On Tuesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel took to social media to commend the Cuban delegation's achievements at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026. However, his posts noticeably omitted the two rowers who secured Cuba's inaugural medals, just a day after one of them left the team.
In a post on his X account, Díaz-Canel shared a collage featuring six images of Cuban athletes, including judokas and taekwondo practitioners, proudly displaying their medals. The message read:
"Cuba resonates with every medal our athletes win at the Central American and Caribbean Games #SantoDomingo2026."
He followed up with another post emphasizing the bravery of the judokas, the determination of the rowers, and the dedication of the taekwondo athletes, expressing pride in their representation of a resilient nation. He congratulated all medalists.
Conspicuously missing from both posts were Leah Daniela Almeida and Ana Laura Jiménez, who had secured a bronze medal on July 25 in the Women's Lightweight Double Sculls with a time of 7:36.59, marking Cuba's first medal at the regional event.
The Defection That Shifted the Narrative
The omission aligns with Leah Daniela Almeida's departure from the Cuban delegation. Originally from the town of Máximo Gómez in the Perico municipality, Almeida left the team on Monday, shortly before the delegation's return to the island. She became the second Cuban athlete to defect during the Santo Domingo Games.
Since both athletes competed as a pair, any image of their historic bronze inevitably includes both rowers, likely explaining why the recent posts from the leader avoid showcasing that achievement.
A Vanished Acknowledgment
Official outlets such as JIT and Juventud Rebelde reported on July 26 that Díaz-Canel had congratulated the Cuban delegation, highlighting the rowers' bronze medal among their accomplishments. However, this acknowledgment is now absent from the leader's X profile.
As of yet, Cuban sports authorities have not made any official statements regarding Almeida's exit from the delegation.
A Familiar Pattern of Silence
The official silence surrounding athlete defections is not an isolated incident. Just days prior, Moisés David Torres Puig, a 21-year-old field hockey goalkeeper, also left the Cuban delegation during the Games. In that instance, Oscar Sánchez Serra, head of the official sports outlet JIT, downplayed the situation, describing it as a strictly personal decision.
The defections in Santo Domingo follow closely on the heels of another mass exodus from Cuban sports. Between July 15 and 18, nine out of twelve members of the national canoeing team left the delegation during a competition in Montreal, Canada, marking the largest recorded exodus in that sport to date.
Since 2022, over a hundred Cuban athletes have defected from official delegations each year during international competitions.
Cuban Athlete Defections: Key Questions Answered
What prompted Leah Daniela Almeida to defect from the Cuban delegation?
While specific personal reasons for Leah Daniela Almeida's defection haven't been disclosed, such defections often stem from seeking better opportunities and escaping the restrictive conditions in Cuba.
How has the Cuban government responded to athlete defections?
The Cuban government typically maintains silence or downplays athlete defections, avoiding public acknowledgment or detailed discussions.
What impact do these defections have on Cuban sports?
Defections weaken Cuban sports teams by depleting talent and potentially affecting the morale and performance of remaining athletes.