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Mac Neil becomes Canada’s most decorated Pan Am Games athlete with fifth gold medal

Canada's Maggie Mac Neil prepares to enter the water in the women's 50m freestyle swim event at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.
Canada's Maggie Mac Neil prepares to enter the water in the women's 50m freestyle swim event at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Photo by Frank Gunn /The Canadian Press

SANTIAGO, Chile — Maggie Mac Neil set a Canadian record with her fifth gold medal in the pool at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.

The 23-year-old from London, Ont., swam the butterfly leg to help Canada win the women’s 4 x 100 medley relay on the final night of Pan Am Games swimming.

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Mac Neil was also a gold medallist in the women’s 100-metre butterfly, 100-metre freestyle and 50-metre freestyle and 4 x 100 freestyle relay.

National Post

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Her fifth trip to the top of the Pan Am podium surpassed the four gold by swimmer Jessica Deglau (1999), table tennis player Lijuan Geng (1995 and) and gymnast Ernestine Russell-Carter (1959).

Mac Neil was also a member of the mixed relay teams that won a silver and a bronze medal. She finished with seven total medals in Santiago, as did teammate Mary-Sophie Harvey. They now are tied for the second biggest haul for a Canadian at a single Pan Am Games.

Gymnast Wilhelm (Willie) Weiler won eight medals (three gold, four silver, one bronze) at the 1963 Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2023.

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