Day - July 30, 2024
This damn work and real life stuff is getting in the way, but hey, I still have the opportunity to watch some events. Either way, here is the daily report.
A few controversies from Day 7. The men's triathlon was postponed because the Seine River, where the swimming portion is to be conducted, is too polluted. This has only been the case for over 100 years. Yes, the city of Paris has put billions into cleaning it up, and yes it passed testing last week, but the large amount of rain from last weekend has contributed to the unsafe testing in the waters. They hope to have the triathlon tomorrow.
The Italian delegation believes the judging in fencing has been unfair, in order to favor some traditional fencing powers, and have lodged a formal protest. I doubt that will go anywhere.
And, American Coco Gauff lost her third round match. A super questionable rule came into play - that didn't exactly cost Coco the match - but leads to some serious questions. Now, the ruling was completely accurate, but the rule itself needs to be changed - IMMEDIATELY. Here is the scenario - Gauff is down a break point when her opponent returns a shot and as Gauff is in her backswing to hit her shot, the linesman shouts "Out!" Her opponent calls for a review, and the call was overturned and it was correctly ruled in. However, Gauff would have hit the ball if the linesman had not made the ruling, but since she didn't, she lost the point, the break, and the game. Gauff still has mixed doubles and doubles, so hopefully she can still come away with some hardware.
I would be remiss if instead of just commenting on the outcome of the events/games, and the controversies, I didn't mention one particular athlete whose story caught my attention: Zhiyang Zhang of Chile. Zhiyang, age 58, was a superstar at table tennis in China as a teen, having won national championships and international tournaments. However, the governing body of table tennis changed the rules of the sport to require both sides of the paddle to be different colors. As an aside, for those that don't know each side of the paddle has a different surface to produce different effects on the ball when striking it. This rule flabbergasted Zhang, and for some reason should could not mentally adapt to the different colors of the paddles, fancying herself a master of using techniques to surprise her opponents by not allowing them to see which side of the paddle she would use for a particular hit. She stopped playing the game, and moved to Chile where she became a table tennis coach. Then Covid hit. She began playing table tennis again to keep herself occupied and she caught the fever. She began training, and playing in tournaments and she became the Chilean national champion and qualifying for the Olympics. Alas, she lost in the preliminary round, but Zhang enjoyed every minute of her Olympic experience, something she would have taken for granted as a teen (if table tennis was in the Olympics back then. (It did not become an official Olympic sport until 1988 in Seoul.
The best event that I watched personally yesterday was the volleyball match between the United States and Germany. The US jumped out to a hard-fought, but dominating lead by winning the first two sets. Germany clawed its way back by winning the third set, and then the fourth set. The fifth set went back-and-forth with the US ultimately pulling out the victory to go to 2-0. A great team effort as the entire squad played critical roles at different times in this barnburner.
That volleyball match was amazing from start to finish, but nothing beats the ending to THE FINISH OF THE USA WOMEN'S RUGBY BRONZE MEDAL GAME!!! Alex Sedrick took the Match Ball close to her own try line, started inside into contact, absolutely trucked the Australian defender and sprinted away from the field for the tying try as time expired. She converted the conversion (ha!) for the US victory and the bronze medal! Sedrick made her kick despite not being in the team's kicking rotation. The primary kicker was not on the field at the itme Sedrick scored her try (as the team needed different personnel given the time left in the match and the location of possession, so Sedrick stepped up and hit the conversion. In other news, New Zealand defeated Canada in the gold medal game.
At the shooting range, Guatemala's Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas could not outshoot Great Britain's Nathan Hales (gold) or China's Qi Ying (silver), but he did earn the first medal for Guatemala in these games, and the second overall (a silver in the 20km walk in London 2012. Hopefully Guatemala doesn't have to wait too long for their first ever gold (foreshadowing).
Something that needed no foreshadowing - the United States absolutely dominated in the women's team gymnastics, securing gold even with Simone Biles stepping out twice during her final floor exercise routine - the last of the competition for the American women. They won by approximately 6 full points - an absolutely dominating performance!
In another sport that needed no foreshadowing, China won gold in the mixed doubles event in table tennins, defeating the team from North Korea in the finals. South Korea defeated Hong Kong for the bronze.
In fencing, the Italian women won gold in the team epee, defeating France. Poland defeating China for the bronze. No word on if Italy plans to protest this event.
Three medal events in the pool yesterday, with Australia's Kaylee McKeown lowered her own Olympic record in the 100 meter backstroke, defeating her rival, American Regan Smith by .33 seconds. Katie Berkhoff of the USA finished just behind Mckeown and Smith, earning the bronze.
Daniel Wiffen of Ireland won gold in the men's 800 meter freestyle event to earn gold followed by American Bobby Finke (silver) and Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri. It was Ireland's first swimming gold, and in the process Wiffen set a new Olympic record.
And in the anchor position, Great Britain defends its 4x200 meter freestyle gold medal. The United States finished second for silver, defeating Australia who earned bronze.
Athlete of the Day - Daniel Wiffin, Ireland, Swimming
Setting an Olympic record, a full three seconds faster than your event-best qualifying time, to earn Ireland's first swimming gold gets Wiffin the Athlete of the Day.
Team of the Day - USA Women, Gymnastics
A thoroughly dominating performance by Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera
American Athlete of the Day - Alex Sedrick, United States, Rugby
Seriously, go back and watch her Derrick Henry-esque play - with no time left on the clock!!!
Olympic Term of the Day: Clear - 3x3 - When the defensive team obtains possession of the ball, either by a defensive stop or after giving up a basket, they must take the ball by dribble or pass out past the three-point line before beginning their offense. This is "clearing" the ball. Yes, just like on the old playground.
Olympic Events Watched: 3x3, Beach Volleyball, Gymnastics, Handball Rugby, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball
USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (Alphabetically - Capitals indicate a potential favorite to this point): Chloe Dygert, Brady Ellison, Torri Huske, Casey Kaufhold, LEE KIEFER, ILONA MAHER, TOM MURPHY, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson
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