Sports and Recreation

Sports and Recreation

The U.S. influence in Panama can be seen in the country’s sports. Basketball is extremely popular, and there are regional teams as well as a squad that competes internationally. Baseball also is played throughout the nation, and many Panamanians have played on professional teams in the United States, including Rod Carew, who was one of the game’s greatest hitters, and Mariano Rivera, a much-praised pitcher. Among Panama’s more prominent boxers are Roberto Durán, who won world titles in four weight classes, and Eusebio Pedroza, who was the featherweight champion for more than seven years (1978–85). Horse racing, cycling, and tennis also are popular. The Panamanian sprinter Lloyd LaBeach won two bronze medals at the 1948 Olympic Games.

Panama features numerous attractive beaches, and snorkelers and scuba divers enjoy its coastal waters (especially around the Perlas and Coiba islands) and the Panama Canal, which contains boat wrecks and discarded equipment used in the waterway’s construction. Surfers frequent Santa Catalina Beach on the Azuero Peninsula, and deep-sea sport fishers are attracted to Piña Bay, which has yielded record catches. Bird-watching is popular in the national parks.

Eileen Marie Coparropa Alemán

NAME	Eileen Marie Coparropa Alemán
NICKNAMED	Sirenita de Oro
BORN NACIONALITY	Panamá MARCH 31st, 1981 (32 years old.) PANAMANIAN
HEIGHT	5.9 Feet
GOALS
SPORT	Natación
UNIVERSITY	Auburn University

Irving Saladino

Olympic athlete

Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda is a Panamanian long jumper. He is a former Olympic champion, and Panama's first and only Olympic gold medalist.


MARIANO RIVERA

Baseball Player

Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian baseball pitcher who has played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has spent most of his career as a relief pitcher, and has served as the Yankees' closer since 1997.

Born: November 29, 1969 (age 43), Panama City, Panama Height: 6' 2" (1.88 m) Team: New York Yankees (#42 / Pitcher, Relief pitcher) Salary: 15 million USD (2012) Spouse: Clara Rivera (m. 1991) Children: Mariano Rivera Jr, Jafet Rivera, Jaziel Rivera

Roberto Durán

Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired Panamanian professional boxer, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career.  

Born: June 16, 1951 (age 62), Panama City, Panama Height: 5' 7" (1.70 m) Weight: 162 lbs (74 kg) Nationality: Panamanian Movies: Rocky II, Harlem Nights Parents: Clara Samaniego, Margarito Durán Sanchez

CARLOS LEE

Baseball Player

Carlos Noriel Lee is a retired professional baseball first baseman and left fielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1999-2012 with the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Miami Marlins.

Born: June 20, 1976 (age 37), Aguadulce, Panama Bats: Right-handed Salary: 18.5 million USD (2012) Spouse: Mary Lee

LAFFIT PINCAY

Jockey

Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. was flat racing's all-time winningest jockey, still holding second place many years after his retirement. He competed primarily in the United States.

Born: December 29, 1946 (age 66), Panama City, Panama Awards: George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Eclipse Special Award, Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey.