By Brittany Nelson, USAS Public Relations & Communications Manager
COLO SPRGS, CO (Dec. 4, 2023) – USA Shooting athletes brought home a total of seven medals and a U.S. Paralympic quota from the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Nov. 17-21.
A Team USA podium sweep secured our first three medals of the games. YanXiao Gong, Marco De La Rosa, and Mike Tagliapietra earned gold, silver, and bronze, respectively, in Mixed P3 25m Sport Pistol SH1.
“I am especially grateful that I am surround by the teammates I have,” said Gong, 2023 World Champion “Nothing beats having the stars and stripes on all three flag poles.”
De La Rosa earned USA’s fourth medal when he claimed the title of Parapan Champion in P3 Men’s Air Pistol SH1. De La Rosa also earned the U.S. a Paralympic quota for the Paris 2024 Games in the event. Gong joined him on the podium, taking bronze.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” said De La Rosa, a Marine Corps veteran. “I wasn’t focusing on trying to get first place. I was just doing my process.”
Stetson Bardfield claimed USA’s sixth medal of the Games by defending his 2019 Champion title in R5 Mixed Air Rifle Prone SH2. Bardfield won gold in the event at the last Parapan American Games in Lima 2019.
“It was an absolutely incredible experience,” said Bardfield. “It has been an honor to represent team USA and I hope to do it again in Paris.”
Kevin Nguyen earned the final Team USA medal when he secured bronze in R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1.
See all medals earned below:
- YanXiao Gong: Gold, Mixed P3 25m Sport Pistol SH1
- Marco De La Rosa: Silver, Mixed P3 25m Sport Pistol SH1
- Mike Tagliapietra: Bronze, Mixed P3 25m Sport Pistol SH1
- Marco De La Rosa: Gold, P3 Men’s Air Pistol SH1 & a U.S. Paralympic quota
- YanXiao Gong: Bronze, P3 Men’s Air Pistol SH1
- Stetson Bardfield: Gold, R5 Mixed Air Rifle Prone
- Kevin Nguyen: Bronze, R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1
For official results and scores, visit: https://para.results-santiago2023.org/#/discipline/SHO/schedule/daily/2023-11-18
USA Shooting would like to thank the NRA Foundation, our platinum level sponsor, for their support to the team. Their contributions are helping our athletes top the podium at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
The team is getting ready for the Paris 2024 Paralympic trials part one in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dec. 5-13.
Follow @USAShooting on social media to stay up to date on competition results.