Mexico is off to a commanding start at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic, reinforcing its status as the region’s powerhouse as the century‑old competition enters its second week.
The Games opened Friday with a music‑ and fireworks-filled ceremony at Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in the nation’s capital, Santo Domingo.
Las grandes celebraciones deportivas también son una oportunidad para unir a todo un país.
Así vivimos la inauguración de los XXV Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe Santo Domingo 2026, una edición histórica que marca el centenario de esta competencia y reúne a los mejores… pic.twitter.com/qbT12Gdozl
— Barrick Pueblo Viejo (@BarrickRD) July 28, 2026
They are the oldest regional multiple-sports competition in the world recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Running through Aug. 8, this year’s edition marks the centennial of the Games, first held in Mexico City in 1926. More than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries and territories are competing in 40 sports.
Mexico is the only nation to have appeared in all 25 editions and is the two-time defending champion, with 13 championships overall.
At the 2018 Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, Mexico won 132 golds among 341 total medals, then raised the bar in 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador, with 145 golds and 353 medals overall.
Mexico’s best haul all-time was winning 375 medals in the 2010 Games in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
So far in 2026, the Mexican team is delivering again, surging up to 106 total medals as the competition moved through day 5 on Tuesday — a haul that includes 38 gold medals with 11 days still to go.
Mexico sits atop the overall table, more than 40 medals ahead of Colombia with 63 and Cuba with 38. The Dominican Republic and Venezuela rank fourth and fifth, respectively.
Mexico’s lead has been built on familiar strengths, such as the taekwondo team registering 14 podium finishes, including gold medals for Daniela Souza and Iker Casas.
In skeet shooting, flag bearer Gabriela Rodríguez — the silver medalist at the 2025 ISSF Shotgun World Championships — delivered as expected, taking the women’s crown, while teammate Luis Gallardo won the men’s event.
Open water swimmer Paulo Strehlke won gold in the 10‑kilometer race, part of a four‑medal haul for Mexico’s open water swimmers over the weekend.
Rowers Melissa Márquez and Aylin Ibarra each won three gold medals, with other gold medals coming in badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.
Other sports being contested include basketball, figure skating, soccer, baseball, cycling and diving, along with netball, basque pelota (similar to racquetball and jai alai), billiards, chess and esports — high‑level video‑game competitions making their debut at these Games.
Mexico sees its performances in Olympic‑core sports in Santo Domingo as a stepping stone toward the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028.
It has sent over 600 athletes and its A teams in several sports, notably diving, open water swimming, cycling and taekwondo. Last week, a ceremony for the Mexican delegation was led by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The next major test will be the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8, 2027.
With reports from La Jornada, AP, Olympics.com and El Economista
