Brazil win three out of five in the pool

Brazilian swimmers won three of the five gold medals up for grabs at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games on Sunday (9 August) morning during a session that saw multiple Americas and Games records broken.

Paloma Garcia (1:59.32) won Brazil’s first gold of the day in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB5 beating the USA’s Haley Bernanbaum (2:10.80) in to silver. Bronze went to Garcia’s 16-year-old teammate Esthefany de Oliveira, her second medal of Toronto 2015.

There was a Brazilian one-two in the men’s 400m freestyle S9. Ruiter Silva (4:34.84) took the top step with Vanilton Do Nascimento (4:36.83) the second. Argentina’s Marco Pulleiro (4:39.29) completed the podium.

The first gold medal of the day was won by Colombia’s Moises Fuentes (1:38.35) in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB4. He finished ahead of Argentina’s Ariel Quassi (1:55.82) and Brazil’s Francisco Avelino (1:56.16) in silver and bronze respectively.

Brazil’s third and final gold of the morning came courtesy of Caio Amorim Nunez (4:35.10) who took more than a second off the Americas record in the men’s 400m freestyle S8. The home crowd had plenty to cheer as Zak McAllister (4:47.88) won silver and Zach Zona (4:52.36) the bronze.

Sergio Zayas (1:17.82) of Argentina claimed his first gold of Toronto 2015 with a Games record in the men’s 100m backstroke S11. The Colombian duo of Brayan Urbano (1:19.02) and Leider Lemus (1:20.01) picked up the other medals.

"I am so pleased to give a gold medal to my country," said Zayas. "I am enjoying very much these races, but I will rest for now and tomorrow. I wil think on how to prepare for the rest of the tournament."

In the heats, Mexico’s Armando Andrade (27.75) broke the men’s 50m freestyle S8 Americas record only to see McCallister (27.75) equal it in the very next race.

This evening, hosts Canada will go for gold on what many are terming “Super Sunday.”

The finals of this evening's swimming competition will be streamed live here.