Panama, being
a country with few inhabitants, has always been a place of
distinguished athletes and sportsmen, have maintained the
good name of Panama. Following are some of the most important
names participating in different sports at a national and
international level:
Teófilo Al Brown,
better known as "Panama Al Brown", was born in the
City of Colon (Panama), on July 5, 1901. He was the first
Latin American to conquer a World Championship Boxing. The
Arena de Colón Coliseum proudly has the name Panama
Al Brown.
Ismael Laguna, was born
on June 28, 1943 in the City of Colon (Panama). He is considered
one of the youngest champions of the world. On April 10, 1965,
he wins his first Lightweight Title with 135 pounds at the
Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Stadium against the Puerto
Rican, Carlos Ortiz, by decision of 3 judges. On June 10,
2001, he forms part of the World Boxing Hall of Fame in New
York, United States of America, joining Teófilo Panama
Al Brown and Eusebio Pedroza, as the select group of Panamanian
boxers attaining this distinction.
Laffit Pincay Jr., was born
on December 29, 1946 in the Republic of Panama. At the present
time, he is considered one of the greatest jockeys. Since
he was 15 years, Laffit walked horses at President Remon Racetrack
of the City of Panama, looking for the opportunity to learn
how to ride and become the professional he is today. On December
10, 1999, he equals and surpasses the mystical record of Bill
Shoemaker, with the greatest number of races won, 8,833 and
on October 28, 2000 we won five races on the same day and
with his third success, he achieved the victory of 9,000.
On February 3, 2002, with the victory of STAGE PLAYER, pensioner
of Jerry Dutton, on the second race of the day, the number
of victories of PINCAY reaches the dreamed goal, 9,300 victories.
Known in the American racetracks as "El Corsario",
he is member of the North American Hall of Fame as well as
the Panamanian Hall of Fame.
Rodney (Rod) Carew, born
on October 1st, 1945, in one of the wagons of the Transistmian
Railroad between Panama City and the City of Colon (Gatun),
started to play in the minor leagues at Pedro Miguel, former
Canal Zone and then in the middle leagues of Barraza, downtown.
Rod Carew, on his own, won the nomination to the Cooperstown
Hall of Fame in New York on July 21, 1991, being the first
Isthmian baseball player and the third Latin American achieving
this great honor, maintaining the good name of Panama. Carew
has been acknowledged as one of the greatest hitters of the
baseball history, hitting over the average of .300 in 15 consecutive
seasons, and in five occasions he obtained an average greater
than .350. He was also a consistent scorer and hitter by connecting
3.053 in all his career. In 18 occasions, he was selected
to participate in the all-star game, representing the American
League and receiving the greatest amount of votes.
Davis Peralta Checa, was
born on June 15, 1948 in the Area of El Chorrillo (Panama
City). He is son of Davis Peralta López and Petra Elida
Checa (both former basketball players). Davis Peralta wrote
one of the most brilliant chapters in the Panamanian basketball.
He was the greatest scorer in the Mexican 1968 Olympics and
one of the few Panamanian basketball players to have completed
the Olympic cycle. In 1978, he was invested with the Order
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, INDE, Panamanian Olympic Committee
and the Keys to the City.
Roberto Durán (“Mano
de Piedra”), was born on June 16, 1951 in the
Jurisdiction of El Chorrillo (Panama City). His childhood
was difficult. When he was 13 years old, he withdraw from
school and soon became the head of the family. He worked as
painter, waiter and shoeshine boy. In 1968, before turning
seventeen he became a professional. Mano de Piedra Duran,
as he is better known, has been one of the best lightweight
boxers of all times and maybe the best Latin American boxer,
pound for pound (categories: light, welter, super welter and
medium), in many decades, with an extraordinary record of
103 victories, 70 knockouts and 16 defeats. At the present
time, Duran is part of the Boxing
Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, United States of America
and is one of the greatest prides of our country.
Rommel Fernández G.,
was born on January 15, 1966 in the Jurisdiction of El Chorrillo
(Panama City). He tragically died in a car accident on May
6, 1993 on the road of Tinajeros (Albacete). A Panamanian
forward who, together with Julio César Dely Valdés,
have been for sure the most important Panamanian football
players. He started playing when he was 15 years old in the
Atletico Panamá, and in 1986 he was considered the
most important sportsman in Panama. The Panamanian Football
Federation decided to name the Revolución Stadium as
"Rommel Fernández Gutiérez" Stadium.
Julio Dely Valdés,
was born on March 12, 1967 and started his professional career
in the National Equipment of Montevideo (Uruguay) when he
was 21 years old, during four seasons, obtaining league titles
and three Copa Libertadores. He is the second Panamanian player,
after Rommel Fernández, who has played in a Spanish
football equipment (Málaga F.C.) and has also played
in other equipments, in countries such as Italy (Cagliari)
and France (Paris Saint Germain). In the Panamanian national
team, he has participated in 3 world preliminaries, being
important part of the defensive of the Panamanian team, scoring
important goals turning into victories for the national team.
Further, this Panamanian football player has been considered
one of the best players of all times in the CONCACAF, for
his broad participation in the most important European leagues
and for having an outstanding performance in each European
team he has played.
Mariano Rivera (“The
Pride of Puerto Caimito”), was born on November
29, 1969 in Puerto Caimito (Panama). Since he was a child
he loved playing ball. He climbed a hill to chase birds with
rocks, he also made his own baseball glove with some cardboard
and the balls with threads of nets. This major league baseball
player is one of our greatest prides. He has played in 5 World
Series, with a record of 9 saved games and has distinguished
as the best relief pitcher of the New York Yankees. In 1999,
he was declared as World Series Most Valuable Player. He has
been selected for 4 all-star games, saving 1 of the two games
played.
Rodrigo Terá, Rodrigo
Terán, as a sportsman, defined a rising path in the
Panamanian automobilism, being considered an idol for his
great victories and international participations achieved
in motor car race tracks of Panama, Central America, South
America, in Porsche cars, his favorite make.
Eillen Coparropa (“The Golden
Mermaid”), was born on March 31, 1981 in the
Republic of Panama. She is the first swimmer presenting the
flag of five Regional games and two Olympic games, Atlanta
1996 and Sydney 2002. She is also the first Panamanian woman
in winning two Gold Medals in The Central American and Caribbean
Games of 1998, establishing new regional records besides being
classified among the 15 fastest women of the world by the
International Swimming Federation. During 4 consecutive years,
she was chosen as Female Athlete of the Year 1996-2000. During
her high school years, she participated in many conferences
and lectures for young Panamanians on drug addiction, premature
pregnancy and has given her support to national campaigns
on Cancer.
Irving Saladino (“The Golden
Kangaroo”), This athlete was born in the City
of Colon, Republic of Panama in 1983. At the present time,
he won a gold medal in the men´s "Long Jump"
at the BEIJING Olympics 2008 with
a record of 3.34 mts. He is number one in the world long jump
classification of the International
Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and number
8 in the general athletic classification in 2006. He participated
in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, not classifying for the
finals. His international revelation was in the year 2006,
when he won the silver medal in the World Indoor Championship
of Moscow with a jump of 8'29 (record of indoor in South America)
and a gold medal in the last Central American and Caribbean
Games in Cartagena, Colombia.
 
Other interesting links:
Hipódromo
Presidente Remón 
Federación
Panameña de Fútbol - (www.marearoja.com)
http://www.futbolextremo.com
Federación
Panameña de Baloncesto
Corredores
del Istmo
Ultimate
Frisbee Panama
Triatlón
Panamá
http://www.panamadeportivo.com
http://www.panamadeportes.com
http://www.panamaspeed.com
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