Canada gets Pan Am Games off to golden start

Jacqueline Simoneau and Karine Thomas of Canada perform during the synchronised swimming duet finals during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. (AFP)

Reuters/TorontoCanada got the Pan American Games off to a golden start topping the medal table after claiming four gold on Saturday and Toronto plenty of reason to come out and join the Pan Am party. Talk of sluggish ticket sales disappeared under a brilliant Canadian summer sun as large enthusiastic crowds turned out at many venues to cheer on their home country. But attendance problems appear far from over as large swathes of empty seats could still be seen some events particularly at football and rugby. Canadian synchronized swimmers Jacqueline Simoneau and Karine Thomas, Chilean triathlete Barbara Riveros and Mexican divers Rommel Pacheco and Paola Espinosa earned direct qualifying spots into next year’s Rio Olympics as a bonus for winning gold in their events. Riding a wave of hometown support, Canada’s women kayakers won the first gold of the Games as Michelle Russell, Emilie Fournel, KC Fraser and Hannah Vaughan powered home ahead of Cuba in the K-4 500 metres. “The crowd was cheering so loud I can’t even explain it. In words, I can’t even explain it,” said Fraser. “When we got to the last 200 metres of our race you just hear the crowd screaming so loud and it just gives you that drive.” Canada’s golden success continued in the synchronized swimming pool with Simoneau and Thomas winning the duet competition and then were back in the water a few hours later to help Canada to the team title. Troy Nyhaug then won the men’s BMX while the hosts also picked up silver in judo and another silver and two bronze from the diving pool to bring their medal total to eight, one ahead of the United States, Mexico and Colombia, who all finished the day on seven medals. Americans Felicia Stancil took top spot in the women’s BMX, Eva Fabiam in the women’s open water swim while the men won the artistic gymnastics team event. Mexico continued its domination of the Pan Am diving competition with Pacheco, who competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, taking gold in the men’s three-metre springboard and Espinosa, a two-times Olympic medallist, winning the women’s 10 metre platform. Pacheco capped a polished series of dives with his most difficult, a forward 4-1/2 somersault tuck, to score a total 483.35 points in the men’s 3m springboard. The silver medal went to Mexico’s Jahir Ocampo (442.15) while Canada’s Philippe Gagne (421.20) took bronze. Espinosa sealed her win in the women’s 10m platform with a back 2-1/2 somersault 1-1/2 twist on her final dive to score a total 383.20 points. Canadians Roseline Filion (377.60) and Meaghan Benfeito (357.45) won the women’s silver and bronze medal, respectively. Colombia took two gold medals from the weightlifting while Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Chile also won golds on the first day. Medals in 12 events will be decided while automatic qualifying spots for the Rio Olympics on offer in triathlon, shooting and equestrian. The events are among a handful of disciplines in 10 sports at the July 10-26 Pan Am Games that offer athletes a chance to secure a spot in the Rio Olympics, which are scheduled for Aug. 5-21 next year.