U.S. wins protest, Canada freestyle relay team bumped to bronze at Pan Am Games

TORONTO – The United States had their freestyle relay silver medal reinstated after protesting their disqualification at the Pan American Games on Wednesday night, resulting in Canada being bumped down to bronze.

American Michael Weiss raced the men’s 800-metre freestyle relay with tape wrapped around fingers he’d injured during the 200-metre freestyle earlier in the night. FINA rules state no tape can be worn unless approved the Sport Medicine Committee.

The event’s medal ceremony was postponed until Thursday, while the U.S. successfully appealed their disqualification.

Brazil won gold. The Canadian team of Victoria’s Ryan Cochrane and Jeremy Bagshaw, Stefan Milosevic of Burnaby, B.C., and Alec Page of Cortes Island, B.C., were bumped to the bronze medal.

The Canadian swim team’s medal total remained a Games-leading 13 with five gold, six silver and a pair of bronze.