Day 8 - July 31, 2024
For the first day of the Olympics, there isn't a major controversy (foreshadowing tomorrow's entry). But, there has been a lot of smoke surrounding the ending of the France-Japan men's basketball game has created some serious drama. Perhaps the smoke came from some "home-cooking" during the match. In the waning moments of the game with France trailing by 4, Yuri Kawamura, who scored 29 points for Japan in the game, was called for a foul on Matthew Strazel as he was shooting a three-pointer, which he hit. The resultant free throw tied the game and sent it into overtime. The foul was nonexistent.
Overtime usually favors the more-talented team, so Japan was already behind the proverbial 8-ball starting the extra frame, but was even more hindered by the fact that there best player, Rui Hachimura, had been ejected from the game for his second unsportsmanlike foul - which, was definitely a foul but the fact it was even considered unsportsmanlike was questionable at best, wrong at most. France went on to win the game.
The pool saw some of the most amazing action, and it starts (for the American side) with Katie Ledecky winning gold by over 10 seconds in the 1500m freestyle. She so thoroughly dominated this event, that no other swimmer was in the frame when she finished, and she was over a lap ahead of other swimminers. And this was the finals, so this race consisted of the 8 best swimmers at this distance inthw world. This was Ledecky's 8th gold medal (tied for sixth of all time and most by an American woman), and 12th overall (also tied for most by an American woman). She is favored in the 800 meters freestyle, and could pick up another medal in the relays.
Also in the pool for the first time in these games we can say, a world record has been set. as Zhanle Pan won the men's 100 meter freestyle in 46.4 seconds to capture gold medal. Australia's Kyle Chalmers secured silver ahead of David Popovici's bronze. This is the second medal won by the Romanian Popovici at these games.
As if a world record wasn't enough, France's wunderkind Leon Marchand won two gold medals yesterday, in the 200 meter butterfly and the 200 meter breastroke. He now has three gold medals in these games ... and counting?
In the women's 100 meter freestyle we had a bit of a surpirse, as veteran Olympian Sarah Sjoestrom from Sweden won gold from lane 7, narrowly defeating American Torri Huske, herself swimming in lane 1. Huske took the silver juest ahead of Siobhan Bernadette Haughey of Hong Kong, who made it to the podium with the bronze.
Men's gymnastics brought more disappointment for the Chinese, who expected a gold-silver finish. Of course, they expected a team gold medal as well, but finished second to the Japanese. China was bested by Japan again, as Shinnosuke Oka won the individual all-around gold medal - the fourth consecutive in this even for Japan - Zhang Boheng of China won silver while his compatriot Xio Ruotang earned the bronze.
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.
Another disappointment for the participants occurred in tennis, as the Spanish super team of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, a two-time gold medalist and a 22-time grand slam winner, fell to the American team of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-4, 6-2. This was likely Nadal's last performance at Roland Garros.
For me, some of the best action of yesterday, and indeed this entire tournament, occurred on the volleyball court. On the women's side the United States - Serbia matchup could have been a gold-medal match preview, with the United States women prevailing in an absolute thriller 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 17-15. These teams should play in the medal round, and in fact, I demand that it happen!
On the men's side, Brazil and Poland also went to five sets, with Polish superstar Wilfredo Leon, A Cuban born Polish player absolutely dominating the game as an outside hitter. He also finished the game with back-to-back aces as Poland won the deciding set 15-12.
Equally exciting was the ending of the France-Egypt game in handball. France, having lost its first two matches and in dire need of a victory in order to keep its knockout round hopes alive, was trailing Egypt 26-25 when they forced a turnover with approximately 8 seconds remaining. Ludovic Fabregas let go a shot as time expired, a shot that found the back of the net for a 26-26 tie. The French team celebrated as if they had won, although the still trail everyone else in the group standings.
In judo, among other participants, Georgia won its first gold medal of these games, with Lasha Bekauri winning the men's 90kg final defeating Japan's Murao Sanshiro 10-1.
Evy Leibfarth of the USA earned bronze in the women's canoe slalom, just missing out behind Australia's Jessica Fox and Germany's Elenal Lilik, who won gold and silver respectively.
BMX is a younger, hipper, cooler sport that has been added to the Olympic stage, and the women's freestyle event did not disappoint. Deng Yawen of China thrashed for the gold medal, Perris Banegas of the USA won silver, and Natalia Diehm from Australian completed the podium with bronze. On the men's side, Jose Torres Gil of Argentina was victorious, outscoring Kieren Reilly of Great Britain (silver) and France's Anthony JeanJean (bronze). Please note that I refrained from any of the obvious "Perris in Paris" comments.
The coolest person in the entire Olympics has been identified. 51-year old Yusuf Dikec of Turkey won the silver medal in the men's pistol event, but it was his attitude and demeanor that won everybody over. Wearing just regular glasses, not specialized lenses, and no ear covers, and while keeping his off hand in his pocket, Dikec shot his way onto the podium, defeating every other participant except Serbia's team of Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec, who earned gold. Dikec partnered with Seval Illayda Tarhan, but only Dikec was this cool!
But even Dikec was not the best story in shooting, as the women's trap event produced something never before seen. Guatemala, which earned its second medal EVER (no golds yesterday), earned its third medal ever, and first-ever gold, in the women's trap shooting as Adriana Ruano Oliva bested the competition for gold. She was an internationally competitive gymnas as a child before an accident broke her spine. Her family moved to Guatemala, and she eventually took up shooting. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics where she finished dead last. Yesterday, she won gold!
Athlete of the Day - Leon Marchand, France, Swimming
Has more golds than any other swimmer in French history (3), and they were all earned in the past two days.
Co-Athlete of the Day - Adriana Ruano Oliva, Guatemala, Shooting
Could not leave her out of this. Amazing ending to an amazing Olympic story.
Team of the Day - USA Women, Volleyball
In a tough early tournament match, USA outlasted Serbia in what should be a gold medal game preview.
American Athlete of the Day - Perris Banegas, United States, BMX
Silver medal!
Co-American Athlete of the Day - Evy Leibfarth, United States, Canoeing
Bronze medal!
Olympic Term of the Day: Clear - Opposite - In volleyball, the opposite hitter, or "opposite" often stands on the right side of the Court opposite the setter, and is. In addition to powerful spiking, the opposite is often responsible for blocking the other team's outside hitter.
Olympic Events Watched: 3x3, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, BMX, Handball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis Table, Water Polo
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, KATIE LEDECKY, ILONA MAHER, TOM MURPHY, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson
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