This article contains a chronological summary of major events from the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Calendar In the following calendar for the 2011 Pan American Games, each blue box represents an event competition, such as a qualification round, on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport are held. The number in each box represents the number of finals that will be contested on that day.
Day 1 – October 14 (Opening ceremony) Opening ceremony
Starting at 8:00 pm CDT (UTC−6), the three-hour opening ceremony was attended by 50,000 spectators. The spectacle was directed by production company Five Currents, and the Pan American Cauldron was lit by former Mexican diver Paola Espinosa.
Day 2 – October 15 Cycling Heather Irmiger of the United States wins the women's cross country event in mountain biking, becoming the first gold medalist of the games. While Hector Páez of Colombia wins the men's event.
Gymnastics Julie Zetlin of the United States wins the first rhythmic gymnastics medal on offer in the individual all around competition.
Modern pentathlon Margaux Isaksen of the United States wins the gold medal in the women's individual event, as three other athletes along with Isaksen from Mexico, Canada and Argentina qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.
Swimming The United States team wins four out of the five gold medals, in the process setting one Pan American Games record. Brazil wins the only other gold medal.
Taekwondo Gabriel Mercedes of the Dominican Republic defends his title in the men's 58 kg event, while Ivett Gonda of Canada wins the gold medal in the women's 49 kg event.
Gold MedalistsSportEventCompetitor(s)CyclingMen's cross-countryHector PáezWomen's cross-countryHeather IrmigerGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic individual all-aroundJulie ZetlinModern pentathlonWomen's modern pentathlonMargaux IsaksenSwimmingWomen's 100 metre butterflyClaire DonahueWomen's 400 metre individual medleyClaire DonahueWomen's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relayMadison KennedyElizabeth PeltonAmanda KendallErika ErndlPRMen's 400 metre freestyleCharles HouchinMen's 400 metre individual medleyThiago PereiraTaekwondoWomen's 49 kgIvett GondaMen's 58 kgGabriel Mercedes
Day 3 – October 16 Cycling Colombian athletes win both gold medals in the road cycling time trial events.
Equestrian The United States wins the gold medal in the team dressage event, successfully defending their championship for the fourth straight Pan American Games.
Gymnastics Brazil wins the group event by shocking favourites Canada for the title, in the process claiming its second straight title.
Modern pentathlon Óscar Soto of the hosts Mexico wins the gold medal in the men's individual event, as three other athletes along with Soto from Guatemala, Chile and United States qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.
Shooting Daryl Szarenszki wins the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event with a new Pan American record in the qualifications and finals. Dorothy Ludwig of Canada wins the women's event, coming back on the last shot to win by 0.1 points and qualify a spot for Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Swimming Brazil and the United States continue their dominance in the pool with Brazil picking up three gold medals, while the United States picking up the rest with two.
Taekwondo Jhohanny Jean of the Dominican Republic wins the second straight gold medal for his country the men's 68 kg event, while Irma Contreras of Mexico wins the gold medal in the women's 57 kg event.
Gold MedalistsSportEventCompetitor(s)CyclingMen's road time trialMarlon Alirio PérezWomen's road time trialMaría Luisa CalleEquestrianTeam dressageSteffen Peters Heather Blitz Cesar Parra Marisa FesterlingGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic group all-aroundDayane AmaralDebora FaldaLuisa MatsuoBianca MendonçaEliane SampaioDrielly Saltoe Modern pentathlonMen's individualÓscar SotoShootingMen's 10 metre air pistolDaryl SzarenszkiFPRWomen's 10 metre air pistolDorothy LudwigSwimmingWomen's 100 metre backstrokeRachel BootsmaPRWomen's 200 metre freestyleCatherine BreedMen's 100 metre freestyleCésar CieloPRMen's 100 metre breaststrokeFelipe França SilvaMen's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relayCésar CieloBruno FratusNicholas SantosNicolas OlivieraGabriel Mangabeira*Thiago Pereira*Henrique Rodrigues*PRTaekwondoWomen's 57 kgIrma ContrerasMen's 68 kgJhohanny Jean
Athletes with a * competed in preliminaries only and received medals.
