Havana/The vague objective of the Cuban sports authorities in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo has been fulfilled so far: to finish among the first three places of the medal table. With the gold obtained early this Monday by the couple of Rayma Ortiz and Natalie Morales in the women’s coxless two-oar test, the Island is in second overall position, with seven gold medals, behind Mexico, which leads with 16.
The Cubans dominated the regatta from start to finish and crossed the finish line with a time of 7:33.70 minutes. The silver medal went to the Mexican boat, made up of Maite Arrillaga and María García, with a record of 7:40.68, while the bronze went to the Guatemalans Nicolle González and Dulce Samayoa, who recorded 7:43.45.
This is the second gold medal obtained in rowing by the island’s delegation in these Games. The first was won by the duo formed by Reidy Cardona and Leduar Suárez, this Sunday morning, who won the double event scull male, with a time of 6:32.80.
He judo It has been the other discipline that has been a pillar of the Cuban harvest in these early days. The island team dominated the judo finals on Saturday by winning four golds in the men’s and women’s categories. Marlon Herrera was crowned in the 73 kilogram division, as well as Jonathan Charón (60 kg), Orlando Polanco (66 kg), as well as the young Dali Sentmanat (52 kg). The other gold medal was in cycling, with Marlies Mejías in the women’s 30 kilometer individual time trial.
The island team dominated the judo finals on Saturday by winning four gold medals in the men’s and women’s categories.
For this Monday, the Island will have activity in badminton, archery, track cycling, gymnastics, taekwondo, judo, racquetball, field hockey, beach and indoor volleyball, chess and softball, so the medal harvest could increase at the end of the day.
With 504 athletes, who will compete in total in 42 disciplines at the Central American and Caribbean Games in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Cuba seeks to once again lead a tournament that it has historically dominated. Of 24 editions of the competition, the Island has won 12. In addition, it is the leader of the historical medal table, with 1,926 gold medals, already added to those of this edition, well above Mexico, second place, with 1,539.
However, the last time Cuba finished first in the regional 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, which has meant equaling its worst historical performance in the competition, similar to what was done in Panama 1938 and Kingston 1962.
The last two editions, Barranquilla 2018 and San Salvador 2023, were won by Mexico, leaving the Island in third place
The flight of athletes from the Island, numbering more than 1,000 in the last decade, and the lack of international training for athletes, has caused the national sport to be in crisis. In the last major event in which Cuba participated, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the country won nine medals, with a delegation of 61 competitors, while the diaspora got the same amountbut with only 21 Cubans representing other countries.
Since the disappearance of the Soviet Union, which provided resources for the preparation of athletes, Cuban sport has plummeted. The 1992 Barcelona games, when the Island obtained 30 medals, marked the climax for Cuba. Other successes accompanied her in Atlanta 1996 (25 medals), Sydney 2000 (29), Athens 2004 (27) and Beijing 2008 (30), but, from there, the situation only worsened. Twelve athletes reached the podium in London 2012, 11 in Rio 2016 and 15 in Tokyo 2020.
