CIUDAD GUZMAN, Mexico - Former Drake rower Chelsea Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Edina) won a pair of bronze medals earlier this week at the XVI Pan American Games. Smith's efforts helped push USA Rowing to five total medals through Wednesday.

"She's a competitor," said Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro. "That's her strength. She set her mind on making it to the [Pan American] Games and when she made it, she set her mind on winning a medal. A pair of medals from the Pan Am games is something she can take with her for the rest of her life."

The former Drake standout paired with Michelle Sechser, also a first-time national team member, to win bronze in the lightweight women's double in a time of 7:18.88. Only Mexico (7:16.04) and Cuba (7:17.77) crossed the line before Smith's boat in a tight race.

Smith and Sechser teamed with fellow Team USA rowers Catherine Reddick and Megan Walsh to bring home another bronze medal in the women's quadruple sculls. The team finished with a time of 6:39.36 behind gold-medal winner Argentina (6:34.46), and Canada. Smith's crew recorded the race's fastest final 500 meters to pull ahead of Cuba.

"It sounded like the boat just came together during that last quarter," DiSilvestro said.

Further Reading: Chelsea Smith's Journey to the Pan Am Games