The Cuban relay was able to win the crown in the 4x200 at the San Salvador Games.
Havana, June 29 (RHC) -- When talking about feats in the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games, it will be necessary to remember the Cuban swimming girls who not only took home golds, but also registered a couple of records in the event's records.
Elisbet Gámez, Andrea Becali, Lorena González and Laurent Estrada are a young quartet, with little time forging as a team, according to their coach Luisa María "Lulú" Mojarrieta; but they knew how to grow in the pool of the Merliot aquatic complex in San Salvador.
From the 4x100 meters (m) freestyle relay came the surprise of the title and the Central American record; and just one day later, they set a new record in the Games and won a long-awaited crown in the 4x200.
We worked very hard for today's medal and all the work was done, our planning was just to compete," explained Laurent.
If we make history, the road has been very difficult - confesses Lulu-, Elisbet was in Thailand and we focused on working with Andrea, then Lorena until we reached Laurent, who joined later; little by little the team was put together.
And they added in this fight, individually or collectively, four titles to break a kind of curse for the women that dated back to the Maracaibo 1998 edition; while in Barranquilla 2018 they had to settle for the silver of Elisbet in the 200 meters freestyle and the bronze of the 4x200 relay.
For Gámez, leader of the group and the best Cuban swimmer of the last decade, her presence in her third Centrocaribes meant the possibility of being crowned for four times: both relays and in 100 and 200 m freestyle; in addition to the silver in the 400.
I had never had the chance to take gold in this event, but now I didn't think there would be so many," the swimmer told the press.
This result is very important for me because it could be my last Central American and Caribbean Games, confessed the 26-year-old athlete.
I tell the Cuban people to continue trusting in swimming because we will continue to move forward - she said -; and in the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile we will also fight to get a medal.
About the continental event, Mojarrieta said that it is a challenge, especially because the best technical result of the women is a fifth place; "and we are already talking about bigger challenges," said the strategist.
I have even thought about the World Swimming Championship in Qatar (February 2024), because of the good mark they have; and they must prepare themselves better.
In Elisbet's case, the sport owed it to her; she has not had the best luck before the events, she has almost always been sick, and now she is in the best moment of her sports career.
