Skateboarder Samantha Secours became the first Canadian to compete in a skateboarding event at the Pan American Games. The 21-year-old Quebecer took part in the street event and ranked 9th with a cumulative score of 63.26 points.
The sport is making its first appearance on the Pan American Games program. Remember that in street, each athlete presents two 45-second routines, the best of which is retained for the final ranking, then five individual maneuvers. The scores from these figures are added to the result of the best routine completed earlier.
Secours scored 20.91 points on his second attempt and amassed 42.35 points on his third individual maneuver performed on a ramp.
“I still have a lot to learn! »Samantha Secours told Sportcom, in the mixed zone.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so stressed! It probably played a role in my performance. These are things that happen and I’m going to learn to deal with them. It was beautiful with the music and representatives from all the countries in the stands, but it’s stressful! »
“It was fun and we had more practices than our usual competitions. Even though I didn’t get it, it was the first time I was able to try a 50 big spin. I just didn’t manage to present it this time. »
Encouraged by many cheering fans, Brazilians Rayssa Leal and Pamela Leite Rosa won gold and silver, collecting 236.98 and 211.34 points each. American Paige Heyn finished third with 176.35 points.
Aged 15, Leal currently ranks second in the world in street racing.
“It was interesting to share the journey with her. […] It’s a good practice if I ever go to Paris. I will know a little more what to expect, with village life and meeting everyone from the Canadian team. It’s a great experience! » concluded Samantha Secours.
In action in the men’s team competition in artistic gymnastics, René Cournoyer, Félix Dolci and William Emard helped Canada reach the second step of the podium with a total haul of 246,794 points.
Only the American team, thanks to its 249,860 points, did better than that of the maple leaf which also counted on the services of Jayson Rampersad and Zachary Clay. The Brazilian team (245,394) completed the podium.
“I believe we demonstrated an excellent level of gymnastics, which demonstrates that we have a strong team, that we deserved our place at the World Championships and the Olympic Games! In terms of results, it is a little below expectations with a few small errors made during the day, but we remain very satisfied overall,” commented veteran René Cournoyer at the end of the session.
The gymnast from Repentigny particularly stood out on the rings, where he finished tied for third with his teammate Félix Dolci (13,800). He also secured his place in the individual finals on floor and high bar by finishing eighth on both apparatus.
For his part, Félix Dolci dominated the floor event with a score of 14,266, in addition to finishing second on pommel horse. He will therefore participate in three individual finals, as well as the all-around final by virtue of his seventh place in the cumulative ranking.
“We started strong and the team was focused! Unfortunately, on a personal level, I slacked off at the end. I made mistakes that will prevent me from participating in two finals on equipment where I had a good chance of medaling. It’s a shame, but we have to stay focused and continue to aim high,” analyzed Dolci, who will be accompanied by his good friend William Emard during the eventing final.
The athlete from Laval is in sixth place in the rankings for Saturday, a day which also allowed him to reach the individual final on parallel bars, while helping Canada get their hands on silver.
“As a team, that was a tall order! We had a solid performance at the worlds two weeks ago, we were all tired, but we all had fun and we tried to give our best. Individual point of view, difficult start to the competition, but I was able to pull myself together and I am satisfied with the result,” Emard said after his performance.
“The job was done after the worlds, but we had a second job to do and that was to represent Canada well at the Pan-Americans,” he continued. The performance is slightly below what we expected, but it is not disappointing. »
Activities will continue on Sunday in artistic gymnastics, with the presentation of the women’s team competition. Frédérique Sgarbossa and Aurélie Tran will be there.
Caeli McKay brought a first-ever medal to the Canadian diving team at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. On Saturday, during the women’s 10m platform final, the native Albertan went through the full range of emotions, but she was able to finish in style to climb to the third step of the podium.
It all came down to the fifth and final dive for McKay, who managed to overcome the pressure to achieve her goals. Provisionally fourth, the young veteran scored 76.80 points for her double backflip and a half somersault with a twist and a half, which allowed her to bring her cumulative total to 335.65 points and take home the bronze medal.
The Mexicans Gabriela Agundez (361.55) and Alejandra Orozco (340.80) signed the double in this final.
“I’m really proud of myself, despite everything that happened tonight. I knew I had to do my last dive perfectly and that’s what I did. It’s not necessarily the medal I was hoping for, but I remain very satisfied with my work,” commented McKay after leaving the podium.
Also competing on Saturday, Thomas Ciprick had to withdraw from the men’s one-meter springboard final due to an allergic reaction. Earlier in the day, the Calgary athlete placed ninth in the preliminaries with a total of 327.60 points.
The diving events will continue on Sunday in Santiago, where four Canadians will be in action. Nathan Zsombor-Murray and Rylan Wiens will be in the men’s 10m synchronized final, while teammates Pamela Ware and Mia Vallée are entered in the 1m.
Alizée Brien and her teammate Caroline Shaye Ann De Paiva finished first in their qualifying heat in the double sculls on Saturday. Their time of 7:32.91 allows them to move directly to the A final which will be played on Wednesday. They beat the Cubans by 4.8 seconds.
Brien is the only Quebecer on the Canadian rowing team.
Registered in the under 73 kg category, Nicolas Vachon was the first weightlifter from La Belle Province to take action in Santiago.
However, the event did not go as planned for the native of Sainte-Hippolyte who was unable to obtain a total.
After lifting 300 pounds on his first attempt at the snatch, he failed to increase his load on his next two passes. History repeated itself in the clean and jerk, when none of his three attempts proved positive.
“It was a tough day at work and unfortunately I didn’t manage to get a total. I felt good in the warm-up, but it didn’t reflect on the set, he confided at the end of his performance. I had some lifts refused by the jury, it disappointed me a little, I was a little frustrated and it ended with a difficult day. I went all in at the end, but it didn’t pay off. »
Maude Charron and Alex Bellemarre will be ones to watch on Sunday in their respective categories.
Victor Baudrand took sixth place in the bouldering and difficulty semi-finals, while he placed sixth with a cumulative score of 133.7. The action will resume on Monday and Baudrand will be in the two finals.
Her teammate Erica Velev took part in the speed qualifications. She placed seventh from the start with her time of 8.99 seconds, but had to admit defeat in her quarter-final duel against American Sophia Curcio. She is ranked sixth in the final ranking.
Eliana Zhang made her tournament debut in women’s singles, in a match against Argentina’s Iona Angelina Gualdi. The Quebecer earned her ticket to the round of 16 by beating her rival in two sets of 21-11 and 21-8.
She will face Brazilian Juliana Viana Vieira in less than 24 hours.
Note that Zhang will also be in the main draw in women’s doubles alongside Wen Yu Zhang. The duo will begin their journey on Sunday by facing a tandem from the Dominican Republic.
Keven Beauséjour won his first fight in the under 80 kg bracket, 3-2, against Chilean Julio Alamos Mumbru. The Montrealer obtained the favor of the judges in each of the three rounds.
In the quarter-finals on Monday, the 24-year-old pugilist will face Argentinian Abraham Gabriel Buonarrigo.
