Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-07-23 From: Xinhuanet

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 21 (Xinhua) — Brazilian sensation Thiago Pereira won his sixth gold medal Saturday at the Pan American Games, breaking the 40-year-old record of Mark Spitz for most swimming gold medals at a single Pan Ams.

Brazil and defending champion Argentina were eliminated from the men’s soccer tournament, while Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico and Jamaica have qualified for the semifinals.

Brazil, who needed just a draw to progress through the group stage, was defeated 4-2 by Ecuador on Saturday at Maracana stadium and knocked out of contention. Argentina was eliminated after a scoreless draw with Colombia.

But both Brazil and Argentina fielded their under-17 squads, while the tournament is being played with under-20 teams.

In what may be a consolation for the hosts, Pereira finished first in the men’s 200m breaststroke final in 2 minutes, 13.51 seconds. The 21-year-old has a chance to win two more medals in Rio.

“I’m very happy with the record of six gold medals, but the Games are not over yet. I’ll only be pleased after tomorrow’s relay, ” Pereira said.

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

Pereira’s compatriot Kaio Marcio broke the Pan Ams record in the men’s 200 butterfly in 1:55.45 to win his second gold. He won the 100m butterfly earlier in the week.

American teenager Kathleen Hersey raised her tally of gold medals to three by breaking the Pan Ams record in the 200m butterfly in 2:07.64. Hersey had already won the 100m butterfly and 400m medley.

Charles Peterson won the 1,500m freestyle in 15:12.33, beating Ricardo Monasterio (15:23.28) of Venezuela and Kier Maitland (15:25.28) of Canada.

In cycling, Yumari Gonzalez of Cuba won the 78-kilometer women’s road race in 2:04:52, and Wendy Cruz of the Dominican Republic took the 156-kilometer men’s race in 3:38:50.

In handball, Brazil’s women’s team won its third consecutive title after defeating Cuba 30-17, securing a berth in the Beijing Olympics. Argentina pipped the Dominican Republic 23-22 for the bronze medal.

The Americans swept the last two disciplines in shooting _ the women’s 50m rifle three positions by Jamie Beyerle and the men’s skeet by Vincent Hancock to close out the event with a total of 22 medals including 10 gold.

In the last competition of the day, Brazil won the women’s beach volleyball final when local pair Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca beat Tamara Larrea and Dalixia Fernandez of Cuba 21-15, 21-17.

After eight days of competition, the United States remains atop the medals table with 51 golds, 51 silvers and 23 bronzes. Cuba is second with 26 golds, and Brazil third with 20.