By Georgia Grimond, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil was continuing to celebrate many triumphs among its athletes this weekend, July 18th and 19th, at the seventeenth Pan American Games, which is being held in Toronto, Canada. As they go into the final week of the games, Brazil remained third in the medal table, behind hosts Canada and the United States, having won seven more golds, seven more silvers and nine bronze medals in the weekend’s competitions.
On Saturday, Brazil picked up two medals in the equestrian eventing. Ruy Fonseca, Carlos Parro, Márcio Henrique Pomblon and Jorge Carvalho won silver in the team event. Fonseca was set for an individual gold but took bronze after having a pole down in the last phase of the event.
Both on and in the water, Brazil made the podium, with a number of medals in men’s and women’s sailing, swimming and canoeing over the weekend. Ana Sátila got gold in the slalom canoeing (C1). Disappointingly for the athlete, the event will not be included in next year’s Olympics. However, the slalom canoeing (K1) will be, where she won silver.
Indoors, team gold was won by the gymnastics rhythmic group (ribbons), Angelica Kvieczynski took bronze in the gymnastic rhythmic hoop competition and Iris Silva won bronze in the women’s Taekwondo (-45kg) on Sunday. Having been defeated in earlier rounds, her victory was hard fought.
In athletics, Caio Bonfim and Erica De Sena both walked their way to medals in the 20km competition. And on Sunday evening, the Brazilian ladies football team, who had already secured a place in the semi-finals, beat Canada 2-0. Having finished at the top of their group, they will go on to play Mexico on Wednesday, July 22nd.
To date, Brazil has won 99 medals: 30 gold, 28 silver and 41 bronze. Brazilians always view the Pan American Games as a barometer for their success in the following year’s Olympics. It is particularly the case this year, as the 2016 Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro.
The Pan Am Games will run until July 26th. The Parapan Am Games will then follow and go from August 7th–15th.