Ortega, representing Spain, can still be regarded as one of the best hurdlers in the world, having won a silver medal over 110 metres at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the last World Championships in 2019.

The Dominican Republic's Santos won a silver medal in the men's 400m at London 2012 and has an Olympic relay medal of the same colour as part of his collection as well.

Cuban men's triple jumper Lázaro Martínez may be the most in-form athlete at the event, having won the world indoor title in Belgrade earlier this year.

Darlan Romani is in similar form - the Brazilian is the men's indoor shot put world champion from Belgrade.

Marileidy Paulino, a Dominican Olympic silver medallist from the women's 400m, is in the line-up too.

Liadagmis Povea, another Cuban triple jumper, recently finished fifth in the women's event at the Olympics and World Indoor Championships.

Athletes from Ukraine are attending the event as invited guests, with many now training in Spain due to the invasion of their country by Russia.

World indoor and two-time European silver medallist Andriy Protsenko and world indoor champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh look likely to compete for Ukraine, as is European indoor and outdoor bronze medallist Serhiy Nykyforov.

The Ibero-American Athletics Championships are scheduled to take place from tomorrow until Sunday (May 22) in La Nucía and Torrevieja in Alicante.