The Canary Islands Sports Awards 2025 will honour Marta Mansito as its youngest recipient. At just fourteen years old, the Tenerife-based sailor will receive the distinction in the promising athlete category, following a remarkable career that already includes world, national, and regional titles. Her achievements place her among the top hopes in sailing, a sport that has historically brought joy to athletes from the Archipelago.
Mansito will accept the award on 3rd October in Tenerife, succeeding Alberto Delgado, the handball player who achieved the highest jury score in the promissing athlete category during the inaugural gala. The Tenerife sailor has made history in the Optimist class by becoming the individual world champion in 2024 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and winning gold in the team world championships in both 2024 and 2025 with the Spanish national team. This year, she also secured the national championship in Santander, showcasing her adaptability to various environmental conditions.
The Education, Professional Training, Physical Activity and Sports Councillor, Poli Suárez, highlighted that “Marta is an example of talent, perseverance, and enthusiasm from our young athletes. Her ability to win world titles at such a young age reflects the strength of Canary Island sports and confirms what we have always been: a global powerhouse in water sports. With talents like Marta, we are assured of a generational shift.”
A Remarkable Talent
Marta Mansito’s journey is impressive. She began at the Real Club Náutico de Tenerife, winning the under-13 national championship in El Masnou in 2022. In May 2023, she participated in her first competition representing the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria at the regional championship, where she triumphed. Since then, her progression has been steady, positioning her as one of the leading prospects in national and international sailing.
After two successful seasons in the Optimist class, Mansito is now preparing to embark on a new phase in the 420 class, a double-handed boat requiring her to adapt to pair sailing. The sailor expresses her gratitude for this award: “This motivates me for the years to come. I’m moving to the 420 class, which is quite different for me since it shifts from individual to pair competition. I am genuinely excited because I have coaches who have always supported me, especially Patri, Wichy, and Juan from the Real Club Náutico, and Happy from the national team.”
Mansito recalls her first world title in Mar del Plata with emotion: “The world championship in Argentina meant a lot to me, not just because I won but because I met many people from abroad with whom I still keep in touch. Winning in teams was one of the greatest satisfactions of my life; it was challenging due to the teamwork involved. We had an amazing team, and winning made me feel very proud of myself.” She also notes that winning in the women’s category was “another great accomplishment I will never forget, especially in a place like Argentina, a country so far away that I loved.”
The sailor also reflected on her participation in the World Championship in Slovenia this year, where she could not defend her individual title but again achieved greatness in the team event. “It was a short and challenging preparation due to the conditions. I couldn’t win the women’s title, but we won the team event, which was significant for me as I defended the title for the second year running.”
Balancing Studies and Sport
Mansito also emphasised the support she has received from her school, Hispano-Inglés, which has provided her with the necessary resources to balance her academic life with training and international competitions. She acknowledges that this backing has been crucial for focusing on achieving her highest athletic potential without neglecting her education.
With a growing list of achievements that already includes world, national, and regional titles, and with her sights set on new challenges such as the 420 class and the possibility of joining the Spanish team for the upcoming Olympic Games, Marta Mansito receives the Canary Islands Sports Award 2025 as the great promise in sailing. Her journey confirms the potential of the Archipelago’s youth in water sports and positions her as a name to watch on the international stage.
