2023 Pan American Games: Mexico takes artistic swimming's team gold and secures spot to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Team USA took acrobatic gold, but was just short of Mexico in the overall team score and will obtain duet quota
Artistic Swimming
It was a dramatic day of artistic swimming at the 2023 Pan American Games as only one team was going home with a quota to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Just 0.6638 points made the difference between who secured a quota to Paris, and it was Mexico that ultimately came out on top with 786.2546 over the United States' 785.5908.
There was screaming, and there were tears on the floor from the Mexican team as the realization set in and their excitement could not be contained.
"The truth is that we are very happy, it is a dream that we have fought for for years," team Mexico told Olympics.com after stepping down from the podium.
SANTIAGO, CHILE – NOV 03: El equipo de Mexico ejecuta su presentacion durante la Rutina acrobatica de Equipos en los Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023 el 03 de Noviembre en Santiago, Chile./ The Mexico team perform during Teams acrobatic Routine in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on November 03 in Santiago, Chile. (Foto de Eduardo Fortes/ Santiago 2023 vía Photosport)
Team USA dominated the acrobatic routine to post a score eight points higher than team Mexico's with an Amazonian-themed routine.
Jeweled headpieces, silver shoulder pads and warrior-like makeup made for a beautiful display.
Talking about the inspiration being yielded from Amazonians, Team USA told Olympics.com, "they're really hard fought warriors, and I think we really wanted to embody that today and that's what we did."
Bill May was a standout member of the team who brought depth and dynamic, not only by being the only male, but also as a veteran in the sport who is relishing in the new opportunities he has been given in recent times.
It is the first time that men have ever been permitted to compete at the Pan American Games, and after 34 years in the sport, he may have the same opportunity at the Olympics. When the team had finished their routine, he lifted his fist into the air with pride and hugged the teammates around him.
The team will have another opportunity to obtain an Olympic quota at the 2024 World Aquatic Championships in Doha, Qatar.
"Going into Doha, we know this isn't our last chance [to qualify]. We're really, really happy for Mexico. We wanna congratulate them. Really, really, really good job. We fought the hard fight, but **we'll see you there. We'll see them there," **said Team USA.
Team Canada kicked off the day with a routine that got the crowd fired up with 2000s rap and hip hop, starting off with Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows, before fading through songs from Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.
Home team Chile recieved a defeaning standing ovation from an audience littered with red pom-poms, foam fingers and giant Chilean flags.
As the quota from the artistic swimming duets was also obtained by Mexico, that will be passed down to second place finishers in the duets - Team USA.
SANTIAGO, CHILE – NOV 03: El equipo de Estados Unidos ejecuta su presentacion durante la Rutina acrobatica de Equipos en los Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023 el 03 de Noviembre en Santiago, Chile./ The United States of America team perform during Teams acrobatic Routine in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on November 03 in Santiago, Chile. (Foto de Heuler Andrey/ Santiago 2023 vía Photosport)
Results from the team acrobatic routines at Santiago 2023
- United States of America (236.4233)
- Mexico (228.4000)
- Canada (198.6800)
- Brazil (193.1600)
- Chile (187.6833)
- Colombia (179.1933)
- Cuba (142.4400)
- El Salvador (132.6300)