On Saturday, Cuba wrapped up its participation in the men's freestyle wrestling tournament at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, securing two gold medals and three bronzes. This achievement reaffirms Cuba's status as a leading force in regional wrestling.
The gold medals were clinched by Geannis Garzón in the 74-kilogram category and Arturo Silot in the 97-kilogram division, both showcasing commanding performances throughout the competition.
The Path to Victory
Garzón didn't concede a single point during the final day. He triumphed 11-0 over Salvadoran Kevin Alemán in the quarterfinals, defeated Dominican Julio Rodríguez 9-3 in the semifinals, and claimed the championship with a 10-0 win over Venezuelan Ibsen Aguilar, a victory also achieved by technical superiority.
The wrestler dedicated his victory to his family, sharing, "I am very happy, finally a Central American champion, the opportunity I was looking for. I spoke with my father in the morning, and he told me to go for it, so I gave it my all and got the result."
Garzón expressed his ambitions for the future, stating, "Right now, what I want is to be there for my daughter's birth and then get back to training for the World Championships. I want to achieve everything at Worlds and go after the medals I've always dreamed of."
Silot's Unbeaten Run
Silot, on the other hand, remained undefeated throughout the tournament. He dominated Colombian Carlos Izquierdo (12-3) and Venezuelan Cristian Sarco (13-3) during the group stage, crushed Jamaican Steven Burrell Jr. 10-0 in the semifinals, and once again defeated Izquierdo by technical superiority in the final to secure his gold medal.
Bronze Medal Triumphs
The three bronze medals went to Lázaro Hernández (86 kg), Yosenky Castañeda (125 kg), and Carlos Méndez (65 kg).
Hernández made a noteworthy comeback in the tournament, returning to competition after nearly three years and choosing these Games as his reentry into high-level competition. Although he lost 4-5 in the semifinals to Dominican Christopher Foca, he bounced back to defeat Panamanian Ángel Cortés in the third-place match.
Castañeda advanced from the quarterfinals with a 6-0 win over Jamaican Aaron Johnson, lost in the semifinals to Puerto Rican Jonovan Smith, and secured bronze by overcoming Costa Rican Maxwell Lacey 6-1.
In his first Central American Games, Méndez started with a 21-13 victory over Panamanian Wilfredo López, was defeated in the semifinals by Puerto Rican Joseph Joseph, and clinched third place with a technical superiority win against Salvadoran Raúl Paniagua. "I am not satisfied with the result; I was aiming for the gold medal, but it was a good experience," admitted the young wrestler, whose father also serves as his main coach.
Vladimir Vila (57 kg) was the only Cuban wrestler who did not make it to the podium, having been eliminated in the group stage after losing to Venezuelan Pedro Mejías and Mexican Román Bravo.
Both Garzón and Silot entered these Games as Pan American freestyle wrestling champions, having won their titles in May in Coralville, Iowa, further establishing their continental dominance with their gold victories in Santo Domingo.
Cuba is competing in Santo Domingo 2026 with 504 athletes across 42 sports, marking its largest delegation in recent years for these games. As of July 29, Cuba was third in the overall medal standings with 16 golds, 16 silvers, and 20 bronzes.
Following the conclusion of the men's tournament, the freestyle wrestling competition continues this Saturday with the women's tournament, where Cuban athletes will strive to maintain their dominance on the mats in Santo Domingo.
Cuba's Wrestling Achievements at the Central American Games
Who were the gold medalists for Cuba in wrestling?
Geannis Garzón and Arturo Silot won gold medals for Cuba in the 74 kg and 97 kg categories, respectively, at the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026.
How many athletes is Cuba competing with in Santo Domingo 2026?
Cuba is competing with 504 athletes across 42 sports in Santo Domingo 2026, marking its largest recent delegation for these games.
What was Lázaro Hernández's achievement after returning to competition?
Lázaro Hernández won a bronze medal in the 86 kg category after nearly three years away from competition, marking a successful return to high-level wrestling.