Print

Mail

wiki links

Pendrel wins first Pan American Games medal

Canadian mountain biker Catherine Pendrel won the first medal of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, and a 15-year-old American finished first in the women's open-water swim.

Puerto Rico won the men's team gymnastics competition for the first time ever and the US repeated as champions in the women's event.

Defending champions Brazil and the US won their matches in women's soccer.

The US and Mexico won seven of the first 12 gold medals in the first full day of competition, with host Brazil picking up four silver medals and two bronze.

Pendrel beat American Mary McConneloug and Mexico's Laura Morfin at the Morro do Outeiro track to grab the games' first gold in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 6 seconds.

"I didn't realize I was in the position to be the first medalist for the entire games," Pendrel said. "That's really exciting. Not many people get that honor, so I guess the cards were in my favor this weekend."

American Adam Craig won the men's event.

Teenager Chloe Sutton overcame local favorite Poliana Okimoto of Brazil in the final 200m at Copacabana beach to win the 10km open water swim by one second.

"The sea was very rough and gave the swimmers a hard time," Sutton said.

American Fran Crippen won the men's event ahead of countryman Charles Petterson and Brazil's Allan Carmo.

Brazil's women routed Jamaica 5-0 at Joao Havelange stadium thanks to two goals by midfielder Katia Cilene. The Brazilians were boosted the return of FIFA World Player of the Year Marta, who missed the first game because she hadn't been released by her Swedish club.

Later at Joao Havelange, Mexico routed Paraguay 5-0 in women's soccer thanks to a pair of goals by substitute striker Veronica Charlyn Corral.

At the Miecimo da Silva sports complex, the US overcame a one-goal deficit to beat Panama 3-1. Earlier, Canada debuted with a 7-0 thrashing of Uruguay thanks to three goals by Christine Sinclair and two by Randee Hermus.

Puerto Rico won its first ever gold medal in the men's team gymnastics with 353.900 points, edging Brazil (353.600) and the US (353.300).

In the women's event, the US - with only three of its top gymnasts - won the gold medal with 243.225 points. Brazil was second with 236.725, and Mexico third with 223.625. The US won on all but one apparatus - the floor exercise, which Brazil won.

Weightlifter Sergio Alvarez gave Cuba its first gold in Rio by lifting 271kg and setting a Pan Ams record in the 56kg event.

Colombia also won its first gold medal in weightlifting after Diego Salazar lifted 290kg in the 62kg class. Mexico's Carolina Valencia won the gold in the women's 48kg event.

Valencia's countrywoman Alejandra Gaal earlier had won Mexico's first gold medal by beating Jahaira Peguero of the Dominican Republic in the 49kg taekwondo final.

The Dominican Republic also got its first gold in taekwondo, with Gabriel Mercedes defeating Brazil's Marcio Ferreira in the 58kg final.

American Andras Horanyi won the first gold medal in fencing by beating Chile's Felipe Alvear.

In women's water polo, the defending champion US defeated Venezuela 21-3, while Cuba edged Puerto Rico 13-12.

Also on Saturday, Brazil's women's volleyball team beat Peru 25-15, 25-19, 25-12, while the Dominican Republic, winners at the 2003 Pan Ams, beat Mexico 25-23, 25-16, 25-19.

In handball, defending champion Brazil debuted with a 33-20 win over Chile in the men's competition.

The first days of competition continued to be marred by problems at the newly built venues.

Two baseball games were postponed because of problems with the temporary stadium's illumination system. The Mexico-Venezuela match was suspended in the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2 because of lack of natural light.

In a day game, Panama upset Cuba 4-3. The Cubans have won the last nine Pan Am titles.

Problems with the broadcast cables at another new venue, the Rio Multisport Arena, led to the delay of television coverage of the men's team gymnastics competition.

The mountain bikers had problems practising at the Morro do Outeiro circuit on Friday because of heavy rains and the lack of emergency medical personnel.

The problems could hurt Rio's hopes of hosting the 2016 Olympics.

The city has officially bid for the event and the Pan Ams are seen as a test of Rio's readiness.
This story has been viewed 1111 times.