More Tokyo Olympics, more life. The action rolled on Thursday night as we made our way over to the track for the first time since the opening ceremony when track and field qualifying events began. Team USA has medal contenders in Rai Benjamin in the men’s 400-meter hurdles and Athing Mu and Ajee’ Wilson in the women’s 800 meters.
The Americans resumed their regularly scheduled hardware chasing in the pool as two-time gold medalist Lilly King, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke earlier this week, got silver in the 200-meter breaststroke behind the world-record effort of South Africa’s Tatjana Schoemaker. American Annie Lazor took bronze.
Three-time gold medalist Ryan Murphy, who won bronze earlier this week in the men’s 100-meter backstroke, did one better in the 200 back, winning silver.
Then, for the late-night crowd, we got to watch A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart & Co. earn the U.S. women’s basketball team’s 51st straight Olympic win, overcoming a Japan squad that led after the first quarter.
If you’re looking for updates on all the Olympic action, you’ve come to the right place.
USA women’s hoops stays perfect
The United States women’s basketball team won its 51st Olympic game in a row with an 86-69 victory over Japan. It didn’t come easy, as Japan led 30-28 after the first quarter, but the Americans pulled away. A’ja Wilson led the way with 20 points and added this big blocked shot in a second period in which the Americans took the lead.
“NOT TODAY!!!!” – @_ajawilson22
Team USA battles back for the lead ?#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/fdr4O9Yy8k
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 30, 2021
Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart each had 15 points for Team USA, which next plays France in pool play Monday. Stewart also had another big block for the Americans.
THAT HUSTLE. THAT BLOCK. ( ? @UConnWBB @seattlestorm )@breannastewart says NOPE. #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
? @USA_Network
? https://t.co/up23vSJy17
?NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/UBINWpn3XK— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Mu gets off to fast start
Athing Mu, the 19-year-old phenom from Trenton, New Jersey, did her thing in the first heat of the women’s 800 meters, as she won her heat and showed she’s a true factor for the gold.
.@athiiing did her thing and won her heat in the women’s 800m!@TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjyst3S3
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/Sk1tv4P5f3— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Reigning BMX racing gold medalist Connor Fields of the United States was carried off on a stretcher after crashing in the third semifinal heat at the Tokyo Olympics. Fields was fourth after his opening two heats and landed hard off a jump heading into the first turn in the third run. The 28-year-old from Las Vegas slammed into the turn and lay on the track as medical personnel rushed out to help him. Fields was attended to for several minutes before being carried away. He qualified for the finals but will not be able to race.
Track is here!
Team USA got to take the track for the first time, and Rai Benjamin served notice in his first 400-meter hurdles heat that he’s ready to play.
.@_Kingben_ wins his heat and advances straight through to the men’s 400m hurdles semis!@TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjyst3S3
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/xeiZzjpEqF— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Suni Lee’s rise to the top
United States gymnast Suni Lee overcame less-than-ideal circumstances to become the fifth straight American women’s all-around gymnastics gold medalist. It has been quite a ride for the 18-year-old Minnesota native.
When you realize you are an Olympic champion ?@sunisalee_ x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/RRZmZ69C3j
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
FIVE IN A ROW! ??
From Athens to Tokyo, America’s dominance continues. @sunisalee_ wins GOLD in the women’s all-around! #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/45eG4rRYBc
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Suni, you did it! Olympic. All. Around. Champion. ?
WELCOME TO THE CLUB. You earned this and it will change your life forever. @sunisalee_ pic.twitter.com/ix6FoZuEDC
— Nastia Liukin (@NastiaLiukin) July 29, 2021
How it started vs. How it’s going ? #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/vFeCcJDxIw
— Peacock (@peacockTV) July 30, 2021
USA’s Andrew takes fifth in 200 IM, shows childhood swag
China’s Wang Shun took the gold in the 200-meter individual medley in 1:55, followed by Great Britain’s Duncan Scott and Switzerland’s Jérémy Desplanches. The United States’ Michael Andrew, who led for most of the race, dropped off in the last lap and finished fifth. Michael Phelps was the four-time defending Olympic champion in the event. — Aishwarya Kumar
Despite not getting the medal, Andrew did get some face time with Phelps back in 2008 and mean-mugged in a way that suggested he knew he’d be in the Olympic pool in the future.
