Havana - Cuban female silver judo medalist, Idalys Ortiz and Mijaín López, a Greco-Roman wrestler, have been chosen as the Best Cuban Athletes of the Year by the Cuban Institute of Sport.

Ortiz, the silver medalist in the Olympic Games in Brazil this year, received her fourth award in recognition of her effort and achievements in the present season.

Mijain Lopez, who was awarded the Best Athlete of the Year in Cuba for the 6th time, was the standard bearer for the Cuban delegation and won his 3rd consecutive title in the Olympic Games in Rio.

Other athletes who also won their third consecutive titles were Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, Felix Savon and the seven female volleyball players of the famous Cuban volleyball team baptized as 'Morenas del Caribe'.

The award for Best Sport of the Year went to boxing, after the Cuban team won its 2nd title in the World Boxing Series and gained three of the five gold medals won by Cuba at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) this year.

Osniel Melgarejo, a volleyball player was chosen as the Rookie of the Year and Omara Durand won the Disabled Athlete of the Year. Johen Lefont was given the top award for Best Special Disciplines Athlete (a non-sport category).

Boxers Julio César La Cruz, Arlen López, Robeisy Ramírez and Erislandy Savón, wrestlers Ismael Borrero and Yasmany Lugo, gymnast Manrique Larduet, female discus thrower Denia Caballero, male chess player Leinier Domínguez male beach volleyball player Sergio González, were chosen as the 10 Cuban outstanding athletes for 2016.