[1] He is a single-time Olympian (2000), a double Baltic States swimming champion, and a former Estonian record holder in both 100 and 200 m breaststroke.

[2] Pachel is also a member of Keila Swim Club in Tallinn under head coach Tõnu Meijel.

[3][4][5] In the 100 m breaststroke, held on the first day of the Games, Pachel challenged seven other swimmers in heat six, including Australia's top favorite and former bronze medalist Phil Rogers.

He rounded out a field to last place in his heat, but shared a thirty-second overall seed with Israel's Tal Stricker in a matching time of 1:03.99.

Swimming in heat three, he picked up a third spot to overhaul a 2:20 barrier ahead of El Salvador's Francisco Suriano by almost half a second (0.50) in 2:19.71.