SANTIAGO, Chile – Make it three gold medals in three days for Maggie Mac Neil as Canada’s swimming success continued with seven more medals at the Pan American Games Monday.

Mac Neil followed up Sunday’s 100-m butterfly victory by winning the women’s 100-m freestyle in a Games record 53.64, a personal best. Brazil’s Stephanie Balduccini finished second at 54.13, followed by Catie De Loof of Team USA.

“I’m really happy with that. It was a best time and before that was from (the relay leadoff leg at) worlds this summer,” said the 23-year-old London Aquatic Club product, whose face is plastered on colourful display advertising all over Santiago as an ambassador for the Games.

“To have taken a break and come back and gone faster than that is really good stuff. I never thought I’d have a record in 100 free at a meet. It’s my first time swimming (the individual event) internationally so I’m super happy with that,” Mac Neil said.

Mary-Sophie Harvey Trois-Rivieres, Que., who represents Montreal’s CAMO club, was fourth in a personal best 54.64. On the men’s side, Javier Acevedo of Swimming Canada’s High Performance Centre – Ontario also finished fourth in the 100 free with a time of 48.88. Edouard Fullum-Huot, who represents Montreal’s Pointe-Claire Swim Club, won the B final in a personal best 49.33 for ninth.

With two gold, three silver and two bronze Monday, Canada ran its medal total at the five-day meet to 15 after three days (6 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze).

The other gold Monday came from Sydney Pickrem, who returned to the national team with a bang, winning the women’s 200-m breaststroke in 2:23.39. After taking world championships off due to anxiety and depression, the multiple international medallist and two-time Olympian went more than a second faster than her time at Canadian Swimming Trials in April.

“I’m just really grateful to be here in this position and want to put my best foot forward for Canada and I’m glad to come out with a win,” said Pickrem, 26.

Winnipeg’s Kelsey Wog, who swims for the University of Manitoba Bisons, finished just a tenth of a second behind for silver. The 25-year-old Olympian’s time of 2:23.49 was faster than her performances at the last two World Aquatics Championships.

It was the second 1-2 breaststroke finish for Canadian women. Wog said she came in inspired by Rachel Nicol’s win and Sophie Angus’s silver medal in Saturday’s 100.

“They did amazing, I love them so much and I wanted to give it my best effort,” Wog said. “It felt really good.”

Meanwhile, Acevedo’s HPC-Ontario teammate Brayden Taivassalo added another men’s medal to the pile for Canada, capturing silver in the 200-m breaststroke. Taivassalo took some extra moments to interact with young fans cheering him on after the race at El Centro Acuático del Parque Estadio Nacional.

“It’s incredible,” said the 19-year-old from Newmarket, Ont. “Eight years ago when this Games was in Toronto, I was there in the stands like all these kids looking up to people.”

Danielle Hanus of the High Performance Centre – Vancouver continued Canada’s medal parade by repeating as a Pan Am medallist in the women’s 100-m backstroke. Her bronze medal time of 1:01.49 was just a hundredth of a second ahead of national team rookie Maddy Gatrall, 21, who developed at Windsor Aquatic Club.

“I knew it would be a fun race for me, so I just got in and did my best,” said the 25-year-old Newmarket native, who took silver at the Lima 2019 Games. “I kind of went in with zero expectations, it was like, whatever happens happens, just go have fun. I can never really truly express how grateful I am to my family and coaches for always being there supporting me.”

Her HPC-Vancouver teammate Blake Tierney added a bronze of his own in the men’s 100 back shortly thereafter. His time of 54.25 was just 0.05 behind winner Adam Chaney of Team USA and 0.02 behind silver medallist Ulises Saravia of Argentina.

“It feels very good. My first international team, to get a medal at the Games is awesome. It’s very cool and I’m pumped,” said the 21-year-old from Saskatoon.

Both Hanus and Tierney swim for Scott Talbot, who is head coach for Canada at these Games.

The 4×100-m mixed medley relay capped the night with silver. The team of Javier Acevedo, Gabe Mastromatteo, Maggie Mac Neil and Mary-Sophie Harvey turned in a time of 3:46.20, behind only Team USA, which set a Pan Am Games record 3:44.71. Mac Neil had Canada more than five seconds ahead at the final takeover, but Harvey faced male Jonathan Kulow, who made up the ground with a split of 47.39.

Preliminary swimmers Tierney, James Dergousoff, Katerine Savard and Brooklyn Douthwright also receive a medal.

Alexander Axon, 20, from Markham (Ont.) Aquatic Club finished sixth in the men’s 800-m freestyle in 8:09.35.

Canada is back in the water for Day 4 of the five-day meet Tuesday. Mac Neil will take on the 50-m freestyle, while Julie Brousseau of Ottawa’s Nepean Barracudas enters the 400-m individual medley as top seed.

CBC Sports is streaming on multiple channels each day on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem. Those platforms will also carry a live show weekdays starting at 6 p.m. ET, hosted by Anastasia Bucsis and featuring a mix of live events and highlights with a focus on Canadian athletes.