Cuban rower Leah Daniela Almeida has defected from the nation's delegation at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. This development was confirmed by journalist Francys Romero, who cited multiple sources.
Almeida, hailing from the town of Máximo Gómez in Perico, Matanzas, departed from the Cuban team just before they were set to return to the island.
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is its timing: Almeida left merely two days after securing a bronze medal in the lightweight women's double sculls event alongside her teammate Ana Laura Jiménez with a time of 7:36.59 minutes on July 25.
This medal was Cuba's first in these Games, trailing Mexico, who took gold with Edith Márquez and Aylin Madueña (7:22.51), and Venezuela, which earned silver with García and Meneses (7:32.78).
Cuban sports authorities have not released any official statement regarding Almeida's departure or the circumstances surrounding it.
A Pattern of Defection Amidst Cuban Athletes
Almeida's case underscores a pattern that the Cuban regime would rather dismiss as isolated incidents. The first Cuban athlete to defect during these Games was 21-year-old field hockey goalkeeper Moisés David Torres Puig from Las Tunas, who disappeared on July 24 while the team attended a women's match.
Oscar Sánchez Serra, a delegation official and director of the newspaper Jit, confirmed Torres Puig's defection on July 26 but downplayed it as a personal decision.
Meanwhile, Torres Puig's family publicly sought assistance, highlighting his vulnerable situation without a passport and lacking a support network in the Dominican Republic.
Longstanding Issue of Athlete Defections
This phenomenon is not new and predates the Games. From July 15 to 18, nine out of the 12 members of the Cuban canoe team defected in Montreal, Canada, marking the most significant defection in this sport for Cuba; four of these athletes were scheduled to compete in Santo Domingo.
Defections have become a recurring theme at international events: at the Central American Games in San Salvador 2023, five Cuban field hockey players left the delegation; in 2025, there were defections in handball, athletics, and wrestling, among other sports.
Cuba registered 504 athletes across 42 disciplines for Santo Domingo 2026, a delegation that faces the competition marked by losses before and during the Games, a reflection of the crisis compelling athletes to seize any opportunity to leave the country and not return.
Understanding the Cuban Athlete Defections
Why did Leah Daniela Almeida defect from the Cuban delegation?
Leah Daniela Almeida defected from the Cuban delegation due to the ongoing crisis in Cuba, which pushes athletes to take advantage of international competitions to leave the country permanently.
How significant is Almeida's departure for Cuba?
Almeida's departure is significant because it highlights a pattern of defections among Cuban athletes, challenging the regime's narrative of isolated incidents.
Have there been other defections in recent international events?
Yes, there have been numerous defections in recent international events, including nine members of the Cuban canoe team in Canada and five field hockey players in San Salvador.