Guantanamo.- Cuba delivered an outstanding performance on the opening day of the canoeing tournament at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026, securing two gold medals in the highly competitive women’s and men’s 500-meter double canoe (C-2) events. The competitions are being held until August 7 at the Rincón Dam Rowing and Canoeing Center.
In the women’s C-2 500-meter race, sisters Yarisleidis Cirilo Dubois and Diorgina Cirilo ascended to the top of the podium with a commanding finish time of 1:58.24 minutes. They were closely pursued by the Colombian duo who clocked in at 1:59.68 minutes, with the Mexican team completing the event in 2:08.75 minutes.
The men’s C-2 500-meter event saw José Ramón Pelier and Tabiany Diéguez deliver a stellar performance, finishing first with an impressive time of 1:41.61 minutes. Venezuelan and Colombian teams finished second and third with times of 1:43.38 and 1:45.01 minutes, respectively.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cuban athletes Cristian Cuellar and Geduar González competed in the preliminary heats of the single-person kayak events. Cuellar took part in the K-1 1000 meters, finishing his heat in 3:48.43 minutes, while González competed in the K-1 200 meters with a time of 38.16 seconds. Both athletes secured third-place finishes in their respective heats, advancing them further into the competition.
Looking ahead to Thursday, the canoeing events will feature six direct finals in the following categories: women’s C-1 200 meters, men’s C-1 1000 meters, women’s K-1 500 meters, men’s K-2 500 meters, mixed C-2 500 meters, and mixed K-2 500 meters. Additionally, the semifinals for the men’s K-1 200 meters and K-1 1000 meters will take place, promising another day of intense racing action.
Cuba’s delegation continues to be led by Yarisleidis Cirilo, an Olympic bronze medalist in the men’s C-1 200 meters from the Paris 2024 Games, where he also reached the final in the men’s C-2 500 meters. Another key figure is José Ramón Pelier, who won the B final in the men’s C-1 1000 meters at the same Olympics.
Cirilo will additionally compete in the C-1 200 meters under the guidance of coach Nelson Perales. Meanwhile, Pelier trains with coach Serguei Torres, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion in the men’s C-2 1000 meters. Pelier and Cirilo are also slated to compete together in the mixed C-2 500 meters category.
On the women’s side, kayaker Sujaili Sardiñas is representing Cuba in the K-1 200 meters, K-1 500 meters, and the mixed K-2 500 meters alongside González. It is noted that the Cuban team will not participate in the K-4 or men’s K-2 events this year.
Cuba’s continued excellence in canoeing at the Central American and Caribbean Games underscores their position as a dominant force in the sport within the region, showcasing their depth of talent and commitment to excellence on the international stage.
