The United States (U.S.) won the gold medal in team jumping at the 23rd Pan American Games, with Canada taking silver and Brazil bronze late Wednesday.
The quartet of Mclain Ward, Laura Kraut, Kent Farrington, and Karl Cook finished with a total of 12.37 points after a remarkable team performance at the Chilean Army’s Grenadier Regiment School in the town of Quillota, north of the capital.
Second place went to Tiffany Foster, Amy Millar, Beth Underhill, and Mario Deslauriers of Canada with a total of 17.62, well behind the winners.
Bronze went to Brazil, consisting of Pedro Veniss, Marlon Modolo, Stephan de Freitas, and Rodrigo Pessoa, with 22.32.
Hard-fought competition
The competition, held under the supervision of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), with which EFE has a content broadcasting agreement, came down to the Brazilian pair of Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom, who were the last to start.
Two knockdowns for the six-time Olympian sent his team from gold medal position to bronze, giving the Americans top spot on the Santiago 2023 medal podium.
The U.S. team, who arrived in Chile to qualify for Paris 2024, beat the reigning champions Brazil, who took gold at Lima 2019.
Canada, fourth at Lima 2019, were more successful this year with a silver, while Mexico, second at the previous games, had to settle for fourth place this time.
On to Paris 2024
The three teams that qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games were the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the last of which secured a place in Paris because Brazil had already qualified.
U.S. rider Laura Kraut said that the event “was extremely unnerving, we had a great performance in the first round, but still, you know that everything can fade away. We had two mediocre rounds, so it was a relief when those ahead of me cleared. I almost enjoyed the last round, unlike yesterday.”
Beth Underhill of Canada said that “we all felt the same pressure. Everyone’s scores count, and everyone was able to contribute.”
USA’s McLain Ward now leads the standings heading into Friday’s individual final, ahead of teammate Laura Kraut in second place and Brazilians Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Pedro Veniss, third and fourth respectively.
With the win, the United States has picked up 78 gold medals at the 2023 Pan American Games, leading the overall count with a total of 181 podium finishes. EFE