1. Canelo Alvarez
This renowned 29-year-old Mexican boxer is currently a 4 division world champion. Most well known for fighting in the middleweight category, Alvarez recently signed a $365-million-dollar contract, agreeing to 11 fights in the next 5 years. These upcoming fights will be a true test to his boxing skills however when representing the Latino community, he always gives his all and has only lost 1 of his 56 professional fights.
2. Vinicius Junior
This Brazilian footballer is just 19 years old and already plays for Spanish Club Real Madrid as a forward. With Real back to winning ways after an average season last year, Vinicius and his teammates have some major trophies to play for, including La Liga and the Champion’s League. It will be his job to find the back of the net and continue their winning streak.
3. Fernando Gaviria
“Speedy” Gaviria is a cyclist from Antioquia in Colombia who competes on both road and track. The 22-year-old beat a former world champion in the sprint finishes at the Tour de San Luis in 2015 and won two stages of the Giro d’Italia in 2017. Since then he has only been improving and is ready to show the world what he is capable of in 2020.
4. Juan Miguel Echevarria Lafie
In the 2018 world indoor championships, this 22-year-old Cuban won gold in the long jump with a mark of 8.46m. Now he is set to challenge for the world record at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is definitely an athlete that the Cuban nation will be watching very closely.
5. Belen Adaluz Casetta
Not only does this Argentine runner compete in the exhausting 3000m steeplechase, she has a personal best of 9:25:99. She is the current national and South American record holder and will be competing once again in 2020 to try and improve her personal best.
6. Alexa Citlali Moreno Medina
Alexa is a Mexican gymnast who in 2018 won a Bronze medal on the vault. Not only is this a fantastic achievement – she is the first Mexican gymnast to win a medal at a world championship. Latinos around the world will be backing her for similar success at the Olympics later this year.
7. Abraham Ancer
For those of you who are fans of golf, Abraham Ancer is a Latino to watch this year. After an impressive showing at the Presidents Cup last year, Abraham has his sights set on a win on the PGA Tour. This 28-year-old Mexican has the talent to go all the way.
8. Monica Puig
Monica Puig is the reining female Olympic tennis champion. The 26-year-old is also the first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic gold medal for her country and she is currently the Central American and Caribbean Champion. 2020 will be another opportunity to add to her trophy cabinet.
9. Mariana Pajon
Colombia’s only double Olympic gold medallist (London 2012 & Rio 2016) is looking to further her collection of BMX medals at Tokyo 2020 this summer. However, last year the “Queen of BMX” collided with another rider which resulted in a painful 9-month recovery process but now the 28-year-old is back and ready to compete once again.
10. The Brazilian Women’s Volleyball team
Lastly, not one, but a whole team of Latin sports stars looking to compete and win this year! With the squad having won gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, they now have their eyes set on the main prize in Tokyo later this year. With Volleyball being an extremely popular sport in Brazil, and after only reaching the quarterfinals in the Rio 2016 Olympics, this team will no doubt bring their A game to ensure that they once again go all the way.
Hopefully these are just some of the Latin Sport Stars who will be success stories this year and continue to inspire other Latinos around the world. Only time will tell!
