Tonight at the Tokyo Olympics, Katie Ledecky swims for her first individual gold in the 400 — and could be upset by Australia’s superstar Ariarne Titmus. It’s likely to be the most difficult gold medal for Ledecky to win. Men’s sprinter Caeleb Dressel could also earn his first Olympic medal in Tokyo, in the 4×100 relay.
Women’s skateboarding will award its first ever Olympic gold. U.S. softball will play against Japan in a preview of what’s to come in the gold-medal game later this week. And in the early morning Eastern time on Monday, the U.S. men’s gymnastics team will attempt an upset of their own: After a fourth-place finish in qualifications, the Americans will aim for the podium in team finals.
We’ve got you covered with all the action:
Smile for the camera
Athletes who won medals on the opening weekend of the Tokyo Olympics also helped earn a photogenic victory for others to share in during the next two weeks.
Some medalists on Sunday ignored the order from organizers to wear masks for the entire podium ceremony. Seeing the pushback, the International Olympic Committee later agreed to ease its strict pre-Games rule designed to help protect against the coronavirus.
“Victory ceremony protocol has been adapted to allow athletes to have an image for the media that captures their faces and their emotions during a unique moment in their sporting career,” the IOC said Sunday.
Medalists now have a 30-second photo opportunity after the gold medalist’s national anthem is played to remove their masks while staying on their own podium step. — Associated Press
Taking a breath
After his gold-medal finish in the men’s triathlon, all Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt seemed to need was a little rest.
SOAK IT IN ?
Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt wins Olympic gold in the men’s triathlon. #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/XznsNz3Xze
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/ej4egZ5xgq— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2021
Elsewhere in the race, Kevin McDowell came in sixth — Team USA’s best Olympic finish in men’s triathlon.