Rivera Wins SUP Surf Gold, Leads Historic Double Boricua Podium at Santo Domingo 2026
Puerto Rico made history today at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. Mariecarmen Rivera claimed gold in women's SUP Surf with a dominant score of 8.40, leading a historic double boricua podium as teammate Nimsay Garcia took silver with 4.67 1. It marks the first time two Puerto Rican athletes have swept the top two spots on the podium in this discipline at a CAC Games.
The final played out on the waves at Playa Encuentro in Puerto Plata, the perfect stage for a day that will live on in Puerto Rican sports history. The road to gold was anything but easy. In the semifinals, Rivera dispatched Venezuela's Edimar Luque 6.80 to 4.07, showing the control and consistency that define her surfing. Garcia, meanwhile, eliminated the Dominican Republic's Leoni Perthold with a commanding 11.60 to 4.60, making it clear that the podium belonged to Puerto Rico well before the final 1.
The medals did not stop there. Max Torres Torres added a bronze in men's SUP Surf, and Jazmine Dean captured silver in longboard surfing 1. In a single day of wave sports competition, Puerto Rico racked up four medals. The Caribbean Sea speaks boricua.
Dominance in the Pool
While the waves rewarded Puerto Rico's delegation in Puerto Plata, the pool at Santo Domingo's Aquatic Center was also boricua territory. In the men's 400-meter individual medley, Andres Brooks qualified second with a solid time of 4:34.06, just four seconds behind Mexico's Humberto Najera (4:30.51). His teammate Xavier Ruiz completed the double Puerto Rican representation by qualifying fifth at 4:38.20 2.
On the women's side, Kristen Romano was simply the best. Her time of 4:57.65 placed her as the top qualifier, more than 11 seconds ahead of Venezuela's Monica Leydar (5:08.98) 2. Romano enters the final as the clear favorite for gold.
The aquatic delegation also features Alexander Santiago, 23, entered in the 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and both the 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m mixed freestyle relay. Louis Ortiz, 27, will compete in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and the mixed relay 2. Puerto Rico has roster depth, and it shows.
Beach Volleyball: Navas and Gonzalez Punch Their Ticket
On the sand in Santo Domingo, the duo of Allanis Navas and Maria Gonzalez left no doubt. They defeated Costa Rica's Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramirez in straight sets, 21-8 and 21-18, clinching their spot in the knockout round 3.
From the opening set, the boricuas imposed an aggressive pace that Costa Rica could not contain. Gonzalez led the offense with 13 attack points and three aces, while Navas contributed six attack points and one service ace 3. Puerto Rico recorded 19 winning attacks versus just 11 from their opponents.
With a 3-1 record in Group B, Navas and Gonzalez advance with confidence. Costa Rica finished 2-2 and was eliminated 3. The Puerto Rican pair now awaits the bracket draw with clear medal aspirations.
What It Means for You
What is happening in Santo Domingo goes beyond a good tournament. This is a generation of Puerto Rican athletes competing — and winning — across multiple disciplines simultaneously. From the waves of Puerto Plata to the pool and the sand, Puerto Rico's flag is showing up in finals and on podiums with a frequency that is no accident. It is preparation, talent, and hunger.
Every medal validates years of individual sacrifice and reminds the world that this island of 3.2 million produces elite talent in disproportionate numbers. And for the next generation of boricua athletes watching these Games, the message is clear: the podium is not a distant dream — it is a reachable destination.
How to Follow the Games
The 2026 CAC Games in Santo Domingo continue with daily competition across multiple sports. You can follow live results through the event's official platforms and the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee's social media accounts (@comiteolimpicopr). The swimming finals in the 400m individual medley and beach volleyball knockout rounds are scheduled for the coming days. Watch for broadcasts on WAPA and digital streaming platforms.
What Comes Next
Rivera and Garcia have already secured their SUP Surf medals, but the swimming delegation has business to finish. Brooks and Ruiz will chase medals in the men's 400m IM final, and Romano enters the women's final as the favorite. Santiago and Ortiz have multiple sprint events ahead. In beach volleyball, Navas and Gonzalez enter the knockout stage with the momentum of three group-phase wins and dominant stats. The coming days in Santo Domingo promise more gold opportunities for Puerto Rico.
Sources: 1 https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/mariecarmen-rivera-conquista-el-oro-y-lidera-hist-rico-doble-podio-boricua/article_66f900f3-57f2-4d51-8980-2a2db27ca0ef.html 2 https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/puerto-rico-domina-el-agua-con-doble-representaci-n-en-finales-de-nataci-n/article_eb31ed30-970c-4fda-9933-54ebf181baef.html 3 https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/navas-y-gonz-lez-sellan-su-pase-a-la-pr-xima-ronda-con-s-lida/article_a8db6019-a2a8-4c5a-b9dd-0f72ac8e0605.html
Sources
Reported by the CoquiList Newsroom · Facts backed by the sources cited above
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