COLOMBIA AND THE UNITED STATES WERE SQUASH LEADERS AT SANTIAGO 2023

The two countries were tied in the overall squash medal standings at these Pan American Games.

The United States and Colombia won three gold medals each and became the protagonists of the final squash day of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

In the first final, Colombians Juan Vargas, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez and Ronald Palominos won gold, defeating Argentines Jeremías Azaña, Leandro Romiglio and Roberto Pezzota 2–0, who took silver. Bronze went to Peruvians Diego Elias, Alonso Escudero and Rafael Galvez and Canadians David Baillargeon, Graeme Schnell and George Crowne.

The first meeting took place between Vargas and Azaña, with a 3-1 victory in favor of the Colombian. The second match pitted each country’s two number one rackets, Rodríguez and Romiglio, which ended 3-2 in favor of Colombia after an epic comeback. Colombia thus added its third gold medal and closes squash with its best participation in the Pan American Games, where it added a total of six medals in seven different categories.

“Hearing the national anthem outside the country is always something indescribable. It’s very beautiful and moving for me, I’ve been practicing it since I was 15. I have seen many generations pass and this moment remains in the history of Colombian squash,” said Miguel Ángel Rodríguez.

“When we arrived in Santiago, our coach told us that we were a strong team and perhaps the best in the history of Colombia and we believed him. And here is the reward: gold,” said explained Ronald Palominos.

On the women’s side, the gold medal went to Americans Amanda Sobhy, Olivia Blatchford and Olivia Fiechter, beating Canadians Nikole Todd, Hollie Naughton and Nicole Bunyan 2-0. Bronze was in the hands of Colombians Catalina Peláez, Laura Tovar and Lucía Bautista and Barbados representatives Meagan Best, Amanda Haywood and Margot Prow, who added the third medal for their country at Santiago 2023.

The first match of the final was between Fietcher and Bunyan, which ended 3-0 in favor of the American. The second and final match was between Sobhy and Naughton and ended with the same result. With the victory, the Americans add their third squash gold medal and tie Colombia in the total number of medals won at Santiago 2023.

“We came here to pan for gold. “It’s been a long few weeks and I’m really proud of everyone for winning this new medal,” said gold medalist Olivia Fiechter.

Written by Marcelo Miranda Silva