Naperville gymnast grabs third gold at Pan Am Games

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — There were more than 40 medals on the program on Day 13 of the Pan American Games, and Naperville’s Bridgette Caquatto managed to shine once more on the uneven bars to earn her third gold medal of these games.

“I was not expecting this today,” said Caquatto, who also won the all-around gold and helped the team win another title in Guadalajara.

“I just wanted to go out there and do the same bar routine I did the other two days and end the meet off on a great note. I didn’t care where I placed, but I’m happy with where things ended up.”

While Caquatto may not have expected a third gold medal, the uneven bars were her best event in Wednesday’s all-around compeition and she was considered the favorite.

It was close, though. Her 14.525 score was a shade better than USA teammate Shawn Johnson at 14.500.

Now the 17-year-old Naperville Central student plans to take a break from training and return to school. While she has plans to attend the University of Florida with her older sister Mackenzie, she’ll have time to dream of the 2012 Olympics and practice to improve her routines for the stiffer competition to make the Olympic team.

When she won the all-around competition Wednesday here, she became the seventh straight American to do so at the Pan American Games, and three of those champions have gone on win Olympic medals.

USA teammates Brandie Jay (vault), and Brandon Wynn (rings) also won gymnastics gold for the Americans Thursday, while Alicia DeShasier won the women’s javelin, and Liz Johnson won the women’s singles in bowling. The U.S. show jumping team won another gold in equestrian, and the men’s epee team added another in fencing.

The Americans were leading the medals table with 78 gold and 202 overall. Brazil is next with 39 gold and 108 overall, with a few more events still to come.