Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-07-23 From: Xinhuanet

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 20 (Xinhua) — Brazilian sensation Thiago Pereira won his fourth and fifth gold medals Friday at the Pan American Games, matching American great Mark Spitz for most swimming golds won at a single Pan Am Games.

The United States remains atop the medals table with 44 golds, 46 silvers and 20 bronzes. Cuba is second with 23 golds, and Brazil third with 15.

Pereira broke the Pan Ams record to win the 200-meter medley in 1 minute, 57.79 seconds. He then took his second gold when Brazil won the 4X100m freestyle relay in 3:15.90. Pereira did not swim inthe final, but earned a gold because he participated in a qualifying race.

“I was very tired because of the last events,” Pereira said. “Itold my coach I wouldn’t come into the water 100 percent, but everything went right and I won gold.”

Spitz, who won a record seven Olympic gold medals in 1972 in Munich, won five golds at the Winnipeg Pan Ams in 1967.

Despite Pereira’s feat, it was the Americans who dominated in the pool. Julia Smit, who had won the 100m backstroke and anchoredthe U.S. women’s team to victory in the 4X100m freestyle relay, won the women’s 200m medley in 2:13.07 -a Games record - to capture her third gold in Rio.

Caroline Burckle in the women’s 800 freestyle, Matthew Owen in the men’s 200 freestyle and Ava Ohlgren in the women’s 200 freestyle added three other golds for the U.S. team.

In baseball, Cuba won its 10th straight Pan Am title after overcoming the United States 3-1.

“Baseball is to Cuba what football is in Brazil, the nation’s favorite sport. You see young children playing it everywhere. I believe Cuba’s baseball future is bright for many years to come,” said Cuban coach Rey Vicente Anglada.

In women’s soccer, Brazil crushed Canada 7-0 as world player of the year Marta scored five times. Brazil will play in the semifinals against Mexico, which rallied from two goals down to upset the United States 3-2. The U.S. and Canada will meet in the other semifinal.

In water polo, the United States women’s team defeated Canada 6-4 to win gold.

The hosts emerged as the big winner in judo. Tiago Camilo beat Cuban Jorge Benavides in the men’s 90-kg class and Edinanci Silva defeated Cuban Yurisel Laborde in the women’s 78-kg class.

Cuba won the other judo gold after Oreidis Despaigne defeated Canada’s Keith Morgan in the men’s over 100-kg class.

In fencing, Venezuela took the women’s foil team gold and Cuba earned the men’s epee team title.