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Panama At The 2015 Pan American Games

Right. So, you want me to take this… document… and make it… better. More substantial. More… interesting. As if the dry recitation of facts needed my particular brand of illumination. Fine. But don't expect me to be cheerful about it. This is just data. Facts. Hardly the stuff of compelling narrative, but I suppose someone has to catalogue it.

Sporting event delegation

Panama at the 2015 Pan American Games

This is about Panama's participation in the 2015 Pan American Games, a rather significant regional sporting event, held in the sprawling metropolis of Toronto, Canada. The games themselves spanned from July 10th to July 26th, 2015, a period that, for the athletes involved, felt like an eternity of sweat and strained muscles, punctuated by fleeting moments of triumph or crushing disappointment. Panama, represented by its national Olympic Committee, the Comité Olímpico de Panamá (identified by the IOC code PAN), sent a contingent of 44 competitors. These athletes, a mix of seasoned veterans and eager newcomers, were slated to compete across 12 distinct sports. It's a curious detail, isn't it? The sheer variety of human endeavor compressed into a single event. The opening ceremony, a spectacle of national pride and synchronized movement, saw swimmer Édgar Crespo proudly carry the Panamanian flag, a symbol of their nation’s aspirations on the international stage. Later, at the closing ceremony, the honor fell to Eileen Grench, a testament to the diverse talents that represented Panama. The ultimate scorecard, the medals, placed Panama in a rather unremarkable 24th position overall. A meager haul of two medals: one silver, one bronze. Not exactly a dynasty in the making, but then again, the pursuit of excellence is rarely a straightforward path. This marked another chapter in Panama's long history of participation in the Pan American Games, a lineage stretching back to 1951 and continuing through a consistent presence in subsequent editions, including 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and then this one in 2015, followed by 2019 and 2023. A consistent, if not always spectacular, presence.

Panama indeed sent its athletes to compete in the 2015 Pan American Games, a quadrennial celebration of athletic prowess held in the vibrant city of Toronto, Canada. The games officially commenced on July 10th and concluded on July 26th, 2015. The nation's delegation, comprising 44 individuals, was set to showcase their skills across 12 different sporting disciplines. This representation was overseen by the Comité Olímpico de Panamá, the official National Olympic Committee recognized under the IOC code PAN. The symbolic mantle of flag bearer (opening) was entrusted to the swimmer Édgar Crespo, a choice that likely resonated with the nation's aquatic hopefuls. As the games drew to a close, the honor of carrying the flag at the flag bearer (closing) fell to Eileen Grench. The final tally, reflected in the medals, saw Panama positioned at 24th place, having secured a total of two medals: one silver and one bronze. This participation extended Panama's continuous engagement with the Pan American Games, a tradition that began in 1951 and has seen them present at every subsequent edition, including 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and continuing on to 2019 and 2023.

Competitors

The following table meticulously breaks down Panama's delegation, categorizing athletes by sport and by gender. It's a stark illustration of where national resources and talent are directed.

Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 1 5 6
Bowling 2 0 2
Fencing 0 1 1
Football (soccer) 18 0 18
Gymnastics 1 1 2
Modern pentathlon 2 0 2
Shooting 4 0 4
Swimming 1 1 2
Taekwondo 1 1 2
Triathlon 1 0 1
Weightlifting 1 1 2
Wrestling 2 0 2
Total 34 10 44

The dominance of the men's contingent is quite pronounced, particularly in team sports like football, where 18 male players were fielded compared to zero women. This imbalance is a recurring theme across several disciplines. It's a reflection, perhaps, of societal priorities, funding disparities, or simply the current landscape of athletic participation within the country. Interesting, though not surprising.

Medalists

Further information regarding the specifics of medal winners can be found in the 2015 Pan American Games medal table.

The following athletes from Panama managed to secure medals during the games. Their names are highlighted in bold within the discipline-specific sections that follow.

