Well, that's a wrap on Rio 2016!
Today is always a terribly sad and depressing day for me. No more Olympics. No more nightly dose of Bob Costas. No more of my favorite news programs reporting from the games. No more chances to imagine thats me on the podium with the national anthem playing. Wait, did I just say that last one out loud? Oh, well. Tell me you haven't imagined that as well?! When they distinguish the Olympic flame it's like someone puts out the fire in my soul. However, my body (and soul) is looking forward to returning to more than five hours of sleep a night.
There were the various topics of worry leading into the games: Zika, crime, terrorism, traffic, water quality, etc. But as I will always point out, the media has to find something to talk about before the games start. It's ALWAYS something. Then the Olympics finally start and the focus is on the actual competition. Then you realize the Olympics are greater than everything else and all that surrounded it.
Rio put on a great Olympics. Were there some issues? Yes. There was traffic and some of the venues had some structural issues from time to time. But nothing to the extent that some people were elaborating on. And all the athletes that stayed home...they missed out.
The people of Rio and Brazil were very intent on putting on a great games and showing their home to the world. They took it seriously, which is why the false accounts from Ryan Lochte were such a big deal. To them, he was slandering everything they had worked towards.
I have a good friend from college who is a first-generation American. Her parents are Brazilian and most of her extended family still lives there (and in Rio specifically). She has always talked about Brazil with such fondness that it almost hurt me for her when I listened to all the various attacks on the country and city of Rio. She posted some very poignant thoughts prior to the start of the games that I thought was worthy to share.
"Rio de Janeiro is known as Cidade Maravilhosa - The Beautiful City. It is a place where each view is more breathtaking than the next; where colors and music fill the streets. In 2009, when Rio accepted the bid to host the 2016 Olympics Brazil was in the largest economic boom in its history. It was the sixth largest economy in the world. Now, seven years later, it is experiencing what is likely the worst economic downturn in its history and expected to provide the infrastructure for a massive global event that most well established economies struggle to meet. Imagine having to host a modern day Olympics during the Great Depression. It is easy to look down with disapproval on Rio from the perspective of an American who has never seen the poverty or corruption common in most South American countries. But I encourage you to remember that the US and Western Europe are exceptions to the rule when it comes to how most countries on Earth exist, and appreciate how a struggling nation came together as best it could during a time that is literally being called 'the crisis' to open its arms to the world."
I think this country did come together and open its arms to the world. And the world embraced it back. Time will tell what the long-term effects of the games will be on Brazil (good or bad), but I hope that the success gives the people a boost, knowing that the world enjoyed these 17 days and that 2016 will be remembered as a great Olympic games.
I will continue to post some more thoughts here when I get some time as I have a few more posts I'd like to share. But for the most part that's all for Rio! Only 535 days and counting until Pyeongchang 2018!
Monday, August 22, 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Make Life Delicious
I mentioned previously a few of the reasons I was cheering for USA swimmer Simone Manuel during the games. The most important being that she's from Sugar Land and the second is her love of Shipley Do-Nuts.
While there's a good chance we have some other similar interests, the two aforementioned things might possibly be the only two things we have in common. I mean, she's an Olympian who goes to Stanford. I, well, write a blog about the Olympics. But I'm perfectly fine with all this.
To anyone reading this who has never had a chance to taste a delicious hot-out-of-the-oven doughnut from Shipley is missing out. Forget Krispy Kreme, Dunkin and any other doughnut place out there. I can easily ignore a doughnut from any of those places because I know Shipley is this best and it's not worth it to waste my time, or caloric intake, on any place else.
So, what did the four-time Olympic medalist (two golds and two silvers, btw) have to do when she got home to Houston? Get some Shipley of course! And can't we all agree she deserves it?!
While there's a good chance we have some other similar interests, the two aforementioned things might possibly be the only two things we have in common. I mean, she's an Olympian who goes to Stanford. I, well, write a blog about the Olympics. But I'm perfectly fine with all this.
