SAN PEDRO DE LA PAZ, Chile – Former Portland Pilot rower Veronica Nicacio recently competed in the 2023 Pan American Games for U.S. Rowing, helping the national team win gold medals in the women's quad race and the double scull race.
 
Nicacio earned her first gold on Oct. 23, helping the quardruple scull edge out Chile and Canada for the win. The U.S. defeated Chile by just over three-quarters of a second to win. Nicacio competed in the double scull on Oct. 25 as well, earning gold after defeating the hosts once again. Nicacio, along with Madeline Focht, overtook the hosts in the second quarter of the race and fended off Chile to win with a time of 7:02.11.
 
The former Pilot helped the U.S. earlier this year qualify for the Pan American Games. Back in August, her double sculls boat earned gold while her quadruple sculls boat took second. At the games themselves, the U.S. has won 10 medals, including five golds over the course of the week.
 
Nicacio rowed with the Pilots for four years from 2016-19. She was an All-WCC selection three seasons in a row from 2017-19. She was also an All-WCC Preseason Team selection back in 2019.