Two Pan Am Games record were established on the third day of the swimming competition as the USA women's 4x100 free relay team won with 3:41.93 and improved on the previous records by three seconds. And Elizabeth Hill bettered a 24 year old Games record in the women's 400 freestyle with her winning time of 4:10.18.

In the men's 100 freestyle Jose Martin Meolans (ARG) won the gold with 49.27, with George Bovell (TRI) in second with 49.61, and Gustavo Borges (BRA) in third with 49.90. Meolans did not compete at the World Championships to prepare for this competition and won Argentina's second gold (Bardach won the women's 400 IM on the first day). He will compete in the 50 freestyle next.

Rogerio Romero, 33, (BRA) added another gold in the 200 backstroke in 1:59.92. Romero first won this event in 1991 and a silver in 1995.

The Americans went 1-2 in the women's backstroke with Diana MacManus in first with 1:02.50 and Courtney Shealy second in 1:02.74. Gisela Morales in third with 1:04.56 becoming the first ever Pan Am medal winner for Guatemala.

Canada missed out on individual medals but finished in second in the 4x100 free relay with 3:46.65 with a team of Audrey Lacroix, Elizabeth Collins, Joanne Malar and Kelly Doody.

At the mid point in the swimming competition the USA has 21 (11-9-1) medals and looks to be heading for a greater haul than four years ago when they had 37. Brazil has 12 (1-2-9) and will double its total from four years ago of 12. Canada with 5 (0-2-3) will be far short of the 31 it won four years ago.