To anyone reading this who has never had a chance to taste a delicious hot-out-of-the-oven doughnut from Shipley is missing out. Forget Krispy Kreme, Dunkin and any other doughnut place out there. I can easily ignore a doughnut from any of those places because I know Shipley is this best and it's not worth it to waste my time, or caloric intake, on any place else.
So, what did the four-time Olympic medalist (two golds and two silvers, btw) have to do when she got home to Houston? Get some Shipley of course! And can't we all agree she deserves it?!
What to Watch - Aug. 21
Today is the 17th and final day of the XXXI Olympiad with the closing ceremonies tonight.
The men's marathon takes off at 8:30 a.m. (EST) this morning. The Americans aren't really favored to medal even though Meb Keflezighi finished fourth in London. Galen Rupp, who typically competes in distance events on the track, qualified after running his first marathon at the trials in Los Angeles. Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge owns the top time in the world this year, running the 26.2 miles at 2:03:05.
At the same time, the U.S. men's volleyball team looks to follow the women's team's lead in the bronze medal match. Team USA faces Russia in the consolation game. Winner claims bronze. Loser gets nothing.
American Claressa Shields has made it to the finals in the 75 kg women's boxing division. She will defend her London gold against Nouchka Fontijn if the Netherlands at 1 p.m. (EST).
The U.S. women's basketball team won gold yesterday as the men look to do the same today. USA takes on Serbia, which is one of the teams that previously gave them trouble before, at 2:45 p.m. (EST). With all the talent on the roster, there's no question that the U.S. should win this game but that hasn't panned out in too many blowouts thus far. As long as they can remember tok play defense, they'll win gold for the third straight games. One other motivating factor, as if a gold medal wasn't enough, is that it's Coach K's last Olympic game as the Team USA head coach.
I haven't read much about the plans for the closing ceremony tonight. The closing ceremony is typically a "party" with lots of music and the athletes mixing with one another. This sounds right up Rio's alley. There is usually a part to give people a taste for the next summer games, in this case Tokyo, and the flame will be passed on to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 winter games.
Simone Biles has been selected as the flag bearer for Team USA. This is not surprising. While the opening ceremony flag bearer is typically someone with success at previous Olympics, the one for the closing ceremony is often someone with a lot of success at that particular games. Since most the swimmers leave before the end of the games, Biles made it an easy decision between her and say Katie Ledecky. Hopefully the USA has some more medals to sport at the ceremony to cap off a great games!
The men's marathon takes off at 8:30 a.m. (EST) this morning. The Americans aren't really favored to medal even though Meb Keflezighi finished fourth in London. Galen Rupp, who typically competes in distance events on the track, qualified after running his first marathon at the trials in Los Angeles. Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge owns the top time in the world this year, running the 26.2 miles at 2:03:05.
At the same time, the U.S. men's volleyball team looks to follow the women's team's lead in the bronze medal match. Team USA faces Russia in the consolation game. Winner claims bronze. Loser gets nothing.
American Claressa Shields has made it to the finals in the 75 kg women's boxing division. She will defend her London gold against Nouchka Fontijn if the Netherlands at 1 p.m. (EST).
The U.S. women's basketball team won gold yesterday as the men look to do the same today. USA takes on Serbia, which is one of the teams that previously gave them trouble before, at 2:45 p.m. (EST). With all the talent on the roster, there's no question that the U.S. should win this game but that hasn't panned out in too many blowouts thus far. As long as they can remember tok play defense, they'll win gold for the third straight games. One other motivating factor, as if a gold medal wasn't enough, is that it's Coach K's last Olympic game as the Team USA head coach.
I haven't read much about the plans for the closing ceremony tonight. The closing ceremony is typically a "party" with lots of music and the athletes mixing with one another. This sounds right up Rio's alley. There is usually a part to give people a taste for the next summer games, in this case Tokyo, and the flame will be passed on to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 winter games.
