Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 11

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

Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 9

 Day 9 - August 1, 2024

One thing and one thing only dominated yesterday, and it was a topic that I wanted to avoid until it actually occurred but was something that us "amateur" sports enthusiasts knew was brewing.  And, although technically inapplicable here, the issue is one of transgender women in sports.  I will try to be as thorough as I can, but also as brief as possible as I want to get to the actual sports as quickly as possible.

The issue surrounds Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, and what happened in her first round fight agains Angela Carini from Italy.  Carini retired 46 seconds into the fight after taking one punch to the nose from the Algerian fighter.  The controversy comes from the fact people believe Carini retired because she was fearful for her safety fighting against a "man".  Carini didn't help matters by refusing to shake Khelif's hand after the fight - for which Carini later apologized and even said she would embrace Khelif.  

So, the issue about Khelif being a "man" is that she was suspended by the IBA - the International Boxing Association - for having failed a test which said her chromosomes are XY.  It should be noted that the IBA is run by a Russian, who moved its headquarters to Russia after the leader secured funding from Russia, and the "test" occurred after Khelif had defeated a Russian fighter.  The IBA never produced the results of the test, only saying that she must  be XY because her testosterone was so high.  Also of note is that the IBA has been discredited as an agency and no longer oversees amateur or Olympic boxing.  

Anyway, Khelif was born female, has female sex organs - and always has - participated in the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, and hails from a country that outlaws gender-reassignment surgery and practically outlaws anything it considers gay, bisexual or lesbian.  If Khelif was a transgender athlete, she would be more likely to be arrested or executed than representing Algeria in the Olympics.

There is a legitimate discussion that can be had about transgender athlete's participation in certain women's sporting events - but this is not the situation upon which to have that discussion.

Can I get to the good stuff now?  Good.

Simone Biles, Simone Biles, SIMONE BILES!!!  After a subpar performance in the uneven parallel bars left her third after two rotations of apparati, Biles nailed her vault and floor exercises to secure the gold medal in the individual all-around.  Rebecca Andrade of Brazil won silver and Biles' USA teammate Suni Lee earned bronze!  Biles is truly the GOAT - and they should retire that term!

Another All-Time Great, Katie Ledecky, won her 13th medal, the most all-time by an American female athlete, as the US won silver in teh 4x200 meter freestyle relay.  Australia dominated for gold, but they cannot take away Ledecky's record-breaking swim.

Also at the pool, a current and future great, Summer McIntosh of Canada, won the 200m butterfly final for her second gold medal of these events.  The 17 year old has won three total medals in Paris.  Following her on the podium were silver-medalist Regan Smith, and bronze-medalist Zhang Yufie of China.

Fellow American Kate Douglass won gold in the 200m breastroke, besting South Africa's Tatjana Smith and Tes Schouten of the Netherlands, who won silver and bronze respectively.

Equally as dominating as Biles and Ledecky has been the USA women's basketball team who have won 56 consecutive Olympics games.  Correction, 57, as they slowly pulled away from a Belgian squad that looks like medal contender.

Athletics - the formal name of Track & Field - started, with the men's 20km walk.  Ecuador's Brian Pintado pulled away from the leaders with one 1km lap remaining to coast to the gold medal.

In "non-traditional" sports, the USA - and HARVARD - won gold around Paris.  First at the rowing venue, the USA won gold in the men's fours despite facing the favorites and world champions from Great Britain.  Nick Mead, Justin Best, Michael Grady and Liam Corrigan - a Harvard alumnus - rowed their way to America's first rowing gold in this event since 1960!

Harvard making its presence felt - AGAIN - in fencing as the USA won gold in the team foil.  Jacqueline Dubrovic, and Maia Mei Weintraub were led by gold medalist Lee Kiefer with silver-medalist Lauren Scruggs (a rising senior at Harvard) securing the winning point!  Go Crimson!

In judo, Azerbaijan secures a gold in the men's 100kg division as Zelym Kotsoiev defeated Georgia's Ilia Sulamanidze 10-1.

Athlete of the Day - Simone Biles, United States, Swimming

How could it be anybody but?

Non-Simone Biles Athlete of the Day - Brian Pintado, Ecuador, Athletics/Summer McIntosh, Canada, Swimming

The 20km racewalking is no joke.  McIntosh now has 2 golds, and 3 overall medals at 17 years of age.

Team of the Day - USA Women, Fencing

Individual and team gold for Lee Kiefer; Individual silver and team gold for Lauren Scruggs in foil.  Great work ladies!

