Canada's Brown wins cycling bronze at Pan Am Games
Laura Brown has added another medal for Canada's cycling team at the Pan American Games.
The 24-year-old from Vancouver covered the 20-kilometre course that looped around the historic area of Guadalajara in 28 minutes 24 seconds.
"It was an honour riding here," Brown said. "I had people cheering for me that were not Canadians and it was very special and very motivating. I'm very happy right now."
"They lined the entire course, I've never been to a Games and I'm blown away," Brown said of the crowd. "I had cheers throughout the whole course, it was pretty special being out there, I felt like I had a lot of support from everyone. It was very motivating."
Colombia's Maria Luisa Calle won the gold in 28:04.82, while Evelyn Garcia of El Salvador captured the silver. Denise Ramsden of Hay River, N.W.T., was seventh.
Marlon Perez of Colombia won the men's race. Remi Pelletier-Roy of Longueuil, Que., was ninth, while Rob Britton of Regina was 12th.
Brown's medal came a day after Max Plaxton claimed silver in the men's mountain bike and Amanda Sin won bronze in the women's event, and Brown said her teammates provided a big motivational boost.
"Just the look on their faces was enough, tears in their eyes, the big applause when they came up and showed us their medals. They didn't have to say anything, that did it for me," she said.
Fans have flocked to the cycling races both days. Two days into the Games, the people of Guadalajara seem to be embracing the biggest sporting event Mexico has held since the 1986 World Cup. The swimming and taekwondo venues have both been jam-packed, and there was a line that stretched some 100 metres long at the main ticket window Sunday.
"I've never been to a Games, and I'm blown away," Brown said. "The Mexican people have done a great job. Even driving down the road in a Guadalajara van, you gets honks and waves.
"It's a pretty big deal down here. I'm so honoured to win a medal for Canada."
Canadian Shawn Delierre is through to the squash semifinals, while Canada's No. 1-ranked player Shahier Razik has been eliminated.
Delierre, from Montreal, defeated Brazil's Rafael Fernandes 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7.
Razik was ousted in the quarter-finals by Cesar Salazar of Colombia, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4.