Cuba arrives at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 with an athletics team of 48 athletes and a clear goal: to surpass the nine gold medals won in San Salvador 2023 and to achieve between 11 and 12 titles in the event taking place from July 24 to August 8.
According to journalist Raúl Rodríguez on Facebook, the team, consisting of 24 men and 24 women, combines world-class talent with an emerging generation that promises to continue the Island's history of success in this discipline.
The most recognizable face of the team is Leyanis Pérez, a three-time world champion in the triple jump who on July 10 surpassed the 15-meter barrier with a personal best of 15.06 m at the Diamond League in Monaco. The athlete, also the flag bearer for the Cuban delegation at the ceremony held on Saturday in Havana, stated that she will compete in Santo Domingo "with the same determination as at the Olympic Games."
Alongside her, Lázaro Martínez, indoor world champion in triple jump in 2022 and bronze medalist in outdoor world championships in 2025, and Juan Miguel Echevarría, who returns to the national team after a five-year absence with a season-best of 8.27 m, complete a notable trio for the field events.
The major revelation of the season is Jorge Hodelín, 19 years old, who on June 13 set the under-20 world record in long jump with 8.46 m in Pierre-Bénite, France, surpassing the mark set by Italian Mattia Furlani. The young man from Cabaiguán arrives in Santo Domingo as one of the great attractions of the event.
The technical chief, George Romero, has pointed out that the team's backbone lies in the jumping and throwing areas, specialties in which Cuba has historically excelled and where it focuses several of the main contenders for gold.
The road, however, will not be without obstacles. The Dominican Republic, as host, will present Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic champion in the 400 meters at Paris 2024 with an Olympic record of 48.17 seconds and Dominican flag bearer, who arrives in top form following victories in the Diamond League in Doha and Monaco in 2026. Grenada, for its part, will feature Anderson Peters, world champion in javelin.
However, the absence of other top-level figures in several events creates a genuine opportunity for the Cubans to increase their haul of titles compared to San Salvador 2023.
Cuba participates in Santo Domingo with 504 athletes across 42 disciplines, aiming to secure around 68 gold medals and finish among the top three in the overall medal table. Athletics, with its mix of established champions and promising young talent, will be one of the most reliable indicators of the state of Cuban sports as we approach the Olympic cycle for Los Angeles 2028.
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