Mexico shut out its rivals in the first three days of the diving competition, winning all six gold medals on offer.  Mexican boxers also shone on the 13th day of the Pan American Games but Cuba stole the show, winning a whopping 15 gold medals to take its total to 53.

Mexico only needs to win the two gongs in the women's three-meter synchronized springboard and the men's ten-meter platform on Saturday to compete a clean sweep in diving for the first time at a Pan American Games.

Olympic medallist Paola Espinosa will be going for her fourth medal (third gold) in the three-meter springboard.

Mexico also won the men's soccer final, downing Argentina in an ill-tempered game.

After a sluggish start to the games, Cuba showed its strength in depth in showcase track and field competitions, taking five golds on Thursday and six on Friday.

Cuba triumphed in the men's and women's 4X400 meters relays, men's pole vault, men's javelin, men's 800 meters and men's 110 meters hurdles, won by world record holder Dayron Robles in 13.10 seconds, a new Pan American Games record.

The Caribbean island nation's boxers also showed their superiority, winning six golds Friday.

Team USA picked up eight golds Friday, three of them in fencing.   The U.S also won the women's water polo title and the women's K1 500 meters canoeing event. Sara Hall won the 3,000 meters steeplechase and in gymnastics Paul Ruggeri triumphed in the men's horizontal bars.

The most unexpected victory of the day was Team USA's win over hot favorites Argentina in the women's hockey final.

Canada's two golds on Friday came in the men's K2 1000-meter canoeing final and thanks to the punches of boxer Mary Spencer in the over-75 kilogram category.