Three Georgia swimmers win medals at Pan Am Games

TORONTO (UGA SPORTS) – Georgia swimmers of the past and present claimed gold, silver and bronze medals at the Pan Am Games on Saturday.

Former Bulldog Allison Schmitt anchored the U.S. to a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay, while rising senior Chantel Van Landeghem anchored Canada to a silver medal in the same event. In addition, rising sophomore Gunnar Bentz claimed the bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley.

Schmitt anchored the U.S. team to a Pan Am Games record of 3:57.35 in the morning qualifiers. The Americans trimmed nearly a second off that mark in the final with a time of 3:56.53 to secure top spot on the medals podium.

Canada finished second to the U.S. in both the prelims and the final. The Canadians were 4.93 seconds off the Americans’ pace in the morning but finished in 3:58.51 – 1.98 seconds back – in the evening. Canada’s evening swim was faster than the Pan Am record entering the day.

Bentz, an Atlanta native, touched the wall in 2:00.04. Henrique Rodrigues led a gold-silver sweep for Brazil in the event. In addition, Ty Stewart, a rising senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., finished fifth at 2:01.83 in the race.