Cuban swimmers Becali-Estrada, a medal-less but commendable performance in Asuncion 2025

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 15 (ACN) The imprint left by swimmers Laurent Estrada and Andrea Becali at the 2nd Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion resonates today in Cuba: a performance without medals, but full of effort and tangible progress.

Although the Caribbean island athletes failed to reach the podium in a sport where Brazil largely dominated with 24 gold medals, followed by Argentina with six, the two Cubans left valuable signs of technical and competitive progress.

Estrada confirmed her development by winning the B final of the 200m medley, knocking almost two seconds off her previous mark and just hundredths of a second off the national record set by Imaday Nuñez three years ago.

She also finished sixth in the 100m backstroke with a national long course record, seventh in the 200m backstroke, and a B finalist in the 50m freestyle.

For her part, Becali, a World Aquatics scholarship recipient who guaranteed her presence at the event, improved her personal best in the 50m freestyle twice in a single day, setting the second-best time in Cuban history for the distance.

She also placed sixth in the 100m freestyle and eighth in the 200m freestyle, improving her times from the qualifying rounds in both events.

In short, although there were no medals in Asuncion, both athletes had commendable performances based on continuous improvement, perseverance, and the experience gained in international competitions.

Laurent Estrada consolidated his position with national records; Andrea Becali, with personal bests and podium finishes in preparatory events.

Their progress confirms that Cuba is making strides in swimming in this area, with these young women as champions of that process.