The two teams split the four gold medals at the pool, but the Americans were nearly gifted a third in the men’s 200-meter butterfly when De Deus was initially disqualified because of a sponsor’s logo on his swim cap.

De Deus, who finished in 1 minute, 57.92 seconds, was reinstated as the gold medalist after the Brazilians appealed.

“I guess the harder it is, the better it feels,” De Deus said. “Justice was done. I touched first. It would be hard to win it but then have it taken away from you because of a mistake by the organizers.”

Daniel Madwed of the United States got the silver after briefly being raised to the gold.

“It would not have felt right to me to take the gold medal just because of a different cap,” he said.

Thiago Pereira also won a swimming gold for the Brazilians on Day 3 in Guadalajara, while Gillian Ryan and Ann Chandler took gold for the Americans.

Ryan trailed for almost the entire race in the 400-meter freestyle before finishing strong.

“I usually like to have the second half of the race faster. I try to control the first half,” Ryan said. “The last hundred I really could see everybody cheering and it gave me that extra push.”

The Americans and Brazilians have combined to win every swimming gold medal so far, with the United States taking eight and Brazil winning six.

In the overall medals standings, the Americans extended their lead with 16 gold and 43 total. Brazil is second with nine gold and 21 overall.

Host Mexico also had a golden day, winning three of the four events in squash and taking gold in rhythmic gymnastics when Cynthia Valdez won the hoop event.

“I’m proud, and even more so for playing at home,” said Nayelly Hernandez Perez, who teamed with Samantha Teran to win the squash doubles for Mexico.

Rhythmic all-around champion Julie Zetlin of the United States finished second to Valdez, but claimed another gold by winning the ball event.

Venezuela won two of the three golds in track cycling, leaving the favored Colombians with only one. In rowing, Argentina won three of the four events early in the day, and then added a taekwondo medal in the evening.

In shooting, the United States won both gold medals with Matt Rawlings taking the 10-meter air rifle and Emily Caruso finishing first in the women’s event.

Rawlings broke his own Pan Americans Games record in qualifying, scoring 595 points. He then set a record in the final with 696.7 points.

Caruso equaled the games record in qualifying with 396 points and then set a final record with 497.8 points.

“It was a fight until the end,” Caruso said.

Former Brazil great Romario will also attend the Pan American Games, serving as a television commentator for a Brazilian network.

“Brazil’s media have invited me to be the commentator for the football games, both women’s and men’s,” said Romario, who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup. “And I will try to do my best.”