Stanford swimming was fast off the blocks this week at the Pan-American games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rising senior Andy Grant has already scored a silver medal out of Tuesday’s first set of finals.

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Rising senior Andy Grant went up against the world’s best this week at the Pan-American games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Part of the 800-meter freestyle relay team, Grant recorded the third-best split time (1:47.91) of the final to help the Americans to silver.

Grant was part of the second-place American team in the 800-meter freestyle relay. The fastest on his team, Grant nabbed the third-fastest split time overall with a time of 1:47.91. Totaling 7:15.00, the U.S. was nearly three seconds behind the record-breaking Brazilian team’s 7:12.27; the previous Games record (held by the Americans) was 7:18.93.

Also churning the Brazilian water is the Cardinal’s Julia Smit. The rising sophomore qualified for the 100-meter backstroke final yesterday with a time of 1:02.67 in the semifinals; in the previous round she had a personal-best 1:02.33.

Competing in the 100 back final today, Smit also has on tap races in the 200-meter individual medley and the 200-meter back.

Pan-Am veteran O’Hara nets three in Brazil

Rising sophomore Kelley O’Hara is showing the Brazilians some of her own top-notch soccer during this week’s Pan-Am Games group play.

The Cardinal forward notched three goals against Paraguay and Panama for the U.S. Under-20 National Team, which defeated each 7-1 and 3-1, respectively. O’Hara’s two goals against Panama on July 12 came in the 17th and 52nd minutes of the game, while against Panama on Saturday, O’Hara kicked the U.S. off with its first goal in the 27th minute.

A second-year U-20 National Team member, O’Hara now looks toward next week’s semifinals with the U.S. already having secured a spot after yesterday’s 3-0 win over Argentina. The Americans wrap up pool play tomorrow against Mexico.