GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 27, 2011 – If winning two gold and a bronze wasn’t enough, the U.S. captured five more medals today – three gold, one silver and one bronze – at the 2011 Pan American Games. Individual event finals continue tomorrow with men’s vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar, and women’s balance beam and floor, at the Nissan Gymnastics Stadium in the Lopez Mateos Sports Complex.

"We wear this ‘USA’ on our chest for a reason," said C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois. "Knowing that I contributed to that medal count individually and also as a team. It’s indescribable – this is what it’s all about."

In the first event of the day, Paul Ruggeri III, Manlius, N.Y./University Of Illinois, performed an Arabian double layout, layout Thomas and a tucked Arabian double dismount, earning a score of 11.400 and an eighth-place finish. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston, Texas/University Of Illinois, who was on reserve for this event, followed with an Arabian double pike and a front double full to barani, posting a score of 14.125 and finishing in seventh.

Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics, was the first U.S. woman to compete in today’s event finals on vault. Executing a Yurchenko double full and a layout Podkopayeva she earned a two-vault average of 14.337 and the gold medal.

"You work so hard for a moment like this," Jay said. "To be able to be out here with this amazing team is just phenomenal."

On uneven bars, recently crowned all-around champion Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC, competed first. With a stalder full pirouette to Shaposhnikova half, two big release moves and a stuck double layout, she won the gold with a score of 14.525. Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, the last U.S. competitor of the day, performed an intricate Weiler, Weiler half to Gienger combination and scored 14.500 to earn a second-place finish and the silver medal.

"I was not expecting this today," Caquatto said. "I just wanted to go out there and do the same bar routine I did the other two days and end the meet off on a great note. I didn’t care where I placed, but I’m happy with where things ended up."

On the still rings, Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University) showed impressive strength holds including an Azarian planche and Azarian Maltese, sticking his double double dismount for a 15.625 and the gold medal. Maestas took the bronze medal, scoring 15.550 for his routine, which included an Azarian Maltese to bounce cross and another stuck double-twisting, double back dismount. Brazil’s Arthur Zanetti earned the silver with a 15.600.

"I was going up against the world’s silver medalist," Wynn said, "and I knew I was really going to have to stand out today. So I decided I was going all in and it worked out well. I am very happy."

The finals schedule is: Oct. 28, individual events at 1 p.m CT.

The U.S. gymnasts competing in the individual event finals tomorrow are: balance beam, third reserve athlete: Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; and floor exercise, DeZiel; vault, Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./University of Illinois; parallel bars, Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Champions Academy, and Ruggeri; and horizontal bar, Ruggeri and C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois.

 

Competition schedule
All times Eastern

Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
    Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
    Women: balance beam, floor exercise

 

Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.

  • TV broadcast

    • ESPN Deportes, U.S. rights holder of the 2011 Pan American Games, is showing between 90-120 hours of live and exclusive footage on both Deportes and ESPN3. The network has been broadcasting a minimum of three hours of live coverage featuring the top events each day and will continue to do so throughout the Closing Ceremony. Coverage will feature a wide range of competitions including baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and several others.
    • Live events may not be seen in some areas and the schedule is subject to change. All listed times are Eastern. View the ESPN Deportes broadcast schedule here.
    • ESPN2 is also airing the Pan American Games with 20 hours of English-language coverage throughout the event. View the schedule here.

     

  • Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com.

  • Results

    • To view daily schedules and get results from all Pan American Games competitions, visit info.guadalajara2011.org.mx.
    • ESPNDeportes.com/Panamericanos has the latest news and information surrounding the competitions, athletes and each country with exclusive content, video highlights, live chats with the experts on-site, and live scores.

     

  • Team information

    • USA Gymnastics’ Pan American events page, https://usagym.org/panam, and twitter feed @USAGym, will have results, photos and other information on the U.S. Team’s efforts in Guadalajara.
    • Follow @USOlympic on Twitter for breaking news updates on Team USA. Also, follow NGB Twitter feeds for additional coverage: Twitter.com/USOlympic/NGB.
    • Visit TeamUSA.org/events/6958 for the updated U.S. roster (by sport, state and Olympians), the USA Daily newsletter and photos from the Pan American Games.