HAVANA, June 30 (NNN-ACN) — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel praised a fellow countrywoman who participated in the 24th Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, the shooter Laina Pérez, whose gesture which has gone viral in social networks as an example of ethics and fair play.
Laina gave up the bronze medal that she won in the 10 m air pistol event to the Mexican athlete Alejandra Cervantes, who actually did better than the Cuban but was prevented from being awarded the third place by a strange regulation establishing that the same country cannot take all three podium medals. Should this be the case, the bronze medal would be granted to the fourth place.
In highlighting Laina’s greatness, the Cuban leader remarked that there are no enemies in San Salvador, where the great Central American family is competing.
“It’s not fair that someone with a poorer result gets a medal out of sheer formality,” the Cuban athlete said in statements to the press.
Incidentally, Mexican sports authorities are requesting that their country should nominate Laina Perez for the Pierre de Coubertein Medal for fair play.
Díaz-Canel also congratulated Cuban athletes for their performance in the Central American and Caribbean Games held in San Salvador.
The Head of State made particular reference to the flag bearer of the Cuban delegation to the Games, the judoka Idalys Ortiz, who won her third gold medal in these regional sports events, as well as to the swimmer Elisbet Gámez, who finished first in the 100 m freestyle competition, and the table tennis player Andy Pereira, who prevailed in the men’s singles tournament.
“A big hand to our judokas, shooters, gymnasts, weightlifters, and all those boys and girls who make us so happy in San Salvador 2023,” Díaz-Canel wrote in his message.
Up to Tuesday, Cuba had notched up 19 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze medals in the Games and ranked third on the medal table by countries behind Colombia and Mexico. — NNN-ACN
