The recent Pan Am Games proved beneficial hundreds of U.S. athletes in their quest for the London Olympics next summer.
Team USA led all 42 countries at the Pan Am Games by winning 236 medals: 92 gold, 79 silver, and 65 bronze podium finishes. Brazil (141) , Cuba 136), and Mexico(133) rounded out the top four nations in this event held in Guadlajara, Mexico from October 14 – 30.
“This has been an excellent all-around effort by Team USA,” U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said in a USOC press release. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our athletes and for the way they represented our country so graciously.”
Dozens of past Olympic medal winners represented Team USA amidst the 36 sports.
For some, this was a coming-out party. Having missed the Beijing 2008 Olympics cut, several athletes sought to relive the glory, making a run for yet another Olympics Games.
In other cases, Olympics competitors sought to continue their Summer Games streak – sometimes spanning several quadrennial periods.
While the make-up of most U.S. squads who will participate in London has yet to be decided on, due to ensuing international qualification processes and national Olympic trials, Team USA has sealed the deal in several sports through this 16-day competition.
Several teams, whose members will be more firmly determined in upcoming months, have punched tickets to the Summer Olympics in London, which is hosting these Games for the second time.
Both the U.S. men’s and women’s water polo teams battled to golds over Canadian squads These wins garnered American berths in London. Also, the unheralded women’s field hockey team upended world champion Argentina in the finals to seal the deal for London.
The American equestrian assemblage dominated the Pan Am Games once more. Among the several medals earned, the Jumping Team also qualified with a first place showing. The four-member unit was led by three-time Olympic medalist Breezie Madden.
Numerous individuals further paved USA’s road to the Olympic podium. Carrie Johnson and Ryan Dolan, through their medal performances in Canoe/Kayak events, earned America two slots in London.
Triathlete Sarah Haskins, who won this grueling contest, landed another spot for Team USA. Similarly, Modern Pentathletes Margaux Isaksen and Dennis Bowsher furthered the U.S. contingent’s hopes in this unique event by earning both a women’s and men’s placement.
While the above athletes are not assured outright of making the trek to London, their performances have bolstered their experiences, motivation, and coaches’ assessments – thereby improving their chances.
Only a few Americans, among the overall 600-plus American contingent at these Games, have punched their own tickets to London via these Games. Five shooters, who medaled in Guadalajara in pistol and rifle events, can now exhale. Sandra Uptagrafft, Emily Caruso, Daryl Szarenski, Jonathan Hall, and Jason Parker can already begin packing for this trip that, for any athlete, is a lifelong dream.
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