Usain Bolt is officially the fastest man in the world, and several U.S. women made history with gold medals.
5 things you missed Thursday
1. A milestone night for the U.S. women. American Helen Maroulis upset Japan’s Saori Yoshida, the three-time reigning gold medalist, in women’s freestyle 53 kg wrestling to claim the first wrestling gold for U.S. women.
Later in the evening, American Dalilah Muhammad won the women’s 400 m hurdles with a time of 53.13 to win the U.S.’s first gold medal in the event.
Helen Maroulis wins historic wrestling gold for Team USA
2. The MVP of the beach volleyball court may be the DJ, at least according to NBC’s Mike Tirico.
The Games hired LA Lakers DJ Roueche to match the upbeat and vibrant tone of Rio at Copacabana Beach, and he delivered. Well, until it started raining today, and then he just played Prince’s Purple Rain.
One fan tweeted the DJ deserved a gold medal.
If we being honest, the DJ at the beach volleyball stadium deserves a gold medal #Rio2016 🏐🏅
— Abby Pilla (@abbzz__) August 19, 2016
Another tweeted the “beach volleyball dj has been on fire this whole Olympics.”
The beach volleyball dj has been on fire this whole Olympics #Rio2016
— maria (@marialv018) August 19, 2016
Check out his beats for yourself.
3. You aren’t the only one frustrated with Hope Solo’s comments against Sweden. Today Seattle Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe said she was disappointed about Solo’s “coward” comment.
“I mean really disappointed, to be honest,” Rapinoe told NBC. “That’s not our team. That’s not what this team has always been. That’s not what this team will be in the future.
After Sweden knocked the U.S. out of quarterfinals in a penalty kick shootout, Solo called the Swedish team cowards for dropping off and failing to press.
4. Usain Bolt solidified his status as the fastest man in the world. The Jamaican claimed his third consecutive 200 m gold medal with a time of 19.78. However, the Lightning Bolt wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance, as his finish was nearly five-tenths of a second slower than his own world record.
Bolt earned a gold medal three-peat Sunday when he won the 100 m final. The 200 was his final individual event in Rio. Tomorrow he will race in the men’s 4x100 m relay, in pursuit of his 9th gold medal.
Usain Bolt captures 3rd straight 200m gold medal
5. Go Team USA! The Americans hit the triple digit medal count. For the fourth straight time at the Summer Olympics, the U.S. has won 100 medals.
View the medal count after Thursday’s competition.
5 things to watch Friday
1. The team that Hope Solo said wouldn’t make it very far in the tournament is now playing for gold. The Swedish women’s soccer team is playing Germany in the final. Watch the game live at 1:30 p.m.
2. Usain Bolt will compete in his final Olympic event, the men’s 4x100 m relay. Bolt, 29, has said he will retire after the 2017 World Championships, and he may be able to go out with nine Olympic gold medals. Watch Bolt and the Americans compete live at 6:35 p.m.
3. The U.S. women’s 4x100 m relay team will compete in the final after Thursday’s snafu that almost knocked them out. American Allyson Felix was bumped by a Brazilian runner during the qualifying round and dropped the baton on the second exchange, bumping the U.S. from the final. However, the U.S. appeal was upheld, and the Americans were granted an unprecedented second chance.
On their solo rerun, the U.S. finished with a time of 41.77, which was good enough to earn a trip to the finals. Watch the U.S. relay team compete live at 6:15 p.m.
USA cruises to 4x100m relay finals
4. In a repeat of the 2008 and 2012 gold medal games, U.S. men’s basketball plays Spain in the semifinals. The Americans are looking to get back to the title game for the third Olympics in a row. Watch them try for gold live at 11:15 a.m.
5. The final gymnastics event, rhythmic gymnastics kicks off with all-around qualifications. The U.S. has just one competitor, 16-year-old Laura Zeng of Libertyville, IL. Zeng will try to win the Americans their first ever medal in the sport. Watch the first two rounds of qualification live starting at 6:20 a.m. here, and watch the following two rounds of qualification live starting at 10:50 a.m.
