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Evelina Minaya Dedicates Central American Games Silver to Her Mother
Dominican long jumper Evelina Minaya turned an emotional silver-medal performance at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games into a tribute to her terminally ill mother, pledging to spend her government incentive on her mother's medical care.
Evelina Minaya delivered one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games after winning the silver medal in the women’s long jump and dedicating the achievement to her mother, who is battling terminal cancer.
Competing at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, the Dominican athlete recorded a best jump of 6.49 meters, earning second place behind Colombia’s Natalia Linares, while Cuba’s Anisleidis Ochoa claimed the bronze medal.
A Medal With Personal Meaning
Speaking after the competition, Minaya said the result carried far greater significance than the medal itself because her mother was watching from home during the event.
“For me, it was like winning gold. My mom has terminal cancer and she was watching me. Everything I did today was for her,” Minaya said as she reflected on the emotional moment.
The 26-year-old also revealed that less than a month ago she seriously considered ending her athletic career to care for her mother full time. That difficult period forced her to interrupt training and prevented her from competing at the Pan American Games held in Colombia.
Coach Encouraged Her to Continue
Minaya credited her coach, José Lubin Rubio, with convincing her not to give up on the season. She said his confidence helped her continue training despite the personal challenges she was facing.
According to the athlete, she never imagined standing on the podium in Santo Domingo after everything that had happened in recent weeks, making the silver medal one of the most meaningful achievements of her career.
Prize Money to Support Her Mother’s Treatment
As part of the Dominican government’s incentive program for medalists at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games, Minaya will receive RD$150,000. She said the entire amount will go toward purchasing medication and covering her mother’s medical needs.
“The first thing I’m going to do is buy all of my mother’s medicines. Everything she needs will be for her,” she said.
One of the Dominican Republic’s Top Long Jumpers
Minaya has established herself as one of the Dominican Republic’s leading long jump athletes. Earlier this season, she set a new national record with a leap of 6.66 meters, positioning herself among the region’s top competitors and raising expectations ahead of the home Games.
Her silver medal added another athletics podium finish for the Dominican Republic during the regional competition, where track and field has continued to be one of the country’s strongest disciplines.
