Canada wins first medal of Pan Am Games, gold in women’s kayaking

WATCH ABOVE: Canada has an ambitious goal of being in the top two when it comes to medal count and it turns out, we’re already making a splash. Cindy Pom reports.

WELLAND, Ont. – Canada has won its first medal of the Pan American Games – a gold in women’s kayaking.

The Canadian crew finished first in the K-4 500 metres in one minute 36.495 seconds.

Cuba finished second followed by Argentina.

Michelle Russell of Fall River,N.S., Emilie Fournel of Montreal, KC Fraser of Oakville, Ont., and Hannah Vaughan of Dartmouth, N.S., edged the Cubans by 1.17 seconds.

“I can’t describe it,” said an overwhelmed Russell. “I can’t find the words to describe how it feels to win gold, in the Pan Am Games, in Toronto, on home soil, the very first medal. I can’t.”

The race was the first final of the Games, which officially opened Friday in Toronto.