Simone Biles has been selected as the flag bearer for Team USA. This is not surprising. While the opening ceremony flag bearer is typically someone with success at previous Olympics, the one for the closing ceremony is often someone with a lot of success at that particular games. Since most the swimmers leave before the end of the games, Biles made it an easy decision between her and say Katie Ledecky. Hopefully the USA has some more medals to sport at the ceremony to cap off a great games!
Saturday, August 20, 2016
What to Watch - Aug. 20
Today is the last full day of competition in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Hold on, I need to go wipe my tears.
There's going to be a bunch of crazy people doing something called a triathlon in the morning. I have zero clue how on actually accomplishes this and I think they're all crazy. American Gwen Jorgensen, who finished 38th in London after a flat tire in her bike, is now one of the favorites to win. If she wins, she'd be the first athlete to win in that event for the U.S. at the Olympics.
It's been 116 years since medals were handed out in the Olympics for women's golf but that changes today. Inbee Park maintained her lead from the second round but has others nipping at her heel. World No. 1 Lydia Ko and USA's Gerina Piller are both two shots back to potentially make this a bit more exciting final than the men's tournament.
After a tough loss on Thursday, the U.S. women's volleyball team faces the Netherlands in the bronze-medal game today at noon (EST). These games are tough because if you lose that's it, you go home empty-handed.
At 2:30 p.m. (EST) the U.S. women's basketball team plays for its sixth straight gold medal. Team USA has won 48 straight Olympic games and is averaging a 38.4 point margin of victory over opponents in Rio. These blowouts include a 40-point win against the team's opponent in the final - Spain. If the U.S. lost, it would be the biggest upset in sports history. But the U.S. won't lose. It won't even be close.
Today is both the semifinals and finals for the men's 10m platform diving. Great Britain's Tom Daley is in the lead, after winning our bonze in London, followed by the pair of Chinese drivers, including Qiu Bo, who won the bronze in London, and Chen Aisen. Reigning Olympic champion, David Boudia currently sits in fourth with Steele Johnson just making the cut after the prelims.
In track and field, it's the men's and women's 4x400m relays, the men's 5,000m and 1500m final and the women's 800m and high jump final. The U.S. has its best chance at medals in both the relays. The U.S. men have won 17 of 24 times in the race but claimed silver behind the Bahamas tonight. The team had the second qualifying score behind Jamaica and ahead of Belgium. You can be sure they'll be careful of their handoffs after what happened in the 4x100 last night.
The U.S. women are the two-time defending U.S. champions and had the top prelims score followed by Jamaica and Ukraine.
There's going to be a bunch of crazy people doing something called a triathlon in the morning. I have zero clue how on actually accomplishes this and I think they're all crazy. American Gwen Jorgensen, who finished 38th in London after a flat tire in her bike, is now one of the favorites to win. If she wins, she'd be the first athlete to win in that event for the U.S. at the Olympics.
It's been 116 years since medals were handed out in the Olympics for women's golf but that changes today. Inbee Park maintained her lead from the second round but has others nipping at her heel. World No. 1 Lydia Ko and USA's Gerina Piller are both two shots back to potentially make this a bit more exciting final than the men's tournament.
After a tough loss on Thursday, the U.S. women's volleyball team faces the Netherlands in the bronze-medal game today at noon (EST). These games are tough because if you lose that's it, you go home empty-handed.
At 2:30 p.m. (EST) the U.S. women's basketball team plays for its sixth straight gold medal. Team USA has won 48 straight Olympic games and is averaging a 38.4 point margin of victory over opponents in Rio. These blowouts include a 40-point win against the team's opponent in the final - Spain. If the U.S. lost, it would be the biggest upset in sports history. But the U.S. won't lose. It won't even be close.
