This July, six American squash players are part of the US contingent competing in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio Brazil. The Pan American Games are a continental version of the Olympic Games which includes the Olympic Program sports and others that are not part of the Olympics. Held every four years, and always one year before the Olympic Games, the first Pan American Games were held in 1951, in Buenos Aires. For more than 50 years, the Pan American Games never failed to be held, and have been held in cities in every corner of the continent. The Pan American Games have been growing in size and importance with every edition of the event. Since its first version, the event has doubled in number of countries, athletes, and sports, becoming one of the main events in the world's sports calendar.

The main source for any edition of the Pan American Games is the sports program of the next Olympic Games. Therefore, the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 will contain all 28 sports of the 2008 Beijing Games, in China. Sports not included in the Olympic Games can be voted to be included by the host committee of the Pan American Games. Squash, which was included at the Pan American Games in 1995, 1999, and 2003, was voted into the Rio Games in September 2005 with World Squash Federation officials on hand, giving squash another global boost in the eyes of the International Olympic Committee. With Squash continuing to stay in the Pan American Games, the WSF's campaign to get the sport into the Olympics is strengthened.

The Pan American Games are as close to the Olympics an athlete can get without actually being in the Olympic Games. The Games resemble each other closely, from the colorful Opening and Closing Ceremonies and world class athletes to the patriotic spirit all the athletes show as they fight for the gold. Team USA Squash players who have competed in the Games in the past have had lifetime experiences while particpating in these Games, and have been successful in their medal counts. Team USA Squash has won 10 medals in the three previous Pan American Games; including Latasha Khan's Bronze in 1999 and Individual Gold in 2003, Demer Holleran's individual Silver medals in 1995 and 1999, Preston Quick's individual bronze in 2003, and the USA Women's silver medals in 1995 and 1999. This summer, Team USA is putting forth one its most competitive Men's and Women's teams ever. The US women have defending Pan Am Gold Medalist Latasha Khan playing #2 behind current world #5 Natalie Grainger. Playing #3 for the women is two time Collegiate Squash Association Champion Michelle Quibell who is in the finest form of her career. The women are hoping to achieve Team Gold for the first time, while earning a second consecutive individual gold. The Women's main competition should come from Canada and their #1 Runa Reta, and Mexico with their star Samantha Teran.

On the Men's side, the team is led by Julian Illingworth, who just became the highest PSA ranked American in the history of US squash at #56. Christopher Gordon, currently at #71 on the PSA tour will be at the #2 spot. At #3 will be Jamie Crombie, who made the team after an amazing year on the CherryPharm Team USA Tour. These three have extensive international experience including Crombie's Pan Am campaign in 1995 when he won individual Bronze (for Canada). The Men's team looks to win a Team Medal for the first time at the Games but will have to fend off a tough Canadian Team led by 2003 individual gold winner Shahier Razik. However, Canada will be without former world #1 Jonathan Power. Colombia looks to ,be an early gold medal favorite. Mexico led by Eric Galvez, and Brazil with Rafael Alarcon, will also pose stiff competition to the Men's medal chances.

These two teams are, on paper, the two best teams the US has entered in these Games, and expectations are set high. Head Coach Chris Walker will be leading the teams through their week of individual and team events as US Squash looks to drive the USA's overall medal count to the top of the overall Pan Am Games medal count. All the results and action can be followed live with player blogs, photos, and updates on the Team USA Squash website www.usasquashteam.com.

History of Squash Medal Winners at the Pan American Games

Men's Singles

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1995	Gary Waite, CAN	Jonathon Power, CAN	Sabir Butt, CAN & Jamie Crombie, CAN
1999	Graham Ryding, CAN	Jorge Gutiérrez, ARG	Ronivaldo Conceição, BRA & Frederico Uzandizaga, ARG
2003	Shahier Razik, CAN	Graham Ryding, CAN	Preston Quick, USA & Ronivaldo Santos, BRA

Women's Singles

Men's Teams

Women's Teams