Wrestling: Five Cubans with Gold in Caracas Tournament

Five Cuban gladiators finished with gold medals in the individual tournament of the "Simón Bolívar" International League of Olympic Wrestling, which will conclude next weekend in Caracas.

Cuba, competing under the name Mambises, is participating in this edition of the event with 16 representatives.

Among that quintet, the top honors go to super heavyweight freestyle wrestler Darrell Lee, runner-up at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, who recorded a balance of five victories without defeat, with 39 points for and none against, to lead his division with the maximum possible 25 units.

As explained to JIT by national commissioner of this sport, Martín Torres, in that style Vladimir Vila (57 kg), a champion in Asunción, also won the title.

"In that weight class, there was a three-way tie and the title was decided by points scored. He won several matches by technical superiority and that favored him," he commented.

Jean Carlos Olivera (65 kg) and Jorge Belén (74 kg) finished with silver medals. Daniel Quiroga (85 kg) took the third spot.

The women's team also claimed two gold medals, thanks to the quick rear passes of Daniela Osorio (50 kg) and Zamantha Sebasco (57 kg).

Brenda Sterling (68 kg) obtained silver, and the third places went to Leydi Marian (76 kg) and Dalianni Carrales (68 kg), who was enlisted in the roster of Tigres (ESA).

Finally, in the Greco-Roman style, only one medal was achieved, the gold of Joenni Gómez (77 kg), a bronze medalist at the regional event in Asunción.

The team tournaments will be contested next weekend.

The men's freestyle squad will go for bronze against Venezuela C—the hosts registered three teams—while the women's freestyle and the classic style squad will face Venezuela A.

"The women and the Greco-Roman wrestlers were supposed to compete for bronze. But the organizing committee decided they should face the main local team, to provide a higher level to the event," stated the national commissioner.

But Martín clarified that if the Cubans win, they would keep the gold, and if they lose, they would get bronze.