Cuban photographers Fabián Álvarez Gómez and Yaroyg Oños Gálvez achieved remarkable success by securing the gold medal in the Macro category and claiming silver in the Wide Angle category at the 2024 CMAS Underwater Photography World Championship, which took place in Saranda, Albania. Their outstanding performance saw them outshine competitors from 18 different countries, as reported by Jit news portal.
Yaroyg Oños, who managed logistics for the team, expressed gratitude, stating, "These results are thanks to the support of many fellow Cubans, our family, and friends." This sentiment was echoed by Álvarez, responsible for capturing the photographs, who emphasized the importance of teamwork: "This is a collaborative effort where everything must align perfectly to produce competitive images at such a high-level competition."
Additional Accolades and Event Details
In addition to their medals, the Cuban duo achieved an impressive fifth place in the creative photography category. Originally planned for Vlore, the event was held in the clear waters of Saranda, a port city famed for its beaches along the Albanian Riviera.
Highlighting the prowess of the Cuban team, Luis López Bermúdez, a Recreation directorate methodologist from Inder, praised their previous stellar performance at the 2023 Varadero World Championship. "We were confident that they would deliver an outstanding performance," López stated.
Global Impact and Local Challenges
The championship is organized by the World Confederation of Underwater Activities (CMAS), an institution dedicated to promoting underwater competitions and marine conservation since 1958. CMAS also supports scientific research, encourages marine conservation, and sets safety standards and best practices for diving and other underwater activities.
In October 2023, the Cuban regime hosted the 19th Underwater Photography World Championship in Varadero. The state-run newspaper Girón portrayed the event as a significant achievement, despite it occurring amidst a severe energy crisis in Cuba, characterized by food shortages, rampant inflation, and increasing poverty.