Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino and Ecuadorian bike owner Richard Carapaz are among the many athletes set to compete within the Pan American Games in Santiago between Friday and Nov. 5.

The Pan American Games, the biggest multi-sport occasion within the Americas, are held each 4 years and precede the Olympics by a yr. Santiago will debut as host. The Opening Ceremony can be Friday.

REBECA ANDRADE (Brazil)

Possibly the most important star going to Chile, Andrade is Brazil’s most embellished gymnast in historical past. Earlier this month, she defeated American nice Simone Biles to take the vault gold on the world championship in Antwerp. The 24-year-old Brazilian gained two medals on the Tokyo Olympics three years in the past: gold within the vault competitors and silver within the all-round particular person. She could have her debut in Pan American Games. Andrade has 9 medals in world championships, together with three golds. After beating Biles, the U.S. Gymnastics federation printed an image of the 2 rivals aspect by aspect in its social media channels. “Many more battles still to come,” it mentioned.

MAGGIE MAC NEIL (Canada)

The China-born Canadian swimmer gained one medal of every coloration on the Tokyo Olympics; gold within the 100-meter butterfly regardless of not carrying her contact lenses, silver within the 400 freestyle relay and bronze within the 400 medley relay. The 23-year-old has gathered a number of medals in world championships since she turned skilled in 2019. She has recovered from a hand harm and prioritized her psychological well being lately. She is more likely to win huge races not solely in Chile, but in addition in France at subsequent yr’s Olympic Games.

KYLE SNYDER (United States)

The 27-year-old wrestler from Maryland is a former Olympic champion and silver medalist within the 97 kg class. He additionally has three gold medals in world championships and one other two at Pan American Games. Known by followers as “Captain America,” he had a surprising 179-0 highschool report earlier than he began competing on the world under-20 wrestling championships at simply 17. Snyder has been affected by accidents throughout the present Olympic cycle, however nonetheless gained three world championship medals lately.

MARILEIDY PAULINO (Dominican Republic)

The 26-year-old sprinter arrives in Santiago as one of many most important athletes amongst to compete. She gained gold within the 400 meters race on the Budapest world championship in August. Last yr, Paulino gained gold within the 4×400 meters combined relay race on the world championship of Eugene, in Oregon. One yr prior, she gained silver in each these occasions on the Tokyo Olympics. The Dominican sprinter will attend the Pan American Games as a result of they may happen at a time the observe and subject elite is resting. Also due to that, she may also compete within the 200 meters race, a uncommon characteristic for her.

GABRIELA AGÚNDEZ (Mexico)

The 23-year-old Mexican diver gained bronze within the synchronized 10-meter platform diving on the Tokyo Olympics. She completed fourth within the particular person competitors. Now she’s going to go for her first in Pan American Games as a giant hope for gold medals in each occasions. Agúndez gained silver with Mexico’s combined 3-meters and 10-meters diving crew on the on the world aquatics championship in Fukuoka, Japan. She is one in every of her nation’s greatest hopes for a medal on the Paris Olympics.

MARIANA PAJÓN (Colombia)

The queen of BMX has gained virtually every thing. She was the primary Latin American lady to win two Olympic gold medals in a person sport. After her titles in London and Rio de Janeiro, she completed second in Tokyo. Pajón, who’s reaching the top of her profession at age 31, has gained 10 world championships. She hopes to get a 3rd Pan American gold medal after her titles in Guadalajara 2011 and Lima 2019. The Colombian athlete completed fifth on the newest biking world championships in Glasgow.

RICHARD CARAPAZ (Ecuador)

Winner of the pink shirt on the Giro de Italia in 2019 and defending Olympic champion in street biking. The Ecuadorian rider had a number of well being issues and accidents that sidelined him from the principle European competitions. He can be in Santiago to finish his unhealthy streak. At age 30, Carapaz seeks his first Pan American gold. He will compete within the street race and the person observe biking.

RAYSSA LEAL (Brazil)

The 15-year-old skateboarding phenomenon is one her nation’s hottest athletes. Her sport will make its debut in Pan American Games. Leal gained silver within the Street occasion on the Tokyo Olympics. In April, she returned to Japan and gained the X-Games for a second time. The Brazilian gained 11 of the most recent 12 tournaments she competed in. Nicknamed “Fadinha,” (Little Fairy in English), she leads the World Skate rankings, which ought to safe her a direct spot on the Paris Olympics.

DANIEL DHERS (Venezuela)

A star within the X-Games for a decade, Dhers gained silver in BMX freestyle on the Tokyo Olympics within the sport’s debut in this system. The 38-year-old rider is more likely to retire after the Paris Olympics. Since earlier this yr, the Venezuelan has additionally labored as a coach for China’s BMX freestyle crew, mainly displaying his data to the Asian nation’s girls’s crew.

This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Only the headline has been modified.