Teresa Mayo receiving her award for her work in Spanish wrestling ©UWW

Former wrestler Teresa Mayo of Spain has won the United World Wrestling's (UWW) 2020 Women and Sport Award due to her activism with grassroots education in the sport.

Mayo, who wrestled internationally from 2001 to 2013, currently works for the Spanish Wrestling Federation in a developmental role which aims to develop scholarship programmes and assist athletes who come from grassroots competitions to elite international events.

She was already recognised by the Spanish Government who also handed her their own Women and Sport award and financial contribution, which will directly go towards supporting more female national coaches in wrestling.

Mayo also attended the most recent edition of the Women in Wrestling Global Forum in Istanbul in Turkey, hosted by UWW.

Mayo, pictured front second from right, has been essential in the development of Spanish wrestlers, particularly women ©UWW
Mayo, pictured front second from right, has been essential in the development of Spanish wrestlers, particularly women ©UWW

She promised to continue improving on her work in her country and produce the stars of the future.

Mayo said, "I am really thankful to the wrestling family for this award.

"I assure you that it will highly contribute to the work we have started here in Spain to empower and improve women's wrestling."

Her top performance as an elite wrestler came in 2005 when she won bronze in the 55kg category at the European Wrestling Championships in Varna in Bulgaria.

She also finished fifth at the 2006 World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou in China and would go on to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, losing in the second preliminary round against Olympic bronze medallist Lise Goillot-Legrand of France.