Yinnolis Finishes Eighth in Panam Sports Awards' Sports Achievement Prize

Canoist Yinnolis Franchesca López placed eighth in the voting among nominees for the Sports Achievement Prize, awarded by the Panam Sports Awards Junior 2025 across seven categories to athletes with outstanding performances during the year.

Luis Izquierdo, a journalist with Radio Rebelde, reported today on his Facebook profile that the Cuban canoeist concluded in eighth position with 6.3 percent of the vote in a list of ten candidates. The leaders were divers Mía and Lía Cueva of Mexico, with 21.40 percent.

Following the winners are Nicole Martínez (Paraguay-rowing-15.37), Joysi Tinoco (Nicaragua-karate-14.66), Shaniqua Bascome (Trinidad and Tobago-athletics-8.79), Natalia Linares (Colombia-athletics-8.21), Henrique Márquez (Brazil-taekwondo-7.48), Racquil Broaderick (Jamaica-athletics-7.43), Yinnolis Franchesca López (Cuba-canoeing-6.53), Renzo Kai Fukuda (Peru-fencing-5.79), and Ava Soon Lee (Haiti-taekwondo-4.32).

A Standout Performance in Asunción
Yinnolis Franchesca distinguished herself with four medals, three of them gold, at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games. Her three titles came in the single canoe (C-1) 200 meters, the double canoe (C-2) 500 meters alongside Diorgina Castillos, and the mixed C-2 500 meters with Javier Requiero. To this haul, she added a bronze medal in the C-1 500 meters.

With this performance, the athlete from Villa Clara stood out among the multi-medalists of the Cuban delegation that participated in the Paraguayan sporting event.

A Promising Trajectory
In 2024, Yinnolis Franchesca also excelled at the Paris Olympic Games, qualifying for the A final in the C-2 500 meters alongside Yarisleidis Cirilo, who won the bronze medal in the C-1 200 meters.

Undoubtedly, the young athlete from Villa Clara is among the great promises of continental canoeing, with her sights set on the Olympic cycle concluding in 2028. This fully justifies her inclusion among the young figures recognized by Panam Sports.