Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil won her third gold medal of the Pan American Games on Monday, winning the 100-meter freestyle.
The Ontarian also set a Pan American record by covering the distance in 53.24 seconds, which also constitutes a personal mark.
“I’m really happy with that. It was a better time and before that it was [au départ du relais] at the Worlds this summer,” said the 23-year-old athlete.
This is his fourth medal from the Games in Santiago, Chile. She won gold in the 100m butterfly as well as the 4x100m freestyle relay, in addition to bronze in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.
“To take a break and come back to be even faster, it’s really a good thing,” added Mac Neil. I never thought I would have a record in the 100m freestyle at a competition. This is my first time swimming [dans une épreuve individuelle] internationally, so I’m very happy with it. »
The Canadian swimming team added to its success, notably winning a gold and a silver medal in the women’s 200m butterfly, as Sydney Pickrem (2:23.39) edged out Kelsey Wog (2:23, 49). Danielle Hanus added a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke.
“I’m really, really grateful to be here in this position and I want to do my best for Canada and I’m happy to get a win,” said Pickrem, 26.
On the men’s side, Brayden Taivassalo collected a silver medal in the 200m butterfly. Blake Tierney, for his part, finished third in the 100m backstroke.
“It’s incredible,” Taivassalo said. During the Games in Toronto eight years ago, I was there in the stands, like all the children admiring the athletes. »
Divers Caeli McKay and Kate Miller put up a tough battle against Gabriela Agundez and Alejandra Orozco of Mexico in the 10m synchronized diving final. Although they failed to achieve their goal of reaching the top spot on the podium, the Canadians will return from Chile with a silver medal and a new personal best of 310.29 points heading into the Paris Olympics.
“We kept fighting until the very end,” Mckay said. We competed against duos who had been together for a long time, while we were just starting to work together on our synchronized dives. To win a medal and set a new record at Kate’s first major Games is incredible. »
In artistic gymnastics, Quebecer Félix Dolci won the country’s first Pan American gold medal in all-around since 1963.
Canada won six medals in water skiing. Dorien Llewellyn won silver in the aerials and tricks. Neilly Ross also won two silver medals, in slalom and tricks. Paige Rini won bronze in the aerials and slalom.
In rowing, Abigail Dent and Olivia McMurray won silver in the coxless pair. In the quadruple sculls, the women’s boat won bronze.
In taekwondo, Quebecer Marc-André Bergeron won bronze in the over 80 kg category.
Finally, in team dressage, the Canadian team also finished on the third step of the podium.