Dias the Gr-eight as Brazil Dominates Parapans Pool Again

Daniel Dias increased in personal gold-medal collection to eight in the Guadalajara pool. By IPC

The penultimate day of Swimming at the 2011 Parapan American Games saw Brazil win five out of the nine gold medals available and Daniel Dias increase his personal gold medal collection at this event to eight, with some events for him still to swim tomorrow.

In the very first race Dias (1:10.14) smashed the Games record in the men’s 100m Freestyle S5 to claim his seventh gold at the Scotiabank Aquatics Centre. Silver went to his teammate Clodoaldo Silva (1:20.59) while bronze was won by Mexico’s Gustavo Sanchez (1:29.48), an Americas S4 record.

Mexico’s Patricia Valle (2:08.36) set a new Games record as she won her second gold in Guadalajara in the women’s Freestyle S3. Compatriot Haidee Aceves Perez (2:33.66) picked up silver and Paula Lara Rodriguez (2:39.47) of Columbia the bronze.

Fellow Mexican Luis Andrade Guillen (1:08.22) claimed his third gold and sixth medal of the 2011 Parapans in the men’s 50m Butterfly S8 in a new Games record time. Silver and bronze went to Brazil’s William Santana (1:08.28) and Argentina’s Lucas Poggi (1:13.43) respectively.

The women’s 100m Freestyle S5 was won by Brazil’s Joana Silva (1:29.57), her third gold of the Games, in a Parapan record time. USA’s Alyssa Gialamas (1:39.53) took silver ahead of bronze medallist Nely Miranda Herrera (1:44.30).

From a neutral’s point of view one of the loudest cheers of the day was for Shanntel Ince (1:23.45), Trinadad & Tobago’s sole representative at these Games, winning bronze in the women’s 100m Backstroke S9. The event was won by USA’s Anna Johannes (1:17.59), now a four time gold medallist in Guadalajara, while Brazil’s Camille Cruz (1:21.88) took silver.

Less than 90 minutes after wining his seventh gold, Daniel Dias (35.63) made it eight easily winning the men’s 50m Butterfly S5. The race for silver was a closer affair with another Brazilian Francisco Avelinho (45.93) edging out Mexico’s Juan Reyes (46.17).

Brazil claimed a quick second successive gold in the women’s 50m Backstroke S5 courtesy of Edenia Garcia (52.48) in a Games record time. Alyssa Gilamas (53.17) also broke the Games S4 record to take silver ahead of Mexico’s Nadia Parras (55.59).

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games hosts soon made it a hat-trick of top podium finishes in a row with victory for Nelio Almeida (36.83) in the men’s 50m Butterfly S7. USA’s Daniel Kamber (37.08) took silver while Mexico’s Enrique Perez (37.45) picked up bronze.

The day finished on a high note for the home fans as Luis Andrade Guillen (1:08.22) claimed his second gold of the day in a Games record time in the men’s 100m Butterfly S8. Compatriot Angel Buitian Santiago (1:14.30) took silver with Brazil’s Caio Oliveira (1:16.77) the bronze.

Tomorrow is the final day of Swimming in the 2011 Parapan American Games which has involved 180 swimmers from 14 countries.

This is the fourth edition of the Parapan American Games and has attracted 1,500 athletes from 24 countries who will compete in 13 different sports.