Mountain biker Gunnar Holmgren captures Canada's 1st Pan Am gold medal in Chile

Gunnar Holmgren of Orillia, Ont., has a Pan Am gold medal to add to his Canadian titles in mountain biking.

The 24-year-old earned Canada's first podium finish in Santiago, Chile, beating Chilean Martin Vidaurre Kossmann and Brazil's Jose Gabriel Marques De Almeida to the finish line in one hour 17 minutes 59 seconds. Vidaurre Kossmann was 53 seconds behind.

Holmgren moved into the lead on the third of seven laps and held it on the course at the Catholic University Sports Club northeast of the city.

Gunnar Holmgren scores Canada's FIRST medal of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games