West Islanders medal at Pan Am Games

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The curtain closed Sunday on the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, with Canada finishing fourth in the medal count with 39 gold, 43 silver and 55 bronze medals.

Eight of those treasured pieces of silverware belonged to athletes who either live, train or grew up in the West Island.

Leading the way was Beaconsfield resident Stephanie Horner, who captured four medals in swimming, including silver in the 200-metre freestyle, 4X100-metre medley and 4X200-metre freestyle as well as bronze in the 200-metre medley.

‘’The two races (200-metre freestyle and medley) were back to back so everything was pretty rushed,’’ said Horner. “I didn’t have time to think. In the last 50-metres of the freestyle race, I just put my head down and went as hard as I could. I’m not sure if I lost the race on the turn. I was really pleased with my performances in both races.’’

Meanwhile, Pointe Claire’s Joëlle Bekhazi and Marina Radu along with Dorval’s Whynter Lamarre were part of the women’s silver-medal-winning women’s water-polo team, which was coached by West Island

resident Pat Oaten.

Canada fell 6-4 to the United States in the gold-medal match. Canada trailed 4-3 heading into the final period, but the Americans ate up the clock and salted away the victory. Two U.S. goals came with Canada killing penalties, and the loss was a bitter bill to swallow for Oaten and his crew. Gold would have guaranteed them a spot next summer at the Olympics in Beijing.

“There was a major missed call in the fourth quarter when we should have a had a penalty shot,” Oaten, who also serves as head coach of the Dollard des Ormeaux Water-Polo Club, told reporters afterward.

“But the Americans showed by defence why they’re world champions. They were all over us. Fighting back against the world champion is always tough,” he added.

Elsewhere, Dorval resident Vincent Goodfellow captured bronze in the men’s coxless four in the rowing competition, while Pointe Claire’s Tracy Little was part of the silver-medal winning synchronized swimming team. Canada received a score of 47.834 in its free routine for a total of 95.251, finishing within a hair of the Americans at 95.667 for gold.

Baie d’Urfé native Rhian Wilkinson was part of the bronze-medal-winning women’s soccer team while diver Arturo Miranda, who trains under head coach Yi Hua Li at the Pointe Claire Diving Club, combined with Alexandre Despatie to win bronze in the three-metre synchronized men’s diving competition.

Despatie and Miranda were surprised at their placing. The pair found themselves in last place after their first two dives.

“We made small errors,” Miranda said. “With our last three dives, we did very well and I am happy overall with our performance. We will do better next time.’’翿