Day 4 - July 27, 2024
It was the first full day of competition, and boy was it jampacked with events, including our first medals!
Might as well start with controversy, as more comes out surrounding the Chinese swimming doping scandal. Positive tests from the Tokyo Olympics were revealed in April of this year (after being swept under the rug by the Chinese federation for three years!) It turns out 23 members of the Chinese swim team in Tokyo tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Eleven of those 23 are swimming in this Olympics. At least one member of the Australian delegation is contemplating a podium boycott if a Chinese swimmer wins a medal. We shall see!
In the first medal match of these games, China 1 defeated South Korea 1 in the 10m Air Rifle mixed team event 1-12, earning gold, while South Korea settled for the silver. Kazakhstan earned bronze by easily outdistancing Germany 17-5.
The United States won its first medal in the women's 3m springboard synchronized diving event as Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon earned silver behind China's Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen. Great Britain earned the bronze.
In some exciting games, Spain defeated Slovenia 25-22, and Egypt outlasted Hungary 35-32 in Handball. Croatia narrowly escaped Japn 30-29 as well. Germany beat Japan in volleyball 3-2.
in a great matchup.
In the most dominating American performance yesterday, rower Kara Kohler won her heat by open water, easing into the semi-finals.
Right behindg Kohler's performance was that of the women's water polo team, which defated Greece 15-6!.
The US men's soccer team bounced back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of the host country France to beat New Zealand 4-1.
In what looks like a literal passing of the torch and a scary combination for its opponents, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are teaming up for men's doubles for Spain!
France defeated two-time defending Olympic champion - and previously undefeated in the Olympics Fiji - to win the rugby 7s gold medal, but the game of the day was the South Africa - Australia bronze medal game. South Africa scored two tries in the waning minutes of the second half to tie the match, and then the deciding try as time expired to win the bronze medal! Just exhilarating.
But, the primary focus yesterday was on the pool, specifically the women's 400m Freestyle final and both 4x100 meter freestyle relays. The women's 400 meter Freestyle final featured the three women that have hte best 30 times in history, and in this battle of the titans Australia's Ariarne Titmus defeated Canada's Summer McIntosh (silver) and Katie Ledecky of the United States (bronze).
Australia won the women's freestyle relay, with the US winning silver and China winning the bronze, and the stage looked set for an Australian sweep of the day. But, third leg Hunter Armstrong - sorry Greg Olsen - took over second place and then the lead before handing the proverbial baton to perhaps the greatest finisher in relay history, Caleb Dressel. And with about a body length lead when he entered the pool, Dressel coasted to gold despite a charge from Australia, which came in second and Italy earned the bronze.
Athlete of the Day - Ariarne Titus, Australia, Swimming
She dominated the race that most swim fans were most interested in seeing, as her, McIntosh and Ledecky are the three most dominant women at the 400 meter distance ever, and they were all competing in the same race.
American Athlete of the Day - Chloe Dygert, United States, Cycling
Dygert suffered a crash during the women's individual road racing time trail, yet got up to win bronze, just missing out on the silver by seconds. A well earned bronze!!!
Olympic Term of the Day: Open Water - Rowing - When a boat is more than a full length ahead of every other team in the race.
Olympic Events Watched: Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo
USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (Alphabetically): Chloe Dygert, Brady Ellison, Casey Kaufhold, Alyssa Naeher Mallory Swanson
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