“Legendary Coach Gets Roller Rink Named After Him in Playa del Carmen”

The Board of Directors of the Institute of Sports for the Municipality of Solidaridad has given approval to name the roller rink in Playa del Carmen after "Professor Juan Pastor León Hernández". This decision was made during the Third Extraordinary Session of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Sports.

From now on, the roller skating track located in the Playa del Carmen sports unit will be known as the "Professor Juan Pastor León Hernández" Roller Rink. This is in recognition of Professor Hernández's significant contributions to training athletes who have won medals at local, state, regional, national, and international levels. His work has helped establish the municipality and Quintana Roo as a powerhouse in this sports discipline.

Amador Gutiérrez Guigui, general director of the Institute of Sports, read the proposal made by the institute's sports directorate, led by Alejandro Tun Pacheco. The proposal was to name the sports facility after the coach who arrived in Mexico 27 years ago and in Playa del Carmen in 2009. From the early years, Professor Hernández guided the athletes of Solidaridad to the top of the national podium.

His successful athletes include Monserrat Ocampo, a medalist at the 2023 World Speed Skating Championship, Vivian Morfin, Melissa Chávez, Lesly Gómez, Azul Rodríguez, and Julio Aguilar. These athletes have been selected for the national team multiple times. The first three athletes mentioned are set to attend the next world championship in Italy next month.

Professor Hernández is also known for producing multi-medalists at the erstwhile National Olympiad, now known as the CONADE National Games, which is the top sports event in the country. He is committed to developing good citizens with values absorbed through sports.

After a summary of Professor Hernández's career was read and some board members spoke, a vote was taken and the proposal was unanimously approved. Cecilio Puc Sansores, secretary general of the Municipality of Solidaridad, declared that the sports facility will now be named the Roller Rink "Professor Juan Pastor León Hernández".

Professor Hernández expressed gratitude for the honor, acknowledging the support of athletes, their families, and local and state authorities.

In other business, the activity report for the Institute of Sports from January to June of fiscal year 2024 was presented and approved. The proposal to separate the Unit of Transparency and Access to Public Information from the Sports Institute of the Municipality of Solidaridad was also approved. This will help provide clear accountability and objectively inform about achievements, challenges, and advances in operational, financial, and public administration areas.

Board members present at the session included Councillor for Education, Culture and Sports, Lesbia Quintal García, Secretary of Health Carlos Contreras, General Director of the Youth Institute Erika Medina, President of the Quintanarroense Association of Kickboxing Patricia Fajardo, and coach and artistic swimming athlete Jimena Contreras.