  • A silver medal was awarded to Alvis Almendra in Wrestling, specifically in the Men's Greco-Roman 75 kg category, on July 15th.
  • A bronze medal was claimed by Alonso Edward in Athletics, competing in the Men's 200m event on July 24th.

Medals by sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Wrestling 0 1 0 1
Athletics 0 0 1 1
Total 0 1 1 2

A rather modest showing, wouldn't you agree? Two sports, two medals. It tells a story, albeit a brief one, of where Panama's athletic strengths lay in this particular competition.

Medals by day

Day Gold Silver Bronze Total
July 15 0 1 0 1
July 24 0 0 1 1
Total 0 1 1 2

The medals were concentrated on two specific days, suggesting decisive performances rather than a sustained campaign of victories.

Athletics

The renowned sprinter Alonso Edward, whose image is here, captured from his participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics, earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter race. It's a significant achievement, demonstrating his continued prowess on the track.

Key

  • Note: Ranks provided for track events are for the entire round.
  • Q: Qualified for the next round.
  • SB: Seasonal best.

Men

  • Track

    Athlete Event Round 1 Semifinal Final
    Alonso Edward 200 m 20.39 Q (7th) 20.09 Q (4th) 19.90 SB (Bronze)

    Edward's performance here is a clear indicator of his sustained competitive edge. The progression through the rounds, culminating in a personal best for the season and a medal, is a testament to his dedication.

Women

  • Track

    Athlete Event Semifinal Final
    Andrea Ferris 1500 m — (4:23.96 SB, 8th) —
    3000 m steeplechase — (10:40.10, 9th) —
    Yvette Lewis 100 m hurdles 12.92 Q (4th) 13.29 (8th)

    Ferris's efforts in the 1500m and steeplechase show a commitment to endurance events, even if they didn't result in a podium finish. Lewis, on the other hand, showed strong qualification in the hurdles but couldn't quite replicate that form in the final.

  • Field events

    Athlete Event Final
    Kashany Rios High jump 1.70 (16th)
    Aixa Middleton Discus throw 50.62 (9th)

    Rios and Middleton, in their respective field disciplines, showed up, put in the effort, but ultimately fell short of medal contention. Their placements reflect the high level of competition within these events.

Bowling

Panama sent two male bowlers to compete. The sport of bowling, while perhaps not as globally prominent as some others, demands precision and consistency.

Singles

Athlete Event Qualification (Block 1) Qualification (Block 2) Total Average Rank Round robin / Semifinals / Finals
Juan Narvaez Men's 214, 176, 225, 155, 199, 191 (164, 220, 250, 158, 212, 234) 2398 199.8 15 Did not advance (15th)
Carlos Olmos Men's 212, 209, 200, 186, 184, 199 (170, 155, 190, 181, 185, 234) 2305 192.1 20 Did not advance (20th)

Narvaez and Olmos, despite their efforts, didn't manage to advance past the initial stages. The scores, while respectable in some games, didn't aggregate to a competitive position.

Doubles

Athletes Event Block 1 (Games 1–6) Total Average Block 2 (Games 7–12) Total Average Grand Total Final Rank
Juan Narvaez, Carlos Olmos Men's 227, 201, 172, 155, 169, 171 (1095) 182.5 198, 236, 195, 206, 177, 179 (2286) 190.5 4709 11

The doubles pairing also fell short of making a significant impact, finishing in 11th place. The combined scores indicate a struggle to maintain consistency across the entire competition.

Fencing

Panama fielded a single fencer, Eileen Grench, in the women's sabre event. This solitary presence underscores the niche nature of fencing within the country's sporting landscape.

Athlete Event Pool Round (Victories) Seed Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Rank
Eileen Grench Women's Sabre 4 2 W 15–4 vs. Giulia Gasparin (BRA) L 8–15 vs. Alejandra Benítez (VEN) Did not advance — 6

Grench demonstrated resilience by winning her initial pool matches and advancing to the Round of 16. Her victory there was commendable, but she was ultimately defeated in the quarterfinals, securing a 6th place finish. A respectable effort for a lone competitor.

