Two Cuban weightlifters have departed from their national team in Tepic, Nayarit, before even stepping onto the competition platform. This revelation came from a fellow athlete within the team, as reported to Cubalite.
Yeniuska Mirabal, weighing in at 77 kg and hailing from Guantánamo, and Yorelvis Machado, an 88 kg lifter from Jiguaní, Granma, who is set to turn 22 in January, left the group before Wednesday. This was the day they were scheduled to compete in the second Pan American weightlifting qualifier for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.
The tournament took place from October 4 to 8 in the Mexican city of Tepic, featuring six Cuban weightlifters. Mirabal and Machado's departure reduced the team to four members, depriving Cuba of two strong contenders for a spot in Lima. Neither INDER nor the Cuban Weightlifting Federation has issued any statements about the incident.
Mirabal boasts a strong track record, including two silver medals at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador and three titles at the Far East Cup in Yuzhno-Sahalinsk, Russia, in late 2024.
Machado arrived in Tepic following his success at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo in August, where he earned two bronze medals competing in the 94 kg category with a total lift of 340 kg.
Cuban Team's Performance and Media Silence
The four weightlifters who did compete in Tepic returned with commendable results: Marifélix Sarría (+86 kg) secured two golds and a bronze; Ludia Montero (53 kg) earned two silvers and a bronze; Edisnel Corrales (79 kg) took home three bronze medals; and Otto Oñate (65 kg) finished in fourth place. Cuban state media covered these achievements but remained silent on the absences of Mirabal and Machado, a pattern consistent with the handling of athlete departures abroad.
Ongoing Trend of Athlete Departures
This incident is part of a continuing trend of Cuban athletes breaking away from their teams in 2026. In July, three kayakers left the delegation during the Pan American Canoe Championships in Montreal, Canada. That summer, five athletes did not return from the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, including hockey goalkeeper Moisés Torres and rower Leah Daniela Almeida. In May, two Cuban boxers left their team in Spain and later settled in Mexico.
Mexico has become a frequent exit point for Cuban athletes. In April 2025, wrestler Jaime Lobio Hernández similarly departed while in Mexico.
Future Opportunities for Cuba
Cuba will have one final opportunity to qualify more weightlifters for Lima 2027. The third and final Pan American qualifier is scheduled to take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from April 3 to 10, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Athletes' Departures
Why did the Cuban weightlifters leave the team in Mexico?
The specific reasons for their departure have not been disclosed by the athletes or Cuban sports authorities.
How has the Cuban media responded to these athlete departures?
The Cuban state media has typically remained silent on such departures, focusing instead on the achievements of remaining athletes.
What opportunities remain for Cuban weightlifters to qualify for Lima 2027?
Cuban weightlifters have one final chance to qualify at the third Pan American qualifier in Santo Domingo, scheduled for April 2027.