00:00Who is the best athlete in Colombian history? Who chooses them and how is the decision made?
00:05The answer is not simple, because it is a deeply subjective debate.
00:10There are too many arguments. For example, no Colombian woman has won two Olympic gold medals, except for Mariana Pajón.
00:18On the other hand, Nairo Quintana surpassed 50 professional victories in cycling, our beloved sport, and conquered the Giro d'Italia.
00:25and the return trip.
00:26However, Egan Bernal achieved the greatest feat in our sport, winning the Tour de France.
00:33It's not all about titles. Stories, significance, and global impact also matter.
00:40Many Colombians have faced the greatest legends of the sport, but few have challenged one like Michael Schumacher, as he
00:49Juan Pablo Montoya did it.
00:51How can we ignore that context then?
00:53Sixty-six years ago, Mike Forero, then sports editor of El Espectador, asked himself a similar question.
01:03Who was the best athlete in Colombia?
01:07Not of history, but of the year.
01:09For him, victories mattered, of course, but so did the physical effort and human values of each athlete, the discipline,
01:20Humility, perseverance, respect for rivals, and fair play.
01:26Because being the best isn't just about winning, but also about how you win and the example you set.
01:32It is left to the others.
01:33Thus was born in 1960 the sportsman of the year.
01:38Its first winner was Rubén Darío "El Tigrillo" Gómez, champion of the Tour of Colombia.
01:44Since then, the gala has become a living history of national sport.
01:47Legends like Cochise Rodríguez, a four-time winner, and Katherine Ibargüen, the top winner with five awards, have passed through it.
01:57Today, 66 years later, the award retains its prestige, its tradition and the values that Don Mike Forero defended.
02:05But what began as a ceremony that awarded the best cyclist in Colombia, today recognizes world champions and
02:13owners of global brands.
02:15The award grew as much as the importance of Colombian athletes over time.
02:22So, once again, we ask ourselves: Who is the best athlete in Colombia?
02:29The 2026 nominees were already announced in the print edition of October 31 and November 1.
02:38But you can also find them on our website and pinned to our Instagram accounts,
02:44arrobalacd-ee and eeteportista.
02:48Public voting will open in mid-November and will continue until December 3rd.
02:55one week before the grand gala, which in 2026 will be on December 10.
03:02Because victories build statistics, but stories build legends.
03:08And once again, the athlete of the year returns to celebrate the legacy of our sport.
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