Thursday, October 20 2011 08:40 |
Wednesday was yet another productive day for the United States at the Pan American Games, as Team USA picked up eight of the 18 gold medals up for grabs. The victories came in the badminton, rowing, shooting, equestrian and swimming events.
With 82 medals (32 gold, 28 silver, 22 bronze) after five days of competition, the United States has a 42-medal cushion over its nearest rival Brazil on 36.
Canada won a single medal – a gold in the women's badminton doubles by Alex Bruce and Michelle Li – while no Mexican was able to mount the winner's podium
The United States' three medals in the pool were courtesy of Amanda Kendall in the women's 100 meters freestyle, Kimberly Vandenberg in the women's 200 meters butterfly and the 4x200 meters men's freestyle relay team.
The biggest cheers poolside came when Mexico picked up its second – unexpected – swimming medal of the games: a bronze for Rita Medrano in the women's 200 meters butterfly. Overcome with emotion, and with the capacity crowd cheering wildly, she was unable stop the tears flowing as she received her medal.
In other U.S. triumphs, Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan took the gold in the men's badminton doubles over a Canadian pair, Steffan Peters won the individual dressage event and Michale Mcphail was victorious in the men's 50-meter rifle shootout.
There were two golds apiece for United States and Cuba in rowing. The Caribbean nation now lies in fifth place in the medal table with six golds.
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