Day 4 – October 17 Cycling Colombia wins the men's team pursuit, while Venezuela sets new Pan American Records in the men's and women's team sprints
Gymnastics Brazil wins the 5 balls group event, while the United States and Mexico pick up one gold each.
Rowing Argentina wins three out of the four gold medals on offer while Cuba takes the remaining title.
Shooting The United States wins the gold medal in the men's (Matthew Rawlings) and women's (Emily Caruso) 10 metre air rifle events.
Squash Mexico wins the men's and women's singles and doubles events. Colombia wins the men's singles event.
Swimming Brazil and the United States continue their dominance in the pool as each win two gold medals.
Table tennis Brazil successfully defends the men's team title, while the Dominican Republic wins the women's team title.
Taekwondo Sebastián Crismanich of Argentina wins the men's 80 kg event, while Melissa Pangotta of Canada wins the women's 67 kg event.
Gold MedalistsSportEventCompetitor(s)CyclingMen's team pursuitJuan ArangoEdwin ÁvilaArles CastroWeimar RoldánMen's team sprintHersony CanelónCésar MarcanoÁngel PulgarPRWomen's team sprintDaniela LarrealMariestela VileraPRGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic individual ballJulie ZetlinWomen's rhythmic individual hoopCynthia ValdézWomen's rhythmic group 5 ballsDayane AmaralDebora FaldaLuisa MatsuoBianca MendonçaEliane SampaioDrielly Saltoe RowingWomen's double scullsMaria AbaloMaria BestWomen's coxless pairYariulvis CobasAimee HernandezMen's double scullsCristian RossoAriel SuarezMen's coxless fourSebastian FernandezJoaquin IwanRodrigo MurilloAgustin SilvestroShootingMen's 10 metre air rifleMatthew RawlingsFPRWomen's 10 metre air rifleEmily CarusoFPRSquashMen's singlesMiguel Ángel RodríguezMen's doublesArturo SalazarEric GálvezWomen's singlesSamantha TeránWomen's doublesNayelly HernándezSamantha TeránSwimmingMen's 100 metre backstrokeThiago PereiraMen's 200 metre butterflyLeonardo De DeusWomen's 100 metre breaststrokeAnn ChandlerWomen's 400 metre freestyleGilligan RyanTable tennisMen's teamHugo HoyamaGustavo TsuboiThiago MonteiroWomen's teamWu XueJohenny ValdezEva BritoTaekwondoWomen's 67 kgMelissa PagnottaMen's 80 kgSebastián Crismanich
Day 5 – October 18 Cycling Canada breaks the Pan American Games record twice en route to a gold medal performance. Lisandra Guerra of Cuba wins the women's individual sprint.
Gymnastics Canada wins both golds in the trampoline competition, while Brazil sweeps the gold medals in the group event as it wins the 3 ribbons + 2 hoops event. The United States and Mexico also picked up one gold medal each in the individual apparatus finals in rhythmic gymnastics, as that event came to a close.
Rowing United States and Mexico each pick up two gold medals while Argentina pick up the only other gold medal on offer.
Shooting Guatemala wins its first gold medal in the men's 50 meter pistol event, while the United States wins the women's trap.
Swimming Brett Fraser wins the Cayman Islands first ever Pan American Games gold medal by setting a new Pan American Games record in the men's 200 meter freestyle event. The United States wins the other four gold medals that were awarded today.
Taekwondo Cuba wins both events today (the men's +80 and women's +67 kg classes), as taekwondo competitions also come to a close.
