Emotional tribute to José Luis Mendoza at the National Sports Gala
María Dolores García, his wife and President of UCAM, collected the award from the Spanish Association of Sports Press that recognizes the work of the founder of the Catholic University in support of athletes
The 2023 National Sports Gala, held in La Nucía (Alicante) and broadcasted by Teledeporte, has been the stage for a heartfelt tribute to the founder of the Catholic University of Murcia, José Luis Mendoza Perez, who passed away on January 18th. His wife, María Dolores García, president of UCAM, received the commemorative plaque and a bouquet of flowers from Julián Redondo, president of the Spanish Sports Press Association (AEPD), and Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
A representation of athletes who are part of the UCAM family and who wanted to join the recognition on stage of José Luis Mendoza's immense work in sports, supported the moment. These athletes included canoeists David Cal, Carlos Arévalo, Marcus Cooper, and Javier Hernanz (now president of the Spanish Canoeing Federation), athletes Miguel Ángel López and Raquel González, karateka Sandra Sánchez and her coach Jesús del Moral, weightlifter Lydia Valentín, water polo player Jennifer Pareja, and synchronized swimmer Thais Henríquez. María Mendoza, Pablo Rosique, and Antonio Semitiel, representing the UCAM, were also present at this emotional moment on stage.
During the gala, organized by the Spanish Sports Press Association and the City Council of La Nucía, awards were also presented to several athletes from the Catholic University of Murcia: Craviotto, Germade, Arévalo, and Cooper, the Spanish K4 for their gold in the 2022 World Championship; walkers Miguel Ángel López and Raquel González for their international medals from last year, and karateka Sandra Sánchez for her sports career full of sporting successes, crowned with the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020.
Also awarded were Real Madrid (collecting the award Roberto Carlos, Pedja Mijatovic, José Antonio Camacho, Paco Buyo, and Antonio Ruiz), Real Betis, water polo teams, skating, soccer, and basketball federations, cyclists Abraham Olano, Samuel Sánchez, and Óscar Freire, swimmers Michelle Alonso and Andrea Fuentes, doctor Ángel Ruiz-Cotorro, and FC Barcelona for the individual successes of Alexia Putellas and their futsal and handball teams. Another emotional moment was the surprise tribute to the gala presenter, TVE journalist Jesús Álvarez, extraordinary professor of Sports Journalism at UCAM.