A Trio of Medals for Canada today!
ROWING:
The weather was so-so today in Rio as the rain came down, but the show must go on and as long as the wind is down and the water is flat, we can row!
There was a large South African presence with teams in all finals today. Who knew they were rowers?!
Women’s Lightweight Doubles Sculls
The Canadian pair of Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee were looking for redemption from their disappointing 7th place finish in London 2012 (Jennerich and Tracy Cameron). They were trailing for the first portion of the race (4th/5th position), then powered back into contention and overtook the Chinese boat. Netherlands took Gold, Canada Silver, China Bronze. (South Africa finished 5th).
Men’s Lightweight Doubles Sculls
Gold for France, Silver for Ireland and Bronze for Norway (South Africa finished 4th)
Men’s Four
GBR won their 4th Olympic Gold Medal in a row for this event, and it was their third time defeating Australia (who came in Silver). Italy won Bronze. Canada lost steam and finished 6th. (South Africa finished 4th)
Women’s Pairs
GBR continued their streak for Rio and also took this event. NZ won Silver and Denmark – Bronze. (South Africa finished 5th)
TRAMPOLINE
The preliminary round consists of two runs, scores are combined to place the athletes. The top 8 make the final; trampoline gymnasts only get one shot during the final.
Canada’s flag bearer Rosie MacLennan was looking to achieve another great performance (not looking to defend a gold medal, as she puts it). Even though she still finished third in the prelim round, Rosie was admittedly a little shaky on her routines. But, in the final round, she had huge flight time, solid tucks and kickouts and even when she bounced out of the centre rectangle (points deducted), she recovered flawlessly as if she meant to bounce out that way (personally, I was less concerned about points being deducted, and more concerned about Rosie rebounding off balance). That slight ‘migration’ was her only fault and she earned a first place score! With two more bouncers still to go, Rosie was guaranteed a medal! But what colour?
China’s Li Dan was next up and favoured to win the event. She had a flawless routine and I thought she would take over 1st or 2nd place. But, Li would have to settle for 3rd, surprisingly. Belarus’ Tatsiana Piatrenia was the final bouncer (1st in prelim) and unfortunately had a couple large errors including travelling way outside the rectangle which also caused her to lose flight time. That would do it!
Rosie won Canada’s 2nd Gold Medal of Rio! Bryony Page of GBR took Silver, and she could not believe it! Page was on the floor reduced to tears when she knew she had clinched a medal. Rosie was right there trying to comfort her – such spirit.
With her gold medal, Rosie joins the club of back-to-back gold medal winners, which includes Catriona Le May Doan (1998, 2002 speed skating) and Alex Bilodeau (2010, 2014 moguls).
She also has broken the “Curse of the (Summer) Olympic Flag Bearer.” Previous Summer athletes have not had gold medal performances after leading Team Canada into the Opening Ceremonies. Winter athletes, on the other hand, haven’t had a problem (e.g. Clara Hughes, Hayley Wickenheiser, Catriona Le May Doan, Danielle Goyette).
SWIMMING
Women’s 200m Backstroke:
Another Bronze Medal for the Women’s Canadian swim team, specifically Hilary Caldwell this time! Hilary swam several spots back until the last couple of lengths where she made up lots of ground, duking it out with Russia’s Ustinova. Caldwell won the fight for Bronze as USA’s Madeline Dirado chased down the favourite, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, and just beat her to the touch! What an upset!
Men’s 100m Butterfly:
The legendary match up between Le Clos and Phelps, again. But, it would be neither of them! Time to pass the torch on to 21-year-old Joseph Schooling from Singapore. He set an Olympic record (50.39s) and is the first of his country to win a gold medal. It is also the first medal for Singapore in swimming. 2nd place was just as exciting with a 3-way tie – 51.14s.
Women’s 800m Freestyle:
USA’s Katie Ledecky absolutely crushed the competition. She took Gold (her fourth of the games) and a new World Record (beat the last record in the order of ~10s or more). The actual race was behind Ledecky, for silver and bronze. It would be GBR’s Jazz Carlin (8:16.17) over Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas (8:16.37).
Men’s 50m Freestyle:
Anthony Ervin became the oldest man to win a swim event when he took the Gold Medal tonight. Last time he won a medal, he sold it on eBay for $17,000 for hurricane relief. Not sure what he’s going to do with this one. France’s Manaudou finished in Silver by 0.01s, and USA’s Adrian won Bronze.
TRACK AND FIELD
Athletics are underway! Some of my favourite events! Heptathlon is underway and Canada’s cheers are largely directed to Brianne Theisen-Eaton. She currently sits in 5th place after the 100m hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, and 200m; next up: Long Jump, Javelin Throw, and 800m! Theissen had a season’s best in the high jump portion while a couple competitors (German Thiam, and GBR’s Johnson-Thompson) jumped 1.98m (a world heptathlon best).
Women’s 10,000m by the numbers:
– 37 Runners
– 1 World record (totally obliterating the previous one)
– 6 National Records
– 5 Seasonal Bests
– 1 African Record
– 10 Personal Bests
– 2 DNFs
– Running under 32 min is considered a good time, so this was an especially fast group of runners!
