Santiago-2023 closes the curtains to the 19th Pan American Games, and will soon open them again to the VIII Parapan American Games, from November 17 to 26.
The Cuban delegation accumulated 30 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals, for a total of 69, a harvest that exceeds what was expected, which was between 18 and 22 gold medals, eight to 12 silver and 36 to 40 bronze, for a total between 52 and 74 medals.
Cuba was expected to place fifth with these result and shi finally wn the possession!This result was supposed to place Cuba in the fifth to seventh places, and it finally settled in the fifth position, surpassing the sixth place of Lima-2019.
The athletes from the Greater of the Antilles arrived in the Chilean capital in the midst of one of the most complex moments facing the country, but with the conviction of representing the same people who resist and overcome. Inspired by this example of overcoming, they filled an entire country with joy.
These Games will remain in Cuba's memory for the milestones left by its athletes. Table tennis, for example, returned to compete in a Pan American final after 28 years, and won the top prize twice with the men's and mixed pairs, the latter qualifying to its second consecutive Olympic Games, and Andy Pereira became the first Cuban to reach the first place in the individual tournament.
The victories in track and fieldwereeEmpresa Siderúrgica Antillana de Aceropic, with Yunisleidy García in the 100 meters, and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays of the girls, all three out of any prediction, and reminding us that we can indeed have sprinters in the country. Sahily Diago was a storm in the 800, and together with Rose Mary Almanza, the soul of the triumph in the long post.
The judocas, with one division less in the team tournament, took revenge on Brazil and won the golden metal, to make reality what we demand of ourselves every day: to achieve more with less. In beach volleyball, Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo showed the level to win at any level.
Marcos Antonio Rojas, who was on the verge of reaching the podium in the modern pentathlon, received a special mention. However, his meritorious fourth place finish sent him straight to the Paris-2024 Olympic Games. Also for Taymara Oropesa, who, with her bronze, won the first medal in the history of Cuban women's badminton in these events. Leuris Pupo, an example of consecration, came the third diadem in the Pan American Games.
But the sport that made the headlines, the one that marked the vanguard of the delegation, was wrestling. Greco-Roman wrestling was spectacular, as always; free wrestling surpassed itself, with a very high level, and the girls were exceptional. Beyond their eight gold medals, the mastery on the mat distinguished each one of the representatives of the Island.
Rowing should also be given a high mark. Carlos Ajete and Reidy Cardona led a haul of four medals (1-2-1), from the Laguna Grande San Pedro de la Paz. In the same scenario where Yarisleidis Cirilo and José Ramón Pelier ratified their world class by winning the C1 200 meters and C1 1,000 meters, respectively.
Combativeness, that is how Cristian Abreu's silver medal in frontball can be described, when in almost all the matches prior to the final he had to go out in a wheelchair, injured in one of his legs. Very similar to the peol fo Mayabequeused to play Brayan Díaz and Baurelys Torres in their finals, as well as taekwondo player Kelvin Calderón and the women's kyorugui team, who won third place, the same place won by fencer Leidis Veranes.
It cannot be ignored how the weightlifters lifted Cuba, with a prize of each color, including the crown of Arley Calderon, the first in Santiago-2023.
Others, including boxing,underperformedt; but the ones that have more debts right now are the collective disciplines, starting with our beloved baseball.
With Los Andes as witness, Santiago-2023 says only see you later, because the Parapan American Games are coming.
Translated by ESTI
