Two Cuban fencers, Adán Núñez and Hershey Daniela de la Cruz, opted to stay in the Dominican Republic instead of returning to Cuba after competing in the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. This information was confirmed by sources close to the team and reported by journalist Yasel Porto on his Facebook page, Dporto ArtSports.
The decision to defect was made by both athletes on the last day of their fencing events, adding them to the list of three other Cuban athletes who had already left the delegation during the same games.
De la Cruz, aged 23, concluded her participation with a fifth-place finish in the individual saber event and an eighth-place finish—the last position—in the team competition, where Cuba lost to Venezuela. Núñez, serving as a substitute for the men's saber team, exited the Olympic village before the final competition took place.
A Struggling Fencing Team
The performance of the Cuban fencing team in Santo Domingo was described as "the worst in decades" by the same source, having secured only a single bronze medal, won by the men's épée team. Once a dominant force in the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, and even in world and Olympic titles, the team's poor results mark a significant decline.
Ongoing Athlete Exodus
Núñez and De la Cruz are not isolated cases of defection during these games. The first athlete to defect was field hockey goalkeeper Moisés David Torres Puig on July 24, followed by rower Leah Daniela Almeida four days later. In addition, nine of the twelve members of the canoeing team deserted during a training session in Montreal in July, with four of them being scheduled to compete in Santo Domingo.
This trend is not new for Cuban fencing. During a qualifying event in Guatemala in July 2025, there were also instances of defection. The exodus has a long history: former world champion Taimí Chappé relocated to Spain in 1992; Olympic medalist Iván Trevejo did not return after the 2002 World Championships in Lisbon and became a French citizen in 2010; World foil champion Rolando Tucker left Cuba in 2001 and is currently coaching at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. Elby Gregory also emigrated.
Cuba's Broader Athletic Challenges
Cuba sent a delegation of 504 athletes across 42 sports to the Santo Domingo 2026 Games, finishing third in the overall medal standings. However, the ongoing exodus of athletes remains a significant issue.
"With athletes leaving and others retiring, combined with economic and organizational challenges, fencing has become the worst combat sport in Cuba. It has not only failed to recover but is worsening over time," summarized Dporto ArtSports.
Understanding the Cuban Athlete Exodus
Why are Cuban athletes defecting during international competitions?
Many Cuban athletes defect during international competitions in search of better opportunities, freedom, and to escape from the economic and political challenges they face in Cuba.
What impact does the defection of athletes have on Cuban sports?
The defection of athletes weakens the competitive strength of Cuban sports, leads to a diminished talent pool, and highlights the systemic issues within the country's sports management and overall socio-political environment.