U.S. eventing team wins Pan Am gold; earns Rio berth

Type a number in a tweet and, moments later, it is outdated. “It was a learning experience and definitely not how we wanted to finish, but I feel like I got better and I got a lot of things that I can take back to school”. Canadian Hugo Barrette kept the Canadian medal streak alive, somehow coming out from being boxed in to sneak across the line in third.

But what does it mean? He led the Brazilian men’s water polo team to the silver medal in Toronto – the team also reached the third place in the World League for the first time this season. For many of those on the way up, it’s a potential celebration and a hint at future success, be it in Rio next year or further down the road in the 2020 Olympics.

Achonwa now has four career global medals, adding Monday’s gold to a pair of silver medals and a bronze medal.

And yet, an even more significant celebration could come for the former Harry Ainlay High School stars in August in their home town. A total of 56 athletes, 28 men and 28 women, will compete. Over the last 20 years a wealth of wrestlers have featured at the Pan-Ams before making a successful switch to the cage. A not-for- profit organization that works in conjunction with Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and private funding groups, OTP’s mission is to aggressively fund and support future Olympic medallists.

Nurse was simply spectacular in her first tournament since helping the Connecticut Huskies to an NCAA title.

“I thought our women came out ready to play tonight”, said US head coach Lisa Bluder (Iowa).

She was treated by medical staff on-site.

For weeks, ambivalent Torontonians braced themselves for the Pan Am Games and their long-predicted disruptions, but for Canadian high-level athletes and their supporters – including the Jewish athletic community – these games represent a return home. Three other times Canada has won bronze, but never gold until Monday. Canada swept the golds when Keegan Soehn won the men’s competition.

It appeared that the USA had gotten a huge break to start off the game’s final frame as Canada leadoff hitter Sean Jamieson fouled off a two-strike bunt attempt to put a quick first out on the board.

This past weekend proved to be quite an impressive one for Team United States of America who managed to win an unbelievable 15 medals, including 8 golds with all-time great Jordan Burroughs once again taking center stage. “At shootaround I was like ‘She’s really amped up, might have to bring her down a little.’ She can stay like that all day if that’s how she’s going to play every night”. In diving, for example, Mexico is strong.

If that wasn’t sufficient to make Canadian shooters swell with pride, Calgarian Lynda Kiejko cleaned up in the handgun events, winning two gold medals in pistol shooting. French player Melissa Mayeux, a 16-year-old shortstop, recently became the first woman on Major League Baseball’s worldwide registration list, making her eligible to be signed by pro teams.

I know that all Canadian Shooting Sports Association members and all Canadian shooters join us in offering hearty congratulations for the unbelievable performances of these two exceptional shooters.