On Friday, Cuban athletes Yarisleidis Cirilo and Yinnoly Francheska López progressed to the semifinals of the C2-500 meters at the World Cup in Szeged, Hungary. This event marks the first stop of the 2026 international sprint canoeing circuit.
The duo clocked a time of 2:00.54 minutes in their qualifying heat, a performance that secured them a spot in the next stage of the Hungarian competition.
Dominating the heat were Ukrainian canoeists Liudmyla Luzan and Anastasiia Rybachok, who achieved the best time of the day with 1:55.99 minutes, earning direct entry to the final.
Fierce Competition in Szeged
In total, eight teams managed to finish under two minutes and 20 hundredths in a fiercely competitive field, which included over 20 boats from various federations, featuring powerhouses like China, Canada, and Hungary.
The Ukrainian pair Luzan and Rybachok are silver medalists from the same event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the women's C2-500 meters made its official Olympic debut.
Cuban Canoeists' Olympic Aspirations
Cirilo and López were also part of that final in Paris 2024, positioning themselves as strong contenders in the lead-up to Los Angeles 2028.
Guantanamera Cirilo boasts an impressive record: an Olympic bronze in C1-200 meters at Paris 2024, a world championship gold in C1-200 meters in Duisburg 2023, and another gold at the Under-23 World Championships in Portugal in July 2025.
Together with López, the pair was recognized among Cuba's top athletes in 2024 in the non-individual events category.
Preparation and Double Challenge
The two canoeists arrived in Szeged after a training base in Guatapé, Colombia, and Poland, under the guidance of coach Nelson Perales and physiotherapist Lázaro Pérez.
This Friday afternoon, they will also compete in the C2-200 meters, presenting a dual challenge on the opening day.
Szeged World Cup: A Strategic Opportunity
The World Cup in Szeged runs through Sunday and operates under the new qualifying system of the International Canoe Federation for Los Angeles 2028. Points are awarded by national Olympic committee—not individual athletes—in each event on the international calendar.
Under this system, each nation can accumulate up to eight results from eight different competitions, with a maximum of six from the same continent, making each World Cup a strategic opportunity right from the start of the cycle.
The next stop on the circuit is scheduled for Brandenburg, Germany, from May 14 to 17, where Cuba will have another chance to earn points in the race towards Los Angeles 2028.
Key Questions on Cuban Canoeists and Szeged World Cup
What was the performance of Cirilo and López in their qualifying heat?
Cirilo and López recorded a time of 2:00.54 minutes, allowing them to advance to the semifinals.
Who dominated the qualifying heat and what was their time?
The Ukrainian team of Liudmyla Luzan and Anastasiia Rybachok dominated with a time of 1:55.99 minutes, securing direct entry to the final.
What are the qualifications for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?
The International Canoe Federation's new system awards points to national Olympic committees, allowing each nation to accumulate results from up to eight different competitions for Olympic qualification.