Pan Am Games have Olympic implications
10 sports serve as direct qualifiers for Rio
There is more than just hardware at stake as the 2015 Pan Am Games kick off in Toronto starting July 10.
The results of the Games will impact the 2016 Olympic qualification for 15 sports, with 10 of those getting a direct bid to Rio.
The only Pan Am country that has already qualified in almost every sport is Brazil — next summer's Olympic host.
In some of the events, Pan Am nations have already qualified. If those countries claim the top prize in Toronto, the next best-ranked nation will punch its ticket.
With Canada trying to forge a path to Rio, here are the events to keep an eye on:
Direct Qualifiers — win and you're in
Aquatics:
Diving: Gold medal winner in the 3-metre and 10-metre qualify.
- Mexico won all eight gold medals in 2011.
Water Polo: Gold medal winner in the men's competition qualify for the Olympics.
- Canada is expected to medal.
Synchronised swimming: Gold medal winner in Duet qualify for the Olympics.
- Canada is a medal threat.
Canoe/Kayak Slalom: Gold medal winner in men's and women's competition (K-1 W, K-1 M, C-1 M) qualify for Olympics
Field Hockey: Gold medal winner of the men's and women's competition qualify for the Olympics.
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Women's and men's favourite: Argentina (men's team already qualified).
Equestrian:
- Eventing: Canada qualified at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, best ranked team that has not qualified yet will go on to the Olympics.
- Dressage: Gold medal winning nation qualifies.
- Show Jumping: Gold medal winning nation qualifies (U.S. is a heavy favourite, but have already qualified).
Handball: Gold medal winner in the men's and women's competition qualify.
Modern Pentathlon: Top-five men and top-five women qualify their nation with a maximum of two quota spots per country.
Sailing: Canada qualified in men's Laser and women's Laser Radial. Two additional spots are available for the Olympics.
Shooting: Twenty spots available between 15 events, including rifle, pistol and shot gun.
- Canada should finish in top eight in all events
Table Tennis: Nine spots available in the singles for the Olympics.
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Canada's Mo Zhang is the reigning women's Pan Am Games singles champion.
Triathlon: Gold medal winner of the men's and women's competition qualify for the Olympics.
Indirect qualifiers in 5 other sports
Indirect qualifiers include athletics, badminton, taekwondo, cycling, swimming and weightlifting.
The results of these competitions will lead to a world championship berth or provide ranking points that count towards qualifying.
Pan Am sports debuts
Women's rugby will debut a year before making its first Olympic appearance. Golf, canoe slalom — men and women — and canoe women's sprint C200m, along with women's baseball, also join the list of Pan Am sports.
Non Olympic sports
There are also eight non Olympic sports at the Pan Am Games. They include: baseball, water-skiing and wakeboard are one sport, racquetball, squash, softball, karate ,roller sports and bowling.