Cuban sports: Which are the most popular sports in Cuba?

Cuba has a proud heritage of sporting glory. The Central American country has produced multiple World and Olympic champions. Today we go into Cuba's most popular sports and some of the big names associated with them.

Despite being politically isolated from most of the world for the past century, Cuba still participates in international competitions without much restriction. During the last Olympics in Tokyo, Cuba was ranked a respectable 14th in the final medal ranking, garnering 15 medals, 7 of them being Gold medals.

What sports do they play in Cuba?

Sports played in Cuba include baseball, boxing, basketball, volleyball and track and field. The government encourages physical education in their educational curriculum.

What is the national sport of Cuba?

Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba. The country has its professional league, and they participate in international matches.

Boxing in Cuba

Boxing is also very popular in Cuba. The country has staged boxing fights since the 19th century, and even despite banning professional fights in 1960, amateur boxers have proved dominant at the Olympics and World Championships. Cuban fighters are respected globally for their distinct style and technique; their exceptional footwork and pace give them an advantage. Here is a list of some famous Cuban boxers.

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Football

What are the 3 most popular sports in Cuba?

The three most widely played sports in Cuba are baseball, boxing and track and field. Here is a breakdown of how each became popular on the island.

3. Track and Field

The Cuban government invested heavily in sports during the 1960s to make the country a force at the Olympics and World Athletics Championships. Track and field is a compulsory sport in all secondary schools, and scouts select all the best participants to represent the country internationally. A famous star recruited in this manner was prominent long jumper Iván Pedroso who broke the world Long Jump record in 1996.

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Other Sports

2. Boxing

Boxing initially made it to Cuba in the 19th century from students returning from the USA. After the Cuban Revolution in the 1960s, the Cuban government banned professional boxing but boosted the profile of amateur boxing. Cuba has won 73 boxing medals at the Olympics since 1960. After retiring from the sport, most Cuban boxers become trainers or administrators. The ban on professional boxing was lifted in August 2022.

1. Baseball

Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba. It was also borrowed from the US by students coming back from college. It quickly became a national sport between 1870 and the early 20th century. During the Fidel Castro era, tens of Cuban baseball players defected to the US to turn professional in the MLB. Examples include former All-stars Yasiel Puig and Alexei Rodriguez. After relations between the USA and Cuba became friendly, more baseball players got the chance to play in the MLB.

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Athletics

Cuba's sporting heritage is seen during major tournaments. As the country opens up more to the rest of the world, we will learn more and more about Cuba's sports and the culture and heritage behind them.

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