COC Celebrates Best-Ever Pan Am Games Performance with Top Two Goal Achieved
TORONTO — On Sunday, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced that Canada has accomplished its best-ever performance at a Pan American Games, achieving its goal of being in the top two nations in terms of overall medals won, eclipsing their previous record count from Winnipeg 1999 by at least 20 medals. During the conference, it was also announced that women’s basketball gold medallist, Kia Nurse, would be Team Canada’s Flag bearer during the TORONTO 2015 Games closing ceremony.
Kia Nurse was the leading scorer of the women’s gold medal-winning basketball team, averaging 13.6 points per game for a total of 68 points while playing a team-high 128 minutes. She was the star of the gold medal victory over the United States with 33 points. Kia was chosen for her fighting spirit and for how she represents the great success of Canada’s women and team sports at the TORONTO 2015 Games.
TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games feats and facts:
By the Numbers: Athletes and Medals
715 – Official Team Canada athletes (370 men, 345 women), a Canadian record at a multi-sport Games
77* – Gold medals won, surpassing the previous Canadian Pan Am record of 64 set at Winnipeg 1999
214* – Total medals won, surpassing the previous Canadian Pan Am record of 196 set at Winnipeg 1999
*At the end of Day 15, with medals guaranteed on Day 16 in women’s baseball (gold medal game at 12:05 p.m.) and women’s softball (gold medal game at 11:00 a.m.) as well as a possible medal in men’s volleyball (bronze medal game at 11:00 a.m.)
23 – Most medals won in a single day (July 14) by Team Canada
5 – Medals won by Ellie Black (artistic gymnastics), Canada’s most decorated athlete of the Games
4 – Medals won by Whitney McClintock (water ski), Jasmin Glaesser (track and road cycling) and Santo Condorelli (swimming)
Male/Female medallists:
Male: 210 of 432 = 49%
Female: 222 of 432 = 51%*
*Includes the medals that are guaranteed but still to be decided in women’s baseball and women’s softball, but not the possible bronze medal in men’s volleyball
Pan Am Records Set by Canadians
Athletics
Men’s Decathlon (Damian Warner 8659)
Track Cycling
Women’s Sprint (Monique Sullivan 10.992)
Women’s Team Sprint (Kate, O’Brien, Monique Sullivan 33.584)
Women’s Team Pursuit (Beveridge, Brown, Glaesser, Lay 4:19.664)
Shooting
Women’s 10m Air Pistol (Lynda Kiejko, Finals Record 195.7)
Swimming
Women’s 100m Freestyle (Chantal Van Landeghem 53.83)
Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay (Mainville, Savard, Van Landeghem, Williams 3:36.80)
Women’s 200m Breaststroke (Kierra Smith 2:24.38)
Women’s 200m Backstroke (Hilary Caldwell 2:08.22)
Women’s 400m Freestyle (Emily Overholt 4:08.42)
Men’s 400m Freestyle (Ryan Cochrane 3:48.29)
Men’s 1500m Freestyle (Ryan Cochrane 15:06.40)
Canadian 1-2 Finishes
Athletics – Men’s 20km Race Walk (Evan Dunfee, Inaki Gomez)
Athletics – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Matt Hughes, Alex Genest)
Athletics – Men’s High Jump (Derek Drouin, Mike Mason)
Badminton – Women’s Singles (Michelle Li, Rachel Honderich)
Cycling – Mountain Bike – Women’s Cross-Country (Emily Batty, Catharine Pendrel)
Cycling – Track – Women’s Sprint (Monique Sullivan, Kate O’Brien)
Diving – Women’s 3m Springboard (Jennifer Abel, Pamela Ware)
Swimming – Women’s 200m Backstroke (Hilary Caldwell, Dominique Bouchard)
Swimming – Women’s 200m Breaststroke (Kierra Smith, Martha McCabe)
Sports in which Canada led or tied for the lead in medals won
Badminton – 6 medals (1 G, 3 S, 2 B)
Baseball – 2 medals (TBD)
Basketball – 2 medals (1 G, 1 S)
Canoe/Kayak Sprint – 10 medals (4 G, 4 S, 2 B)
Cycling – Mountain Bike – 3 medals (2 G, 1 S)
Cycling – Track – 10 medals (6 G, 2 S, 2 B)
Cycling – Road – 6 medals (2 G, 1 S, 3 B)
Diving – 9 medals (2 G, 5 S, 2 B)
Field Hockey – 2 medals (1 S, 1 B)
