Team Canada starts Lima 2019 with a bang

Photos courtesy of Lima 2019 Official Photos

 

By Eduardo Harari

 

TORONTO. –  It’s always a true pleasure to report on the great accomplishments of all kinds of athletes that put their best foot forward to meet their goals and dreams. But at the end of the day the professional athletes get also compensated to compete.

 

This year Canada had the opportunity of rejoicing over the accomplishments of the Raptors in conquering the ultimate goal and bringing home the NBA Championship Trophy. But all is well and dandy but now we must focus on the future generations of new stars making their stories at Lima 2019 and placing our nation at the highest level in sport.

 

 

Day 1 started with AJ Assadian becoming the first Canadian athlete to reach the podium in the discipline of Poomsae and bringing home a bronze medal. Notwithstanding the Squash team dominated and added three more medals and by days end Team Canada had accumulated 6 medals.

 

 

Day 2 couldn’t have started any better as the women’s rugby 7’s team successfully defended their Pan American title and brought home the gold again. The second gold of the day came at the 500m K4 race and then to further sweeten the pot, the Taekwondo team conquered three silvers.

 

 

Day 3 saw Team Canada hit many major milestones. In equestrian, the dressage team earned their first gold in 28 years to punch their ticket to Tokyo 2020. Ellie Black continued her strong showing, becoming the first woman to win back-to-back individual all-around titles at the Pan American Games.

 

 

Day 4 was another historic day for artistic gymnast Ellie Black, who became Canada’s all-time leader in gymnastics medals won at a Pan American Games with still two more events left for her to compete in. Day 4 was a Canadian family affair with water skier Dorien Llewellyn, son of 11-time Pan Am Games medalist Jared Llewellyn, earning his third medal to close out his first Pan Am Games, while stepmother and stepdaughter duo Whitney McClintock Rini and Paige Rini each won their third medal of Lima 2019.

 

 

TEAM CANADA’S MEDAL COUNT:

 

GOLD: 8 | SILVER: 19 | BRONZE: 16 | TOTAL: 43

 

DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Two bronze medals in women’s individual squash are Canada’s first two medals at Lima 2019;

Hollie Naughton becomes Canada’s first double medalist at Lima 2019 with a bronze in both women’s singles and mixed doubles squash;

AJ Assadian’s bronze medal in taekwondo is Canada’s first-ever medal in poomsae.

Two silver medals; one in Team Artistic Gymnastics and the second one for C2 1000m – Men

 

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Women’s 500m kayak four team captures Canada’s first gold medal at Lima 2019;

Women’s rugby 7s team defend their TORONTO 2015 title while the men’s team finishes on the podium with silver;

Canada’s taekwondo squad enjoyed its most successful day in Pan American Games history, winning three silvers and one bronze medal;

Squash Canada adds two silver medals to their tally

 

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Team Canada’s equestrian dressage team claims Canada’s first dressage team gold in 28 years and punches ticket to Tokyo 2020;

Ellie Black makes history as the first woman to win back-to-back individual all-around titles at the Pan American Games;

Surfers Cody Young (Canada) and Kevin Schulz (USA) made history as the first competitors in the ocean during the sport’s debut in the Pan American Games;

Canadian triathlon mixed relay team makes history as the first Canadians ever to climb on to podium in that event at a Pan American Games;

 

DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Ellie Black becomes Canada’s all-time leader in gymnastics medals won (nine) at a Pan American Games;

With two events left, Black has a chance at breaking the record set by water skier Jared Llewellyn for most Pan Am gold medals won by a Canadian in any sport;

Black also becomes the first Canadian gymnast to win five Pan American Games gold medals;

Andréanne Langlois earns her fourth medal at Lima 2019 as Canada adds three more canoe/kayak – sprint medals for a total of 10;

Canada’s Lima 2019 waterski team sets Canadian record by winning 10 medals at one Pan American Games

 

Team Canada is rising to the occasion and making this country proud of the integrity, sportsmanship and values sport should highlight.