Penélope Polanco wins karate gold for Dominican Republic at Santo Domingo 2026 Games
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Dominican karateka Penélope Polanco won the gold medal in the women's -61 kg kumite at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games.
- She defeated Venezuela's Claudymar Garcés 8-7 in a closely contested final.
- Polanco's victory adds to the Dominican Republic's successful karate campaign, following gold medals in kata by Larry Aracena and María Dimitrova.
Dominican athlete Penélope Polanco secured the gold medal in the women's -61 kg kumite event at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. Polanco faced off against Venezuela's Claudymar Garcés in an intense final, ultimately triumphing by a narrow margin of 8-7.
The match was a hard-fought battle, with Polanco demonstrating composure in the decisive moments to maintain her slim lead and secure the victory. Garcés is recognized as one of the top karate practitioners in the continental region, making Polanco's win a significant achievement.
This gold medal continues the Dominican Republic's strong performance in karate at the Games. The discipline has been a notable source of success for the host nation, with Larry Aracena and María Dimitrova previously earning gold medals in the kata discipline. Polanco's win further solidifies the Dominican Republic's impressive showing in karate.
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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