(ATR) The beginning of the swimming competition at the Pan American Games also marked the senior debut of Delfina Pignatiello of Argentina.
The 19-year-old arrived in Lima with gold medal aspirations in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events. So far, she’s one for one, winning at 400 meters on Tuesday at the Aquatics center at the VIDENA, Peru’s national sports center.
Pignatiello’s time of 4:10.86 was more than two seconds off the Pan Am record of 4.08.42. She was followed by Danica Ludlow and Alyson Ackman, both from Canada. 16-year-old Mariah Denigan was the top American, finishing fourth.
"I came here to win medals and this one is the first one. I came here to prepare for Tokyo. This one is my first adult tournament with my country and it’s just starting. This is a test that I’m just starting, the one I really enjoy is 1500 meters", said Pignatiello after the race.
Even though she’s already qualified to Tokyo2020 in the three events, being part of the Argentine delegation is always an honor and she wants to be part of the team.
While she’s in Lima, Pignatiello is also trying to qualify in three more events for Tokyo.
There was one Pan American record set during the evening’s competition. The Brazilian men’s team won gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay with a time of 3:12.61, breaking the mark set by the United States in Toronto four years ago.
The USA finished with silver behind Brazil this time. The race was the first appearance at Lima 2019 and in a Pan Am Games for Nathan Adrian, and only his second international competition since his return from testicular cancer earlier this year.
Leonardo Gomes De Deus of Brazil, the two-time defending champion in the men’s 200m butterfly, made it three in a row on Tuesday. Despite qualifying only fifth, he topped the podium in the final ahead of Samuel Pomajevich of the USA and the Colombian Jonathan Gomez.
Written and reported by Olivia Diaz Ugaldein Lima.
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