World Record was obliterated by Ethiopian runner, Almaz Ayana (29:17.45)
Kenya’s Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot took Silver (29:32.53), Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba took Bronze (29:42.56).
SOCCER – WOMEN’S QUARTERFINALS
Today was do or die for the top 8 women’s soccer teams of the Olympics.
Germany beat China 1-0; Australia and Brazil went late into the night and eventually it was Brazil who appeased their hungry fans with a win in a 7-6 penalty shootout.
Canada took on France this evening and let’s get straight to it – Canada prevailed 1-0!
France was looking for revenge after their London 2012 loss to the Canucks in the Bronze medal match. The first half was quiet with a few attacks here and there (mostly by France). There were a few calls let go on both sides, but Canada seemed to have the most forgiveness, especially in the box. Looks like Buchanan was better off getting a card in the second game (to sit out the third match). The ref was itching to give Buchanan a card and finally did in the 49th minute. Had she not been carded in the 2nd game, her latest yellow would have added and put her out of the semifinal match vs. Germany. Belanger was not as fortunate and will miss the semifinal after receiving a yellow in the 83’. Belanger had subbed into the game early on as Allysha Chapman had a hard collision defending the box and had to leave the game.
There were some trying moments as France pressured Canada every chance they could, but Canada knew how to capitalize. 10 minutes into the 2nd half, Janine Beckie had a beautiful three-touch play: receive the ball, pop it over the French defender to herself, then centre it to Sophie Schmidt, who was driving to the net. Schmidt – one touch, midair – she found the back of the net. That would be the winning goal!.
On the return, a France free kick went off Christine Sinclair’s head, over Stephanie Labbe’s stretch, and off the Canadian crossbar. Labbe came up big again through the second half as Canada tightened up their defense. Labbe = Player of the game, if you ask me!
Christine Sinclair’s post game emotion said it all. You could tell the Captain was so proud of her teammates, and Labbe in particular.
Earlier in the day, USA vs. Sweden. One second, I need to take a breather and calm myself down on this one. Team USA had more of the possession throughout the game, but Sweden had an advantage. Their coach, Pia Sundhage, was the Team USA coach for 5 years. While Sweden played great defense, they drew first blood fifteen minutes into the second half. It was a beauty feed up the middle to a breaking Stina Blackstenius, who split the D, kept on the ball and placed her shot low and hard past the outstretched hand of US Goalie Hope Solo.
Nearly 20 minutes following, the Swedish keeper cleared a ball from the goal area. As it soared through the air, US Rapinoe and the Swedish forward both challenged for the ball. Unfortunately, the Swede got Rapinoe’s cleats in the groin and went down. This is typically a yellow card; even if it was unintentional you can’t challenge with your cleats up! There was no call and the US turned the ball upfield, sent it towards the goal area, off a US head, off a Swedish face, right to the charging foot of Alex Morgan. Tie game 1-1.
Extra time solved nothing – Off to shootouts we go! Swedish keeper, Hedvig Lindahl, stunned Alex Morgan and Team USA by saving the very first shot. After that, the goals kept coming for both teams until Solo stopped a swedish shot on #3. USA’s Press had shot #5 and missed the mark, sending it over the bar. A goal for Sweden would seal the victory…but, we’d have to wait while Solo had to change her gloves. Couldn’t she do it while she was sitting off on the side? Nope, let’s just delay the game another few minutes. Don’t you wish someone was standing there counting “mississippi”s? We’re still not sure the reason of changing the gloves. It could have been superstition as she had a hand on the previous ball that ended up in the back of the net. Anyway, none of that mattered. Sweden put it away! They upset the US!
Of course, at least one player had to mouth off about the loss; and, of course, that player was Hope Solo:
She called Sweden cowards for playing so defensively – um, that’s called knowing your opponent and preparing for the match
She said the better team did not win today – you know, it’s like my coach would say, “the better team won, and today you weren’t the better team”
She said the US team played with courage – Not to discredit these athletes. They are in amazing shape physically and mentally. But, that doesn’t take courage to be great and gifted at sport; swimming for three hours to save your life takes courage.
OTHER EVENTS:
– Archery – Men’s Individual – South Korea completed the sweep! This time, Ku Bonchan took the gold
– Basketball – (Women’s) Canada lost to undefeated USA
– Track Cycling – (Women’s) China Gold, Russia Silver, Germany Bronze
– Track Cycling – Men’s Track Team Pursuit – GBR set a world record, Australia Silver, Denmark Bronze
– Pospisil and Nestor were no match in the Bronze medal match vs. USA.
SATURDAY:
– Rowing 7am
– Beach Vball 11am (Women’s: Canada 1 plays Canada 2; D’oh!)
– More Track!
– Men’s Golf continues
LEGO Credit: Yvonne
Tidbit: My beach lego set is worth over $100! (that’s probably just inflation of what it had cost back in 1992)