Emily Overholt, Mauricio Fiol
There has been both heartbreak and disgrace in separate disqualifications at the Pan Am Games for very different reasons. Canadian swimmer Emily Overholt was told by judges right after her apparent gold-medal win in the 400-metre individual medley that she had not made contact with the wall with both hands at the same time. This must be very hurtful. It is known as a non-simultaneous wall-touch. Swimming Canada protested to the meet referee and then the jury of appeal, but Overholt’s disqualification was upheld. Emily is the youngest swimmer on the Canadian team at 17. In a plucky response she said: “It’s unfortunate, but I still did the swim, so I still know that I have it in me. It’s something to learn from.” Brave girl Emily.
DOPING DISQUALIFICATION
Peruvian swimmer Mauricio Fiol, Pan American Games silver medalist in the 200 meter butterfly, was disqualified after testing positive for the use of the steroid Stanozolol. Fiol announced the decision on Facebook but said he did not know what happened,
“Today is a very difficult day for me, because I just found out that I tested positive in the anti-doping test,” Fiol posted in Spanish on his Facebook page.
“I am very confused because I am always one who promotes the fair play, hard work, and with a lot of effort I get to my goals.
“I do not understand what happened. I apologize to the whole country, to my club, my family, my coaches, my sponsors.”
