The authorities’ goal of finishing among the top three in the medal table is threatened by Venezuela.
14ymedio, Havana, July 29, 2026 – Cuba is clinging by a thread to third place in the medal standings at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. As of this Wednesday, the country has 15 gold medals, far behind first-place Mexico, which has already accumulated 56 golds, and Colombia, with 34, while holding only a slight edge over Venezuela, which already has 12.
During Wednesday’s events, the Island had already added three medals, although none were gold. The first two of the day came in rowing, both silver. In the men’s quadruple sculls event, the Cuban team posted a time of 6:39.18, behind Mexico with 6:31.18, while Venezuela finished third with 6:48.98.
The same podium was repeated in the women’s event. Cuba finished in 7:46.52, behind the favored Mexican team, which clocked 7:44.06. The Venezuelans finished a distant third with 8:06.36.
Minutes later, in archery, in the mixed recurve event, the pair of Hugo Franco and Larisa Pagán defeated Panama’s duo 5-1 in the bronze medal match.
The Cuban delegation will compete today in swimming, speed skating, softball, diving, beach and indoor volleyball, field hockey, racquetball, and handball
For today, the Cuban delegation is scheduled to compete in swimming, speed skating, softball, diving, beach and indoor volleyball, field hockey, racquetball, and handball.
As for Tuesday’s medal haul, the Cuban delegation in the Dominican Republic collected eight medals, four of them gold. The first came in taekwondo, after winning the mixed team Kyorugui event with a 2-0 victory over the Dominican Republic. Later, in rowing, Cuba’s men’s quadruple sculls crew won the event with a time of 6:20.87.
The third gold came in rapid chess. Roxángel Obregón was crowned champion on the second board of the women’s Blitz tournament. Finally, Taymara Oropesa won the women’s singles badminton title after rallying to defeat Mexico’s Vanesa García.
The Island also collected four silver medals on Tuesday. In the women’s quadruple sculls rowing event, Cuba finished second with a time of 7:11.81, behind Mexico, which recorded 7:10.96.
Two chess medals were also won thanks to Daniel Hidalgo Díaz, on the second men’s board, and Ineymig Hernández Gil
Two chess medals were also won thanks to Daniel Hidalgo Díaz, on the second men’s board, and Ineymig Hernández Gil, on the first women’s board.
Likewise, veteran cyclist Marlies Mejías returned to the podium in track cycling, this time by taking second place in the points race. It was the athlete’s second medal at the Central American Games. Last Saturday, she won gold in the time trial.
Tuesday’s medal haul, however, was overshadowed by the defection of rower Leah Daniela Almeida, the second recorded within the Cuban delegation during the regional event. The athlete, born in Máximo Gómez, in the Matanzas municipality of Perico, left the Cuban delegation just two days after winning the bronze medal in the women’s lightweight double sculls alongside Ana Laura Jiménez.
The withdrawals of Olympic wrestling champion Luis Orta, who is suffering from an arboviral illness, and boxer Erislandy Álvarez, who is still recovering from surgery for an inguinal hernia, were also reported. Both were considered strong contenders for medals.
Tuesday’s medal haul, however, was overshadowed by the defection of rower Leah Daniela Almeida
So far, in addition to its 15 gold medals, Cuba has won 16 silver and 20 bronze medals, for a total of 51.
With a delegation of 504 athletes, Cuba arrived with the goal of finishing among the top three in the medal standings, a modest objective considering that the Island has historically dominated the regional competition. Of the 24 editions of the Games, Cuba has won 12. It also remains the all-time leader in the medal table, with 1,934 gold medals, including those won in this edition, well ahead of second-place Mexico, which has 1,574.
However, the last time Cuba finished first in the competition was in 2014 in Veracruz. The last two editions, Barranquilla 2018 and San Salvador 2023, were won by Mexico, leaving the Island in third place, matching its worst historical performance in the competition, similar to its results in Panama 1938 and Kingston 1962.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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