Gymnastics – Trampoline – 3 medals (2 G, 1 B)
Rowing – 11 medals (8 G, 1 S, 2 B)
Rugby – 2 medals (2 G)
Softball – 2 medals (TBD)
Squash – 6 medals (1 G, 3 S, 2 B)
Synchronized Swimming – 2 medals (2 G)
Water Ski/Wakeboard – 9 medals (4 G, 5 S)
Fun Facts
All 18 female members of the swimming (pool) team won at least one medal
All 14 members of the track cycling team won at least one medal
The total number of medals won at Guadalajara 2011 (119) was surpassed on Day 8, the halfway mark of the Games
The gold medal total at Guadalajara 2011 (30) was surpassed on Day 5
The men’s softball team won its eighth consecutive Pan Am gold medal; no other country has ever won the men’s tournament
Jordan Belchos won Canada’s first-ever Pan Am medal in roller speed skating with his bronze in the 10,000m points race
Jaret Llewellyn won two silver medals to bring his career Pan Am Games total to 11, making him Canada’s most successful active Pan Am athlete
Rio 2016 Qualification
Canada qualified Olympic quota spots in the following sports:
Diving – Women’s 3m Springboard
Synchronized Swimming – Duet
Canoe/Kayak Slalom – Women’s K-1
Equestrian – Team Jumping
Modern Pentathlon – Women’s Individual (Donna Vakalis)
Shooting – Women’s 10m Air Pistol, Women’s Trap
Field Hockey – Men*
*Argentina won the Pan Am gold medal which would have earned them the continental Olympic berth, but because they had already qualified for Rio 2016, the spot goes the next-highest placing team from the FIH World League Semi-Final, which was Canada
QUOTES
“The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games have been a resounding success. Canada reached its goal of being in the top two nations in terms of overall medals won, also achieving our country’s best-ever performance at a Pan Am Games. From outstanding performances by our athletes to fantastic ticket sales and strong public support, to the seamless and safe execution of logistics, these Games have been a reflection of Canada’s aptitude for hosting world-class sporting events. Congratulations to Kia on being named Team Canada’s Closing Ceremony Flag Bearer – her performance at these Games was outstanding and she deserves this great honour.”
Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee
“These Games have exceeded Canada’s expectations in every way. Our athletes have given their everything on the field of play, delivering phenomenal performances that launched Canada into the stratosphere. Because of their dedication, hard work and sheer grit, as well as the enthusiastic support of the fans, our country achieved its greatest-ever performance at a Pan Am Games. I could not be more proud of each and every athlete on this Team. Kia represents everything that is great about this team and I know that she will lead us with pride as Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremony. Congratulations.”
Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Games Team Canada Chef de Mission
“It is an honour to represent my country and Team as Flag Bearer for the TORONTO 2015 Games Closing Ceremony. I am over the moon with my team’s performance at these Games – a Games where the rest of my fellow athletes delivered outstanding performances. As a collective, we pushed Canada to achieve its best-ever performance at a Pan Am Games and we couldn’t be more proud. I will carry this flag for all my fellow athletes and all of the Canadians who have supported us on this incredible journey.”
Kia Nurse, TORONTO 2015 Games Flag Bearer and gold medallist, Women’s Basketball
About the Canadian Olympic Committee:
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team’s podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic Committee delivers resources that Canada’s elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada’s Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes’ stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.