Sport in Venezuela

Sports in Venezuela are mainly dominated by baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, motorcycling, boxing, surfing, weightlifting and other water sports. In addition, Venezuela has native sports such as bull coleus and Creole balls.

Baseball

Baseball is considered the most popular sport in Venezuela. Today many Venezuelan baseball players play in the Major Leagues and several are considered superstars. The most notable championships are the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in the winter period (from October to January) and the Major Professional Baseball League during the summer (from July to September). It should be noted that Venezuela is the greatest baseball power in South America.

The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) is the highest professional level in Venezuela. The participating teams are: Águilas del Zulia, Bravos de Margarita, Cardenales de Lara, Caribes de Anzoátegui, Leones del Caracas, Navegantes del Magallanes, Tiburones de La Guaira and Tigres de Aragua. The champion of this league represents the country in the Caribbean Series, where it is measured against the winning teams of the leagues of Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a tournament in which Venezuelan teams have won 7 times: Leones 2 (1982 and 2006), Magallanes 2 (1970 and 1979), Águilas 2 (1984 and 1989) and Tigres 1 (2009).

The Major League of Professional Baseball (LMBP) was created to offer an alternative to baseball players who had few possibilities of playing outside of Venezuela during the months that the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League is inactive and to consolidate the practice of baseball in other regions of Venezuela. It has also served as a stage for veteran baseball players who wish to extend their sporting career.

The Parallel League is a competition that takes place in parallel with the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League championship during the winter months.

At the level of baseball teams, Venezuela won the Baseball World Cup 3 times in 1941, 1944 and 1945 respectively, 1 U-23 Baseball World Cup won in 2021 and another won in the U-15 category in 2012, all organized and recognized by the World Baseball and Softball Confederation

He also placed third in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Basketball

Basketball is considered the second most popular sport in the country, after baseball, with the Venezuelan Professional Basketball League (LPB) being played every year, this being the most competitive and category, made up of 10 teams: Crocodiles of Caracas, Guaiqueríes de Margarita, Trotamundos de Carabobo, Panthers de Miranda, Marinos de Anzoátegui (formerly Marinos de Oriente), Gaiteros del Zulia, Guaros de Lara, Toros de Aragua, and as of 2008: Gigantes de Guayana and Bucaneros de La Guaira (these 2 teams were accepted on October 4, 2007) in addition to playing the Venezuelan National Basketball League, which is played parallel to the first and has two divisions: Central-Western and Central-Eastern.

In basketball, there is no doubt that the most important feat of a Venezuelan quintet has been the one achieved in the 2015 Tournament of the Americas when they became champions against the Argentine team after beating the tournament favorite in the semifinals. Canada. The other memorable moment for Venezuelan basketball was in the 1992 Portland Americas Tournament, when the national team took second place in the Pre-Olympic Tournament. They would face the first United States Dream Team in the final of the Tournament of the Americas. Falling to the United States 127 to 80, to win the silver medal of the pre-Olympic event. Venezuela's coach, Puerto Rican Julio Toro, pointed out on that occasion that Venezuela was the best quintet on the continent, since the stars (professional NBA players) of the United States were "in another galaxy."

As for the South American Basketball Championship, Venezuela has obtained three championships, three runners-up and five third places, thus placing it in fourth place in the list of winners.

The most recent feat of Venezuelan basketball was achieved by the professional team Guaros de Lara in 2016, winning the League of the Americas championship, after beating Baurú of Brazil in the final of the tournament in the city of Barquisimeto. In this way, Guaros de Lara became the first Venezuelan team to win the Basketball League of the Americas, and the second Venezuelan team (along with Trotamundos de Carabobo) to win a tournament of international magnitude. Later in Frankfurt, Germany, Guaros de Lara won the 2016 FIBA Intercontinental Cup by defeating its German counterpart, the Fraport Skyliners, with a score of 74-69, achieving a milestone in the history of Venezuelan basketball.