Football

Men's tournament

Panama's men's U-22 football team qualified for the games by triumphing in the Central American qualifying tournament. This qualified them for a significant international stage. The squad assembled for this endeavor was as follows, under the guidance of Head coach Leonardo Pipino:

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 GK Jaime De Gracia Tauro
2 DF Richard Dixon Chorrillo
3 DF Josué Flores Chorrillo
4 DF Carlos Rodriguez Chepo
5 MF Francisco Narbón James Madison University
6 DF Fidel Escobar Sporting San Miguelito
7 MF Jairo Jiménez Elche B
8 MF Pedro Jeanine San Francisco
9 FW Cecilio Waterman Fenix
10 MF Jhamal Rodríguez Chorrillo
11 FW Jorman Aguilar Independiente
12 GK Elieser Powell Chorrillo
13 DF Jan Vargas Tauro
14 DF Michael Murillo San Francisco
15 DF Richard Peralta Alianza
16 MF José Muñoz Alianza
17 MF Josiel Núñez Plaza Amador
18 FW Yoel Bárcenas Arabe Unido

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brazil 3 2 1 0 11 4 +7 7 Medal round
2 Panama 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5
3 Peru 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3
4 Canada (H) 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 1

Source: Toronto 2015 (H) Hosts

Panama's U-22 team navigated the group stage with an undefeated record, securing a spot in the semifinals. Their performance, marked by a win and two draws, including a spirited tie against the eventual group winners Brazil, was a respectable showing.

Semifinals

The semifinal match against Mexico proved to be a tough hurdle. Despite taking the lead through Núñez, Panama was ultimately overcome by the Mexican side.

Bronze medal match

In the bronze medal match, Panama faced Brazil again. They held their own for much of the game, even taking the lead before halftime, but ultimately succumbed to Brazil's offensive pressure in extra time, finishing fourth overall. A valiant effort, but falling just short of a podium finish.

Gymnastics

Panama sent two gymnasts, one male and one female, to compete in artistic gymnastics.

Artistic

Men

Panama's sole male artistic gymnast was Kevin Espinosa.

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Kevin Espinosa All-Around F: 12.500, PH: 11.750, R: 9.300, V: 12.650, PB: 11.350, HB: 10.550 (Total: 68.100, 33rd) Did not advance

Espinosa's performance in the qualification round placed him 33rd overall, not enough to advance to the final round.

Women

Isabella Amado Medrano represented Panama in women's artistic gymnastics.

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Isabella Amado Medrano All-Around F: 14.050, V: 11.850, UB: 12.350, BB: 13.200 (Total: 51.450, 14th Q) 13.650, 10.950, 11.750, 12.150 (Total: 48.500, 18th)

Medrano qualified for the final in 14th position, a commendable feat. However, in the final, her score dropped, placing her 18th overall.

Qualification Legend: Q = Qualified to apparatus final

Modern pentathlon

Panama initially qualified three athletes for modern pentathlon, two men and one woman. However, the female athlete was ultimately not registered for the event, leaving only the two male competitors to represent the nation.

Men

Athlete Event Fencing (Épée One Touch) Swimming (200m Freestyle) Riding (Show Jumping) Shooting/Running (10 m Air Pistol/3000m) Total Points Final Rank
Missael Aguilar Men's 13 (19th) 2:48.77 (28th, 194 MP) DNS (0 MP) 15:22.09 (27th, 378 MP) 766 27
Jose Guitian Men's 13 (18th) 2:28.16 (24th, 256 MP) 71.35 (11th, 276 MP) 13:57.82 (21st, 463 MP) 1189 17

Aguilar's competition was significantly hampered by a "Did Not Start" in the riding event, effectively ending his medal hopes. Guitian, while completing all disciplines, finished in 17th place, demonstrating the demanding nature of this multi-discipline sport.