Today is both the semifinals and finals for the men's 10m platform diving. Great Britain's Tom Daley is in the lead, after winning our bonze in London, followed by the pair of Chinese drivers, including Qiu Bo, who won the bronze in London, and Chen Aisen. Reigning Olympic champion, David Boudia currently sits in fourth with Steele Johnson just making the cut after the prelims.
In track and field, it's the men's and women's 4x400m relays, the men's 5,000m and 1500m final and the women's 800m and high jump final. The U.S. has its best chance at medals in both the relays. The U.S. men have won 17 of 24 times in the race but claimed silver behind the Bahamas tonight. The team had the second qualifying score behind Jamaica and ahead of Belgium. You can be sure they'll be careful of their handoffs after what happened in the 4x100 last night.
The U.S. women are the two-time defending U.S. champions and had the top prelims score followed by Jamaica and Ukraine.
Friday, August 19, 2016
What to Watch - Aug. 19
While there were still 64 gold medals left to be handed out as of this morning, it's reached the point where there's not as much to show in primetime. So don't be shocked when there's a 30-minute break at 9:30/10:30 (EST) for NBC to air it's "Olympic episode" of the show Super Store. I've never watched the show and even with an Olympic-themed episode, I plan to fast forward through it on the DVR.
The U.S. men's volleyball team is on a four match winning streak, after losing its first two matches, and looks for a win in the semifinals against Italy. One of those early two loses came against Italy. The other semifinal match features Russia and Brazil.
Team USA is looking for a second straight gold in women's water polo as the team defend its title against Italy today at 2:30 p.m. (EST). Both teams are unbeaten so far in Rio.
Today the U.S. men's basketball team looks to assure a medal by winning its semifinal game against Spain at 2:30 (EST) to advance to the gold-medal game. The team finally put together a solid win against Argentina on Wednesday but Spain will still be a tough a test. Spain's biggest player (in name recognition) is six-time NBA all-star Pau Gasol. The winner faces the winner of the Australia/Serbia game for the gold and silver while the losers meet for the bronze medal.
I mentioned USA boxer Claressa Shields the other day who was fighting in the quarterfinals to defend her gold from London. She advanced and now meets Kazakistan's Dariga Shakimova in the semifinal. I don't know exactly how the tournament works but Shields has already guaranteed herself a medal, she's fighting now to find out what color it will be.
The men's 10m platform diving competition gets underway with USA's David Boudia looking to defend his 2012 gold and add another medal to his Olympic collection. China's Qiu Bo, who took silver in London, is still a three-time world champion. Steele Johnson, who won silver with Boudia in the synchro event last week, is also in the competition.
The women's golf tournament enters the third round today with notable Inbee Park of South Korea leading American Stacy Lewis by one stroke. The two golfers in third entering the day, Great Britain's Charley Hull and Canada's Brooke Henderson, are just two back. This is still anyone's tournament as "moving day" begins.
In taekwondo, American and Sugar Land native Steven Lopez is hoping to win his third gold and fourth overall medal at 37-years-old. He won his first gold 16 years ago in Sydney. The round of 16 goes throughout the morning with the gold medal matches tonight.
Today is everything for men's freestyle wrestling rolled into one - qualifying, eliminations, medal matches, etc. Team USA's Jordan Burroughs is the defending 74kg Olympic champion and three-time world champion. He wants to leave as the greatest freestyle wrestler of all time and has a good chance for that if he wins another gold.
Today is everything for men's freestyle wrestling rolled into one - qualifying, eliminations, medal matches, etc. Team USA's Jordan Burroughs is the defending 74kg Olympic champion and three-time world champion. He wants to leave as the greatest freestyle wrestler of all time and has a good chance for that if he wins another gold.
Medals will be handed out in track today in perhaps the best event of the entire meet - race walking. Everyone thinks this is a joke, and it kind of is, but these people move! They take power walking to a whole new level. Whoever said you have to move with both feet off the ground to get cardio is wrong.
