Friday, November 24th, 2023.- One of the kings of the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games is para swimmer Samuel da Silva, who on Friday secured his seventh gold medal at the Centro de Deportes Acuáticos of the Estadio Nacional.

In the female's 100 meters backstroke S10 category (swimmers with slightly limited leg movement, moderately limited hip joint or foot movement, and a high degree of one foot or absence of a part of the limb), the winner was American Tayler Winnet, with a time of 1:12.79. The silver went to her compatriot Chloe Cederholm (1:13.63), and the bronze to Colombian María Barrera (1:15.66).

Next, there was a Parapan American record, as Sara Vargas claimed gold in the female's 100 meters freestyle S7 category (swimmers with limited arm, torso, and leg movement from low to moderate levels, with a moderate disability on one side of the body, and for swimmers of short stature, or the absence of limbs) with a time of 1:11.46. The American McKenzie Coan came in second (1:11.98), and the Colombian Zharith Rodríguez in third (1:16.52).

Colombia continued to shine in the Santiago pool, as in the female's 100 meters freestyle S5 category (swimmers with moderately limited coordination, with very limited movement of the torso and legs, or the absence of limbs), Mariana Guerrero claimed gold with a Parapan American record of 1:23.61. The Brazilian Lidia Viera (S4) came in second, also setting a Parapan American record with 1:26.69. Third was the Argentine Ana Noriega with 1:32.50.

Following that, came the same event for men, where the hero of the pool, Samuel da Silva, secured victory, accumulating seven gold medals in Santiago 2023, with a time of 1:15.14 minutes. The silver went to Tiago de Oliveira (1:21.25), and the bronze to Miguel Rincón (1:21.57).

Written by Carlos Silva Rojas - Fernanda Pavez; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Felipe Zanca / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport