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The Cuban athlete Oleisy Ferrer won the gold medal in the 3000 meters steeplechase during the Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, setting a new Pan American record with a time of 8:54.20 minutes.
Ferrer arrived at the competition with the best time among the 13 registered runners, but victory was not guaranteed until the end of the race, as detailed by the official media Cubadebate.
With five laps to go, the Cuban runner decided to break away from the group and take the lead, a strategy that allowed him to maintain his advantage until crossing the finish line.
The recorded time surpassed his personal best of 8:43.23, but it was sufficient to set a new Pan American record and secure the gold medal.
The event also had another reason for celebration for Cuba, with the victory of Yander Herrera in the 110-meter hurdles.
The race was so close that a photo finish was needed to confirm the victory, with a time just slightly better than that of Brazilian Thiago dos Santos, who finished with 13.61 seconds. The third place went to Grenadian Isaiah Patrick, with a time of 13.73 seconds.
At the sports competition in Asunción, the judoka from Artemisa, Dayanara Curbelo (+78 kg), secured the first gold medal for Cuba with an impeccable performance on the mat.
Dayanara Curbelo won the gold after defeating the Chilean Kharla Casas by disqualification in the final, and previously overcame Costa Rican Arianne González and Canadian Alisa Kofman, the latter by ippón. Her success was based on powerful techniques of throws and lapel grips.
The economic crisis, power outages, food shortages, and resource scarcity, along with the exodus of talent, have undermined Cuban sports at all levels.
The National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) acknowledged before the National Assembly that more than 50% of the planned sports activities were canceled due to power outages and food shortages, which has severely interfered with the training of high-performance athletes.
Additionally, the nutrition of these athletes is "severely affected" by the lack of products and the increase in prices.
The migration of athletes and coaches, driven by a lack of opportunities, has weakened the Cuban sports system. Additionally, the economic crisis has led to the abandonment and deterioration of facilities, hindering the development of new generations of athletes
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Performance in the 2025 Pan American Games in Asunción
Who is Oleisy Ferrer and what achievement did she attain at the 2025 Pan American Games in Asunción?
Oleisy Ferrer is a Cuban athlete who won the gold medal in the 3,000 meters steeplechase at the 2025 Pan American Games in Asunción, setting a new Pan American record with a time of 8:54.20 minutes.
Which other Cuban athletes stood out at the 2025 Pan American Games in Asunción?
In addition to Oleisy Ferrer, Yander Herrera and Dayanara Curbelo also won gold medals. Herrera triumphed in the 110 meters hurdles, while Curbelo shone in judo in the over 78 kg category.
How has the crisis in Cuba affected high-performance sports in the country?
The economic crisis in Cuba has severely impacted high-performance sports, with more than 50% of sports activities canceled due to power outages and food shortages. The nutrition and training of athletes are significantly affected, which interferes with their performance and development.
Why is there an exodus of sports talent from Cuba?
The exodus of sports talents from Cuba is due to the lack of opportunities and adequate conditions to develop their careers. The economic crisis and the limitations of the system have driven many athletes to leave the country in search of better conditions abroad.
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