Field finals tonight include women's pole vault and men's hammer throw, while it's the first rounds of both the men's and women's 4x400m relays.
The big events for tonight will be the men's and women's 4x100m relays. On the women's side, the U.S. is in the final but not without some issues. In the prelims yesterday, Allyson Felix missed the handoff, pretty much throwing the baton, in the second/third leg exchange. It looked like the U.S. was done but the team still finished the race. Turns out Felix was bumped, unintentionally, by the Brazilian runner next to her, which caused her to stumble and miss the handoff. Felix knew in that instant that if the team didn't finish the race there would be no chance at a protest to be reinstated. The team won the protest and had to run a time trial last night, alone on the track, to earn a spot in the final. They killed it, posting the best time of any team, and getting back the chance to defend their gold from London. The U.S. will have the most competition from Jamaica followed by Great Britain.
In the men's 4x100 all eyes are on Usain Bolt, I mean, Jamaica. If Jamaica wins, Bolt will have nine gold medals in nine Olympic races since 2008, a perfect 9-for-9. Does he have a chance? Uh, yeah. While, he "struggles" in the 100m, it's different for him in the relay. In the individual race it's hard for him to get out of the blocks because he's such a big guy but then his stride makes up for it mid-way through the race, taking less steps than the average competitor. In the relay he runs the anchor leg where he doesn't have to start in the blocks and then proceeds to blow past everyone else. The U.S. had the top qualifying time ahead of Japan, China, Canada and then Jamaica. But that doesn't mean much as teams like the U.S. and Jamaica didn't run all it's runner that will be in the final. Expect this to be between Jamaica and the U.S., if that.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
What to Watch - Aug. 18
Only four more days of competition (insert all the sad emotions I'm feeling here).
At noon (EST) is the second game of the women's volleyball semifinals. Team USA looks to return to the gold-medal match for the third straight Olympics but faces Serbia first tonight. These two played earlier in the tournament with the Americans winning the match, 3-1. The U.S. has lost both of those previous final matches to claim silver with Brazil getting the gold. If the Americans win today, they will not face the home country as China upset the favorites in the quarterfinals.
At 6 p.m. (EST), the U.S. women's basketball team plays in the semifinals against France. The question for the remainder of these games is not really if the U.S. will win, but by how much? The Americans will play wither Spain or Serbia in the final on Saturday.
Tonight is the night we'll see if Usain Bolt can win both the 100m and 200m in three straight Olympics with the men's 200m final.
Bolt had the best time in the semifinal but he barely beat Canada's Andre De Grasse. American LaShawn Merritt qualified in third behind those two but the shocking event was that Justin Gatlin failed to make it. Bolt may not have the luxury of slowing to look around in the race this time but he's still the absolute favorite to win.
American Ashton Eaton leads the decathlon after the first of two days of competition (5-of-10 events) ahead of Kai Kazmirek of Germany and Damian Warner of Canada. Today is the 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1500m.
Team USA qualified two for the women's 400m hurdle final with Dalilah Muhammad earning the top time and Ashley Spencer in fifth. The Czech Republic's Zuzana Hejnova, who qualified second, is the two-time defending world champion and is the first woman to win back-to-back world titles.
Finals are also happening today in the men's shot put and women's javelin and semifinals in the men's 1500m and women's 800m.
The women's 10m platform diving final begins this afternoon but will likely be shown in primetime. At last year's world championship, this was the one diving discipline (out of eight total) that the Chinese did not win. But after the prelims, the two Chinese divers sit in first and second. China has won gold in this event the last two Olympics. In third is American Jessica Parratto, while the other U.S. diver Katrina Young is in 12th. The person that claimed the world title last year, North Korea's Kim Kuk-hyang did not advance. Note: All of this is prior to the semifinal this morning.
