Guantánamo.- The legendary high jump career of world record holder Javier Sotomayor has earned him selection as a recipient of the Gloria Leyenda del Deporte Iberoamericano Award, to be presented for the first time during the Sports Summit Madrid 2025, according to reports released today.
The award ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, at the Albéniz Theater in Madrid, as reported by Prensa Latina news agency.
A native of Limonar, Matanzas, the 57-year-old Sotomayor has held the world high jump record since July 27, 1993, when he cleared 2.45 meters in Salamanca, Spain—a mark that still stands today.
Celebrated for his Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games and silver in Sydney 2000, Sotomayor will be honored alongside other prominent figures in Ibero-American sports, including tennis coach Toni Nadal, Brazilian volleyball icon Giba, and Mexico’s Club América football team.
An initiative of SSM–Sports Summit Madrid, the Gloria Awards recognize 20 personalities across 13 categories in their inaugural edition, aiming to highlight the impact and growth of sports across the Ibero-American region.
This tribute once again places the “Prince of the Heights” at the forefront of international recognition, celebrating not only his historic world record but also his enduring influence as a symbol of Ibero-American athletics.
