Mexican brothers Raul and Juan Gutierrez each won medals as competition began ©IPC

Mexican brothers Raul and Juan Gutierrez lit up the first day of action with swimming medals at the 2017 Youth Parapan American Games in São Paulo.

Raul, 17, clocked the fastest time in the men's 100 metres freestyle S6 event to win in a time of 1min 16.16sec.

Juan, 16, managed the second quickest time of 1:16.64 but placed first in the younger 15 to 16 age category.

Another Mexican, Raul Alberto Martinez Valdes, posted the third quickest time of the day of 1:19.16.

“It feels great to win this race but even more to share the podium with my brother,” said Raul.

It came during an opening swimming session at the Brazilian Paralympic Centre in which the presence of local public school students added to the atmosphere.

There was disappointment for the home fans elsewhere, however, as Brazil lost 1-0 to South American rivals Argentina in five-a-side football.

Nahuel Lopez scored the only goal of the game as the hosts missed two penalties in the final three minutes.

Colombia beat Mexico 5-1 in the other football clash today.

In athletics, David Martinez claimed El Salvador's first ever Youth Parapan gold medal in the men's 100m T37 under-20s final.

He clocked 12.78 to beat Maxiel Rodrigues Ukrcheski of Brazil, who managed 13.64.

Fellow countryman Nery Lovos took bronze in 14.75.

The 12 sports to make the programme also include boccia, seven-a-side football, goalball and judo. 

Sitting volleyball and table tennis are also featured, as are wheelchair basketball and tennis.

The last edition of the Games was held in 2013 in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

More than 600 athletes from 16 countries competed across 10 sports.