The rowing victory of Eduar Suárez and Reidy Cardona this Sunday adds to the three titles achieved by judokas Jonathan Charón, Orlando Polanco and Dali Sentmanat
EFE / 14ymedio, Santo Domingo, July 26, 2026 – Cuba’s national team dominated the judo finals at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo on Saturday, winning three gold medals in the men’s and women’s categories, while the Dominican Republic earned its first gold medal of the competition.
Mexican rowers Alexis López and Andre Sumsch finished in second place with a time of 6:37.38 and won the silver medal.
With this result, Cuba now has five gold medals at the regional event, following the victories of judokas Jonathan Charón, Orlando Polanco and Dali Sentmanat and cyclist Marlies Mejías during the first days of competition.
The Cuban judo team dominated the finals on Saturday, winning three gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories, while the Dominican Republic secured its first gold at the event. In a packed judo arena at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo, Cuban judokas Jonathan Charon (-60 kg), Orlando Polanco (-66 kg), and Sentmanat Dali (-52 kg) captured the three gold medals.
Meanwhile, the host country won its first gold medal thanks to judoka Ana Rosa, who defeated Colombia’s María Villalba by ippon. “I am very happy to give my country its first gold medal. It is the result of so much sacrifice, and all the hard work has been worth it,” the Dominican athlete told reporters after the match, during which she felt the support of the home crowd, which erupted in cheers when the contest ended.
Cuba has won five gold medals at the regional event, following victories by judokas Jonathan Charón, Orlando Polanco and Dali Sentmanat, and cyclist Marlies Mejías.
By category, in the women’s under-48-kilogram division, the gold medal went to Nemesis Candelo (Panama), the silver to Estefanía Soriano (Dominican Republic), and the bronze medals to Gabriela Miranda (Venezuela) and Erika Lasso (Colombia).
In the women’s under-52-kilogram division, the gold went to Dali (Cuba), the silver to Francine Echevarría (Puerto Rico), and the bronze medals to Josefa Samantha (Dominican Republic) and Paulina Martínez (Mexico).
In the women’s under-57-kilogram division, the gold medal went to the Dominican Republic’s Ana Rosa, who faced Colombia’s María Villalba (silver), while the bronze medals went to Kristine Jiménez (Panama) and Audreys Pacheco (Venezuela).
In the men’s under-60-kilogram division, the gold medal went to Cuba’s Charon, who faced El Salvador’s Jairo Moreno (silver)
In the men’s under-60-kilogram division, the gold medal went to Cuba’s Charon, who faced El Salvador’s Jairo Moreno (silver), while the bronze medals went to José Ramos of Guatemala and Diego García Ramírez of the Dominican Republic.
In the men’s under-66-kilogram division, the gold medal went to Cuba’s Polanco, the silver to Robin Jara of Mexico, and the bronze medals to Venezuela’s Willis García and El Salvador’s Diego Calix.
This same Saturday, Cuban cyclist Marlies Mejías had won the gold medal in the time trial, after completing the race with a time of 40:15.79.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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