Shooting

Four shooters represented Panama in this discipline.

Men

Athlete Event Qualification Semifinal Final / BM
David Muñoz 10 m air pistol 577 (1st Q) — 114.7 (6th)
Francisco Yanisselly 547 (30th) — Did not advance
David Muñoz 25 m rapid fire pistol DNS — Did not advance
Francisco Yanisselly DNS — Did not advance
David Muñoz 50 m pistol 530 (15th) — Did not advance
Francisco Yanisselly 503 (25th) — Did not advance
Manuel Garcia Trap 84 (26th) — Did not advance
Eduardo Taylor 94 (25th) — Did not advance
Manuel Garcia Double trap 83 (19th) — Did not advance
Eduardo Taylor 102 (16th) — Did not advance

David Muñoz showed promise by qualifying first in the 10m air pistol event, but couldn't maintain that momentum through to the finals. The other participants, including Yanisselly, Garcia, and Taylor, did not advance beyond the qualification stages in their respective events.

Swimming

Panama sent two swimmers to the competition: Édgar Crespo, a male athlete, and Maria Fernanda Far, a female athlete.

Key

  • Note: Ranks given are for the entire round.
  • FA: Qualified for the A Final
  • FB: Qualified for the B Final
Athlete Event Heat Final
Édgar Crespo Men's 100m breaststroke 1:02:01 (8th FA) 1:01:88 (8th)
Maria Fernanda Far Women's 200m butterfly 2:18.57 (12th FB) 2:18:75 (14th)
Women's 400m Individual Medley 5:10.85 (13th FB) 5:06.36 (12th)

Crespo reached the A Final in the 100m breaststroke, finishing 8th overall. Far qualified for the B Finals in both her events, the 200m butterfly and the 400m individual medley, securing 14th and 12th place respectively. These results represent solid performances, though just shy of medal contention.

Taekwondo

Panama's Taekwondo contingent consisted of one female athlete, with a male athlete receiving a wildcard entry.

Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Bronze Medal Final Rank
Victor Gonzalez Men's -58kg L 1–14 vs. Venilton Torres (BRA) Did not advance — — — — —
Carolena Carstens Women's -57kg L 2–3 vs. Celina Proffen (ARG) Did not advance — — — — —

Both Gonzalez and Carstens were eliminated in their opening matches, failing to progress further in the tournament.

Triathlon

Panama was granted a wildcard entry for one male triathlete, Billy Gordon.

Men

Athlete Event Swim (1.5 km) Trans 1 Bike (40 km) Trans 2 Run (10 km) Total Rank
Billy Gordon Individual 20:26 0:25 DNF

Gordon was unable to complete the race, recording a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the cycling portion of the triathlon.

Weightlifting

Panama qualified one male and one female weightlifter for the competition.

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & jerk Total Rank
Ariel Batista Men's 69 kg 120 (10th) 145 (11th) 265 10
Rocio Navarro Castillo Women's 69 kg 87 (8th) 110 (9th) 197 8

Batista secured 10th place in the men's 69 kg category, while Navarro Castillo finished 8th in the women's 69 kg division. These are respectable placements, demonstrating dedication and strength.

Wrestling

Panama sent two male wrestlers to compete.

Men

Athlete Event Preliminaries Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM Rank
Yohar Munoz Freestyle 74 kg L 0–10 vs. Jevon Balfour (CAN) Did not advance — — 7
Alvis Almendra Greco-Roman 75 kg — W 9–0 vs. Maximiliano Prudenzano (ARG) W 2–2 vs. Carlos Muñoz (COL) L 0–8 vs. Andy Bisek (USA) —

Almendra was the standout performer here, securing a silver medal after reaching the final in the Greco-Roman 75 kg category. Munoz, in the freestyle division, was eliminated in the preliminary round.

See also