Judoka Diego Turcios was named as the male athlete of the year ©Getty Images

The El Salvador National Olympic Committee (ESNOC) honoured its best athletes of the year at an Olympic Gala event.

Diego Turcios was named as the male athlete of the year amid the entertainment at the National Theater of San Salvador.

The judoka's father Carlos collected his prize on his behalf as Diego was at a training base in the United States.

Elsewhere, Ana Ramírez won the women's prize.

The shooter could also not collect her award in person as she was competing at the World Cup event in German city Munich.

Her mother instead accepted the prize.

ESNOC President Eduardo Palomo was among those to attend the gala.

The El Salvador National Olympic Committee held an Olympic Gala and handed out their awards ©ESNOC
The El Salvador National Olympic Committee held an Olympic Gala and handed out their awards ©ESNOC

The entertainment combined art, culture and sport and featured dancing, music, opera and a children's choir.

Fencers Carlos Ceceña and Oscar Andres and track and field athletes Michelle Velasco and Pablo Ibáñez were also involved. 

El Salvador are still waiting for their first Olympic medal of any colour.

At the Rio 2016, shooter Lilian Castro served as flagbearer before finishing 44th in the qualification round of the women's 10 metres air pistol.

Joining Castro at Rio 2016 were seven other athletes - husband and wife race walkers Luis Lopez and Yesenia Miranda, Turcios, laser sailor Enrique Arathoon, swimmers Marcelo Acosta and Rebeca Quinteros and weightlifter Julio Salamanca.      

Palomo was re-elected as ESNOC President in February 2017.