Top 5 Current Athletes From Latin America

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. July 27, 2022: Lots of sports fans nowadays also love to get involved and show off their knowledge of their favorite athlete. One way they can do this is by placing bets via sportsbooks and seeing if they can predict the winners. An online sportsbook can often be the easiest way for you to place your bets, as everything is in one place and can really help cut down on time spent visiting bookies. You may find ones that offer you benefits for joining too.

For example, Caesars Maryland promo codes give you up $1,500 of risk-free betting. This can make it a little easier for first-timers as well. Great sports stars come from all over the world, with the Olympics showing just how many talented athletes there really are. So, here are the top 5 current athletes from Latin America that could end up in your next sports bet.

Sarah Escobar

Sarah ESCOBAR from Ecuador competes in Woman’s Giant Slalom during Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020 in Les Diablerets, Switzerland on January 12, 2020. (Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

20-year-old Sarah Escobar competes for Ecuador as a skier. After learning to ski at 3 years old, she was hooked on the sport and began competing at the age of 9 for her home state. In 2020, Escobar actually became the first Ecuadorian to compete in the youth version of the Winter Olympics and she was the only athlete to represent Ecuador at the Winter Olympics of the same year in Beijing. With such a promising future ahead of her, we can only expect to see her become covered on championship medals.

Laura Gómez

Laura Isabel Gomez Quintero races in the Women’s 3000m during the ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships at The Olympic Oval on December 15, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)

Previously a roller skater, Laura Gómez is a Columbian speed skater who has broken a fair few national records. She managed to beat these records within the first 6 months of her speed skating career too, showing that she’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. She made such a name for herself that she was selected to join the 2018 Winter Olympics and compete in the 300m event, making her the only Columbian woman to compete in them. While competing, she then broke an Olympic record for the 1000m speed skating event too. Recently, Gómez also qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics, so maybe we’ll see her beat her own records!

Jonathan Soto

Jonathan Soto Moreno of Mexico competes during cross-country skiing men’s 15km classic at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei Province, Feb. 11, 2022. (Photo by Mu Yu/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Everyone loves a good success story, and Jonathan Soto has just that. As a cross-country skier, it may surprise you to hear that Soto didn’t see snow until he was 12 years old after a brief sprinkling of it fell in Mexico. However, Soto didn’t experience proper snow until his family moved from his home in Mexico to Richfield, where he encountered snow like never before. Taking up cross-country skiing as a part-time hobby, he never expected to end up representing Mexico in the Beijing Olympics. Soto was set to become Mexico’s only representative, and he got there through hard work and determination. A lot of competing athletes have sponsors, but Soto paid for everything out of his own pocket, showing just how dedicated he is. Even his community in Richfield got behind him and held raffles to try and raise the funds for him. Soto’s journey to the Olympics may not have earned him a gold medal, but it’s definitely cemented his place in the sporting world.

Dominique Ohaco

Dominique Ohaco of Chile in action during the Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Qualification at Genting Snow Park during the Winter Olympic Games on February 14th, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Another skier on the list is Dominique Ohaco who competed for Chile in the 2014 Winter Olympics. She also became the first Chilean skier to compete in the X Games in 2018, proving she has really got what it takes to go all the way to the top. Ohaco has competed in the Olympics 3 times now and has actually struggled with injury and recovery. Luckily, Ohaco did make a full recovery and has been able to qualify for another sporting event. Let’s hope she can continue to succeed and avoid any further injuries that put her career on hold.

Donovan Carrillo

Donovan Carrillo is a 22-year-old Mexican figure skater who became the first Mexican skater to hit a quadruple jump in a competition. He was also named on the Mexican Olympic team and won his fourth title in Mexico and will serve as a flag bearer in the opening ceremony. At the young age of 22, Carrillo has competed in professional competitions since 2013 after learning to skate at the tender age of 8. As of 2022, Carrillo was set to finish his season in the World Championships in Montpellier but unfortunately had to cancel his appearance due to his skates being lost before the competition. Hopefully, 2023 will treat Carrillo a little kinder and we’ll see him rise to victory once again.

There are so many fantastic athletes from Latin America, that it would be impossible to fit them all onto 1 list. However, these 5 truly are exceptional and not just for their ranking within the competitions. Their drive and determination to succeed are admirable, so no matter where they place, they’ll always be considered role models to aspiring athletes.