Cycling

As in Colombia, cycling is popular in Venezuela but without the media level that this sport has in the neighboring country. The most important competitions in the country are the Vuelta a Venezuela and the Vuelta al Táchira, a state where much of the passion of Venezuelan cycling is lived; However, the two competitions are amateur in nature, which is why they do not have much relevance on the international circuit despite being included in the UCI America Tour calendar, and also despite maintaining a constant rivalry with cyclists and teams from Colombia, the cycling power of Latin America. Several of the best cyclists in the country have spent part of their professional careers in Europe, highlighting Leonardo Sierra, Omar Pumar, Unai Etxebarría and José Rujano, the latter being the most successful, finishing third overall in the 2005 Giro d'Italia, an unprecedented feat in the history of Venezuelan cycling, also winning the mountain classification in the same competition. It also often happens that Venezuelan cyclists emigrate to other countries to pursue their professional career.

Motor sports

In motor sports, the most outstanding Venezuelan driver has been Johnny Cecotto. At nineteen years of age, he became the youngest world champion in motorcycling history by winning the French Grand Prix in 350cc and then added the 750cc World Championship to his titles. Carlos Lavado, two-time champion in the 250cc category, also stands out in this discipline.

In Formula 1, Cecotto took part in 23 grand prix having been a teammate of Ayrton Senna. Pastor Maldonado successfully participated in various awards in the GP2 Series, a category leading up to Formula 1, obtaining his most important achievement in 2010 when he became the first Venezuelan to become GP2 Champion with a total of 6 grand prizes, being the record holder. of the category. After this Maldonado was a Formula 1 driver, racing for the Lotus F1 Team and previously for Williams, where he achieved a victory in the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, being the first Venezuelan to win an F1 Grand Prix.

Ernesto Viso and Milka Duno have raced in the IndyCar Series, and Johnny Cecotto, Jr. competes in the Formula 2 championship.

On the other hand, between 1977 and 1979, Venezuela hosted a date of the Motorcycle World Championship with the Venezuelan Grand Prix; The three editions were held at the Autódromo Internacional de San Carlos.

Flag football

Flag football is a type of American or Canadian football that is played in Venezuela. It is directed by the Venezuelan Flag Football Association (AVFF). Several teams from Carabobo, Capital District, Zulia and Aragua are registered in the AVFF.

Football

Football in Venezuela has a long tradition in the country's capital, Caracas, where the first teams began to be formed in 1902 and in the regions of the Andes. At the beginning of the 21st century, a campaign began to spread the sport throughout the country. Currently, first division professional tournaments are held with 18 teams and one second division. The media have contributed to the expansion of this sport by advertising and broadcasting all the matches of the Venezuelan national soccer team and a good part of the first division matches. For their part, regional television channels broadcast the matches of Venezuelan soccer teams. second division.

The teams that compete in the First Division tournament of Venezuela are: Deportivo Lara, Aragua FC, Atlético Venezuela, Caracas Fútbol Club, Carabobo FC, Estudiantes de Caracas, Estudiantes de Mérida Fútbol Club, Deportivo Anzoátegui, Deportivo Táchira, Deportivo La Guaira, Tucanes de Amazonas, Mineros de Guayana, Metropolitanos FC, Ureña SC, Trujillanos FC, Petare FC, Portuguesa FC, Llaneros de Guanare, El Vigía FC, Zamora FC and Zulia FC, the champion and runner-up (or second best in score, from the accumulated table) of the national championship have a direct pass (to represent Venezuela) to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores de América, and the third best in score from the accumulated table obtains a pass to the previous phase of the Copa Libertadores de América; The fourth and fifth best team in the accumulated table, obtains a pass to the Copa Sudamericana. Starting in 2010, Venezuela obtained another place in the Copa Sudamericana, which is given to the absolute champion of the First Division of Venezuela.

It should be noted that a leveling tournament is also held, where teams from the First Division, Second Division A and Second Division B and Third Division participate. This tournament is called the Venezuela Cup, the winner of this cup has the other go to the Copa Sudamericana to represent Venezuela.

The first organized soccer match in the history of Venezuela took place on July 16, 1876 in the town of El Callao, Bolívar state.

The Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) was founded in 1926 and joined the South American Football Confederation in 1952.

