Day 11 - August 3, 2024
This was actually from yesterday, but I just found out about it after I posted yesterday's report, so it gets its own entry. There was a fight in the Olympics that didn't involve boxing, wrestling, judo, tae kwon do, or cisgender/transgender/intersex boxers! After France defeated Argentina in men's soccer 1-0, an actual physical fight broke out on the pitch. This all stems from Argentina's Copa America victory prior to the Olympics in which - in celebration - the Argentines were seen celebrating by mocking French soccer players, especially players of African descent. We saw problems with this in the Morocco-Argentina match, and Argentinian teams of all types have been cascaded with massive boos all around Paris. Probably was just a matter of time until this happened. I doubt that any intra-Olympics disciplinary action will be taken against the French players involved.
But, thank God this was the only real conflict yesterday, as there was some really good action at the event venues!
The United States women's soccer team, which was embarrased last Olympics, defeating Japan 1-0 in the quarterfinals off a stoppage time in the first extra time period by Trinity Rodman. The win puts the Americans into the semi-finals and on the verge of a medal, which they missed in Tokyo. Below is a good look at Rodman's goal as it passes the keeper.
Rodman's goal was a very important play, but no play was as amazing as Joel Embiid's block of this DUNK ATTEMPT! Embiid, who has been much-maligned in these Olympics as his game just doesn't seem suited for international play and even sat out the entire game against South Sudan, may have made up for everything with this one play! Anthony Edwards led the way with 25 points against Puerto Rico, as the United States moves on to the knockout rounds.
For the United States, the stars were out and producing! Katie Ledecky won the gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle, her 4th straight gold medal in this event (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), and her 9th gold medal of all time. Her 9th gold medal places her in a tie for second all time for Summer Olympic golds, behind Michael Phelps 23. She is tied with former greats Paavo Nurmi (Athletics, Finland), Larissa Latynina (Gymnastics, Soviet Union), Mark Spitz (Swimming, United States) and Carl Lewis (Athletics, United States). Ledecky stated after the race that she would look forward to defending her title in Los Angeles in 2028. If she concentrates solely on the 800 meters and 1500 meters, I don't doubt she would win at least her 10th gold! Joining Ledecky on the podium were Ariarne Titmus of Australia (silver) and Ledecky's teammate Paige Madden (bronze).
Joining Ledecky in the four-time gold medalist in a single event is retired Army Sergeant Vincent Hancock, who won his fourth consecutive gold-medal in skeet shooting. And Hancock at age 35 has a lot of shooting left in him. Winning the silver medal in skeet shooting was American Conner Lynn Prince and the bronze medal was awarded to Meng Yuan Lee of Taiwain.
The athletes to have won four gold medals in the same event in four consecutive Olympics prior to 2024 are: Paul Bert Elvstroem of Denmark (sailing - monotype yachting; 1948 - 1960), Al Oerter of the United States (discuss; 1956 - 1968), Carl Lewis of the United States (long jump, 1984 - 1996), Michael Phelps of the United States (200 meter individual medley; 2004 - 2016) and Mijain Lopez of Cuba (Greco-Roman wrestling; 2008 - 2020). These 5 athletes have now been joing by Teddy Riner (France; judo); Ledecky and Hancock.
The incomparable Simone Biles won another gold medal - her third of these Olympics and 7th overall - in the vault. Jade Carey joined her on the podium by capturing the bronze medal. Brazil's Rebecca Andrade earned silver.
Also in gymnastics, America's pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik earned the bronze medal on that apparatus, falling just behind Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan (gold) and Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan (silver).
The United States set a World Record in winning gold in the 4x100 meter mixed medely relay, defeating China by .8 seconds, with Australia finishing third. In the mixed medley relay, each team selects which two males and females participate for whichever stroke they wish, so long as each swimmer swims a separate stroke. The United States opted to put the two males first, with Ryan Murphy leading off with the backstroke, Nic Fink went second for the breast stroke leg, followed by Gretchen Walsh in the butterfly leg. Walsh, competing against a male athlete from Australia, held the lead before touhcing off for Torri Huske for the freestyle leg.
On the track the United States, which set the world record for the 4x400 meter mixed relay in the preliminaries, did not fare as well in the final as Femke Bol, from The Netherlands, ran down absolutely everybody to win gold for the Dutch. The United States easily outdistanced everyone except Bol for silver.
Some other amazing finishes at the track, as Julien Alfred, from St. Lucia, won her nation's first ever Olympic medal, and it was gold in the 100 meter dash. Alfred, now the fastest woman in the world, defeated Sha' Carri Richardson from the United States, who earned silver. Melissa Jefferson of the United States earned bronze.
Also winning her country's first ever Olympic medal was Dominica's Thea LaFond, who bested the competition to win gold in the women's triple jump. Shanieck Richards of Jamaica earned silver, and the USA's Jasmine Moore captured the bronze.
Ryan Crounser - star of the shotput from the USA, won his third consecutive gold medal in the event, followed by compatriot Joe Kovacs, who won his third consecutive silver medal in the event.
Athlete of the Day - Julien Alfred, St. Lucia, Athletics
Not only first ever medal for St. Lucia, but it was gold, in a premier event, defeating Sha' Carri Richardson.
Team of the Day - 4x100 meters mixed relay, USA, Swimming
Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske set a world record, and put the US 1 gold behind Australia in the pool.
American Athlete of the Day - Vincent Hancock, United States, Shooting
Ledecky and Biles are often in contention here, so Hancock gets it for his fourth consecutive gold medal in skeet shooting.
Olympic Term of the Day: Skeet - In shooting, skeet is the event in which participants shoot at clay targets thrown at various speeds and angles.
Olympic Events Watched: 3x3, Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Gymnastics, Handball, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis
USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (listed alphabetically: Simone Biles, Ryan Crouser, Brady Ellison, Vincent Hancock, Torri Huske, Lee Kiefer, Katie Ledecky, Ilona Maher, Tom Murphy
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