MEN’S INDOOR VOLLEYBALL:
Canadian men’s team has made their return to the Olympics after 24-years and faced USA. I was on the edge of my seat, block after spike after dig after block! Canada upset the USA and won in 3 straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-23)! Next match will be Aug 9 at 9:35pm vs. Brazil.
DIVING:
Women’s Synchronized 3m Springboard final – 8 pairs, 5 dives each, scores for each dive are added.
The Chinese team, the reigning world champions put on a clinics and held on to first place through each of the 5 rounds to take Gold.
The Italians held second place throughout all rounds and came out with a Silver Medal – the first Olympic medal for Francesca Dallapé, a five-time Olympian, 8-time European champion, two-time world silver medallist;
Aussies took Bronze – they couldn’t believe it themselves!
Canadians Ware and Abel (world silver medallists) were in 7th in the first dive, and climbed spots each round, entering the final dive in third place. Unfortunately, a small mistake cost them bronze by less than one point.
WOMEN’S CYCLING ROAD RACE:
Treacherous winds and spitting rain hampered some riders. The Netherlands’ Anna van Vleuten was leading until the final descent where she skidded, braked, and went over her handlebars, landing awkwardly in a gutter on her head. It was a scary moment as she lay motionless. It has been reported that she has suffered three fractured vertebrae and a concussion. NED Teammate Anna Van Der Breggen took the gold after an exciting race to the finish where VDB, Sweden’s Johansson and Italian Longo overtook the American Abbott in the last 100m (or less). Abbott was gassed and could not compete with the trio who worked together to catch up.
Canada’s Canuel finished 25th.
SWIMMING:
Women’s 100m Butterfly Final – 16 year old Torontonian Penny Oleksiak led Canada’s hopes after placing 3rd overall in the heats then 3rd overall in the semis. She swam hard in the turnaround to pull out a SILVER MEDAL PERFORMANCE while breaking the World Junior Record that she set in the qualifying heat. Sweden’s Sjostrom took the gold medal while setting a world record after setting an Olympic record in the semifinal. Bronze was awarded to Dana Vollmer of the USA
Yesterday, I also missed reporting on Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee competing with the Refugee Team. She came first in her heat for the 100m butterfly but unfortunately her time was not fast enough for the top 16.
You will hear a lot about Mardini, but here is an article to get you started:
http://www.independent.co.uk/…/yusra-mardini-rio-2016-refug…
What most articles don’t say is that she was sponsored by the Syrian Olympic Committee before having to flee Damascus.
Men’s 100m Breaststroke – The final featured two Brazilians, but the Gold went to GBR (Peaty), Silver South Africa (Van Der Burgh) and the Bronze to US swimming veteran Cody Miller.
Women’s 400m Freestyle – USA’s 19 year old Katie Ledecky blew away the competition and broke her own world record to capture her first (of likely many) gold medals at Rio. Know that name! GBR’s Carlin edged out USA’s Smith for the Silver medal. I thought Canada’s Brittany Maclean was going to make a push for bronze around the 300m mark, but managed a fifth place finish.
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay –
Phelps helped USA to the top spot while earning his 23rd Olympic medal. Half a second behind was France, then Australia. Canada had an interesting lineup of ordering their racers from fastest to slowest and finished 7th.
TENNIS:
Serena defeated Aussie Gavrilova in her opening round match (6-4, 6-2). However, the Williams sisters did not fare as well in their opening doubles match where they were upset by the Czech duo Safarova and Strycova in straight sets. This is the Williams sisters’ first loss in the Olympics, ever.
Bouchard and Dabrowski beat Poland and Pospisil and Nestor defeated the Aussies in their first doubles matches.
On the Men’s side, Murray, Nadal and both Brazilians (Dutra Silva and Belucci) all advance to Round 2.
Djokovic took on Argentina’s Del Potro (ATP Ranking 145). In an upset, Del Potro took Djokovic to tie breakers in straight sets. Del Potro seems to be Djokovic’s thorn in his side as he also upset him for the Bronze in London 2012! Never count yourself out against the World #1, even after you have been stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes (that happened)!
GYMNASTICS
Women’s individual and team qualification round was today. No broken legs today, thankfully (that I know of).
Notables:
– One of the Chinese gymnasts is at the Olympics in an effort to do well, and win prize money from the Chinese government to help her impoverished family pay for her brother’s eye surgery.
– The oldest competitor is Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan at 41 years of age. As an elite gymnast for more than a quarter century, she qualified for the Vault final!
– Canada has Ellie Black and Isabela Onyshko have qualified for the All Round Individual. They will have tough competition against USA’s Simone Biles.
JUDO
Kosovo, competing at their first Olympic games, won their first (GOLD) medal today in Women’s 52kg (Majlinda Kelmendi) over Italy!
BEACH VBALL
Women’s – Brazil obliterated Russia, while both Canadian pairs won their matches.
RUGBY (WOMEN’S SEVENS)
Canada lost their first match 22-0 to GBR (notes from a friend: I’ve never seen them play that bad), but they bounced back to defeat France 15-5 and won a spot in the Semi Final vs. Australia (GBR vs NZ in the other semi) on August 8 at 1:30pm!
OTHER NEWS:
Judo – Canada lost bronze in the Men’s 66kg
Shooting – Canadian 51 year old Cynthia Meyer finished 7th and did not make the top 6 semi final in trap shooting.
Archery – South Korea continued their winning ways, this time in the Women’s team event, defeating Russia.
Basketball (Women’s) – USA demolished Senegal 121-56; France over Belarus 73-72;
Basketball (Men’s) – Brazil had a tight game with Lithuania, but unfortunately lost 76-82.
Fencing (Men’s Individual Foil) – Italy took the Gold over USA, while Russia took the Bronze.
Handball (Men’s) – Featured many tight matches today, including a 34-32 Brazil win over Poland (#3 in the world).
Rowing – Postponed due to high winds.
Quick Medal Recap
USA – 12
China – 8
Japan/Italy – 7
Canada is tied for 8th with 2.
Lego credit: Yvonne