Leyanis Pérez, a world champion in triple jump, alongside Julio César La Cruz, a two-time Olympic boxing champion, have been chosen to carry the Cuban flag at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games set for Santo Domingo in 2026. This announcement was made on Wednesday by Oscar Nuevo, head of the high-performance department at the Cuban Sports Institute (INDER).
As reported by Prensa Latina, the games are scheduled to occur in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from July 24 to August 8, 2026. Cuba aims to secure a top-three spot in the overall medal tally.
Nuevo mentioned that the Cuban team might exceed 500 athletes, though as of now, 429 slots are confirmed — 240 men and 189 women. There are still pending spots in athletics, women's handball, and some wildcard invitations.
Despite Cuba's ongoing economic challenges, between 900 and 1,000 athletes are part of the national pre-selection team, following their training regimes in high-performance centers. Notably, 221 of these athletes participated in the San Salvador 2023 Games.
Leyanis Pérez stands as the world's leading figure in triple jump. She defended her indoor world title in March 2026 in Toruń, Poland, with a leap of 14.95 meters, and clinched the gold at the outdoor World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025 with a 14.94 meters jump, marking her fourth world title.
Julio César La Cruz, also known as "La Sombra," hails from Camagüey and boasts Olympic gold medals from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, in addition to five world heavyweight boxing titles. He retained his world title in the Bahamas in December 2024 via technical knockout. His role as flag bearer for Santo Domingo 2026 marks his second consecutive appointment, following his appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he faced an early exit.
The INDER official highlighted Mexico, Colombia, and host Dominican Republic as Cuba's main competitors for the top spots on the medal table.
The event holds not only regional significance but also provides qualification opportunities, as 19 of the 40 sports contested offer slots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, adding a strategic layer to Cuba's participation beyond just the regional medals.
Cuba had a stronghold on the Central American and Caribbean Games from Panama 1970 to Barranquilla 2018, except for absences in 2002 and 2010, until Mexico claimed regional dominance. At the San Salvador 2023 Games, the Cuban team finished third, trailing behind Mexico and Colombia, with 69 golds and a total of 182 medals. The official goal for Santo Domingo 2026 is to surpass the 74 gold medals and the overall count from three years prior in the Salvadoran capital.
Key Details on Cuba's Participation in Santo Domingo 2026
Who are Cuba's flag bearers for Santo Domingo 2026?
Leyanis Pérez and Julio César La Cruz have been selected as Cuba's flag bearers for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026.
What are Cuba's goals for the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
Cuba aims to finish among the top three in the overall medal standings and to surpass the 74 gold medals and total medal count achieved at the San Salvador 2023 Games.
What significance do the Santo Domingo 2026 Games hold?
Aside from regional competition, the games offer qualification spots for 19 of the 40 sports for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, making them strategically important for Cuba.