The Cuban-SpanishOrlando Ortega, Olympic runner-up in the 110 meter hurdles, was selected as the best male athlete of 2020 in Spain.
The recognition is shared with the CatalanEsther Guerrero, best female athlete and winner of the first double in the middle distance, at the Spanish Athletics Championships held in September 2020; and national record holder in the 2,000 meter event, with a time of 5:41.30 minutes.
Both athletes were congratulated at theSpanish Athletics Gala held on Thursday at the Felipe Reyes Sports Center in Getafe.
Ortega closed 2020 with a double in the Spanish indoor championships (Ourense). He won the 60 meters and the 60 meters hurdles.
The Cuban won the medalbronze at the 2019 Doha World Cups and four tests of the 110 meters with hurdles that he competed after the end of confinement. He was a winner in Monaco, Székesfehérvár (Hungary), Chorzow (Poland) and Marseille (France). Ended 2020 asworld leader of the season after achieving a time of 13.11 seconds in Monaco.
Ortega recently assuredABC that is prepared for theTokyo Olympics and that it is "in perfect condition" for what is coming.
"Right now I feel very good. Mentally, which is the most important thing for me, I am very calm. I know that I am going to arrive in perfect condition and shape to Tokyo," said the Spanish-Cuban.
He explained that prior to the Olympic Games he hasNational championships which are your short-term goal. He commented that his foot injury has not yet recovered 100%, but he is optimistic about it because he can now compete and will try as always to give his all.
Ortega obtained theOlympic silver at the Rio de Janeiro games (2016), competing in the 110 meter hurdles. His start in that race was not the best, but he made a spectacular comeback after the fifth fence. It changed the history of Athletics in Spain, which had not won an Olympic medal in this sport since Athens 2004.
The Cuban left the official delegation of the island in theMoscow Athletics World Cup 2013. He had arrived as one of the medal favorites for being third in the world ranking and sixth in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
HeINDER made an official statement about this athlete, pointing out that his "decision to renounce the cause of the country that allowed him to train as an athlete deprives him of the honor that comes with competing from the ranks of a sports movement rooted in its values."
However, a few years later Ortega has managed to fulfill his dreams. He continues running within another sports movement that also defends human values, studies a university degree and participates in different projects in support of people's health. He has many tracks ahead where he can show off the honor of being a great athlete.
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