The Olympic pool has been extra nice to the U.S. as of late. Yesterday evening, Allison Schmitt anchored the U.S. to gold in the women’s 4×200-meter relay. Australia earned the silver, and France took Bronze. Rebecca Soni sets another world record to defend her 200-meter breaststroke by a time of 2:19.59 seconds. Satomi Suzuki of Japan touched at 2:20.72 for the silver, and Iulia Efimova of Russia finished in 2:20.92 for the bronze.
Michael Phelps returned to a familiar spot as he earned gold in the men’s 200-meter individual medley. This is his 20th medal, and 16th gold. Phelps edged out teammate Ryan Lochte with a time of 1:54.2. Lochte came in at 1:54.90 for the silver, and Laszo Cseh came in at 1:56.22 for the bronze. Tyler Clary set an Olympic record and earned gold for the U.S. in the men’s 200-meter backstroke, coming in at 1:53.41, ahead of Japan’s Rysosuke Irie who came in at 1:53.78, and Ryan Lochte of the U.S. who earned bronze at a time of 1:53.94.
Gabby Douglas, who is known as “The Flying Squirrel” won the women’s all-around gymnastics title, becoming the third straight American to win the event, and the first African-American to do so. Gabby finished with a score of 62.232 to earn the gold, ahead of silver medalist Viktoria Komova of Russia who scored 61.973. Aliya Mustafina of Russia and Aly Raisman of the U.S. finished with identical scores of 59.566, but the Russian got the bronze on a tiebreak. The lowest scores for both gymnasts were dropped, and the remaining three were totaled. That gave Mustafina a total of 45.933 and Raisman 45.366.
Kayla Harrison earned the first judo gold in Olympic history for the U.S., in the 78 kilogram weight class. “It’s not every four years. It’s every day,” Harrison said. “I’m just so honored to be America’s first gold medalist, and so happy to realize my dream. I’m America’s first gold medalist in judo – and always will be.”
The U.S. won another gold medal in the U.S. women’s eight rowing. The U.S. women’s team came in with a time of 6:10.59, beating out Canada who finished with silver with a time of 6:12.06, and the Netherlands who earned the bronze with a time of 6:13.12.
The women’s basketball team outlasted Turkey with a score of 89-58, and still remains undefeated. The men’s team will take on Nigeria tonight, which shouldn’t be a threat.
The United States has catapulted into the medal lead with 37. China is still close behind with 34, and both countries have 18 gold medals.
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