As Mexico got off to a golden start in the Pan American athletics competition Monday, with victories in the women's 10,000 meters and men's 5,000 meters finals, two of the games' less heralded sports made their debuts: bowling and roller sports.

Marc de Maar of the Netherlands Antilles ascended the winner's podium underneath Guadalajara's famous arches Saturday after winning the 160-kilometer cycling road race. So why wasn't the Caribbean islands' national anthem played or flag raised?

The U.S. softball team may have been comprised of 17 rookies but they still outscored their opponents 78-8 in nine unbeaten games en route to Sunday's gold medal.

Brazil's Adriana da Silva won a gruelling women's marathon under a scorching Sunday afternoon sun, clocking a new Pan American record of 2:36:37.  Meanwhile, U.S. athletes continued to excell, collecting seven gold medals on Saturday and nine on Sunday.

Click HERE for UPDATED image gallery from the 16th Pan American Games.

Mexico returned to winning ways in Friday's Pan Am schedule, picking up gold medals in squash, tennis and archery, as Team USA increased its haul of gold medals to 41.

All concerns prior to the 16th Pan American Games about the strength of the U.S. team were answered within a few days of the competition starting.