Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 18

Day 18 - August 10, 2024

So the International Olympic Committee, by virture of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, has stripped Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal an awarded it to the Romanian Ana Barbosu.  In case you don't know, when the floor exercises was finished in the individual apparatus finals, Jordan Chiles was officially listed in fifth, behding gold medal winner Rebecca Andrade of Brazil, silver medalist Simone Biles of the USA, Barbosu and a fourth-place Romanian.  But, the US officials noticed that the scores, which are based upon a starting difficulty rating for the perforamnce, had been underscored for Chiles by .1.  They appealed to the judges who corrected their error.  That extra .1 point raised Chiles from 5th to 3rd, earning her the bronze medal, which was awarded at the podium.  Romania then appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which concluded that the US coaches did not appeal in time, doing so four seconds after the one-minute deadline has expired.  So, Barbosu was announced as the bronze medalist and Chiles dropped to fifth.  The IOC has demanded the bronze medal awarded to Chiles be returned.  The United States gymnastic officals state they have time-stamped video evidence of them appealing the decision at 40 seconds and 55 seconds after the conclusion of the meet, thus within the time frame.  Who knows where this is going to end up?!

In the first ever Breaking events in the Olympics, the b-boy battle was decided with Canada's Phil Wizard winning gold in his battle over Frenchman Danny Dan, with American b-boy Victor (Montalvo) winning bronze.  This is likely the only time Breaking will be contested in the Olympics, as it will not return in Los Angeles in 2028.  Phil Wizard joins b-girl Ami from Japan as the Breaking gold medalists.

In ladies golf, New Zealand's Lydia Ko won gold, her third consecutive medal in the Olympics, and, with this win has now qualified for the Golf Hall of Fame, 

In sport climbing, in the ladies boulder and lead, Janja Garnbret of Slovenia won the gold medal just ahead of thh USA's Brooke Raboutou (silver) and Jessica Pilz of Austria (bronze).

The USA also won silver thanks to Nevin Harrison's performance in the women's canoe singles 200 meters, just behind Katie Vincent of Canada, who won gold, and just behind Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys of Cuba, who won the bronze.

Today a lot of emphasis fell to the team events, as the gold medal games happened to end the two weeks of game play.  And none was as hyped as men's basketball where host France played the previously dominant United States close, and then Steph Curry scored 12 points in the last three minutes of the gold medal game to secure victory over the France and secure gold.  LeBron James was named MVP of the tournament by FIBA, with Curry also making the first team along with Germany's Denis Schroeder, France's Victor Wembanyama, and Serbia's Nikola Jokic.

 

Nikola Jokic had only the fifth triple-double in Olympics history, as hed led Serbia to the bronze medal.

Despite falling short in basketball, France did win gold in men's volleyball, sweeping Poland 3-0.  Poland settled for silver.

In women's soccer, a late goal by Mallory Swanson put the USA women up 1-0 against Brazil, and some great goalkeeping by Alyssa Naeher preserved the shutout, her third straight in the knockout rounds.

In women's handball, which was one of the most exciting tournaments during thes games, Norway was able to defeat the home crowd and France, bringing gold to the Scandinavians and silver to France.  Seriously, if you haven't watched team handball, men or women, WATCH IT!

Women's water polo was also exciting in these games, and they wrapped up today with Spain defeating Australia 11-9 in the gold medal match.

But, as like most final weekends in the Olympics, the action on the track dominated.  In a fantastic race, Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya won the gold medal in the men's 800 meters, closely followed by Canada's Marco Arop (silver) and Djamel Sedjati of Algeria earned bronze.  American Bryce Hoppel wa right on the heals of the medalists, finsihing in fourth as the top four runners all finished within .48 seconds of each other, with first and second separated by only .01 seconds.

And, as close as the men's 800 meter finish was, the women's 120 meter hurdles race waws even closer.  American Masai Russell and France's Cyrena Samba-Myela both defeated the favorite Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.  Masai edged Samba-Myela of .01 of a second for gold.

At the 5,000 meter distance, Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen won gold ahead of Ronald Kwemoi of Kenya (silver) and the American Grant Fisher (bronze).  Fisher is the first American ever to medal in the 5,000 and the 10,000 meter races at the same Olympics.

