Matt Torres celebrates at the 2019 Parapan American Games on Aug. 28, 2019 in Lima, Peru.

LIMA, Peru - Team USA logged another successful night at the Aquatic Center in Videna National Sports Village, earning 10 medals, a Parapan American record and a women’s podium sweep on the fourth day of competition at the Parapan American Games Lima 2019. 

Top highlights from the pool
Big Debut For Torres – Matt Torres (Ansonia, Connecticut) picked up his second gold medal in Lima on Wednesday, racing to first place in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S9/S8 and setting a new Parapan American record in the process. He additionally helped the men’s 4x100 medley relay team earn bronze today, to go along with his first gold from the first day of competition in the men’s 100  breaststroke S8.

Women Sweep Again – Three American flags were hoisted once again in the Aquatic Center for the women of Team USA, who earned another podium sweep in the women’s 400 free S9. Hannah Aspden (Raleigh, North Carolina), MeiMei White (Orlando, Florida) and Alyssia Crook (Allendale, Michigan) raced to top-three finishes, with Aspden and White earning their third and second medals in Lima.

Breaking Onto The Scene – Jamal Hill (Inglewood, California) and Alyssia Crook (Allendale, Michigan) picked up their first medals in their first Parapan American Games on Wednesday. Hill earned silver and bronze in the men’s 50 free S10 and men’s 4x100 medley relay, as Crook claimed bronze in the women’s 400 freestyle S9.  

Team USA Results
10 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)

Gold (2): Matt Torres (Ansonia, Conn.), men’s 400m free S9/S8 (4:34.28); Hannah Aspden (Raleigh, N.C.), women’s 400m free S9 (5:01.05)

Silver (3): MeiMei White (Orlando, Fla.), women’s 400m free S9 (5:01.25); Jamal Hill (Inglewood, Calif.), men’s 50m free S10 (26.10); Leslie Cichocki (Palos Hills, Ill.), women’s 100m fly S14 (1:14.95)

Bronze (5): Abby Gase (Bowling Green, Ohio), women’s 50 free S7 (43.38); Alyssia Crook (Allendale, Mich.), women’s 400m free S9 (5:12.19); Tye Dutcher (Merced, Calif.), men’s 50m free S10 (26.50); Liam Smith (Rockford, Mich.), men’s 50m free S7 (32.11); Men’s 4x100 medley relay: Tye Dutcher (Merced, Calif.), Jamal Hill (Inglewood, Calif.), Zach Shattuck (Mt. Airy, Md.), Matt Torres (Ansonia, Conn.) (4:37.64)

Full results can be found at TeamUSA.org/Parapan2019 and Lima 2019’s website. 

Quotes
Matt Torres
“Going into the race, I definitely did feel a little bit more pressure knowing that I was racing against swimmers of a higher class (S9). But I just had to embrace the challenge, get ready and put on a really good performance, and that’s exactly what I tried to do out there. So I feel like I’m one step closer.”

MeiMei White
“I’ve always wanted to be on the podium with my teammates at the same time, especially because Hannah and Alyssia have always been close friends and role models to me. I started off the race feeling a bit weird in the beginning, I wasn’t too happy with my start, but it got better as I got into a rhythm and I’m really glad I made the podium. The best part about being here in Lima has been representing my country and having great memories for when I’m older.”

Jamal Hill
“It was a good race. I started slow here in Lima, got the nerves out and today has been a good day for me. I’ve been trying to let things come to me. At first, I was a little nervous and timid, but I’ve been getting to know and talking to other athletes here, so my heart is open and this is a good place to be. I have more races coming up, so hopefully I can speak things into existence and break out fast times in the races I’m competing in. I think I’m capable of that.”

What To Watch
Tomorrow’s swimming competition includes backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events. Torres, White and Gase will return to the pool seeking additional podium finishes, and will be joined by Carson Sanocki (Charlotte, North Carolina), who has earned three medals and a Parapan American record thus far in Lima. Paralympians Sims, McClain Hermes (Dacula, Georgia) and Dutcher will also race tomorrow, with Hermes and Dutcher having won medals earlier this week. 

Get Connected
Coverage of the 2019 U.S. Parapan American Team can be found at TeamUSA.org/Parapan2019. Visit TeamUSA.org/USADaily to sign up to receive the USA Daily, a digital news blast that provides Team USA results and highlights each night via email during the Games. Livestream of the Parapan American Games Lima 2019 is also available on TeamUSA.org/Live.

Follow U.S. Paralympics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updated results throughout the Parapan American Games Lima 2019.