Four male and four female exponents will open the international calendar for Cuban swimming when they participate this Saturday and Sunday in the 2026 Claude Sufrin In Memoriam Tournament in Martinique.

National commissioner Nelson García revealed to JIT the team invited to the traditional winter competition in that Caribbean island, where they will seek to improve—and certify—their personal bests.

The female quartet is composed of Amanda Montero (15 years old), who will compete in backstroke and freestyle; Helen de La Guardia (14), Analia de La Vega (17), and Adanays Alejandra Mencheros (who turns 16 on the 27th), registered in freestyle and butterfly.

In the male sector, Yadiel Estrada (16-freestyle), Danilo Savín (16-freestyle and breaststroke), Jairo Brito (17-freestyle and backstroke), and Alessandro Herrera (16-butterfly-freestyle and backstroke) will compete, all led by coach Víctor García.

The previous Cuban presence there occurred in 2023, when four representatives guided by Mirta Díaz, the current national team coach, returned home with nine medals and a team trophy.

García Fernández, also vice-president of the Cuban Swimming Federation, said the selected swimmers are now preparing with a view to their main commitment of the year, the Santo Domingo Central American and Caribbean Games, "where the greatest chances rest with Andrea Becali and Laurent Estrada."

"We aim to secure around seven or eight spots, which we will finalize next February, as well as contribute medals to our delegation," he stated.

The only open water qualifying event will take place from March 20th to 22nd in Aruba, where Cuba must be present with two female and one male swimmer.

"In the pool, we plan to attend the 11th edition of the Dominican Republic Open, from April 9th to 12th, with the goal of improving and validating times," he indicated.

The other key competition will be the Budapest Short Course World Championships in December, which they plan to attend with three or four athletes.

"We also plan to be present at the Mare Nostrum circuit in May, with Andrea and Laurent," he affirmed.

He commented that Becali, currently in Australia thanks to a World Aquatics scholarship, *"ended the year much stronger, with times of 2:02.15 minutes in the 200-meter freestyle and 56.35 seconds in the 100, which places her again with real medal chances in Santo Domingo, but above all she is regaining her best form."*

The official mentioned other projections for 2026, including participation in the Pan American Masters Championship in Argentina in September, as well as organizing a stop of the Pan American Open Water Series in Varadero that same month.