American Non-Simone Biles Athlete of the Day - Katie Ledecky, United States, Swimming

breaking a career record usually gets you noticed on here.

Co-American Athletes of the Day - Liam Corrigan, United States, Rowing/Lauren Scruggs, United States, Fencing

Harvard Gold Medalists!!!

Olympic Term of the Day:  Repechage - Boats that do not qualify for the next round from a heat, participate in an additional race, with the winners then qualifier for the next round.  That additional race is called a repechage.

Olympic Events Watched:  Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis

USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (Alphabetically - Capitals indicate a potential favorite to this point):  SIMONE BILES, Chloe Dygert, Brady Ellison, Torri Huske, Casey Kaufhold, LEE KIEFER, KATIE LEDECKY, Ilona Maher, Tom Murphy

Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 6

 Day 6 - July 29, 2024

Light day of Olympics watching for your author, as it was a Monday, and sometimes work must be done.  That does not mean there isn't anything to report, as there was some great action on the fields, courts, pools, etc.

The day wasn't without controversy though, controversy which actually occurred two days ago, but was announced yesterday.  Eurosports' commentator Bob Ballard was on the call for the women's 4x100 meter freestyle relay.  After Australia won gold, and the other teams were competing to finish second through eighth, Ballard stated, "Well, the women are just finishing up.  You know what women are like ... hanging around, doing their makeup."  Ballard's broadcasting partner Lizzie Simmonds, herself a former Olympian, immediately called him out saying, "Outrageous Bob."  Ballard was removed from his job broadcasting the Olympics and sent home by Eurosports, and rightfully so.

But yesterday was a better day in the pool, as there was some fantastic action.  In the women's 400 meter individual medley - the race that most consider the rest to determine the world's best overall swimmer - Canada's Summer McIntosh cruised to gold - her second of the games, with Americans Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant neck-and-neck for silver and gold.

Also in the pool, American Luke Hobson secured bronze for the USA in the 200 meter freestyle, finishing behind Romania's David Popovici (gold) and Britain's Matthew Richards.

American team captain Ryan Murphy secured the bronze medal - hist 7th overall Olympic medal - in the men's 100 meter backstroke, and he arose out of the pool to see his pregnant wife holding a sign that read, "IT'S A GIRL!"  Thomas Ciccon of Italy won gold, followed by China's Xu Jiayu.

In the women's 200 meter freestyle, Australia Ariarne Titmus staked her claim to the best female swimmer of these games with another medal, this time silver as she was bested only by her countrywoman Mollie O'Callaghan.

American's were successful outside of the pool as well, with Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston winning silver and bronze in the skateboarding men's street final, with Eaton finishing just .1 point behind Japan's Horigome Yuto for the gold.  Eaton's silver will pair with his bronze medal from Tokyo.

The USA won another medal in fencing, as Nick Itkin secured bronze in the men's foil, defeating Japan's Iimura Kazuki in the bronze medal match.  Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong won gold in a scintillating final over Italy's Filippo Macchi, winning 15-14 in the gold medal match.

And, of course, the US Men's gymnastics team won bronze medal in the team competition, for the country's first medal in 16 years in Beijing in 2008.  Congratulations to the team of Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Frederick Richard.  The pure exuberance showed by the Americans in winning bronze was interestingly contrasted with the disappointment shown by the Chinese team - who suffered some uncharacteristic falls on high bar - in finishing second.  Japan won the gold.

The Women's rugby team defeated Great Britain 17-7 to advance to the semi-finals.  Here's to hoping that I can write more about them tomorrow after today's semi-finals and finals.

The most fascinating event I watched yesterday was the men's canoe slalom, in which Nicolas Gestin was able to secure gold in front of the home fans.  He was followed onto the podium by Adam Burgess of Great Britain and Slovakia's Matej Benus.  Benus earned his second Olympic medal in the event, having come in second in 2016 in Rio.

The best event I watched was the women's volleyball match between Turkiye and the Netherlands, with Turkiye coming back to win the last 3 sets after falling behind 2 sets to none.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Novak Djokovic - Rafael Nadal match in the second round - YES SECOND ROUND - with Djokovic thrashing the Spaniard in his last singles match at Roland Garros Stadium.  Nadal remains alive in doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, who also won his singles match yesterday.

As for the best photograph from yesterday's events - and probably from Olympic history - is this one:

This photograph was taken by Jerome Brouillet of AFP/via Getty Images after Brazil's Gabriel Medina (pictured) just concluded what he knew was an amazing ride in surfing at Teahupo'o in Tahita.  It turns out Medina's ride was awesome - it was the highest scoring ride in Olympics history.

