Fun Facts About Pan American Games

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James Gilkes was one of the best sprinters of South America in the 20th century. At the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico, James won the gold medal in the 200-meters with a time of 20.4 seconds. He is an idol in his native Guyana, an ex-British colony in South America.

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In 1987, Sylvia Poll made history when won eight medals (3 gold, 3 silver,and 2 bronze) in the Pan American swimming pool. She became the first Latin American to win eight medals in a single Pan American Games. After her victory,she was acclaimed in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, as a national heroine. Latin America has produce many swimmers, but none as Sylvia Poll Arenhs…

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Belize competed in the 1967 Pan American Games for the first time ever.

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Jorge Delgado Panchana was an Ecuadorian swimmer who won the gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico. From 1970 to 1978, Jorge Delgado won several international medals. He was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

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Argentina has competed in the Pan American Games 14 times and has won a total of 247 gold medals.It has more Pan American medals that Peru, Puerto Rico, Bolivia and Colombia combined.

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Bolivia sent 44 athletes to the 1975 Pan American Games, which were held in Mexico…Bolivia is one of the two poorest countries in Latin America.

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Peru has won a silver medal in women´s volleyball five times at the Pan American Games: Winnipeg (1967), Cali (1971), Mexico City (1975), San Juan de Puerto Rico (1979), and Indianapolis (1987).

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Ecuador sent 39 athletes to the 1975 Pan American Games.It finished 8th position in the final medal rankings…

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Venezuela won the gold medal in baseball in the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago (USA).

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El Salvador sent 112 athletes to the 1975 Pan American Games, which were held in Mexico City,Mexico.The Salvadoran delegation had athletes competing in 15 sports: basketball (12), baseball (20), boxing (4), cycling (4), equestrian (5), fencing (9), soccer (19), gymnastics (4), judo (4), wrestling (3), weightlifting (5), swimming (1),tennis(2), shooting(9), and volleyball (12).

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Buenos Aires, Argentina´s capital, hosted the I Pan American Games. The winner was Argentina with 147 medals.

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Diver Joaquin Capilla won 4 gold medal at two successive Pan American Games: Buenos Aires (1951) and Mexico City (1955). He is a hero in Mexico.

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Doroteo Flores won the gold medal at the 1955 Pan American Games in the marathon competition. Like Atila Solti (shooting) and Fernanda Portocarrero (gymnastics), he is one of the Guatemala´s best known and well-loved athletes.

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The Brazilian delegation participated in the 1971 Pan American Games held in Cali (Colombia), and won 30 medals in such events as basketball, rowing, shooting, volleyball and sailing.

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Haiti has competed in the Pan American Games 11 times: Buenos Aires (1951), Chicago (1959), Cali (1971), Mexico City (1975), San Juan de Puerto Rico (1979), Caracas (1983), Indianapolis (1987), La Havana (1991), Buenos Aires (1995), Winnipeg (1999), and Santo Domingo (2003).
Haiti is one of the world´s poorest countries. Its per capita income is only slightly above $160 U.S.