Awards Ceremony for Canary Island Sports Achievements Scheduled
The awards ceremony recognising outstanding achievements in Canary Island sports will take place on 3rd October at the (TEA) Tenerife Espacio de las Artes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
## Award Recipients
Among those honoured are CV Heidelberg Volkswagen, Marta Mangué (posthumously), Domingo Álvarez, and Carla Suárez, all distinguished for the 2025 Canary Island Sports Awards, presented by the Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports.
This second edition of the awards will also acknowledge surfer Armide Soliveres, sailor Marta Mansito, duathlete Carmelo Pérez, and the Canary Islands Federation for Sports for Persons with Disabilities.
In the category for traditional sports and games, the awards will go to Antonio Ramos Gordillo (Pedro Molina Award), Manuel Jesús García Fuentes (Special Federation Award), and the Pila de Garrote Ichasagua (Equality Award).
The individuals and organisations honoured this year were selected by two juries: one for the seven categories of conventional sports, composed of 34 esteemed communication specialists from across the Canary Islands, and another for the three categories of indigenous and traditional sports, made up of five experts with recognised competence in Canary Islands sports disciplines.
## Profiles of the Honourees
### Armide Soliveres (Award for Best Individual Career)
The young shredder from Gáldar became the first Spanish world champion in bodyboarding in 2024, later achieving another triumph at the Iquique Bodyboard Pro 2025 in Chile with impressive manoeuvres that secured his victory.
Additionally, he dominated the first stop of the national Open circuit in San Andrés (Arucas), establishing himself as a leading figure in both national and international bodyboarding.
### Club Deportivo Heidelberg Volkswagen (Award for Best Team)
Champions of the Liga Iberdrola 2024-25 and runners-up in the Copa de la Reina, this club has successfully balanced youth and experience in its squad, solidifying its presence in the national elite.
Their project, supported by a vision for sustained growth, has been pivotal in placing women’s volleyball in the Canary Islands on the sporting map of Spain, becoming a model for new generations of players.
### Marta Mansito (Award for Promising Athlete)
The young Tenerife resident from the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria has just been crowned world team champion in the Optimist sailing class for the second consecutive year, this time representing Spain in Slovenia.
She also secured the title of Spanish champion in Santander, where she excelled under challenging conditions to lead the final standings, receiving multiple institutional recognitions in the Canary Islands for her promising career.
### Carmelo Pérez (Award for Adapted Sports)
World champion in the sprint for the Paralympic duathlon 2025 and five-time Spanish champion, his sporting journey is characterised by constant perseverance and a remarkable example of dedication.
In just five years, he has established himself as a leading figure in adapted duathlon, placing the Canary Islands among the elite in this discipline.
### Marta Mangué (Award for Equality in Sports)
With over 300 international caps and a career laden with medals from European Championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games, handball player Marta Mangué is regarded as the most influential Canary Island player in the history of women’s handball.
Currently, she promotes sports through her own club, Marta Mangué Handball, where she fosters the training, visibility, and leadership of new generations of players.
### Federation of Canary Islands Sports for Persons with Disabilities (Award for Outstanding Entity in Sports Promotion)
This organisation has been essential in organising regional championships and promoting inclusive sports across the islands, increasing visibility and opportunities for athletes with disabilities.
Their institutional work has reinforced equality of opportunity and integration through sports participation.
### Domingo Álvarez (Special Honourable Mention, Posthumously)
A journalist from Tenerife who recently passed away, he had a career marked by covering six Olympic Games and numerous World and European Championships.
He served as the director of RTVE and RNE in the Canary Islands and was a key figure in the national promotion of island sports, as well as an inspiration for several generations of sports journalists.
### Carla Suárez (Special Honourable Mention)
A former professional tennis player with a prestigious international career, she reached the quarter-finals at several grand slams and represented Spain at three Olympic Games.
Currently, she is the captain of the Spanish team in the Billie Jean King Cup, continuing her legacy as an ambassador for women’s tennis and a model of perseverance in Canary Island sports.
### Antonio Ramos Gordillo (Pedro Molina Award)
A professor, doctor in medicine, and president of the Canary Islands Anti-Doping Commission, he is a passionate advocate and promoter of traditional games and sports in the Canary Islands.
He has dedicated his career to disseminating and teaching about the rich cultural heritage of the archipelago, contributing significantly to preserving the memory of these practices and promoting their knowledge in educational institutions and society at large.
### Manuel Jesús García Fuentes (Special Federation Award)
Closely linked to the federation realm of indigenous sports, he has actively worked in promoting and consolidating various traditional modalities, especially the bola canaria.
His continuous efforts have led to a sustained increase in participation and the strengthening of the necessary structures to ensure the future of these disciplines.
### Pila de Garrote Ichasagua (Equality Award)
Part of the Canary Island Garrote Wrestling Federation, the Pila de Garrote Ichasagua has become a reference point for promoting equality within indigenous sports.
Their initiatives have facilitated the inclusion of women and youth in this historic discipline, advancing an inclusive project that helps keep the tradition of garrote alive in the Canary Islands with a contemporary perspective.
Antonio Ramos Gordillo, Manuel Jesús García Fuentes, and the Pila de Garrote Ichasagua will receive the three awards designated for their contributions to traditional games and sports.