Athlete of the Day - Gabriel Medina, Brazil, Surfing

Dominating run in the men's surfing competition, and come on, look at that pose coming off the ride.

American Athletes of the Day - Frederick Richard/Stephen Nedoriscik, United States, Gymanstics

Richard's scintillating performance on high bar catapulted the Americans into medal contention.  Nedorisik, who did not perform until the American's sixth and final apparatus - the pommel horse - due to the rules of only 3 competitors per country per event in the team finals, nailed his anchor leg performance to secure the USA's first men's gymnastics medal since Beijing 2016.

Olympic Term of the Day:  Pancake - Volleyball - Defensively, when diving to save the ball from hitting the floor, a player dives and puts their hand straight out onto the ground so that the ball bounces off the hand instead of the ground in order to prolong the point.

Olympic Events Watched:  Beach Volleyball, Canoe, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Kayaking, Swimming, Synchonized Diving, 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, TOM MURPHY, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson                             

Olympics - Paris 2024 - Day 4

Day 4 - July 27, 2024

It was the first full day of competition, and boy was it jampacked with events, including our first medals!

Might as well start with controversy, as more comes out surrounding the Chinese swimming doping scandal.  Positive tests from the Tokyo Olympics were revealed in April of this year (after being swept under the rug by the Chinese federation for three years!)  It turns out 23 members of the Chinese swim team in Tokyo tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.  Eleven of those 23 are swimming in this Olympics.  At least one member of the Australian delegation is contemplating a podium boycott if a Chinese swimmer wins a medal.  We shall see!

In the first medal match of these games, China 1 defeated South Korea 1 in the 10m Air Rifle mixed team event 1-12, earning gold, while South Korea settled for the silver.  Kazakhstan earned bronze by easily  outdistancing Germany 17-5.

The United States won its first medal in the women's 3m springboard synchronized diving event as Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon earned silver behind China's Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen.  Great Britain earned the bronze.

In some exciting games, Spain defeated Slovenia 25-22, and Egypt outlasted Hungary 35-32 in Handball.  Croatia narrowly escaped Japn 30-29 as well.  Germany beat Japan in volleyball 3-2.

 in a great matchup.

In the most dominating American performance yesterday, rower Kara Kohler won her heat by open water, easing into the semi-finals.

Right behindg Kohler's performance was that of the women's water polo team, which defated Greece 15-6!.

The US men's soccer team bounced back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of the host country France to beat New Zealand 4-1.

In what looks like a literal passing of the torch and a scary combination for its opponents, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are teaming up for men's doubles for Spain!

France defeated two-time defending Olympic champion - and previously undefeated in the Olympics Fiji - to win the rugby 7s gold medal, but the game of the day was the South Africa - Australia bronze medal game.  South Africa scored two tries in the waning minutes of the second half to tie the match, and then the deciding try as time expired to win the bronze medal!  Just exhilarating.

But, the primary focus yesterday was on the pool, specifically the women's 400m Freestyle final and both 4x100 meter freestyle relays.  The women's 400 meter Freestyle final featured the three women that have hte best 30 times in history, and in this battle of the titans Australia's Ariarne Titmus defeated Canada's Summer McIntosh (silver) and Katie Ledecky of the United States (bronze).

Australia won the women's freestyle relay, with the US winning silver and China winning the bronze, and the stage looked set for an Australian sweep of the day.  But, third leg Hunter Armstrong - sorry Greg Olsen - took over second place and then the lead before handing the proverbial baton to perhaps the greatest finisher in relay history, Caleb Dressel.  And with about a body length lead when he entered the pool, Dressel coasted to gold despite a charge from Australia, which came in second and Italy earned the bronze.

Athlete of the Day - Ariarne Titus, Australia, Swimming

She dominated the race that most swim fans were most interested in seeing, as her, McIntosh and Ledecky are the three most dominant women at the 400 meter distance ever, and they were all competing in the same race.

American Athlete of the Day - Chloe Dygert, United States, Cycling

Dygert suffered a crash during the women's individual road racing time trail, yet got up to win bronze, just missing out on the silver by seconds.  A well earned bronze!!!

Olympic Term of the Day:  Open Water - Rowing - When a boat is more than a full length ahead of every other team in the race.

Olympic Events Watched:  Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo

USA Potential Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer (Alphabetically):  Chloe Dygert, Brady Ellison, Casey Kaufhold, Alyssa Naeher Mallory Swanson