The US needed only one week to hit the medal century mark at the Pan American Games on Friday, while Canada shot up the table into second place after sweeping all the titles but one on offer in badminton.
It was also another big evening in the boxing ring for Cuba, who picked up four more golds after winning four from five finals on Thursday.
Despite those big days, no nation was able to keep pace with the US, who reached 101 total medals.
Photo: AFP
Not yet halfway through the Games and the US have flexed their muscles to snatch 41 golds and leave Canada a distant second on 16 golds and 63 total medals.
Canada enjoyed their biggest single gold medal haul of the Games so far with their badminton team claiming four golds and three silvers from five finals.
Brazil’s Ygor Coelho prevented the sweep by beating 18-year-old Canadian Brian Yang in the men’s singles final.
It was a historic first for the 22-year-old kid from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro as Coelho became the first Brazilian to win gold in the men’s singles.
Canada’s Michelle Li took the women’s singles crown for the third straight Games, while Rachel Honderich and Kristen Tsai teamed up to win the women’s doubles.
As dominant as Canada were on the badminton court, Cuba matched that and more in the boxing ring.
Of the 14 gold medals Cuba have accumulated, more than half have come from their boxers.
Olympic heavyweight bronze medalist Erislandy Savon, reigning Olympic middleweight champion Arlen Lopez and light welterweight Andy Cruz all defended their crowns from four years ago at the Toronto Pan Am Games.
Bantamweight Osvel Caballero Garcia also took top spot on the podium.
Kim Rhode, a three-time Olympic champion, claimed gold for the fifth time from six Pan Am Games in the women’s skeet shooting.
The US have dominated on the shooting range and Lucas Kozeniesky added to the US haul with a victory in the men’s 10m air rifle.
With one day remaining in the shooting events, the US have won 17 medals, including eight golds. The only other nation to reach the top of the podium has been Cuba.
The US began another gold medal run early in the day with Connor Baxter winning the men’s stand-up paddle, one of newest events on the Pan Am Games roster, while the women’s event went to Brazil’s Lena Guimaraes.
While surfing is to make its Olympic debut next year at the Tokyo Games, stand-up paddle (SUP) is yet to get on the program.
Baxter believes the evidence was there on Friday that it should one day be in the biggest sports event.
“The dream is now to see SUP as an Olympic event,” Baxter said. “We have showcased the sport here so well.”
“We’ve proved that we can go out in any kind of conditions and catch the waves just like the surfers,” he added. “To see us in the Olympics in 2024 in Paris, if it was possible would be fantastic."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping