Suspect arrested for throwing bottle during Marileidy Paulino's gold medal race

Authorities have arrested an individual suspected of throwing a plastic bottle onto the track during the women's 400-meter final at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. The incident occurred moments before Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino secured her gold medal.

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we cannot discredit them because of one thoughtless person who takes the initiative to tarnish the good behavior of eleven million Dominicans.

Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kelvin Cruz, stated that those who commit such acts must face consequences. He argued that such behavior unfairly discredits the "excellent" conduct of the 11 million Dominicans participating in and supporting the Games. Cruz stressed the importance of respecting sports facilities, athletes, and the Dominican people, asserting that one "thoughtless person" should not tarnish the positive atmosphere.

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that person must face a regime of consequences, so that all who see themselves in that mirror know that in the country, sports facilities, athletes, and the Dominican people must be respected.

The incident involved two bottles being thrown onto the track while Paulino and other runners competed in heavy rain. One bottle landed near Cuban runner Roxana Gómez, but she did not fall. Security services are investigating the event, which is being treated as an "attack." Paulino won the gold medal with a time of 48.94 seconds, breaking her own record from the 2023 San Salvador Games. Cuban runner Roxana Gómez and Shafiqua Maloney of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines took silver and bronze, respectively.

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We must respect the sports facilities, we must respect our athletes. Not just Marileidy, who is our world champion, everyone deserves respect. And the Dominican people also deserve respect.