A pair of Stanford swimmers made a big splash at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico–Julia Smit ’10 won gold in the 400-meter individual medley and Elaine Breeden ’10 won a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly on the first official day of competition Saturday.

Additionally, the U.S. women’s volleyball team rolled to a straight-set victory in the opening match of group play against Puerto Rico–the team features recent Cardinal graduates Cynthia Barboza ’09, Alix Klineman ’11 and Cassidy Lichtman ’11.

Barboza, a three-time AVCA First Team All-American on the Farm, had nine kills and three blocks in the win. Lichtman, herself a two-time First Team All-American, chipped in with five kills and a service ace as the Americans rolled were not tested in their first of three pool-play matches.

But it was Smit who seized the spotlight with a dominating performance in the pool to win her first gold medal at a major international competition. The 26-time All-American won three of her six NCAA titles in the 400 IM and outpaced teammate Allysa Vavra down the stretch.

Breeden came up a little bit short in her bid to join Smit atop the podium but settled for bronze in a tight race with Brazil’s Daynara De Paula.

Both Breeden and Smit will have more chances to add to their haul with several relays and a couple of individual events, as the Pan Am Games continue through Oct. 30. All in all, 26 current, former or incoming Stanford athletes are participating in 13 different sports at the Games.

–Miles Bennett-Smith