At noon (EST) is the second game of the women's volleyball semifinals. Team USA looks to return to the gold-medal match for the third straight Olympics but faces Serbia first tonight. These two played earlier in the tournament with the Americans winning the match, 3-1. The U.S. has lost both of those previous final matches to claim silver with Brazil getting the gold. If the Americans win today, they will not face the home country as China upset the favorites in the quarterfinals.
At 6 p.m. (EST), the U.S. women's basketball team plays in the semifinals against France. The question for the remainder of these games is not really if the U.S. will win, but by how much? The Americans will play wither Spain or Serbia in the final on Saturday.
Tonight is the night we'll see if Usain Bolt can win both the 100m and 200m in three straight Olympics with the men's 200m final.
Bolt had the best time in the semifinal but he barely beat Canada's Andre De Grasse. American LaShawn Merritt qualified in third behind those two but the shocking event was that Justin Gatlin failed to make it. Bolt may not have the luxury of slowing to look around in the race this time but he's still the absolute favorite to win.
American Ashton Eaton leads the decathlon after the first of two days of competition (5-of-10 events) ahead of Kai Kazmirek of Germany and Damian Warner of Canada. Today is the 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1500m.
Team USA qualified two for the women's 400m hurdle final with Dalilah Muhammad earning the top time and Ashley Spencer in fifth. The Czech Republic's Zuzana Hejnova, who qualified second, is the two-time defending world champion and is the first woman to win back-to-back world titles.
Finals are also happening today in the men's shot put and women's javelin and semifinals in the men's 1500m and women's 800m.
The women's 10m platform diving final begins this afternoon but will likely be shown in primetime. At last year's world championship, this was the one diving discipline (out of eight total) that the Chinese did not win. But after the prelims, the two Chinese divers sit in first and second. China has won gold in this event the last two Olympics. In third is American Jessica Parratto, while the other U.S. diver Katrina Young is in 12th. The person that claimed the world title last year, North Korea's Kim Kuk-hyang did not advance. Note: All of this is prior to the semifinal this morning.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
What to Watch - Aug. 17
Gymnastics is sadly over. Swimming is sadly over. And the events start getting fewer as the tournament style sports reach semifinals and finals here in Day 12.
Today the women's golf tournament begins today. Since about 99 percent of the world's top females are playing, they are pretty much the favorite. Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Lexi Thompson (USA) and Inbee Park (South Korea) are the current top five players in the world. I remember Lexi from when she was about 13-years-old and in braces. Crazy! Ko has been ranked no. 1 for the last 43 weeks and she's only 19! The other Americans in the tournament are Stacey Lewis (world no. 6) and Gerina Piller (world no. 15). Piller qualified in the very last tournament possible by reaching the 15th spot that allowed the USA to send three players.
First time I've mentioned boxing but here it is. American Claressa Shields boxes today in the women's 75kg quarterfinals. She's overcome a lot in her lifetime, being raped and molested as a child, and won gold in London. She wants to become the first American boxer, male or female, to win two golds.
The defending Olympic champion U.S. women's water polo team moves on to the semifinals today against Hungary with the match beginning at 11:20 (EST).
In men's volleyball, Team USA takes on Poland in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. (EST). Watch out for Poland! And I mean that in a "don't meet them in a dark alley" type way. There was a near brawl between them and Iran in a prelim round last week that went to extra points in five sets. Luckily there was a net dividing the teams.
The men's basketball team needs to get it together and start playing some defense as they face Argentina in the quarterfinals at 5:45 p.m. (EST) today. The other most interesting quarterfinals game to watch is Spain vs. France at 1:30 p.m.
After the tough loss last night, Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross return to the sand for the bronze-medal match in women's beach volleyball. Crazy that in four Olympic appearances that was Walsh-Jennings' first loss. She's never been in this position before, playing to where the loser doesn't get a medal. To make it even more difficult, they have to face the No. 1 ranked team in the tournament and it's a Brazilian team, Larissa/Talita. This Brazil team lost in an upset to a German team yesterday, making the gold final a pair of unexpected teams. The USA/BRA match is at 9 p.m. (EST).
