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Dominican athlete wins silver medal, dedicates it to her mother battling cancer
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic /Sports

Dominican athlete wins silver medal, dedicates it to her mother battling cancer

From Diario Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Dominican athlete Evelina Minaya won a silver medal in the long jump at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
  • Minaya dedicated her medal to her mother, who is battling terminal cancer, and revealed she considered quitting athletics to care for her.
  • The athlete plans to use her 150,000 peso prize money to buy her mother's medication, crediting her coach for helping her continue competing.

Evelina Minaya's silver medal in the long jump at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 was overshadowed by her personal battle. The Dominican athlete secured the silver with a jump of 6.49 meters, narrowly behind Puerto Rico's Alysbeth Félix, who leaped 6.54 meters.

The result of this medal was the sacrifice I had to make to get here. My mommy has terminal cancer and is at home right now. This was all for her.

— Evelina MinayaThe Dominican athlete explained her emotional state after winning the silver medal.

Minaya, 26, from Puerto Plata, revealed that her tears of joy were mixed with deep sadness. She had contemplated abandoning athletics entirely to care for her mother, Maximena, who is suffering from terminal cancer. "The result of this medal was the sacrifice I had to make to get here," Minaya said, her voice choked with emotion. "My mommy has terminal cancer and is at home right now. This was all for her."

Her emotional performance took place late Friday night at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, with a sparse crowd witnessing her story after the earlier excitement surrounding Marileidy Paulino. Minaya expressed a strong desire to connect with her mother via video call before their reunion, saying, "I want to enjoy her, hug her, and kiss her."

I want to enjoy her, hug her, and kiss her.

— Evelina MinayaMinaya expressed her anticipation of reuniting with her mother.

Minaya credited her coach, José Rubio, as a crucial source of support. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here," she stated. "I called him to tell him I was going to quit everything, and he told me, 'No, we can, we can.'" This conversation occurred less than a month prior, after she had stopped training for about 15 days due to her mother's illness.

If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here. I called him to tell him I was going to quit everything, and he told me, 'No, we can, we can.'

— Evelina MinayaMinaya credited her coach, José Rubio, for convincing her to continue competing.

The silver medal comes with a 150,000 peso incentive from the Ministry of Sports. Minaya immediately declared her intention to use the prize money for her mother's care. "The first thing I'm going to do is buy all my mom's medication. Everything she needs will be for her." This decision brought a different kind of smile to her face, one of relief and purpose.

The first thing I'm going to do is buy all my mom's medication. Everything she needs will be for her.

— Evelina MinayaMinaya stated her plans for the prize money she received for her silver medal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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