Toronto 2015 Pan American Games: Day One Finals Live Recap

TORONTO 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

For full coverage of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games including photos, live recaps, record posts, and more, visit our Toronto 2015 Pan American Games event channel here.

• July 14-18
• Toronto, Ont.
• Prelims 10 a.m EST
• Finals 7 p.m EST
• Schedule
• Swimming Home Page
• Toronto 2015 Home Page 
• Live results 
• Overall Medal Count 
• Live stream via ESPN 3 – USA
• Live stream via CBC – Canada 
• @swimswamnews – snapchat, instagram, twitter
• @Swimswamlive, @MitchBowmile – twitter

FINALS PREVIEW

The first prelims session of the Toronto 2015 Pan American session proved the expression that races aren’t won on paper as plenty of unexpected results added excitement to the meet.

This morning, Natalie Coughlin took the top seed in the 100m freestyle as expected, but what was unexpected was the time. Coughlin swam a 53.85, the fastest she’s been since the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and the second fastest she’s been since the Beijing Olympic Games. That time now stands as the new Pan American Games record and the 10th fastest 100 freestyle of the year.

Tonight, Coughlin will need to better to her best time of 53.39 if she wants to crack the top five in the world this year. Her toughest competitor will be Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of the Bahamas. Vanderpool-Wallace holds a personal best of 53.79 in the 100m freestyle, and could be a direct threat to Coughlin’s medal hopes tonight.

Possibly inspired by Coughlin’s performance, the men stepped up this morning and set up a very competitive 100m freestyle final. Out of nowhere, Argentina’s Frederico Gabrich set a new national record and took the top seed with a 48.60. Two more swimmers were under 49-seconds this morning as Santo Condorelli of Canada was a 48.88 and Marcelo Chierighini of Brazil was a 48.92.

Audrey Lacroix of Canada and Katie Mills of the United States look to face off in the women’s 200m fly. Lacroix is the definite favourite going in and has plenty of international experience. This morning Mills swam a best time of 2:08.89 to take the top seed. Andreina Pinto of Venezuela will also be in the mix tonight.

The men’s 200m fly is the wildcard event of the night. Mauricio Fiol of Peru swam a lifetime best of 1:56.81 to take the top seed this morning over Leonardo De Deus and Bobby Bollier. Without any clear leader, this final is wide open.

The American and Canadian women will be racing for gold in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. That race will likely come down to the wire.

As for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Brazil has the guns to really run away with a big win. The Canadians will try and stay as close as possible, and if guys like Yuri Kisil and Santo Condorelli can both be under 49-seconds, they should have one of the top squads at the meet.

WOMEN’S 100m FREESTYLE

• World record: 52.07 – Britta Steffen (Germany) 2009
• Pan Am Games record: 53.85 – Natalie Coughlin (USA) 2015
• Americas record: 53.02 – Amanda Weir (USA) 2009
• 10th fastest time in the world this season: 53.85

Medallists

1. Gold – Chantal Van Landeghem (Canada) 53.83
2. Silver – Natalie Coughlin (USA) 54.06
3. Bronze – Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (Bahamas) 54.15

Just like in the prelims of the 100m freestyle, Natalie Coughlin dove in to a lead, however this time no matter how hard she tried to hold on, she couldn’t keep it.

Charging to the 50, Coughlin, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, and Canadian Chantal Van Landeghem all moved ahead of the rest of the field.

Turning first at the halfway point was Vanderpool-Wallace in 25.46 followed by Coughlin in 24.74 and Van Landeghem in 24.79.

After another great underwater Coughlin was in the lead with the other two hot on her tracks. At the 75-meter mark, Van Landeghem made a huge move and started gaining ground on the two seasoned swimmers.

With five meters to go the Canadian surged to the wall with cheers from the home crowd, touching first in 53.83. That time broke Coughlin’s hours old Pan Am Games record of 53.85 that she set in prelims.

Coughlin managed to hold off Vanderpool-Wallace for the silver, clocking in at 54.06. Vanderpool-Wallace took home the bronze in 54.14.

Canadian Michelle Williams finished fourth just outside of a medal position in 54.55.

MEN’S 100m FREESTYLE

• World record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo (Brazil) 2009
• Pan Am Games record: 47.84 – Cesar Cielo (Brazil) 2011
• Americas record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo (Brazil) 2009
• 10th fastest time in the world this season: 48.44

Medallists

1. Gold – Frederico Granich (Argentina) 48.26
2. Silver – Santo Condorelli (Canada) 48.57
3. Bronze – Marcelo Chierighini (Brazil) 48.80

Argentinian Olympic Frederico Granich once more made a gigantic drop to top the field in the men’s 100m freestyle. Clocking in at 48.26, Granich broke his hours old Argentinian national record and cracked the world top 10 rankings.

Out like a rocket right away was Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini. At the first 50 he was a 22.76 on his feet to turn ahead of Canadian Santo Condorelli. Condorelli was right with him at this point in time, sporting a 22.77 at the wall. He made sure to come off that wall strong, but so did Granich who turned third in 22.95.

