TORONTO -- Nicolas Turbide was the highlight of Canada's success in the pool on the first day of the Parapan American Games.

The Quebec City native won gold in the S12-13 200-metre individual medley as the Canadians finished with seven swimming medals on Saturday.

"I got what I wanted," said Turbide, who finished the race in two minutes 19.99 seconds. "It feels awesome."

Montreal's Devin Gotell took silver in 2:26.62.

Canada won three gold medals on Day 1 and have 16 overall. Brazil and Mexico are tied for the most gold and the two countries are one-two in the overall medal count.

The Canadians also won two medals in the S14 200 individual medley with Maxime Rousselle, of St-Alexandre, Que., finishing second in the race for the intellectually impaired in 2:04.91. Gordie Michie, of St. Thomas, Ont., took bronze in 2:05.40.

Tammy Cunnington, of Red Deer, Alta., captured bronze in the S4 100 freestyle in a personal best time of 2:00.7. Camille Berube, of Gatineau, Que., won silver in the S8 100 backstroke while Kirstie Kasko, of Okotoks, Alta., was second in the S14 200 freestyle.

Mark Ledo of Maple, Ont., won Canada's first gold of the Games in the H3-5 men's cycling road race.

Ledo finished the morning race in one hour, 22:17 minutes -- 19 seconds ahead of William Achenauer of the United States and Victoriaville, Que., native Charles Moreau.

"My race was great today," said Ledo. "For it to be the first gold medal of the Games makes it extra special."

Canada added to its cycling medal tally with a silver and three more bronze.

Louis-Albert Corriveau-Jolin of Ste-Claire, Que., finished third in the T1-2 mixed road race, Robert Labbe of Levis, Que., took bronze in the H1-2M/H1-5W and Montreal's Nicole Clermont earned the third-place finish in the women's road race C1-5. Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier won silver in the mixed road race B.

Canada dominated in boccia, taking a medal of each colour on Saturday.

Eric Bussiere and Paul Gauthier beat Brazil in the BC3 final to earn gold, Alison Levine and Marco Dispaltro took silver in pairs BC4 and Adam Dukovich, Tammy McLeod and Chris Halpen finished third in BC1/BC2.

Brendan Gaulin of Laval, Que., scored the winning goal with two seconds remaining as the Canadians defeated the U.S. 5-4 in their opening goalball match.

In football 7, Canada lost its first round-robin game, 3-1 to Argentina. Samuel Charron of Ottawa was Canada's lone scorer.

Montreal's Jose Rebelo and Edmonton's Austin Hinchey led the Canadian men's sitting volleyball team to a 25-2, 25-16, 25-14 sweep of Costa Rica.

Canada dominated on the court with the women's wheelchair basketball team downing Guatemala 78-18 and the men's team hammering Venezuela 102-27.

Zak Madell scored 23 points as the Canadian wheelchair rugby team beat Brazil 65-32.

In women's doubles tennis action, Yuka Chokyu and Mika Ishikawa of Vancouver lost their opening match to Angelica Bernal and Johana Martinez of Colombia.

In singles table tennis, Ian Kent of Eastern Passage, N.S., and Stephanie Chan of Richmond, B.C., are in first place in their respective pools after winning their opening two matches in round-robin play. The eight other Canadian players are winless so far.