Pan Am Games: North America Medals in all Olympic events

The Pan American Games are the world’s third largest international multi-sport Games, only surpassed in size and scope by the Olympic Summer Games and the Asian Games. First held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951, this is the third time that Canada has been the host. The 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto on July 12-19 has attracted 20 countries to compete in 10 sailing events on Lake Ontario.

(July 18, 2015) – It was a hot start to the medal races for the Pan Am Games in Toronto Harbour as hundreds of spectators came out to watch the racing along with the barrage of fans onshore at the urban Sugar Beach.

Light winds, which had been the theme for the Games, continued today. While the Radial fleets were able to start at 1135am, followed by the Laser fleets at 1235pm, the RS:X and 49erFX fleets were held onshore until 5pm when enough breeze filled in to get them out for their final races of the event.

On the first day of medal racing, which had the five Olympic events on display, Team USA won a gold medal in the Laser Radial (Paige Railey) and bronze in the RS:X Women’s (Marion Lepert) and 49erFX (Paris Henken and Helena Scutt). Also winning medals was Mexico capturing silver in the RS:X Men’s (David Teran) and Women’s (Demita Vega), and Canadian Lee Parkhill taking bronze in the Laser.

“My main focus was to position myself ahead of Charlie Buckingham (USA) and hold that line until the end,” said Parkhill. “It’s an incredible feeling to medal on home soil. I have a ton of family on Sugar Beach and I got to do a fly by with the Canadian flag. My mom, dad and wife were out on the water everyday, rain or shine. I had other supporters who also came out to support me, taking vacation time to come watch me sail makes me feel pretty good.”

“This is a meaningful and symbolic event, since its a ‘Games,’ but also because it’s really similar [in format] to the Olympics,” remarked Railey. “Here, you have a small but good fleet. It’s also a great event to practice dealing with the nerves that you feel racing the Olympics. Winning [in Toronto] was the goal, and we embraced the pressure.”

Racing will continue for the five non-Olympic events on Sunday. The medal course area is tucked up against the Toronto waterfront in close viewing distance to the newly minted Sugar Beach with live commentary and media coverage. Medal racing will be for the Lightning, Snipe, Hobie 16, Sunfish and J/24 classes.

FINAL RESULTS
Laser Men (13 races) – 1. Juan Maegli (GUA) 39; 2. Robert Scheidt (BRA) 47; 3. Lee Parkhill CAN) 53
Laser Radial Women (13 races) – 1. Paige Railey (USA) 50; 2. Fernanda Coelho (BRA) 64; 3. Dolores Moreira (URU) 64
49er FX Women (17 races) – 1. Travascio/Branz, (ARG) 36; Soffiati Grael/Kunze (BRA) 43; 3. Henken/Scutt (USA) 47
RS:X Men (14 races) – 1. Ricardo do Santos (BRA) 25; 2. David Teran (MEX) 32; Mariano Reutemann (ARG) 33
RS:X Women (14 races) – 1. Patricia Freitas (BRA) 15; 2. Demita Vega (MEX) 20; 3. Marion Lepert (USA) 44 points

SUMMARY REPORT/STANDINGS
Snipe Open (12 races) – Puerto Rico secured Gold while USA guaranteed either Silver or Bronze.
Hobie 16 Open (12 races) – Guatemala leads but USA, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico within medal reach.
Lightning Mixed (12 races) – Argentina secured Gold with USA in second but can still fall off podium.
Sunfish Open (12 races) – Canada leads but can still fall off podium.
J/24 Open (12 races) – Argentina secured Gold with Canada guaranteed Silver or Bronze.

Schedule: Qualifying on July 12-17 had planned 12 races for the Laser, Laser Radial, Snipe, Hobie 16, Lightning, Sunfish, and J/24, and 16 races for the 49erFX, RS:X Men, and RS:X Women. After the qualifying races, the top 50% from each fleet, or the top five positions, whichever is greater, advance to the Medal Race on July 18-19 which counts double and is non-discardable.

Event website – Sailing schedule and results – Entry list by country
Canada team update – USA team update