Committed to the fight against doping in sport, the Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) informed this morning that a new case of doping has been detected, corresponding to the athlete Jean Francisco Pérez Faure, member of the Puerto Rican men’s doubles bowling team.  He tested positive for Chlorthalidone, belonging to the S5 group of diuretics and other masking agents.  

As a result, the Disciplinary Commission of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games has annulled the result of this competition, where Puerto Rico had won the gold medal. 

For this reason, the results are as follows: 
Gold Medal, United States

Silver Medal, Colombia

Bronze Medal, Mexico

The procedures used to take and analyze the samples are being carried out according to the Pan American Games anti-doping rules that were approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).  

This is the second case of doping at the Lima 2019 Games after the Dominican baseball player Audrey Joel Pérez tested positive for an anabolic.

It was a short but meaningful conversation. The American bronze medal winner of the team jumping event, Eve Jobs, Steve Jobs’ daughter, talked to the volunteers of the Army Equestrian School in la Molina. She thanked them all for their support to competitors.

Easy going, Jobs took pictures with this group of young volunteers who wanted a memento of the event. They got around the security staff that accompanies her in these Pan American Games and took the pictures that she shared in her social media, showing the exciting experience of the Games in our capital city.

Jorge Farfán (20), volunteer and student of communication sciences, said that they hesitated at first to approach the athlete, because of her security. Then, he said that they relaxed a bit, and talked to her. Eve Jobs was really easy going and was took her time to share with them.

As an anecdote, he said that the day he was chosen as a volunteer he didn’t know what equestrian sports were about. A few minutes earlier, a message was sent to his e-mail confirming he was chosen as a volunteer for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and assigned to this competition.

In March 2019 he could not imagine that five months later, at the team jumping event,  he would be talking to Eve Jobs, the daughter Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple.  Beside this experience, Jorge highlighted that the organization has considered every detail to successfully deliver the most important multi-sport event of the region.

He has muscular sclerosis, an irreversible condition, a disease that blocks the orders that go from the brain to the muscles and makes him unable to walk. To move around, he uses an electric wheelchair, which allows him independently to undertake his daily tasks.

“That is what I think is the most important, because if the Organizing Committee had not thought about delivering inclusive Pan American Games, where people with impairments could be part of this unique event in the country, I would not be here. There are wheelchair accesses, special areas at each of the competition venues for people with impairments. These actions are a way of telling us that we are belong, that we can do things and that we are important,” he said.

The Pan American Games, as Jorge says, are not just the most important multi-sport event of the Americas, but the organization managed to include all Peruvians, without distinction, because we are all hosts. Let's all play!

It was his first time at Lima 2019 and he was one of the most cheered athletes. Award-winning American swimmer Nathan Adrian jumped into the pool of the newly-built VIDENA Aquatic center to compete in the 4x100m relay; however, he only managed to win the silver medal.  

“I’m happy because water means home to me, and I think that, no matter the result, it’s a good beginning for Team USA,” Adrian said after the medal ceremony.  

Lima 2019 are Adrian's first Pan American Games, which he regards as a really good experience. “You have the Village experience, other sports, the dining hall and that’s as close as you can get to the Olympic Games.”  

“There are things in life more important than winning medals and, when you are into sports, you learn to overcome the losses and adversities,” said Adrian, who was diagnosed with a serious disease last December .  

With the medal and his cuchimilco in hand, Adrian could not stop smiling and praising the souvenir. “I really love it, this guy looks very nice, it’s special.”  “I like Lima, everything has been really cool,” Adrian said about the Games organization. 

Nathan Adrian will compete in men's 50m and 100m freestyle. He will also take part in men’s 4x200m freestyle relay with Michael Chadwick, Grant House and Drew Kibler, and mixed 4x100m medley freestyle relay with Michael Chadwick, Anne Lazor and Kendyl Stewart. He will also compete in men’s 4x100m medley relay with Daniel Carr, Matthew Josa and Cody Miller, as well as mixed 4x100m medley relay. 

Foto: Marca

To reach the top of the Pan American Games sometimes you must challenge yourself. This was mostly true in swimming, where the high expectation caused by the competition level of the American and Canadian teams made Brazilians to surpass themselves and fight for a place in the medal table.

It is the case of the Brazilian athlete Leonardo de Deus, three-time Pan American champion in the 200 m butterfly event. He randomly entered the final list in the continental multi-sport event, as the suspension of Gabriel Silva for doping gave him the chance to make history with his team.

