Cuban rowing focuses on Santo Domingo 2026

HAVANA, Cuba, January 12 (ACN) Cuban rowing plans to begin 2026 with a training camp at the Hanabanilla Dam in the central province of Villa Clara, with its sights set on the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.

Ángel Luis García, president and national commissioner, told the Cuban News Agency that they expect to hold their traditionally fruitful training camp at the central location, this time from February 15 to April 31, with their sights set on the Dominican multi-sport event, scheduled for July 24 to August 8.

García added that they also hope to participate in a preparatory event in Russia, as they did with very good results in 2025, which will help them arrive in the Dominican competition in top form.

Regarding this, the federation official noted that the rowing events for the Games will take place from July 24th to 30th, and that other preparatory tournaments could be added to this planned schedule, which would be very beneficial for those who have qualified for the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Cuban rowing ended 2025 with 12 spots for Santo Domingo 2026, six in men's and six in women's events, a result to which they added three gold, four silver, and two bronze medals in the qualifying event.

With the competition held on Lake Petén in Guatemala, the rowers won the titles in the men's quadruple sculls (4x) and double sculls (2x) on the final day, silver medals in the men's and women's double sculls (2-), and a bronze medal in the women's double sculls (2x).

The haul was completed, from previous events, with one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, an overall performance that guaranteed them a place in the premier rowing event, the men's and women's eight with coxswain (8+) – which was not included in the Guatemala Games – at the Games scheduled for July 24 to August 8.

Another competition featuring Cuban rowers in 2025 was the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, where they finished fourth in the medal count, with one gold and one bronze, behind Chile (8-3-1), Brazil (2-4-4), and Paraguay (1-3-2).

Uruguay (1-0-1) tied for fourth place with Cuba, followed by Argentina (0-2-0), Canada (0-1-3), and Mexico (0-0-1).

The gold medal came in the 4x, with Henry Heredia, Adel Gutiérrez, Leduar Suárez, and Roberto Carlos Paz, who repeated their podium finish, this time with a bronze, in the men's 8+ alongside Ronny Álvarez, Keiler Ávila, Robert Fernández, Félix Fernández, and Pedro González.

In the women's 4x, Claudia Tolon, Leah Almeida, Ana Laura Jiménez, and Natalie Morales finished fifth in the A finals, while Roddy Álvarez, Claudia Tolon, Leah Almeida, Henry Heredia, Leduar Suárez, Ana Laura Jiménez, Natalie Morales, Roberto Carlos Paz, and Pedro González finished fifth in the mixed 8+.

Paz finished first in the B final, a result that placed him seventh overall. With their sights set on Asunción, seven athletes—five men and two women—were invited to the Moscow Grand Rowing Regatta in Russia, where they competed against top teams from the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Australia, and Brazil.

It undoubtedly proved to be excellent preparation for the competition in the Paraguayan capital, with the highlight being the silver medal won in the men's 4x (men's) by Paz, Suárez, Gutiérrez, and Heredia.

Cuba competed in the men's 1x, men's 4x, and women's 2x, events in which González, Ana Laura, and Natalie also participated, coached by Joan Manuel Paula.