Condorelli moved to the lead with 25-meters remaining. That’s when Granich made his move, increasing his stroke rate and passing Condorelli to touch in for gold.

Condorelli kept his speed up and managed to hold on for the silver behind him in 48.57. Chierighini faded to third with a time of 48.80.

WOMEN’S 200m BUTTERFLY

• World record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige (China) 2009
• Pan Am Games record: 2:07.64 – Kathleen Hersey (USA) 2007
• Americas record: 2:04.14 – Mary DeScenza (USA) 2009
• 10th fastest time in the world this season: 2:07.89

Medallists

1. Gold – Audrey Lacroix (Canada) 2:07.68
2. Silver – Katie Mills (USA) 2:09.31
3. Bronze – Joanna Maranhao (Brazil) 2:09.38

Audrey Lacroix earned Canada it’s second swimming gold in just three events at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, just falling short of the games record in the 200 fly.

It was clear early on that the race would be between both Lacroix and Katie Mills of the United States. In start-to-finish fashion, Lacroix led Mills at every single wall. She started her race in 1:00.34, bringing the race home in 1:07.34.

Mills was right behind her most of the way, but lost a full second on Lacroix on the last 50. At the touch, Mills was a 2:09.31 just holding off Brazil’s Joanna Maranhao. Maranhao was a 2:09.38, finishing the race in 34.24.

MEN’S 200m BUTTERFLY

• World record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps (USA) 2009
• Pan Am Games record: 1:55.45 – Kaio de Almeida (Brazil) 2007
• Americas record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps (USA) 2009
• 10th fastest time in the world this season: 1:55.44

Medallists

1. Gold – Leonardo De Deus (Brazil) 1:55.01
2. Silver – Mauricio Fiol (Peru) 1:55.15
3. Bronze – Zack Chetrat (Canada) 1:56.90

The men’s 200m butterfly had no clear leader going into the finals, leaving the event wide open for anything to happen.

Plenty did happen, including Brazil’s first swimming gold at these games and yet another swimmer cracking the top 10 world rankings.

After setting a new Peruvian national record of 1:56.81 in prelims, Mauricio Fiol of Peru seemed to be in a good position to take home the gold. Through the first 100-meters, Fiol looked very strong, turning first in 54.27.

At the halfway point Brazilian Leonardo De Deus was in second, splitting a 54.70. Canada’s Zack Chetrat was in third.

Both Fiol and De Deus extended the lead heading into the final 50 as Chetrat managed to hang on to his top three placing. De Deus turned in first, and struggled to hold on as Mauricio came home fast.

At the touch, De Deus managed to get his hands on the wall first putting up a 1:55.01. Mauricio took another huge chunk off his national record to swim a 1:55.15 for second.

Also setting a national record was Chetrat. He rocked a 1:56.90 to become the first Canadian under 1:57. The previous record was a 1:57.01 set by Stefan Herniak in 2010.

WOMEN’S 4x100m FREESTYLE RELAY

• World record: 3:30.98 – Australia 2014
• Pan Am Games record: 3:37.28 USA 2015
• Americas record: 3:33.31 – USA 2013

Medallists

1. Gold – Canada 3:36.80
2. Silver – USA 3:37.01
3. Bronze – Brazil 3:37.39

In what looked like a rematch of the 100m freestyle final, Natalie Coughlin and Chantal Van Landeghem got to go at it once again, this time in the relay.

Both anchors, the United States touched first at the 300m mark in 3:09.19. The Canadians weren’t too far behind in 2:43.38. Coughlin and Van Landeghem battled it out with Van Landeghem regaining the lead for Canada at the 150.

Coming home, Van Landeghem brought yet another gold for Canada making the women a perfect three for three so far in the competition. The Canadians broke the Pan Am Games record of 3:37.28 that the USA set this morning.

The Americans were second in 3:37.01, also under their previous meet record. The bronze went to Brazil in 3:37.39.

MEN’S 4x100m FREESTYLE RELAY

• World record: 3:08.24 – USA 2008
• Pan Am Games record: 3:14.64 – Brazil 2011
• Americas record: 3:08.24 – USA 2008

Medallists

1. Gold – Brazil 3:13.66
2. Silver – Canada 3:14.32
3. Bronze – USA 3:16.21

The Brazilian depth gave them the win tonight in the 4x100m freestyle relay after gaining the lead at the 250m mark.

Canada led up until that point much due to the amazing leadoff done by Santo Condorelli. Condorelli was a 47.98 to leadoff for the Canadian team, tying the fastest time in the world this year.

The Canadians held on well at the end however, finishing second in 3:14.32. The Brazilians broke their own meet record of 3:14.63.

Taking home the bronze medal were the Americans in 3:16.21. The Argentinians put forth a strong effort to finish fourth with a time of 3:17.41. Frederico Grabich led off their relay, once again breaking his 100m freestyle national record. This time he lowered the mark further to a 48.11.