An even much farther distance, the marathon, was held today as well, with Ethiopia's Tamrit Tola winning gold ahead of Belgian Bashir Abdi and Benson Kipruto of Kenya.

The men's high jump was hotly contested, but New Zealand's Hamish Kerr came away with the gold, American Shelby McEwen earned silver, and defending gold medalist Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar winning bronze.

And then we get to the final races of the Olympics on the track (women's marathon still remains tomorrow), teh 4x400 meter relays, men and women, and we had some doozies.  In the men's race, anchor leg Rai Benjamin held off 200 meter gold medalists Letsile Tobogo, setting an Olympic record and earning gold for the Americans.  Tobogo, of Botswana, finished second for his country.  By virtue of his running a leg in the qualifying rounds, Quincy Wilson, 16, becomes the youngest track gold medalist in US History.

Another gold for the US women, who absolutely dominated their race running the second fastest time every in the event, behind only the Soviet Union in Seoul in 1988.  The American coaches pulled two runners from the relay inserting 400 meter hurdle gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 200 meter gold medalist Gabby Thomas into the 2 and 3 slots, between leadoof Shamier Little and anchor Alexis Holmes.  The gold medal is Harvard's 13th medal at these games!

Athlete of the Day - Mallory Swanson, United States, Soccer

As deflated as the women's soccer team was after the last Olympics and World Cup, a new coach and a new outlook led to a gold medal, and a bright future for the entire team, but also its forwards, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson.

U.S. Athlete of the Day - Masai Russell, USA, Athletics

Her first victory in a major tournament was in the U.S. Olympic trials, and her second in these games.

Team of the Day - France Men, FRA, Volleyball

The host country dominated a Polan team that has the best player in the world, Wilfredo Leon.

U.S. Team of the Day - Women's 4x400 meter relay, USA, Athletics

Domination.

Olympic Term of the Day:  b-boy; b-girl - Athletes that compete in breaking are called b-boys (males) and b-girls (females).

Olympic Events Watched:  Athletics, Basketball, Breaking, Canoe, Golf

USA Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (listed alphabetically): KATIE LEDECKY, NICK MEAD

Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 16

Day 16 - August 8, 2024

Not a large controversy, but American sprinter - and 100 meter gold medalists - Noah Lyles admitted to testing positive for Covid on Tuesday, at 5:30 in the morning.  With all of the vasccines taken by people and the immunities developed, it isn't as deadly now, but for the Olympians it could mean the difference between a medal and not even participating.  You would think that the IOC would have had some type of quarantine protocol and procedures to keep the virus from spreading around the village.  Seems like that would be important.

Lots of fantastic team events today, starting the women's volleyball semi-finals match between the United States and Brazil.  The US women defeated Brazil in 5 sets, but that 5th set had some absolutely amazing volleys and rallies, and if you have not seen it, you should go watch it!  US to the finals to try to defend their gold medal!

At the beach, Germany defeated Norway in a third set in an ending that had I not seen it, I would not have believed it.  Germany was up 14-13, when Norway seemingly tied up the match with a spike at the net around the German block.  Germany challenges the play for a net violation, and on the replay it is clear that the Norwegian athlete did indeed hit the net - the bottom of the net - with his leg on the play, not only nullifying Norway's point, but giving the point - and the victory to Germany.  This was not a situation in which the call was petty as it was absolutely correct; it was just unbelievable.

The  basketball was amazing.  In the first game, host country France defeated Germany to advance to the gold medal game, giving us all a chance to not only see Victor Wembanyama in action, but also to see Evan Fournier at his best - in FIBA.  No word if France gets to keep possession of Alsace-Lorraine.  

In the gold medal match France will play the United States, which just barely survived Serbia.  The US was down 17 at one point, and down 11 at one point in the 4th quarter, and would not have been victorious if not for Steph Curry's 36 points (9-14 from three point range), and LeBron's triple double.  This was LeBron's second career Olympic triple-double, the only athlete to achieve that feat.

In men's soccer, Morocco defeated Egypt 6-0 to capture bronze, but to set the stage for a barn-burning gold medal match between host country France and Spain tomorrow.

