Dominant Mexico complete a clean sweep of gold at 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games

Having made themselves very much at home on UIPM World Cup Relay podiums all season long, Mexico’s leading pentathletes showed their individual prowess as they emphatically dominated the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo (DOM) this week. 

While the bulk of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games are taking place in the El Salvador capital of San Salvador, Modern Pentathlon is among the sports taking place in Santa Domingo with competition being held in the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte.

And there was Mexican gold in the capital of the Dominican Republic in both the Women’s and Men’s Finals on Sunday with Mayan Oliver (MEX) and Emiliano Hernandez (MEX), respectively, coming out on top with impressive performances that were in keeping with what we have seen from the country’s front-line stars throughout 2023 so far. 

Oliver’s compatriot Mariana Arceo (MEX) took silver in the Women’s Final while Duilio Carrillo (MEX) did likewise, finishing in second place behind Hernandez in the Men’s Final with Cuba’s Lester Ders Del Rosario taking Men’s bronze. 

Third place in the Women’s final was actually claimed by Mayan’s sibling Catherine Oliver (MEX) however CACG rules state that a maximum of two athletes from one nation can make the podium so bronze went to Sophia Hernandez, competing under the Centro Caribe Sport flag. (With the Guatemalan NOC currently suspended by the International Olympic Committee, athletes from Guatemala compete under the neutral CCS flag.)

There was little surprise when the Mexicans completed a clean sweep of gold on Wednesday afternoon winning both the Men’s and Women’s Relays, a day after Arceo and Carrillo teamed up to win the Mixed Relay. 

Mexico created history by winning four-straight silver medals in the Mixed Relay events during this year’s UIPM World Cup season, a combination of teams finding themselves on podiums in Cairo (EGY), Budapest (HUN), Sofia (BUL) and Ankara (TUR). Arceo (MEX) added an individual bronze in the fourth leg of the season in the Turkish capital before Padilla (MEX) claimed Men’s individual bronze in the World Cup Final in Ankara (TUR) earlier this month. 

That relentless form was all too evident as Mexican prowess was clear early and often in Santa Domingo. The earlier individual glory was underlined on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Relay competitions went the Mexicans’ way too. 

The Oliver sisters (MEX) were in scintillating form to see off the challenge of Hernandez and Sofia Cabrera (CCS) with Diana Leyva Dinza and Delmis Perez of Cuba taking bronze in the Women’s Relay. 

“Competing with my sister and winning will be something I will never forget,” said Catherine, the younger of the Oliver sisters. “Without Mayan’s support and experience we would not win this medal.”

Mexico’s Hernandez and Padilla, both ranked inside the world top 30, came out on top in the Men’s Relay with silver claimed by Léster del Rosario and Marcos Rojas from Cuba and bronze going to Jose Miguel Molina and Andres Fernandez, competing under the CCS flag. 

President of the NORCECA Confederation and UIPM Executive Board member Robert Stull (USA) said: “The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games will be remembered for many reasons and Mexico’s performances in Santa Domingo is one of the primary reasons. We have seen some truly top-class athletes delivering their best here. My congratulations to the gold medal winners from Mexico but to all of the competitors who took part in five thrilling finals this week.

“I’d like to extend a sincere thank you and well done to the organisers in Santa Domingo who helped to run a really excellent competition over the past few days. The recent UIPM Judges Certification Programme (JCP) course that took place here in May really helped to prepare for a smooth and successful event. Now we will begin to turn our thoughts and look forward to the Pan Am Games in Chile later this year.”