Cuba cleans up at Central American & Caribbean Games

The Cuban success was lead by internationally renowned single sculler, Angel Fournier Rodriguez. Fournier, who World Rowing’s November Athlete of the Month, finished as the most medalled competitor at the rowing event, winning three gold medals including the men’s single sculls, men’s double sculls and men’s quadruple sculls.

The Games took place in Veracruz, Mexico. The rowing competition was originally scheduled over five days, however, due to the “Norte,” a strong northern wind, the first two days were cancelled and the event was rescheduled from 27 to 29 November. Ten nations contested the ten categories making for some exciting racing.

Notable races included close finishes in the men’s lightweight four, the men’s lightweight double and the men’s coxless pair. In the men’s pair, Mexico’s Leopoldo Tejada and Diego Sanchez were favoured to win, but Cuba’s combination of Solaris Freire and Adrian Oquendo had the stronger sprint and managed to pull ahead, finishing just under one second ahead at the line. This win ensured Cuba’s clean sweep of the gold medals.

Lisobel Hernandez also played a part in the Cuban medal haul as a member of  both the lightweight men’s four and lightweight men’s double. These two races finished incredibly tightly with Cuba winning by just over a second.  

Host country Mexico produced some impressive performances. They won seven silver and three bronze medals to take the second spot on the medals table. Juan Carlos Cabrera, who has competed at several international events, pushed this year’s World Championships bronze medallist, Fournier to the line in the men’s single sculls, but ended with the silver behind Fournier.  

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Venezuela finished third  on the medals table with three silver medals and three bronze medals. Venezuela’s Kimberley Meneses was a significant part of this effort. She medalled in all three women’s events including a silver medal in the women’s single and the women’s lightweight double and a bronze in the women’s open-weight double. 

FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland was present at the Games and commented, “It was my pleasure to be able to attend the Games. It is very important for the sport of rowing to take part in continental competitions and I was quite pleased by the organisation of the event and the level of competition.”

The Central American & Caribbean Games is part of the road to the Rio Olympic Games for many of these athletes and also winning medals at these Games brings the athletes recognition in their home country. Now these rowers are looking to the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada before the Olympic Qualification regattas that will get underway later in 2015.

For full results, please visit the website here: www.veracruz2014.mx