The Cuban team made a powerful start at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026, securing four gold medals on the first day of finals, held on Saturday. Judo played a significant role, contributing three of these victories.
The initial gold medal was claimed in cycling: Marlies Mejías triumphed in the women's individual 30 km time trial, clocking in at 40:15.79 with an average speed of 44.7 km/h. She outperformed Mexico's Sara Roel and Trinidad's Teniel Campbell.
This achievement marked Mejías's ninth gold in the history of the Central American and Caribbean Games, and she expressed her determination to continue representing Cuba at the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. "I'm thrilled to bring the first gold to my country," Mejías shared with JIT after her victory.
Judo took the spotlight with three consecutive titles: Jonathan Charón in the men's under 60 kg category, Orlando Polanco in under 66 kg, and Dali Sentmanat in the women's under 52 kg, all shining on the tatami in Santo Domingo.
Prior to these gold wins, Cuba had already begun accumulating medals with several bronze achievements.
Rowers Ana Jiménez and Leah Almeida became the first Cuban athletes to reach the podium at these Games, securing third place in the women's lightweight double sculls event.
The men's recurve archery team, consisting of Javier Alejandro Vega, Hugo Franco, and Iván Pérez, also added a bronze by defeating Guatemala.
Taekwondo contributed two more bronzes, thanks to Santiago's Tania Indira Delgado and Danny Junior Valenciano: Delgado in traditional individual poomsae and Valenciano marking his debut as a regional medalist.
With a total of four golds and four bronzes, Cuba concluded the first day of finals in third place on the overall medal table, aligning with their official goal of finishing among the top three in Santo Domingo 2026 and aiming for 67 to 68 golds overall.
Comprising 504 athletes across 42 sports, the Cuban delegation enters this edition with the background of having finished third in San Salvador 2023 with 74 golds.
Díaz-Canel responded to the results on the social platform X, blending sports praise with the regime's usual political rhetoric: "Each medal tells a story of sacrifice. Seeing them on the podium is moving because they not only surpassed their immediate competitors but also the challenging circumstances they've chosen to face to bring glory to the Motherland."
Cuba's Performance at Santo Domingo 2026
Who was the first Cuban athlete to win a gold medal at Santo Domingo 2026?
Marlies Mejías was the first Cuban athlete to win a gold medal, achieving victory in the women's individual 30 km time trial in cycling.
What sports contributed to Cuba's gold medals on the first day?
Cuba's gold medals on the first day were won in cycling and judo, with judo contributing three of the four golds.
How did the Cuban taekwondo team perform at the games?
The Cuban taekwondo team secured two bronze medals, with Tania Indira Delgado and Danny Junior Valenciano achieving success in their respective categories.
What is Cuba's goal for the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
Cuba aims to finish among the top three in the medal standings at Santo Domingo 2026 and is targeting a total of 67 to 68 gold medals.