In men's field hockey, the Netherlands defeated Germany in a shootout to capture gold, with the Germans earning bronze.

In the pool, the United States succombed to Australia in the semi-finals of water polo, losing in a shootout, on the last shot of the game.  They will return to action in the bronze medal game.

On the wrestling mat, American Aaron Brooks seemed on his way to the gold medal match when he was turned by Bulgarian Magomed Ramazanov with 4 second left in the match, giving the Bulgarian a 4-3 win.  Brooks will wrestle for the bronze tomorrow, while Ramazanov goes for the gold.

In sport climbing, American Sam Watson could not equal his world record performance from the preliminaries, but still earned the bronze medal in the speed climb, behding gold medalist Leonardo Veddriq of Indonesia and the silver medalist China's Wu Peng.

The focus of yesterday's action - as well as most of the stars - were on the track, where the USA shined.  In most years, Grant Holloway would be one of the shining stars as the prohibitive favorite in the 100 meter hurdles, and defending silver medalist from Tokyo, coasting to his first Olympic gold, with compatriot Daniel Roberts winning silver, just ahead of bronze medalist Rasheed Broadbell from Jamaica.

  

In the pit, the USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall had secured the gold medal just prior to making her sixth and last jump, but jumped anyone, landing in the pit, standing up, and then falling back down and doing a sand angel in the pit celebrating her victory.  Her interaction with her husband in the stands made news the world over after the win.  Milaika Mihambo of Germany - the defending gold medalist - won silver, while the USA's Jasmine Moore earned bronze.

The women's 400 meter was supposed to be one of the highlights of these Olympics, with American world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone being challenged by Femke Bol of the Netherlands, and although that challenge never really materialized, the race was spectacular nonetheless as McLaughline -Levrone easily won defended her Tokyo gold medal by setting another world record.  Fellow American Anna Cockrelly joined McLaughlin-Levrone on the medal stand winning silver.  Femke Bol earned bronze.

But, as dominating as McLaughline-Levrone's performance was, the news was all about the men's 200 meter dash, where Noah Lyles was attempting to win the sprint double after capturing the gold in the men's 100 meters.  Lyles, who was diagnosed with Covid on Tuesday, and he just didn't have the closing burst we are used to seeing from him.  Lyles, settled for bronze, just behind fellow American Kenny Bednarek who won silver.  Both Americans were defeated by Letsile Tobogo, of Botswana, who earned a deserving gold.

Athlete of the Day - Letsile Tobogo, Botswana, Athletics

Won gold in the 200 meters over American favorites Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Erryion Knighton.

U.S. Athlete of the Day - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA, Athletics

She is probably the athlete of the day with her gold medal and world record in the 400 meter hurdles, but I had to give credit to Tobogo AND McLaughlin-Lecrone.

Team of the Day - Netherlands Men, NED, Field Hockey,

Defeated Germany in a shootout to capture the gold medal.

U.S. Team of the Day - Men's Basketball, USA, Basketball

Coming back from down 17 to advance to the gold medal game.

Olympic Term of the Day:  Split Decision - In boxes, it is a scoring determination in which two judges agree that one boxer was the winning boxer while the third judge decides that the other boxer should have been victorious.  This differs from a majority decision where two judges agree on a winning boxer and the third judge believes the match to be a draw.

Olympic Events Watched:  Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Volleyball, Water Polo

Note on the United States Flag-Bearers for the Closing Ceremonies:  The United States team captains have selected swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead.  Ledecky needs no introduction, as she has been successful not only in this Olympics but also in her Olympic career (most decorated American female athlete).  Nick Mead led the US men's rowing team to a gold in the men's four-boat.  Mead rowed bow for the United States' first gold in the men's four-boat in 64 years, since Rome 1960.  Although he specifically wasn't on my radar as a potential flag-bearer for these games, I do think he was an excellent choice.  Ledecky - should go without saying.

USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (listed alphabetically): Simone Biles, Ryan Crouser, Caleb Dressel, Brady Ellison, Kristen Faulkner, Cole Hocker, Vincent Hancock,Torri Huske, Lee Kiefer, Katie Ledecky, Ilona Maher, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Tom Murphy. Sophia Smith, Gabby Thomas