After holding, for the first time in history, between June and July 2007, the Copa América in 9 venues in Venezuela, the Professional Football League decided to expand from 12 to 18 teams, which to date has successful result, with an average attendance at the stadiums of 30 thousand people per day, the best places being Caracas, San Cristóbal and Puerto Ordaz.

In 2011, Vinotinto obtained fourth place in the Copa América held in Argentina, this being the greatest achievement of the senior team. However, the greatest success of Venezuelan soccer was the second place achieved in the 2017 U-20 Soccer World Cup.

Futsal

In futsal Venezuela has achieved great achievements such as winning the 1997 FIFUSA Futsal World Championship for seniors.

In the first round the team demonstrated scoring effectiveness by debuting with a score of 25-0 over the American team. Then, they defeated the Czech Republic with a final score of 4-2. By the last match of the round, Venezuela was one step away from the next round, so they should look for a positive result against the Argentina team. The result was given and Venezuela advanced to the second round, beating Argentina 7-3.

In the second round, Venezuela was surprised by Belarus when they were defeated 2-3. The next match was against Portugal, which the Venezuelan national team defeated 7-0. With this, Venezuela advanced to the quarterfinals. In the draw, Venezuela was paired with the Argentine team, so the gauchos were looking for revenge, but the Venezuelan team was once again the winner by a score of 3-1. Venezuela was among the four best teams in the tournament, and this time its rival would be the Brazilian team. The previous score was repeated and Venezuela won with a score of 3-1. The final would be against the Uruguay team, which the Venezuelan team defeated with a final score of 4-0, which would be the most important achievement that any other Venezuelan team has achieved.

Due to this achievement, there is a gym in his honor called "World Champions of 97", located in the state of Táchira.

Golf

The most prominent golf player in the country is Jhonattan Vegas, the only Venezuelan player to achieve a victory on the American PGA Tour (he has achieved two victories on said circuit).

Rugby

It is a sport practiced mainly in universities. It is not as popular in Venezuela as baseball, soccer or basketball. There are men's and women's teams distributed throughout the country. The local club tournament begins in September and ends in July, being played mainly on weekends. The national team has won the Sudamericano de Rugby B in 2003 and 2011, but has never been able to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.

Volleyball

The Venezuelan Volleyball Federation was founded on June 29, 1937, before that year the sport had little importance. It is a discipline currently practiced throughout the country, despite the fact that for a long time it did not have a professional league and many of the national team players had to play abroad, Venezuela has stood out in this sport in the Central American Games and the Caribbean, Bolivarian, South American and Pan American.

In 2003 the Venezuelan men's team won the gold medal in the Pan American Games, in 2008 for the first time both the women's and men's teams managed to qualify for the Olympic Games (which that year were held in Beijing, China).

Starting in 2011, the Venezuelan Volleyball Federation organizes together with a series of public and private organizations and with 8 teams the Venezuelan Volleyball Super League, the highest professional competition of that sport in Venezuela.

Boxing

Among the most notable is the world champion Félix Machado in super bantamweight. Machado was the holder of the IBF world featherweight crown, defeating Julio Gamboa on July 22, 2000 for the vacant title. He currently resides in Bolívar, Venezuela. The experienced Bolivarian gladiator fought his last fight in November 2019.

Tennis

At the national team level, Venezuela reached the final of the American Group in the Davis Cup in 1960 and 1963, and more recently, also the World Group qualifiers in 1995 and 2002. Its most emblematic players have been: Nicolás Pereira, Maurice Ruah, Jimmy Szymansk, Iñaki Calvo and José Antonio de Armas.

As for the professional circuit, the most notable has been Nicolás Pereira #74 in the World, winner of two circuit tournaments, as well as youth world champion by winning 3 of 4 Grand Slams. María Alejandra Vento #26 in the World, winner of 4 WTA and 2 ITF tournaments in doubles and 7 ITF in singles, followed by Milagros Sequera #48 in the World and winner of 1 WTA and 11 ITF tournaments in singles and 3 WTA and 18 ITF in doubles.

Venezuela in the Olympic Games

Venezuela is in seventh place in the Latin American Olympic medal table.

Medals

Venezuela at the Pan American Games

Venezuela is in seventh place in the Pan American Games medal table.

