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Hosts closes Pan American Games as big winner
Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Aug 18: The United States won the most medals at the Pan American Games, but it was the host country - Dominican Republic - that was the big winner.
Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Aug 18: The United States won the most medals at the Pan American Games, but it was the host country - Dominican Republic - that was the big winner.
The small Caribbean country, one of the poorest in the Americas, pulled off a successful event, despite construction delays leading up to the games and fears that power outages
would sabotage competition. And it was a Dominican that emerged as the games' biggest hero.
Felix Sanchez, who is from New York but took on his parents' nationality, won the 400 metre hurdles in front of a packed crowd at the Olympic Stadium. The nation celebrated along with "Super Sanchez," who later added a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay.
The Dominican women's volleyball team also sparked widespread celebrations by overcoming Cuba 3-2 in a thrilling finish in the second-to-last event at the games. It was the country's 10th gold medal. As expected, the United States finished with the most medals, winning 271 overall and 115 golds. The Americans earned 21 golds in swimming, and also dominated in shooting and fencing.
Cuba was next in the medals table, taking home 152, including 72 golds. The Cubans dominated early in boxing and finished with six golds.
Canada reclaimed its third-place position, despite a fierce challenge from fourth-place Brazil. Mexico rounded out the top five while the hosts finished in eighth place with 41 medals.
Off the field, three doping cases emerged. Women's 800 metre winner Letitia Vriesde of Suriname, United States sprinter Mickey Grimes, the 100m winner and Argentine rower Ulf Lienhard tested positive and lost their medals.
The 15th edition of the Pan American Games are scheduled for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007. Bureau Report
Felix Sanchez, who is from New York but took on his parents' nationality, won the 400 metre hurdles in front of a packed crowd at the Olympic Stadium. The nation celebrated along with "Super Sanchez," who later added a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay.
The Dominican women's volleyball team also sparked widespread celebrations by overcoming Cuba 3-2 in a thrilling finish in the second-to-last event at the games. It was the country's 10th gold medal. As expected, the United States finished with the most medals, winning 271 overall and 115 golds. The Americans earned 21 golds in swimming, and also dominated in shooting and fencing.
Cuba was next in the medals table, taking home 152, including 72 golds. The Cubans dominated early in boxing and finished with six golds.
Canada reclaimed its third-place position, despite a fierce challenge from fourth-place Brazil. Mexico rounded out the top five while the hosts finished in eighth place with 41 medals.
Off the field, three doping cases emerged. Women's 800 metre winner Letitia Vriesde of Suriname, United States sprinter Mickey Grimes, the 100m winner and Argentine rower Ulf Lienhard tested positive and lost their medals.
The 15th edition of the Pan American Games are scheduled for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007. Bureau Report