GOLD MEDAL WATCH 1: “You gotta put the round thing in the round thing”
The Olympics! They’re happening! And a LOT has gone down already. Granted- things had gone down last week before our posts last week because, I don’t know if you realized from our sports post but…there are quite a few events! We’re going to hit you with the highlights (and low lights) for team USA & other faves. Here’s what you missed:
USA won gold in Men’s 4x100 Relay, bronze in the women’s. We went 1-2 (Chase Kalisz & Jay Litherland) in the Men’s 400IM, 2-3 (Emma Weyant & Hali Flickinger) in the women’s. Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy & Lilly King all failed to defend their gold medals in the 400 free, 100 back, and 100breast respectively (winning silver and 2 bronze)— but these were VERY tough events. For Katie- as Nicki Minaj once said, “I hope they’re coming for me because it get lonely at the top”- Ariarne Titmus did in fact come for her. The 400 is not her top event, which she showed later in the week, becoming the first ever woman to medal in the inaugural 1500m with gold, followed by her teammate Erica Sullivan winning silver. Ryan Murphy came back to go second in the 200 back, then promptly talked shit about Russian doping which like,…. You not wrong but, not an incredible look after losing to a Russian,. it’s also important to remember that 100s are very difficult to stay on top of. In the women’s backstroke, an event that boasted 3 Olympic records in the semis, Regan Smith took home bronze, which is nothing to scoff at when looking at how competitive field is. While Lily only got bronze in the breaststroke, the story of the night was Lydia Jacoby winning Alaska’s first ever gold medal in swimming (there’s 1 Olympic sized pool in the state). Peep her town celebrating:
Lily King went on to finish second in the 200 breast behind South Aftrican Schoemaker (who set a record). The tough competition between Lily and Annie Lazor, her teammate who she pushed to continue swimming, drove them to a 2-3 finish (incredible since Annie recently lost her dad and almost quit the sport)
Speaking of firsts! won the first ever gold for the Philippines, won the Yui Ohashi first women’s swimming gold for Japan. Ahmen Hafnaoui shocked the world to win gold in the 400 free for Tunisia. Flora Duffy won the first ever medal for Bermuda (Bahama, come on pretty mama), Katie Zaferes got the US bronze in the triathlon (in the mne’s Norway took the top spot). The first ever surfing golds went to American Carissa Moore (the pride of Hawaii!) and Brazilian Italo Ferreira. The cool kids of skateboarding were…incredibly cool, 13 year old Momiji Nishiya (Japan) won gold in women’s street (followed by 13 year old Brazilian Rayssa Leal and 16 year old Japan’s Funa Nakayama). Japanese Yuto Horigome won gold in men’s followed by Brazilian Kelvin Hoefler & Jagger Eaton of the USA.
Tom Daley and his synchro partner won gold for team GB, team USA women’s won a silver as well. China’s been as dominant as expected in diving (winning gold in women’s, silver in men’s) , as well as in Table tennis, but have failed to show what was expect of them so far in 3x3 basketball. You can expect more diving (3m etc) to come but they tend to be showing this at night because… trash)
South Korea has been sweeping the Archery golds, Japan beat the USA to win gold in softball. (We score no points y !!)Japan has swept Judo golds thus far (in women’s, a suprising 2 gold sweep for Kosovo), but fencing medals have been anyone’s game (including american Lee Kiefer!) Switzerland swept the podium in women’s moutnain bikin, Britain won gold in the men’s event.
USWNT scraped by in soccer, not winnign their group for the first time since the sport’s olympic debut. We managed to squeak out a win v Netherlands in the quarterfinals but it did come down to penalties so not a vote of huge confidence! USA Men’s bball off to a rocky start, losing to France ebcause, in case you missed it, the medal is no longer ours to lose. Women’s basketball have had a solid showing, beating Nigeria and winning gold in 3x3
Who’s OUT
Naomi Osaka, after being upset in the third round. Simone Biles, for now, after a medical injury, withdrew from the Women’s team compettiion (USA was left to struggle without her, made it through with the silver— still better than our men, who placed 5th for the third olympics in a row); Russia won both team events. Our men’s rugby were eliminated by GB, our table tennis & badminton players are pretty much out as well.
COVID UPDATE
Tokyo set a new record for daily COVID cases. Mask compliance has been…medium, I would say Swimming & Gymnastics are leading th field in best compliance. Michael Andrews (booooo) recently got flack for not wearing his mask in the ready room as protocols require, tbd if he will be fined but really, this mans has got to go
Still to come
Track and field JUST started and represents 1/7th of the events, so expect to see some solid US perfomances here, pool play (haha get it) continues for water polo, though we aren’t expected to have a strong showing . Gymastics individual events (Simone still TBD due to her affliction with the twisties as it is known!) First ever men’s 800 free final tonight; badminton doubles tomorrow, more beach volleyball, Sabre fencing finals, something in golf but like, truly who is here for this, more men’s soccer, group stages for handball and field hockey, mixed judo, trap shooting (????), prelims for regular volleyball, and lots of horseback stuff!