Medals

Games				Position in the medallero	Total
Buenos Aires 1951	0	1	1	11th of 16 places in the medallero	2
Mexico 1955	2	5	11	6th out of 17 places in the locket.	18
Chicago 1959	1	7	7	10th out of 18 places in the locket.	15
São Paulo 1963	3	5	9	7th of 18 places in the medallion.	17
Winnipeg 1967	1	4	6	8th out of 21 places in the locket.	11
Cali 1971	2	3	4	10th of 21 places in the medallero	9
Mexico 1975	0	1	11	13th of 23 places in the medallion.	12
San Juan 1979	1	4	4	9th out of 21 places in the locket.	9
Caracas 1983	12	26	35	5th out of 21 places in the locket.	73
Indianapolis 1987	3	12	12	7th of 27 places in the medallero	27
Havana 1991	4	14	20	8th out of 27 places in the locket.	38
Mar del Plata 1995	9	14	25	7 of 29 places in the medallero	48
Winnipeg 1999	7	16	17	8th of 27 places in the medallero	40
Santo Domingo 2003	16	21	27	6th of 30 places in the medallero	64
Rio de Janeiro 2007	12	23	35	7th of 32 places in the medallero	70
Guadalajara 2011	11	26	33	8th of 29 places in the medallero	70
Toronto 2015	8	22	20	8th of 28 places in the medallero	50
Total	93	205	277	575	573

Venezuela in the South American Games

Venezuela is in third place in the medal table of the South American Games

Medals

Year	Country	Headquarters	Position				Total
1978		La Paz		0	0	0	0
1982		Rosario	7/10	8	3	13	24
1986		Santiago	9/10	0	1	1	2
1990		Lima	5/10	27	22	15	64
1994		Valencia	2/14	76	65	65	206
1998		Cuenca	4/14	50	47	29	126
2002		Brazil	2/14	97	70	64	231
2006		Buenos Aires	4/15	96	85	97	278
2010		Medellín	3/15	89	80	96	265
2014		Santiago	3/14	47	40	63	150
2018		Cochabamba	1/14	43	59	55	157
2022		Assumption	-/-	-	-	-	-
Total				533	472	498	1503

Venezuela in the Central American and Caribbean Games

Venezuela, despite having hosted the games in 1959 and 1998 (Caracas and Maracaibo respectively), had its best participation in the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games Mayagüez 2010, obtaining 114 gold medals.

Year	Country	Headquarters	Position				Total
1926		Mexico City	did not participate	-	-	-	-
1930		Havana	did not participate	-	-	-	-
1935		San Salvador	did not participate	-	-	-	-
1938		Panama City	6/10	3	2	6	11
1946		Barranquilla	9/13	3	3	5	11
1950		Guatemala City	did not participate	-	-	-	-
1954		Mexico City	3/11	14	18	21	53
1959		Caracas	2/12	35	31	34	100
1962		Kingston	2/15	15	27	15	57
1966		San Juan	5/18	9	21	19	39
1970		Panama City	6/21	5	12	14	31
1974		Santo Domingo	3/23	14	16	25	55
1978		Medellín	6/21	5	20	31	51
1982		Havana	3/22	19	39	54	112
1986		Santiago de los Caballeros	3/26	18	42	60	120
1990		Mexico City	5/29	14	42	72	128
1993		Ponce	3/31	23	72	58	154
1998		Maracaibo	3/32	56	68	67	197
2002		San Salvador	2/31	103	94	80	277
2006		Cartagena de Indias	4/32	49	90	124	263
2010		Mayagüez	2/31	114	104	104	322
2014		Veracruz	4/31	56	79	110	245
2018		Barranquilla	-/-	-	-	-	-
2022		Panama City	-/-	-	-	-	-
Total				564	782	918	2264

National teams

• Selection of basketball of Venezuela
• Selection of basketball of Venezuela
• Venezuela baseball team
• Soccer Selection of Venezuela
• Women's Soccer Selection of Venezuela
• Selection of rugby from Venezuela
• rugby 7 female team from Venezuela
• Venezuelan Davis Cup Team
• Fed Cup Team of Venezuela
• Venezuelan Ballroom Soccer Selection
• Soccer Room Selection Venezuela