Léo de Deus is proud of his military origin as sergeant of the Army of his country. This explains the martial salute he made to his flag at the award ceremony, as did by his teammate Joao Gomes, who competed for hist first Pan American Games, at the age of 33, and conquered the 100 m breaststroke.

Another elite member is Pedro Henrique Spajari, who destroyed the Pan American record with his team in the 4x100 m freestyle relay and defeated the American team lead by Nathan Adrian, multiple times Olympic and world medalist. Spajari overcame a rare syndrome that affected his motor functions when he was 20. As a sergeant of the Brazilian air force, he sang with honor the anthem of his country, from the top of the podium.

“Winning my first gold medal in this kind of competition is really special. We prepared a lot to win this qualification to the Olympic Games, in my case, by overcoming personal problems. In addition, I am proud of representing the Armed Forces of my country because it helped me a lot in my life,” he said.

The first day of swimming was important for Peru too, for the new Peruvian records set by Paula Tamashiro (100 m breaststroke, set in 2008) and Samantha Bello (400 m freestyle). In addition, fans enjoyed Silvana Cabrera´s victory in the 200 m butterfly B final.

Once again, the Pan American Games staged incredible stories of overcoming challenges, stories are a living life lessons for spectators witnessing the achievements of these athletes.

As if the direct qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was not attractive enough for Equestrian sports in Lima 2019, American Eve Jobs, daughter of Apple’s visionary co-founder Steve Jobs, made her debut this morning. The audience at the Army Equitation School applauded her performance, which clocked a time of 71.16s in the speed test.

The 21-year-old rider participates in the individual and team jumping competition. The first round of this competition finished this morning in La Molina. Eve Jobs ranked seventh and helped the United States lead the team competition. She continues her participation tomorrow with two more qualifying rounds.

Her compatriot Elizabeth Madden rode her Breitling horse in 68.82s and leads the individual ranking. It is worth mentioning the equestrian course in La Molina, praised by competitors as the horses performed tests with comfort and were able to set good times when jumping over obstacles.

“We must congratulate the Lima 2019 Pan American Games Organizing Committee because they have done an amazing job. This is a top-level equestrian venue, in fact, one of the best in which I have competed. The course and stables are in optimal conditions and this is important for horses. Quattro (his horse) is happy and that’s great because if they are not well, we cannot compete successfully,” said Bolivian rider Daniel Bedoya.

Also, Brazilian Eduardo Menezes (fifth in the qualification) thanked for the facilities provided by Lima 2019. “It’s the best Equestrian venue I’ve ever competed at. Everything is top-class for riders and especially for the horses so they get relaxed before the competition,” he said.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The most awarded athlete to participate in Lima 2019 is now in Peru. With his five Olympic gold medals, the American Nathan Adrian, is the top athlete of his delegation to compete in the Pan American Games. Starting on August 6, the world swimming star is ready to compete in the most expected aquatic sport competition. 

The swimming competitions start on August 6 in the new and modern Aquatic Center, which has been cataloged by athletes as one of the best in the world. Nathan Adrian is staying in the Pan American Village, waiting actively to participate on seven events, where he will try to win more medals and increase his great sporting record. 

Nathan Adrian won gold medals in the Pekin 2008 Olympic Games in 4x100m freestyle, and in London 2012 in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay events. He also won two gold medals in Rio 2016 in 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay. He also got a silver medal in London 2012 in 4x100m freestyle, as well as two bronze medals in Rio 2016 in the 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle events.  

Along with him, Lima 2019 will welcome outstanding American swimmers, such as: Gunnar Bentz (gold medal in 4x200m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games), Lia Neal (silver medal in 4x100m at Rio 2016), among other athletes that we will have the privilege to watch. The swimming competition will be a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, assuring the participation of the best athletes of our continent. 

COMPETITIONS WHERE HE WILL PARTICIPATE 

Nathan Adrian will compete in the 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle, and the 4x100m freestyle relay events along with Michael Chadwick, Grant House and Drew Kibler.  

He will also participate in the 4x200m freestyle relay event with Michael Chadwick, Grant House and Drew Kibler, as well as in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay event along with Michael Chadwick, Anne Lazor and Kendyl Stewart. In addition, he will compete in the 4x100m medley relay event with Daniel Carr, Matthew Josa and Cody Miller, as well as in the 4x100m mixed medley relay event. 

To get more information about the competition schedule and results, you can visit the website: https://www.lima2019.pe/resultados. 

With the Aquatic Center of the National Sports Village (Videna) completely packed, the diving competitions in 3 meters men’s trampoline stood out for its exciting pirouettes.

But one fact caught the attention of all Peruvians and foreigners. The American swimmer Michael Hixon won the applause and the heart of  fans from different countries, who were on the grandstands of this sports venue.

