Day 13 - August 5, 2024
It looked like we were going to have some controversy on the track during the women's 5000 meters final as Kenyan's Beatrice Chebet won the 5K to win gold, ahead of compatriot Faith Kipyegon, both just ahead of bronze medalist Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands. However, Kipyegon was disqualified for impeding Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay, who ultimately finished ninght. However, Kenya appealed the decision, which reinstated Kipyegon's silver finding that it was Tsegay who initiated the contact. Hopefully all future controversies are this easily resolved.
It exciting news, boxer Cindy Ngamba won her quarterfinal match in teh 75kg weight class to advance to the semi-finals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal, and becomes the first refugee athlete to win a medal in these games (technically she won't win it until this weekend after the semi-finals and finals, but it is guaranteed). Ngamba moved to the United Kingdom from Cameroon at age 11, and was granted refugee status by the United Kingdom since returning to Cameroon could equate to a death penalty, as she is a lesbian. Ngamba, who is an advocate for the plight of worldwide refugees, was selected to carry the Refugee flag during the Opening Ceremonies.
The biggest story of the day occurred in athletics, as defending pole vault gold medalist Mondo Duplantis not only secured his second-consecutive Olympic gold medal, but also set the world record in doing so. USA's Sam Kendricks won silver and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece secured the bronze.
Also in the field events, American Valarie Allman defended her gold medal in the discus, outdistancing Sandra Elkasevic of Croatia (silver) and China's Feng Ben (bronze).
On the track, the men and women participated in the 200 meter dash, with the women completed their semi-finals and the men their preliminary rounds. In both, all three Americans advanced, setting the stage for an amazing finals tomorrow for the women, and semi-finals for the women.
Germany won gold in the team triathlon, edging the United States (silver) and Great Britain (bronze), the latter two medals decided by a photo finish. The USA's Taylor Knibb was determined to have nipped the British runner at the finish line, giving her, Morgan Pearson, Seth Rider and Taylor Spivey the silver. Followers of the Olympics, or readers of this blog, will know that Taylor Knibb withdrew from the Cycling road race to focus on this team triathlon event, giving way to Kristen Faulkner to participate - and win gold!
Another heartwarming moment occurred in women's gymnastics, as Rebecca Andrade of Brazil outperformed Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles of the USA for gold, while Biles and Chiles took silver and bronze respectively. This was Andrade's first gold medal, and you can tell that both Biles and Chiles really respect her as they gave her this greeting on the podium!
In other team competition, Spain defeated Morocco 1-0 in men's soccer, and will face host team France in the gold medal match after Les Bleus defeated Egypt 3-1.
In men's volleyball, the United States defeated powerhouse Brazil in an incredibly entertaining match to advance to the semi-finals, and one step closer to a medal.
In team skeet shooting, the American team Vincent Hancock and Austen Jewell Smith earned the silver medal, falling to eventual champions Diana Bocosi and Gabriele Rossetti of Italy 45-44. This is the second medal for both Hancock and Smith, as Hancock won gold in the men's individual and Smith earned bronze in the women's event.
In an electrifying women's badminton final, South Korea's An Se Young defeated He Bing Jiao in the gold medal match. An, who didn't lose a game in the group play, won 21-13, 21-16 to capture gold.
On the men's side, Denmark's Viktor Axelson defeated Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the gold medal match, with Zii Jia Lee of Malaysia winning the bronze medal.
In kayak cross, which is such an exciting event to watch, Australia's Noemie Fox captured gold, defeating Angele Hug of the Netherlands (silver), Kimberly Woods of Great Britain (bronze) and Germany's Elena Lilik in the large final. Noemie Fox's medal adds to her family's total in Paris as her sister Jess has already won two golds in these games.
Shinnosuke Oba of Japan added a gold medal in the men's high bar to his all-around individual gold medal and team gold medal.
In combat sports, Amit Elor of the United States had a tremendous, if expected day 1, as she defeated her three opponents by a combined score of 28-2, to advance to the gold medal match in the 68kg weight class, culminating in a 10-0 technical fall - her third consecutive technical fall in these games - over South Korea's Sol Gum Pak. I say this was expected because Elor, although only 20, has not lost an international match since 2019! I certainly hope to report on gold, not silver, for Elor after the finals.
In Greco-Roman wrestling, in the 130kg division, Cuban legend Mijain Lopez advanced to the gold-medal match where he will face Chilean Yasmani Acosta Fernandez for the gold. Lopez, 41, will be wrestling for his 5th consecutive gold medal, and if successful, will be the only athlete to ever win 5 gold medals in the same event. In his way is Cuban-born Acosta Fernandez, who moved to Chile in large part due to the fact that he was not able to get any international experience due to the fact that Lopez was the champion in his weight class. I will definitely be reporting on this event after the finals occur.
Staying in combat sports, the mixed team judo finals was one of the more entertaining matchups in the entire Olympics as host country France tangles with Japan! The mixed judo competition pits 5 judoka, 3 of each gender, in one-on-one matches, with the most victories determining gold. Japan took an early 2-0 lead, winning the two opening matches, before Teddy Riner stepped up to turn the tide for France, the defending - and only - gold medalists in this event. Riner won his match, defeating Saito Tatsuru to close the deficit in half. Then, Joan-Benjamin Gaba defeated Japan's Abe Hifumi, to even the score. Hifumi had not lost a fight in 5 years before yesterday's battle. Both countries split the last two matches, leaving the score tied 3-3. The tiebreaking procedure is to select a weight class at random, and Riner was selected to face Tatsuru again, and he was able to secure the gold for France!
I mis-reported Teddy Riner's record in a few posts this week. Before yesterday he had won 4 gold medals in judo, but only three - including this year - were individual, as France won team gold in Tokyo. This makes his fifth gold medal (in five events).
Athlete of the Day - Mondo Duplantis, Sweden, Athletics
Set the world record for the 9th time in winning his second consecutive gold medal in the pole vault.
Co-Athlete of the Day - Teddy Riner, France, Judo
Won two matches for France, to win gold medal in the mixed team judo competition, including the decisive seventh match.
U.S. Athlete of the Day - Taylor Knibb, USA, Triathlon
Not just because she anchored the mixed triathlon relay team to a silver medal, but because she withdrew from the cycling road race for the specific purpose of preparing for the team mixed triathlon relay. I would say she was successful.
Team of the Day - Netherlands Men, Netherlands, 3x3
Defeating France before a packed house by hitting a walk-off two in overtime. (The overtime rules are first team to score two points.)
Olympic Term of the Day: Technical Fall - In amateur wrestling, is a victory condition satsfied by outscoring an opponent by a specified number of points (10 points in the Olympics). It is wrestling's version of the mercy rule.
Olympic Events Watched: 3x3, Athletics, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Kayak, Shooting, Soccer, Sport Climbing, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling
USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (listed alphabetically): Simone Biles, Ryan Crouser, Caleb Dressel, Brady Ellison, Kristen Faulkner, Vincent Hancock, Torri Huske, Lee Kiefer, Katie Ledecky, Ilona Maher, Tom Murphy