In track and field, it's the finals for the women's 100m hurdles, the women's 200m and the women's long jump. We'll see Mr. Bolt again in the 200m semifinals, which is really his better event.
The decathalon also gets underway today to determine the "world's best athlete" with the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m. USA's Ashton Eaton is the reigning Olympic champion, world record holder and heavy favorite to repeat. It's amazing how athletic these guys are and good at everything!
Americans Brianna Rollins and Kristi Castlin posted the top times in the first round of the 100m hurdles with the third American, Nia Ali, coming in sixth. Rollins is the world champion from 2013, while Ali won the indoor title (only 60m) this past year.
The women's 200m will be just as impressive as all the sprints. Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands is the reigning world champion and was the top time in the semis. American Tori Bowie qualified in second after winning bronze in the 100m the other day and won bronze at the world championships last year in this event. Jamaica's Elaine Thompson, the 100m champion, won the silver at worlds last year and qualified third.
Today the women's golf tournament begins today. Since about 99 percent of the world's top females are playing, they are pretty much the favorite. Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Lexi Thompson (USA) and Inbee Park (South Korea) are the current top five players in the world. I remember Lexi from when she was about 13-years-old and in braces. Crazy! Ko has been ranked no. 1 for the last 43 weeks and she's only 19! The other Americans in the tournament are Stacey Lewis (world no. 6) and Gerina Piller (world no. 15). Piller qualified in the very last tournament possible by reaching the 15th spot that allowed the USA to send three players.
First time I've mentioned boxing but here it is. American Claressa Shields boxes today in the women's 75kg quarterfinals. She's overcome a lot in her lifetime, being raped and molested as a child, and won gold in London. She wants to become the first American boxer, male or female, to win two golds.
The defending Olympic champion U.S. women's water polo team moves on to the semifinals today against Hungary with the match beginning at 11:20 (EST).
In men's volleyball, Team USA takes on Poland in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. (EST). Watch out for Poland! And I mean that in a "don't meet them in a dark alley" type way. There was a near brawl between them and Iran in a prelim round last week that went to extra points in five sets. Luckily there was a net dividing the teams.
The men's basketball team needs to get it together and start playing some defense as they face Argentina in the quarterfinals at 5:45 p.m. (EST) today. The other most interesting quarterfinals game to watch is Spain vs. France at 1:30 p.m.
After the tough loss last night, Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross return to the sand for the bronze-medal match in women's beach volleyball. Crazy that in four Olympic appearances that was Walsh-Jennings' first loss. She's never been in this position before, playing to where the loser doesn't get a medal. To make it even more difficult, they have to face the No. 1 ranked team in the tournament and it's a Brazilian team, Larissa/Talita. This Brazil team lost in an upset to a German team yesterday, making the gold final a pair of unexpected teams. The USA/BRA match is at 9 p.m. (EST).
In track and field, it's the finals for the women's 100m hurdles, the women's 200m and the women's long jump. We'll see Mr. Bolt again in the 200m semifinals, which is really his better event.
The decathalon also gets underway today to determine the "world's best athlete" with the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m. USA's Ashton Eaton is the reigning Olympic champion, world record holder and heavy favorite to repeat. It's amazing how athletic these guys are and good at everything!
Americans Brianna Rollins and Kristi Castlin posted the top times in the first round of the 100m hurdles with the third American, Nia Ali, coming in sixth. Rollins is the world champion from 2013, while Ali won the indoor title (only 60m) this past year.
The women's 200m will be just as impressive as all the sprints. Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands is the reigning world champion and was the top time in the semis. American Tori Bowie qualified in second after winning bronze in the 100m the other day and won bronze at the world championships last year in this event. Jamaica's Elaine Thompson, the 100m champion, won the silver at worlds last year and qualified third.
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