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Dominican Athletes Celebrate Historic 150-Medal Haul
Thousands of Dominicans filled the streets of Santo Domingo on Sunday to welcome the athletes who delivered the country's best-ever performance at the Central American and Caribbean Games, collecting 150 medals on home soil.
Thousands of people gathered across Santo Domingo on Sunday to celebrate the Dominican Republic’s athletes after the country completed its campaign at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games with a record 150 medals.
Families lined avenues and neighborhoods across the capital, many carrying Dominican flags as a parade transported medalists, coaches and technical staff through the city. The celebration followed a historic performance that saw the host nation finish with 46 gold, 37 silver and 67 bronze medals.
Dominican Republic Sets New Medal Record
The 150-medal total represents the Dominican Republic’s best performance in the history of the Central American and Caribbean Games. The achievement came while the country hosted the regional competition for the third time, following previous editions held in Santo Domingo in 1974 and Santiago in 1986.
The medal haul gave the home crowd an opportunity to celebrate athletes from across the country’s sporting disciplines. Their performance also provided a major moment of national recognition as the Games concluded in the Dominican capital.
Parade Crosses Major Santo Domingo Avenues
Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz led the parade alongside other officials, medal-winning athletes, coaches and members of the technical teams. The procession began at around 3 p.m. near the Volleyball Pavilion at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.
The route passed through several major roads, including John F. Kennedy, Máximo Gómez, Tunti Cáceres, Moca, Nicolás de Ovando, Duarte, Diego Velásquez and Josefa Brea avenues. It later continued along Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal, Mercedes and Piña before reaching George Washington Avenue.
The celebration ended at Eugenio María de Hostos Park, where a musical program was held for the crowds. Traffic management and road safety during the parade were handled by the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (DIGESETT), which accompanied the procession and helped guide motorists along the route.
Music Closes National Celebration
The final celebration featured performances by several prominent Dominican artists. Merengue singers Toño Rosario, Sergio Vargas and Fernando Villalona joined urban artist Bullin 47 and salsa singer Yiyo Sarante for the closing concert.
The public celebration brought the Games to a close with a focus on the athletes who represented the Dominican Republic. Their 150 medals marked a new benchmark for the country’s participation in the regional competition and gave the host nation a record-setting result to celebrate at home.
