On Wednesday, the Cuban canoeing team wrapped up their participation in the Pan American Championships in Montreal by bringing home a gold and a bronze medal in the final day's events. Overall, the team achieved a total of seven medals during the competition held from July 13 to 15 in Canada.
Despite their athletic achievements, the event was overshadowed by the departure of three kayakers who left the team during the competition.
Noteworthy Performances on the Water
Yarisleidis Cirilo and Yinnolis Franchesca López triumphed in the women's two-person canoe (C-2) at 500 meters, clocking a time of 2:00.98 minutes. They outpaced competitors from Canada, who finished in 2:02.61, and the United States, who completed the race in 2:03.88. This victory not only marked Cuba's sole gold in the tournament but also secured their spot at the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.
In the same session, José Ramón Pelier and Javier Regueiro clinched the bronze medal in the men's C-2 500 meters with a time of 1:47.77, falling behind Brazil (1:44.28) and Canada (1:44.66). Their path to Lima 2027 remains uncertain as they failed to secure the top two spots necessary for automatic qualification.
Medal Tally and Defections Cast a Shadow
In earlier events, Cuba amassed four silver medals and an additional bronze. Cirilo earned silver in the C-1 200 meters, while Franchesca López achieved the same in both the C-1 200 meters under-23 category and the C-1 500 meters in the same category. Pelier also took silver in the C-1 1000 meters.
Daylen Pérez concluded the medal tally with a bronze in the K-1 500 meters, finishing with a time of 1:53.93 minutes.
However, while the officials celebrated these accomplishments, three kayakers departed from the team in Montreal during the III Canoe Sprint World Cup, held prior to the Pan American event. According to Cubalite, a source close to the team who spoke anonymously revealed these departures.
Kayaker Departures: A Growing Trend
Kayakers Madelen Heredia Domínguez and Lismary Bombino Rasúa exited the team without competing, leading to the absence of Cuban representation in the women's four-person kayak 500 meters. Anthony Lamadrid Cabrera, on the other hand, competed before leaving; he finished seventh in the K4-500 meters semifinal 3 and sixth in the K1-500 meters heat 2.
The three athletes have notable international careers. Heredia, from Guantánamo, participated in the Santiago de Chile 2023 Pan American Games. Bombino, from Cienfuegos, earned two bronzes at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games. Lamadrid, from Villa Clara, was part of the silver-winning K4-500 meters men's team at the same event.
The official newspaper, Granma, covered the team's results in Montreal but omitted any mention of the athletes' departures.
This trend of Cuban athletes leaving international delegations has become increasingly common. In May, two boxers defected during a stopover in Spain, and in August 2025, six athletes left during the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción. Since 2022, over 100 Cuban athletes annually have defected or failed to fulfill contracts abroad, with a cumulative total exceeding 1,000 over the past decade.
The Cuban delegation is scheduled to return to the island this Thursday to continue preparations for the Santo Domingo 2026 competition. The team also looks ahead to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Key Insights into Cuban Athlete Defections
Why did the Cuban kayakers leave the team?
The reasons behind the kayakers' departure are not officially confirmed, but such defections often stem from seeking better opportunities and living conditions abroad, as has been the case with other Cuban athletes.
How does Cuba's sports delegation plan to address these defections?
While the Cuban government has not outlined specific measures to prevent future defections, the issue remains a significant challenge as they continue preparing for upcoming international competitions.