Gold MedalistsSportEventCompetitor(s)CyclingWomen's team pursuitLaura BrownJasmin GlaesserStephanie RoordaPRWomen's sprintLisandra GuerraGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic individual clubCynthia ValdézWomen's rhythmic individual ribbonJulie ZetlinWomen's rhythmic group 3 ribbons + 2 hoopsDayane AmaralDebora FaldaLuisa MatsuoBianca MendonçaEliane SampaioDrielly Saltoe Men's trampolineKeegan SoehnWomen's trampolineRosannagh MacLennanRowingWomen's single scullsMargot ShumwayWomen's lightweight double scullsAnalicia Ramirez Lila Perez RulMen's coxless pairMichael Gennaro Robert OttoMen's quadruple scullsAlejandro CucchiettiSantiago FernándezCristian RossoAriel SuarezMen's lightweight double scullsAlan ArmentaGerardo SanchezShootingMen's 50 metre pistolSergio SanchezWomen's trapMiranda WilderSwimmingMen's 200 metre freestyleBrett FraserGRMen's 200 metre breaststrokeSean MahoneyGRMen's 1500 metre freestyleArthur FraylerWomen's 200 metre individual medleyJulia SmitWomen's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relayCatherine BreedElizabeth PeltonChelsea NautaAmanda KendallKim VandenbergErika ErndlGRTaekwondoWomen's +67 kgGlenhis HernándezMen's +80 kgRobelis Despaigne
Day 6 – October 19 Badminton Canada wins two gold medals, while Guatemala takes home two gold medals, as Canada tops the medal table at the start of the badminton events.
Cycling Juan Arango of Colombia becomes the first ever Pan American Games champion in the men's omnium, while Hersony Canelón of Venezuela wins the men's individual sprint.
Equestrian The United States sweeps the individual dressage medals
Rowing Cuba takes three of five gold medals available, after previously not taking any gold medals in rowing. Argentina and the United States take one gold each as the rowing competitions come to a close.
Shooting The United States, Brazil and Guatemala each win one gold medal, as the latter two set final round Pan American Games records.
Swimming The United States continued its dominance in the pool by winning three out of five golds, while second place Brazil wins one gold. Chile wins its first gold medal at the games in the women's 800 meters freestyle event.
Gold MedalistsSportEventCompetitor(s)BadmintonMen's doublesHoward BachTony GunawanWomen's doublesAlex BruceMichelle LiCyclingMen's sprintHersony CanelónMen's OmniumJuan ArangoEquestrianIndividual dressageSteffen PetersRowingWomen's lightweight single scullsJennifer GoldsackWomen's quadruple scullsMaria Abalo Maria Best Milka Kraljev Maria Rohner Men's single scullsÁngel FournierMen's lightweight coxless fourWilber Turro Liosbel Hernandez Liosmel Ramos Manuel SuárezMen's eightJason Read Stephen Kasprzyk Matthew Wheeler Joseph Spencer Michael Gennaro Robert OttoBlaise Didier Marcus McElhenney Derek JohnsonShootingMen's 50 metre rifle proneMichael McPhailMen's trapJean Pierre BrolFPRWomen's 25 metre pistolAna Luiza MelloFPRSwimmingMen's 200 metre individual medleyThiago PereiraMen's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relayConor DwyerDaniel Lawrence MadwedRyan Joseph FeeleyDouglas RobinsonCharles HouchinRexford TulliusRobert Margallis JuniorMatthew PattonWomen's 100 metre freestyleAmanda KendallWomen's 200 metre butterflyKim VandenbergWomen's 800 metre freestyleKristel Kobrich
Day 7 – October 20 Badminton Canada wins two gold medals, while Guatemala takes home two gold medals, as Canada tops the medal table at the conclusion of the badminton events.
Cycling Angie González of Venezuela becomes the first Pan American Games champion in the women's omnium. Colombia and Venezuela win one gold each more as the track cycling competition comes to a close.
Shooting United States wins the men's double trap event.
Swimming The first night of the swimming competition that the United States does not win more than one gold medal. Brazil, Venezuela and Canada win one gold each the latter two winning their first gold medals of the swimming competition.
Synchronized swimming Canada wins the women's duet event and qualifies to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.
Table tennis