San Bartolomé de Tirajana recognizes 154 athletes for achieving 262 national and international medals

 

The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council held the second edition of the 'SBT Awards for Sporting Excellence' this Sunday, officially recognizing athletes, clubs, and cultural and sporting associations from the municipality for their achievements in national and/or international competitions during the 2025 season and for their contribution to the civic and social development of the community. The 154 athletes, 25 sports organizations, and 141 members of the cultural and sporting schools recognized at this gala collectively won a total of 113 gold, 77 silver, and 72 bronze medals during 2025.

 

 

The official ceremony was held at the Maspalomas Cultural Center, presided over by Mayor Marco Aurelio Pérez Sánchez, who highlighted “the excellent state of sports in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.” He stated that “all the awards presented share a common denominator: perseverance and effort, whether individual or collective,” and that “the key to this ceremony is sport for all. Without participation, we wouldn't be celebrating this gala filled with gratitude and recognition,” he acknowledged. The event, attended by approximately 400 people, also included remarks from Councilor for Sports Ramón Suárez Ojeda, who emphasized “the consolidation of the municipality and Maspalomas as one of the leading sports centers in the Canary Islands, boasting nearly 4.000 registered athletes, 80 clubs, and 45 different sports.”  

 

Athletes and clubs

 

With the Sports Excellence Award for the merits of their competitive background and achievements at the national and/or international level in the past season, 13 athletes residing in the municipality were distinguished individually (Blas Rivero Betancor, Ayman Brahimi Benhamou, Liam Dunkerbeck, Jamal Raad, Iker García Borst, Máximo Varela Ortiz, Santiago Hernández Rivero, Sergio Hernández Benítez, Ancor Afonso Sosa, Alejandro Diaz Santana, Valeria Verazzo, Angelina Simons and Indira Zúñiga García). 

 

The same award was also given to 44 athletes residing within or outside the municipality but who compete with a federation license from the municipality's clubs: Werdum Maspalomas (wrestling), Gloria Swim & Train Maspalomas (swimming and open water swimming), Agility Sigue Hoop Gran Canaria (dog sport), Secondreef Sup & Surf School (padel), Vibrando (sport dances), Fudoshin Karate Club Tablero (karate), Daisan and Corza's Maspalomas (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Sur Fighteh Unión (wrestling), Ubunto Masalomas (weightlifting) and Bushican (judo).

 

Also receiving this institutional award were the 40 athletes comprising the children's base, junior, children's and junior teams of the Corza's Maspalomas Club; the mixed doubles, open men's and pro women's pairs of the Wolffit Club of hybrid races; the 4x750 meter relay quartet of the +160 category of the Swim&Train Maspalomas swimming club, and the junior base and first category teams of the Daisan Sports Club of rhythmic gymnastics.

 

This group of award-winning athletes achieved a total of 137 medals during the past year in the different national and/or international competitions: 44 gold, 43 silver, and 50 bronze.

 

 

Special acknowledgments

 

During this ceremony, special recognitions were also given to 16 individuals, entities, and initiatives that, from different fields, have significantly contributed to the development, promotion, and strengthening of physical activity and sport in San Bartolomé de Tirajana as a tool for transformation, coexistence, and pride for the municipality, highlighting their careers, commitments, and exemplary conduct. 

 

In this regard, the 'Social-Sporting Commitment' award was given to the members of the Acebuches Trail Cultural and Sports Association as "a project born from the heart of a town that ends up becoming part of its history"; 'Passion on Wheels' was awarded to Simón Medina, the young karting, slalom and rally driver who in 2025 was proclaimed Gran Canaria Island Champion and Canary Islands Runner-Up, "for his effort, perseverance and passion for a sport in which he continues to accelerate towards new successes"; 'Grassroots Sport' was awarded to the Maspalomas Training School, which with its more than 400 athletes and 25 qualified coaches has established itself as a leading training entity in teaching the practice of football in the municipality; 'Women's Sport' was awarded to the Maspasala Sol de Europa women's futsal team, which since the 2017/2018 season has consolidated the only stable project of this sport in the municipality; and 'Traditional Canarian Sport', to the young promise of Canarian wrestling Aridane Martel Caraballo, resident of Castillo del Romeral and wrestler of Unión Aguimes, who in 2025 was proclaimed champion of the Canary Islands by island teams in the cadet category in the prestigious Alfredo Martín tournament.

 

 

The 'Sports Resurgence' award was also presented to CF Tunte, which returned in 2024 after 12 years of inactivity and, starting from scratch, managed to rise to the first regional division and consolidate the project; 'Always in Motion' was awarded to the adapted handball team of older men and women from the municipality, which has been demonstrating since 2005 that "sport has no age and it is never too late to keep learning"; 'Sports Promise' was awarded to the 18-year-old climber Hirune Jacobs Hammu, from the To'Patrás Climbing Club, whose excellent season has rewarded her with pre-selection to be part of the national team; 'Pioneers of Women's Football in SBT' was awarded to the Juan Grande Women's Sports Club, which in 2016 became a pioneer in competing at the national level, paving the way for women's football in the municipality; 'Ambassador of Sport', to Manfred Sander, former referee of the German Bundesliga, referee trainer and pioneer of women's football in Germany, resident in San Agustín since 1989; and finally the 'Beyond Limits' recognition to the Canary Islands Association SUMAS of Minors with Special Needs, for promoting equal opportunities and access to the sport of adapted and inclusive swimming for boys and girls with diverse physical and/or intellectual problems.

 

The athletes in the awards section, which also recognized the contributions to local sport from the Carmen Cabrera Dance School, Levi and Estrella's Kids, the Emily Dominguez and Paso a Paso dance academies, and the Urban Dance School, contributed a total of 124 medals to the municipality's medal count during the 2025 season: 69 gold, 34 silver, and 21 bronze.