Sarría's Gold Medal Secures Cuba's Final Triumph at Games

Cuban weightlifter Marifélix Sarría clinched the gold medal in the women's over 86-kilogram clean and jerk event at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. Her successful lift of 153 kilograms secured Cuba's 51st and final gold medal of the regional competition, capping off their performance.

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I cried a lot in the warm-up room after the snatch because I know it wasn't a good competition for me in that part. I tried to quickly erase what had happened, entrust myself to God, think about my family and the Cuban people to mentally rearm myself and focus only on the clean and jerk.

Sarría's path to victory was not without its challenges. She struggled in the snatch portion of the competition, failing to register a valid lift. This initial setback led to significant emotional distress, with Sarría admitting to crying intensely in the warm-up room. However, she managed to regroup mentally, drawing strength from her family and the Cuban people to focus on her specialty, the clean and jerk.

Her powerful performance in the clean and jerk proved decisive. She successfully lifted 153 kilograms, surpassing her rivals. Venezuela's Naryury Pérez took silver with 151 kg, and Dominican Republic's Crismery Santana, a Tokyo 2020 medalist, secured bronze with 147 kg. Sarría's gold medal held significant personal value, serving as redemption after doping controversies marred her participation in the previous San Salvador-2023 Games.

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I had a very big debt to these Central American Games. I wanted to contribute more, perhaps in the snatch too, but it didn't happen. The important thing is that I managed to win the gold medal in the clean and jerk and fulfill my commitment to my team, which has been giving its all despite our conditions.

"I had a very big debt to these Central American Games. I wanted to contribute more, perhaps in the snatch too, but it didn't happen. The important thing is that I managed to win the gold medal in the clean and jerk and fulfill my commitment to my team, which has been giving its all despite our conditions," Sarría stated. This victory not only revalidates her regional title in the clean and jerk but also officially concludes Cuba's gold medal tally in Santo Domingo-2026, opening the door to future Olympic cycle commitments.

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Now it's time to rest a bit and prepare twice as hard for what's coming. It will be my first time in the Pan American Games, and I want to arrive in the best possible shape. To dream of the Olympic Games, we know we still have to work a little harder, but the commitment is there.