Sobhy Makes PanAm Games History While USA & Canada Strike Team Gold

New York squash star Amanda Sobhy made Pan American Games history by becoming the first player to win three gold medals in a single event when she led USA to victory in the Women's Team championship.

Hosts Canada thrilled the packed crowd at the Exhibition Centre in Toronto by upsetting favourites and defending champions Mexico to win their first gold medal of the Games in the Men's event.

Sobhy, the 22-year-old world No.10 who graduated from Harvard University earlier this year, was making her PanAm Games debut - but, within 24 hours, struck gold in both the women's singles and doubles events.

USA faced Canada, champions in both 2007 and 2011, in the women's final. Squad number two Olivia Blatchford put the second seeds ahead with an 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 victory over Canadian Hollie Naughton before Sobhy reclaimed the title for USA with a powerful 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 win over top-ranked Canadian Samantha Cornett (both pictured below) in a repeat of the individual gold medal match.

"I was just in the zone," explained Sobhy. "I feel like I couldn't feel my legs tonight and I was going to do whatever came to mind and play instinctively."

The triumphant New Yorker (pictured above with her three gold medals) later exclaimed to her Twitter followers: "What a great way to end an unforgettable PanAmerican Games! 3 golds, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes for Team USA"

Silver medallists in the past two events, Canada were eager to make amends in a repeat of the 2011 final against Mexico, this time before a partisan home crowd. In the opening match, Calgary-based world No.92 Andrew Schnell faced Mexico's experienced former world No.33 Eric Galvez - against whom he had lost in straight games in two previous PanAmerican Championship clashes.

23-year-old Schnell battled for 37 minutes to overcome Galvez, eight years his senior, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 to give the hosts the lead.

Team number one Shawn Delierre, a veteran of three PanAm Games campaigns, then lined up against higher-ranked Cesar Salazar. The 27-year-old Mexican, winner of their clash in the 2011 team final, took the opening game - but 33-year-old Delierre regained the upper hand thereafter and stormed through to a 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 triumph in 57 minutes to clinch the long-awaited gold medal for Canada.

"I'm at a loss for words!" tweeted Schnell (pictured below, centre, with his men's and women's team-mates) later. "Canada Wins GOLD at the PanAm Games!!!! Couldn't have done it without my teammates, coaches, family, or friends."

Steve Wren, Acting Executive Director for Squash Canada, was in doubt of the significance of his team's win: "We are extremely proud of our young athletes and their coaches for their standout achievements over the past week, especially from tonight. This is a glowing golden moment for our broader Canadian Squash Community."