Reidy Cardona and Leduar Suárez propelled Cuba to its fifth gold medal at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games by clinching victory in the men's double scull event on Sunday. The race took place at the Bonao rowing course, situated in the heart of the Dominican Republic.
According to the state-run sports publication JIT, covering the lead-up to Santo Domingo 2026, the Cuban duo maintained command over the 2,000-meter course from start to finish, pulling away from the Mexican competitors after the halfway mark, leaving them unable to regain ground.
Cuba crossed the finish line with a time of 6:32.80 minutes. Mexico took silver, clocking in at 6:37.39, while Venezuela secured the bronze with a time of 6:39.62.
Celebrating a Significant Victory
"We are grateful to everyone who made this medal possible. I am very pleased with this result because, despite the challenges, we achieved our goal," Cardona expressed after the race concluded.
His teammate Suárez also acknowledged the support received: "We want to thank everyone who has been working with us to reach this moment," he stated near the finish line.
Cuban Rowing Success Continues
Cardona currently stands as Cuba's top rower. During the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, he earned a silver in double scull, a gold in the coxed eight, and a bronze in the coxed mixed eight. Additionally, he participated in his first Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in the single scull event.
Sunday's events also brought another reason to celebrate for the Cuban delegation in rowing: Raima Ortiz and Loraidis Echavarría captured silver in the women's double scull competition.
Rowing: A Pillar of Cuban Sports
Rowing is solidifying its place as one of Cuba's most successful sports at the beginning of these Games. On Saturday, Ana Jiménez and Leah Almeida opened the Cuban rowing medal count in Bonao by earning a bronze in the women's lightweight double scull.
This performance contributes to Cuba's strong start in Santo Domingo 2026, where the team of 504 athletes in 42 sports aims to finish among the top three in the medal tally, targeting at least 67 golds—a figure close to the 74 they achieved in San Salvador 2023.
The first Cuban gold in these Games came from cyclist Marlies Mejías on Saturday in the women's 30-kilometer time trial, with a time of 40:15.79.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Rowing Achievements
How many gold medals has Cuba won in the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games?
Cuba has won five gold medals in the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games.
Who are Reidy Cardona and Leduar Suárez?
Reidy Cardona and Leduar Suárez are Cuban rowers who recently won gold in the men's double scull event at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games.