»
In this way, the award for ‘Best Female Athlete’ went to the Granada native María Pérez, for the gold medal in the 20 km relay and the silver in the individual racewalk in Paris 2024. The award for ‘Best Male Athlete’ was received by the Malaga boxer Ayoub Ghadfa, for the silver medal in Paris 2024, in the +92 kg category.
The award for ‘Best Athlete with a Disability’ was given to cyclists Alfonso Cabello and Pablo Jaramillo, from Córdoba and Almería respectively, for the silver medal won at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, in Team Sprint C1-C5. The Almerian swimmer Anastasiya Dmytryv received the award for ‘Best Athlete with a Disability’, for achieving three medals in Paris 2024, gold in 100m breaststroke SB8, and bronze in 4x100m medley mixed and 200m individual medley SM9.
The Malaga sailor Rafael Montero was awarded the prize for ‘Promising Male Athlete’, for the first place in the Under 19 Kitesurf World Championship, the Spanish Kitesurf ABS Championship, and the Andalusian Championship. The award for ‘Promising Female Athlete’ went to the athlete from Huelva, Lucía González, for the third place in the Junior World Weightlifting Championship in the 49 kg category and first place in the Youth World Championship in the same category.
The award for the «Athlete with the Best Academic Record» was given to the athlete from Huelva, Marta Aznar, for the individual gold and team silver medals in the Junior European Archery Championship, as well as the first place in the Cadet National Championship, along with her academic results in 4th grade with an average of 9.7.
As the ‘Best Initiative for the prevention and fight against violence, racism, xenophobia, intolerance, and sexist attitudes or behaviors in sports’, the ‘Salvaguardia Program’ of the Andalusian Gymnastics Federation was recognized. The program aims to ensure a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free environment within gymnastics, ensuring the well-being and protection of all participants.
The award for ‘Best Male Team’ was shared by the CD Deaf of Huelva and Unicaja Basketball from Malaga. The Huelva club for winning the European Deaf Futsal Championship; and the Malaga club for the Intercontinental Cup, Champions League, and Spanish Super Cup in basketball.
The recognition for the ‘Best Female Team’ went to the Agrupación Voleibol Esquimo Dos Hermanas Club, for reaching the semifinals in the Women’s Super League and the quarterfinals of the Queen’s Cup.
The company Deporinter, in charge of managing the Andalusia Cycling Tour since 1979, was awarded the title of «Best Sports Manager» for its work in the Andalusian cycling event, which celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2025 (first edition in 1925).
Special Mentions
One of the special mentions of these Awards was for the athlete from Almería, Carmen Martín, for being one of the most prominent athletes in the world in her field, handball. Also, a special mention was given to all the Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Paris 2024, for their outstanding participation in the Parisian event, which was received on behalf of all of them by Sole López and Jairo Ruíz.
Finally, two more special mentions were awarded to the athlete from Cádiz, Antonio Millán, a pioneer in sports law; and to the president of the Andalusian Federation of Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Rocío Suárez, for her excellent management of the organization.