How did he do it?  One of his performances had a negative ending, which led the judges to qualify him in a drastic way.  While he was coming out of the water after making a mistake, he received the unanimous applause of the spectators.

With this warm support, Michael was able to recover in the following scores of the six rounds of the competition.

At the end of this session on Sunday, August 4, Michael Hixon ranked eleventh with 358.95 points, but he undoubtedly took the first place in all of the Peruvians’ hearts.

Spectacular jumps and obstacles in the water and ring were performed at the equestrian sports venue in La Molina, where many families gathered to see the best athlete/horse combinations in the continent in the eventing individual (cross-country) and team competitions.

This venue had moments of excitement and tension when the Colombian rider Mauricio Bermúdez fell into the “Titicaca Lake” water obstacle in the cross-country ring.

The Peruvian combination delivered an excellent performance in the ring, and three of four riders qualified. They are Diego Farje with Qouter; Marcelino Cárdenas with Vento, and Juan José Luis Francia with Alpacino Z.

In the team event, the Peruvian representatives also qualified together with the United States, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, and Mexico. The international competition continues tomorrow starting at 10:00 with the eventing individual (jump finals) and team (jumping qualifier) competitions, where medalists will be determined.

The Army Equestrian School has an eventing circuit (cross-country), with 4600 m of new grass.

Besides, the main stage for jumping and dressage: three tracks for competition, warm-up and training, made of silica sand, with a total of 19,500 m2, built according to the standards and requirements of the International Equestrian Federation.

To get more information about the competition schedule and results, you can visit the website: https://www.lima2019.pe/resultados.

Photo gallery (click here)

The morning was cold, but the sun shone in the afternoon, just as the incredible performance of the three-time Pan American skeet champion Kimberly Rhode, who showed her talent again at Las Palmas Shooting Range.

“I’ve already been to Peru for other competitions, but this scenario is impressive. The Games are wonderful, the Village, the food, the facilities. Peru should be very proud,” Kim stated. Rhode became the youngest gold medalist in shooting at Atlanta 96 Olympic Games.

The three Toronto 2015 medalists had reached the final after the qualifying stage of today’s event. Besides gold-medal winner Kim Rhode, the Argentinian Melissa Gil and the Chilean Francisca Crovetto won silver and bronze medals, respectively.  

Kim has participated in many Olympic and world events. She had the privilege of breaking the Pan American record at Lima 2019. Her achievements in this type of competition are really impressive. Rhode competed in seven Pan American Games, winning five gold medals at Winnipeg 1999, Santo Domingo 2003, Guadalajara 2011, Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019, as well as a silver medal at Rio 2007.

“I feel old every time I hear that. These are my seventh Pan American Games, so I have a lot of history. I feel very honored and I love that,” Kim said.

She comes from California so the shining sun in the afternoon in Surco district was not an obstacle for her. “A sunny day’s always good. Weather is always a challenge in shooting because we have to adjust everything to improve our aim and that makes it more difficult. But after all, it’s been a great competition from start to finish,” the Atlanta 96, Athens 2004 and London 2008 Olympic champion added.

Photo gallery (click here)

Early on, despite the weather, a large number of fans attended the competitions in the district of Santiago de Surco. 

There are several disciplines to see, such as men's and women's skeet, women's pistol, and men's rifle.  

Furthermore, in the women's category, Olympic champion Kimb Rohde and world champion Dania Vizzi, both of them Americans, competed at the skeet event.  

For the men's category, Nicolas Pacheco from Peru, Federico Gil from Argentina, and Juan Miguel Rodriguez from Cuba, bronze medalist at Toronto 2015, also attended the competition.  

The Pan American Games was an opportunity to show the impressive, world-class Las Palmas Air Base Shooting Range to the world. 

“It's amazing. It's one of the best fields  I've been, and it's evident that the organization did a great job,” said world champion Dania Vizzi. 

Despite the weather, her performance was superb, and she qualified to the final round. “I'm from Florida, and I'm used to hot weather, I like it better. I've participated in venues with different temperatures, even in snow, but the only thing that matters to me is having a good aim and being among the bests,”said Dania. She also praised the development of the Pan American Games and mentioned that she would like to come back to Peru.  

Vizzi will compete at the women's skeet final against Peruvian Daniela Borda, who finished the last stage with a perfect round of 25-plates. 

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games includes 12 single events, equally divided between men and women, as well as three mixed double events in the precision disciplines (pistol and rifle), and shotgun events (skeet and trap).  Events are finished tomorrow, on August 3.