At the midway point of pool swimming at the 2014 Pan Pac Championships, the Americans have taken a commanding lead in the medals table.
They’ve won, in total, half of the gold medals so far, and through 16 events have taken 20 of a maximum 30 medals.
The Americans will still have work to do, though, if they want to match their output of medals from 2010, where they won in total 27 medals in 36 events (including a sweep of gold in open water). Australia has already matched their gold medal total from 2010, getting the home team boost, and Japan has doubled theirs, getting a “home time zone” boost with a much shorter journey to Australia than California.
In a quick look at Saturday’s races, the Americans appear dominant in the 100 fly with the top five seeds. Katie Ledecky is the World Record holder in the 400 free, and the Americans look very good (though not locks) in both 200 backstrokes.
The 400 free and women’s 100 fly, however, don’t have any Americans in the top five seeds. The men’s 400 free relay is a tossup, and the women’s 400 free relay has the Australians as the favorites going in.
That means it could be another 50/50 day on gold: 50 percent to the Americans, 50 percent to the rest of the world. The men’s 400 free relay will be a swing on that math.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Â United States |
8 | 4 | 8 | 20 |
| 2 |  Â Australia |
4 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 3 |  Â Japan |
4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 |  Â Canada |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 |  Â Brazil |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 |  Â New Zealand |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 16 | 16 | 48 | |
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but does South Africa qualify to be represented at the Pan Pacs?
Look…I understand that the USA isn’t doing very well but you don’t have to rub it in 🙂
Japan and Australia are definitely on the rise! I think that, generally speaking, times are a little slower than they might have been under ideal conditions, but if you look at the meet like a big international chance to RACE with fantastic competitors the medals actually mean more because they represent points and show which competitors are able to rise to the occasion and represent their nation well!
Despite the chilly/windy weather , Usa is doing very well ! Australia is getting back into contention on world level , happy to see that too . Japan is growing stronger as well ( 800 free relay from Japan ! wowww ) .
Asian Games are top priority.
Its a shame that strong swimming nations such as South Africa and China especially have not made much effort in sending their best team to the Pan Pacs, it would have added more dimension to the event.. Likewise individual stars from the region such as Tae Hwan Park have not made Pan Pacs a priority event
Ohhh Canada….swimming like they are treating this meet as a post Commies vacation
So unnecessary.