This Wednesday, the Cuban delegation maintains its hold on third place in the medal standings at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, boasting 16 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze medals, making up a total of 52 accolades.
Cuba's position on the podium is secured by the number of gold medals, rather than the total medal count, which gives them an edge over their closest competitors.
Venezuela trails in fourth with 12 golds, 20 silvers, and 35 bronzes, totaling 67 medals—15 more than Cuba—but falling short in gold titles by four.
The host nation, the Dominican Republic, sits in fifth with 10 golds, 11 silvers, and 31 bronzes. Although they match Cuba in total medals (52), they are six golds behind in the standings.
Leading the Medal Count
Mexico dominates the medal count with an impressive 57 gold, 47 silver, and 34 bronze medals, totaling 138. Colombia follows in second place with 34 golds, 33 silvers, and 23 bronzes, making up a total of 90 medals.
Cuba's Notable Performances
Cuba's medal haul has been bolstered by standout performances throughout the competition. Marlies Mejías kicked off the gold tally on July 25 by claiming victory in the women's individual time trial cycling with a time of 40:15.79, averaging a speed of 44.7 km/h.
The following day, judo was a major contributor with three golds: Jonathan Charón (-60 kg), Orlando Polanco (-66 kg), and Dali Sentmanat (-52 kg) all topped the podium.
On Monday, Reidy Cardona and Leduar Suárez clinched victory in the men's double scull rowing event in Bonao, clocking 6:32.80.
Tuesday saw more success in judo and badminton: Iván Silva (100 kg) and Andy Granda (+100 kg) added two more golds on the mat, while Taymara Oropesa triumphed in the women's individual badminton, defeating Mexico's Vanesa García 15-21, 22-20, 21-15.
For Oropesa, this title was particularly meaningful, marking her first individual gold in these games after being a runner-up in Barranquilla 2018 and San Salvador 2023, ending an eight-year wait.
Strong Cuban Presence
Cuba entered this edition with 504 athletes competing across 42 sports, their largest recent delegation for the event, with the official goal of finishing in the top three and securing around 67 to 68 golds.
In the previous edition, San Salvador 2023, Cuba finished third with 74 golds, 59 silvers, and 63 bronzes, a result deemed their worst in over four decades.
With several days of competition still remaining, Cuba aims to increase its gold count to solidify its position among the top three delegations at this regional event.
Key Insights into Cuba's Performance at Santo Domingo 2026
How many gold medals does Cuba have in Santo Domingo 2026?
Cuba has secured 16 gold medals at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games.
Who is leading the medal count at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
Mexico is leading the medal count with 57 golds, 47 silvers, and 34 bronzes, totaling 138 medals.
What significant achievements have Cuban athletes made?
Notable achievements by Cuban athletes include Marlies Mejías' gold in cycling, three judo golds in one day, and Taymara Oropesa's first individual gold in badminton.