U.S. Takes Lead in Medal Count at Pan Ams

(ATR) The United States moves in front of Canada by three medals going into competition Thursday at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

The U.S. now has 86 total medals to the 83 for Canada. Brazil is in third with 55 medals after a strong showing throughout the swimming competition on Wednesday. Canada still leads the gold medal count with 33 compared to 28 for the U.S.

Team Canada will seek to regain the lead Thursday as athletes compete for medals in seven sports, including badminton, cycling track, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis and wrestling.

Canada will earn four medals in the badminton tournament alone, with the women’s singles match-up in the final featuring two athletes from Canada. Badminton concludes Thursday evening.

Cycling track begins competition Thursday with teams aiming for medals in the men and women’s team sprint finals with qualifications earlier in the day.

Tennis will also wrap-up its tournament Thursday afternoon as athletes and teams from seven different countries compete in the women’s medal matches. Mexico is the only country with two athletes in the competition.

Six sports and disciplines get their Pan Am starts on Thursday with competition beginning in women’s basketball, cycling track, equestrian eventing, golf, handball and volleyball.

Thursday marks the Pan Am debut for golf as the sport rejoins the Olympic program after 112 years of being off the program. 32 athletes on both the men’s and women’s sides will strive for gold over the four day tournament.

However, a gold medal in the golf tournament will not earn that athlete a spot in Rio 2016 Games as golf is not one of the 16 Olympic qualifiers held at the Pan Ams.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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