The year that is about to end left stories indelible in the retinas of our readersfrom the signing of the record contract by Juan Soto to the golden performance at the Paris Olympic Games, including the death of figures who marked an era and the legal problems due to the alleged use of performance-enhancing substances in children. Below is a summary of the 10 most followed topics.
1. Olympic Games 2024
Marileidy Paulino became the first Dominican to achieve a medal gold in the Olympic Games when he achieved first place in the 400 meter dash. He did it with an Olympic record, which earned him public recognition, millions of pesos as a bonus and a promotion to first lieutenant of the Dominican Republic Air Force. The country also won two bronzes in boxing with the fists of Yunior Alcántara and Cristian Pinales. He highlighted the classification of the Queens of the Caribbean to the contest and the suspension for failing a doping test by Lisvel Eve Mejía before the start of the contest.
2. Baseball
Among the information of the Dominican king of sport, the death of Ricardo Carty, a legend of Dominican baseball, as well as that of former pitcher Ronny García had a great impact. Likewise, the return of Sammy Sosa to the city of Chicago where he made a donation and was honored by the firefighters there. A column by Bienvenido Rojas where he explains that Licey was the first team to have its own stadium.
3. Wander Franc
The legal problems facing the player not only prevented them from playing the 2024 Major League season, but have also ensured that he will miss half of the next season, since his case will be heard in June 2025. Franco is accused of abuse sexual relations with a minor.
4. Lidom
The arrival of free agency to the league (in 2023) has caused the last two “dead seasons” to produce a marathon of transactions that has accelerated changes between teams, including emblematic figures, such as the pass of Francis Peña, from the Águilas, towards the Toros del Este. Another column by Rojas, related to the announcement of the withdrawal of the Estrellas Orientales from the championship in 1957 due to poor performance and economic inability to continue in the competition.
5. Medalists and recognitions
The Dominican Government, through the Ministry of Sports, gave RD$15 million to Paulino for taking the gold metal, while Alcántara and Pinales were given RD$8 million each.
In the French capital, José Ludwig Rubio became the first Dominican coach to lead an athlete from another country to win a medal olympic Rubio did it with the sprinter Salwa Eid Naser, who won the silver medal by crossing behind Paulino in the final of the 400 meter dash. The Santiago native is the coach of the Bahrain team, one more achievement for the man responsible for taking Luguelin Sánchez to the podium in London 2012.
6. Legal problems
Dominican baseball, in its formative stage, once again won headlines that went around the planet with the adulteration of identity to young people who seek to circumvent controls to appear younger. One of those cases was carried out by César Altagracia, of whom an investigation by the MLB found that he was five years older than what he presented in the documents.
7. Big firms and prospects
The flow of money did not stop for Dominican promises that excite the teams with being the next stars of Major League Baseball. The teams made millionaires of more than twenty Quisqueyan teenagers and the leaked pre-agreements of those who will be recruited on January 15 include: Fernando Cruz, to whom the Mets would give a bonus that exceeds US$4 million. Among the 2024 signings who achieved widespread notoriety is Miguel Guerrero, son of Cooperstown immortal Vladimir Guerrero.
8. Sports legends
Michael Jordana sporting legend and considered by many to be the best basketball player of all time, returned to visit the Dominican Republic, where he stayed in a tourist complex in Punta Cana. Jordan He took advantage of his stay to play rounds of golf at the country’s world-class courses.
Another immortal who was in the country and did not go unnoticed was the Panamanian Mariano Rivera. The all-time rescue leader in the Major Leagues confirmed his romance with the city of Samaná, where he confessed that he had a world of fun.
9. Volleyball
Two Dominican volleyball players they deserted during the continental tournament held in Canada. Mario Torres and Franklin Antigua left the team that played the Final Six in Gatineau, within the Quebec region. Both players are natives of Bayaguana.
Basketball player Ángela Jiménez suffered a blow to her head during a match in the Spanish Women’s League 2, which required her to be admitted to the intensive care unit. The doctors were able to restore the player’s health.
10. Deaths
Rachel Minaya, who was Omar Minaya’s wife and mother of the basketball player justinwas found dead in her home in New Jersey. His death shocked the sports world. Omar Minaya was the first Latino to be manager of a team in the MLB. Another former figure who left this year was José de León, a former Major League pitcher who in the Lidom He excelled with the Chosen One.