Michael and Michael. Serious swagger. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/u8MlLEBWJI
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Australia’s McKeon sets Olympic record in women’s 100 free
The 100-meter freestyle was an Australian affair. Emma McKeon won her first individual gold medal, while teammate Cate Campbell won bronze. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who won silver in the 200-meter freestyle, picked up another silver in this race. — Aishwarya Kumar
And the records just keep on breaking!
Australia’s Emma McKeon breaks the Olympic record to win gold in the women’s 100m free final. #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjysbstt
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/1Cs3eMRddV— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Rylov completes backstroke sweep, USA’s Murphy takes silver
Defending champion Ryan Murphy picked up a silver in the 200-meter backstroke. Murphy, who also won bronze in the 100-meter backstroke, trailed only Russian Olympic Committee’s Evgeny Rylov, who finished at 1:54.27, an Olympic record. It is the first time since 1992 that an American man has not won gold in either backstroke event. — Kumar
Another Olympic record is broken!
ROC’s Evgeny Rylov wins gold and breaks the Olympic record in the men’s 200m backstroke final and @TeamUSA‘s @ryan_f_murphy surges to silver. #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjysbstt
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/H2sxywUp74— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
After training together every day for the past three months, America’s Lilly King and Annie Lazor finished second and third in the 200-meter breaststroke for silver and bronze, respectively. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker took the gold medal with a world-record time of 2:18:95. — Aishwarya Kumar
Kumar: How Annie Lazor overcame grief to win an Olympic medal
South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker BREAKS the world record to win the gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke and her reaction is priceless.@_king_lil and @lazorlaze win the silver and bronze for @TeamUSA. #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjyst3S3
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/etlxBwXJG9— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
tfw you realize you just set a world record #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/8hO0IHOgKs
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 30, 2021
.@_king_lil and @lazorlaze, supporting each other all the way to the podium.@TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjysbstt
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/ecdc2ZwPW9— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
THIS IS WHAT THE OLYMPICS ARE ALL ABOUT ❤️#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/ucgIh3P9zA
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Dressel doing Dressel things
After picking up his first individual Olympic gold in the 100-meter freestyle on Wednesday, Caeleb Dressel punched his spot in the finals of the 100-meter butterfly, finishing first in his semifinal heat with an Olympic-record time of 49.71. He’ll race in the final on Friday. — Aishwarya Kumar
Caeleb Dressel just keeps SWIMMING.
He wins his 100m fly semifinal heat AND breaks the Olympic record!@TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
? NBC
? https://t.co/vlVjyst3S3
? NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/MosR8D2AGE— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
Ross and Kleinman roll on
The United States’ women’s beach volleyball duo of April Ross and Alix Klineman were given a run for their money for a while by the Netherlands duo of Madelein Meppelink and Sanne Keizer, who won a game against Team USA’s No. 1 pairing. But Ross and Kleinman rose to the occasion, rolling 15-5 in Game 3 to end pool play undefeated.
The A-Team pulls out a win on the sand today ?#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/1IKZ4PK5Vf
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 30, 2021
Getting chippy
Olympic men’s golf is deep in Day 2 action, and Chile’s Mito Pereira is feeling pretty good. He’s off to a hot start, shooting 3-under through six holes after this nifty chip from the bunker.
Mito Pereira! ?
The Chilean chips in for ? on the par-4 6th – he’s three under through six. pic.twitter.com/myiNgZCIP9
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
The perfect gold-medal accessory
Diving isn’t the only thing Great Britain’s Tom Daley does at a world-class level. The gold medalist, who won the men’s 10-meter synchronized diving event alongside teammate Marty Lee, broke out his knitting skills to create the ultimate medal keepsake.
What did @TeamGB‘s @TomDaley1994 do after winning an Olympic gold medal?
He knitted a little pouch for it ?#TokyoOlympics (via IG/madewithlovebytomdaley) pic.twitter.com/SCg3lV3KIk
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2021
No word on whether these will be available to the general public, but let’s be real — you’d buy one.