Vladimir Hernández, a 21-year-old Cuban swimmer specializing in long-distance freestyle events, has been awarded a scholarship to train at the World Aquatics International Center in Bahrain. This makes him the fifth swimmer from Cuba to benefit from this prestigious program.
According to Nelson García Fernández, the national swimming commissioner, Hernández was initially scheduled to join the center in March. However, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, his arrival has been postponed until September 2026.
The small island nation of Bahrain, located in the Persian Gulf, is in a region currently experiencing high tensions due to a war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that began in late March. This conflict has disrupted operations across many facilities in the area.
Preparing for International Competition
Hernández will compete in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters freestyle events. He is part of a Cuban delegation consisting of four athletes representing the country at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026, scheduled from July 24 to August 8.
García Fernández explained that the available slots for Cuba were determined by the technical manual of the games, allowing for two spots per gender, as the swimming team could not attend any pool or open water qualifiers.
History of Cuban Swimmers in World Aquatics Program
Cuba has consistently participated in the World Aquatics scholarship program since 2021. The first beneficiary was Luis Vega, a butterfly specialist, who trained in Kazan, Russia, and set a national record in the 200 meters.
Subsequently, Lorena González trained at the same center, improving the Cuban record in the 50 meters short course.
Elisbet Gámez, Cuba's top swimmer in recent years, joined the Thailand center in 2022 and later trained in France in 2023, where she set national records in the 50, 100, and 200 meters short course events. Despite taking a break from swimming in 2024 due to changes in Olympic qualification rules, she plans to return for the Santo Domingo Games.
New Records and Future Aspirations
Currently, Andrea Becali is training at the World Aquatics center in Australia. She set a new national record in the 50 meters freestyle this month with a time of 25.87 seconds, becoming the first Cuban woman to break the 26-second barrier. This surpassed the previous record of 26.00 seconds set by Gámez in March 2023. Becali will compete in Santo Domingo in the 50, 100, 200, and 400 meters freestyle events.
The Cuban swimming delegation for Santo Domingo also includes Yadiel Estrada in the 50 and 100 meters freestyle, and Laurent Estrada in backstroke (50, 100, and 200 meters) and the 200 individual medley. Laurent, who was part of the winning relay teams at the 2023 Central Caribbean Games in San Salvador, hopes to be called to an international World Aquatics center as well.
Meanwhile, Rodolfo Falcón Júnior, a member of the national preselection, delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Interuniversity Athletic League in Puerto Rico. He won the 1,500 meters with a time of 16:15.61 and the 400 meters in 4:02.95, secured silver in the 4x200 freestyle relay, and bronze in the 200 freestyle with 1:57.22.
The Santo Domingo 2026 Games will also serve as a qualifier for the Pan American Games in Lima 2027, highlighting the significance of this cycle for Cuban swimming.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Swimmers and World Aquatics
What events will Vladimir Hernández compete in during the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
Vladimir Hernández will compete in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters freestyle events.
Why was Hernández's arrival in Bahrain delayed?
His arrival was delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has affected operations in the region.
How has the World Aquatics program benefited Cuban swimmers?
Since 2021, the program has helped Cuban swimmers like Luis Vega, Lorena González, and Elisbet Gámez improve their performance and set national records by providing training opportunities at international centers.