Team USA Marks Strong Week at Pan Ams -- ATRadio

(ATR)The U.S. and Canada are neck-and-neck in the gold-medal count so far at the 2015 Pan American Games.

In this Sunday edition of ATRadio, Around the Rings recaps coverage of the Pan Ams from the first week of competition.

Around the Rings editor Ed Hula and ATR editorial assistant Kevin Nutley were in Toronto this week. The pair weigh in on the atmosphere at the Pan Ams, venues, and PASO president Julio Maglione's campaign for a third and final term as president of the international aquatics federation.

The program for the Pan Ams includes some 364 events in 36 sports. Sixteen sports on the program are serving as qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Competition ends on July 26.

The dressage team representing the U.S. at the 2015 Pan American Games had a lot to celebrate this week, having secured a spot atthe 2016 Rio Games.

The U.S. dressage team won a gold medal on July 12 at the Pan Ams and with it, direct qualification for the Rio Games.On Tuesday, U.S. equestrian veteran Steffen Peters won gold in the men's individual dressage competition.Peters spoke withATRfollowing his gold medal win.

ATRalso spoke with Robert Dover, the U.S. dressage team coach and Chef d'Equipe for the 2015 Pan Ams.

Dover competed at six consecutive Olympics for the U.S. equestrian team, beginning with the 1984 Los Angeles Games.The 1994 equestrian world champion, and graduate of the University of Georgia, switched from competing to coaching in 2005.

When asked what makes the Toronto Pan Ams stand out so far, Dover tellsATRthatthe U.S. team's performance over the past few days is a high-point in his career.

Written and produced byNicole Bennett

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