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= PARIS 2024 =
From Lane One
“These Olympic Games, Paris 2024, a love story.
“The athletes, the French people and the fans all around the world are in love with the Games, and with each other. In the venues, in the streets of Parisat the Olympic Village, you can feel and experience and see the enthusiasm, which is shared by everyone.
“We have all seen the way that France and the French people have taken these Games really to their hearts. It was not just a sober organization, it was a celebration coming from the heart, with all the friendliness, the hospitality, the curiosity, the interest was really heart-warming to see, and you could see hundreds of thousands, millions of the French people on the streets of Paris and full stadia everywhere.”
That’s International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) at his Friday news conference, giving high praise to the Paris 2024 Games and underscoring the reforms he brought to the Olympic Movement in 2014:
“These are exactly the Games we envisaged with Olympic Agenda: more sustainable, more urban, younger, more inclusive, first Olympic Games with full gender parity. That was the vision of Olympic Agenda. And all of this with the athlete at the center of all the efforts.”
Bach remarked on the remarkable connection between the athletes and what was missing – due to Covid – in Tokyo, the fans:
“The athletes inspired the audience and the audiences giving this inspiration back to the athletes, so you can see, really, a spiral of excitement growing.”
He was also grateful to the excellent work of the Paris 2024 organizers and the support of the local, regional and national governments, especially in a time when there is no majority party in the National Assembly and all of the ministers were holdovers:
“All these achievements would not have been possible without an organizing committee as a partner who fully shares, and shared from the very beginning of their planning, all our values, our mission and our values. And therefore, I cannot thank enough the organizing committee under the great leadership of my fellow Olympian Tony Estanguet for the great work. …
“In this sense, I would like to include all the members of the organizing committee, all the workforces of the different kinds, the security teams, of course, the volunteers, whose smiles and friendliness I think we all benefitted from, and everyone else involved. It was also, from them, an Olympic-quality performance.
“This is also true for the public authorities, the public services here at all levels here in France, starting from the President of the Republic, to the many municipal authorities and services, all over France.”
Asked about the future of the Games and what to expect from Los Angeles in 2028, Bach emphasized:
“It’s up to each organizing committee to adapt the relevant measures in their way. … When it comes to more urban, then L.A. must, because of the structure of the city, take a different approach. You don’t have city centers in L.A. with iconic landmarks as you have here in Paris …
“Each edition of the Games has to be different. If L.A. would like to copy the Eiffel Tower, it would be a recipe for disaster. Each Olympic Games have to be authentic and have to be creative and have to show the culture of the host country, the host city and to be open to share this with the world.”
Bach was asked about all the pre-Games worries, and noted, “It is human that before such an event is taking place, that there are many people who have many concerns and they think about kind of risks here and risks there. But the proof is in the pudding.”
He was also asked about what Paris 2024 could have done better. His response:
“This is not a serious question.”
Case closed.
~ Rich Perelman
● Les Temps ● A happy updated forecast for the last couple of days of the Games:
● 10 Aug. (Sat.): High of 87 ~ low of 64, sunny
● 11 Aug. (Sun.): 93 ~ 70, sunny
There is now no rain in the forecast for the following week.
● Medals & Teams ● The U.S. has 111 medals with two days to go, the most medals it has ever won in a European-hosted Olympic Games:
● 1. 111, United States (33-39-39)
● 2. 83, China (33-27-23)
● 3. 57, Great Britain (14-20-23)
● 4. 56, France (14-20-22)
● 5. 48, Australia (18-16-14)
● 6. 37, Japan (16-8-13)
● 7. 36, Italy (11-12-13)
● 8. 29, Netherlands (13-6-10)
● 8. 29, Germany (12-9-8)
● 10. 28, South Korea (13-8-7)
● 11. 24, Canada (7-6-11)
● 12. 18, Brazil (3-6-9)
In our TSX team rankings, using a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system and a much diverse, inclusive and equitable representation of team achievement, the U.S. continues to lead:
● 1. 1,120, United States
● 2. 854, China
● 3. 656 1/2, France
● 4. 648, Great Britain
● 5. 522 1/2, Italy
● 6. 510 1/2, Australia
● 7. 449 1/2, Japan
● 8. 443, Germany
● 9. 352, Netherlands
● 10. 315 1/2, Canada
● 11. 312 1/2, Korea
● 12. 239 1/2, Spain
● 13. 220 1/2, Brazil
● 14. 202, New Zealand
● 15. 192 1/2, Hungary
Now, a total of 117 countries (out of 206) – plus the Refugee Team, and including Belarus and Russia, as “neutrals” – have scored points so far.
● Television ● NBC continues to show strong audiences for the Games, although the second-week numbers are down – as usual – from week one:
● 26 Jul. (Fri.): 29.3 million (28.6 + Telemundo 0.7)
● 27 Jul. (Sat.): 32.4 million
● 28 Jul. (Sun.): 41.5 million ~ gymnastics women’s qualifying
● 29 Jul. (Mon.): 31.3 million
● 30 Jul. (Tue.): 34.7 million ~ gymnastics women’s Team final
● 01 Aug. (Wed.): 29.1 million
● 02 Aug. (Thu.): 31.7 million ~ gymnastics women’s All-Around
● 03 Aug. (Fri.): 27.4 million
● 04 Aug. (Sat.): 34.6 million ~ gymnastics women’s Vault
● 05 Aug. (Sun.): 35.4 million ~ men’s 100 m final
● 06 Aug. (Mon.): 29.1 million ~ gymnastics women’s Beam & Floor
● 07 Aug. (Tue.): 27.4 million
● 08 Aug. (Wed.): 26.0 million (estimate)
● 09 Aug. (Thu.): 28.5 million
NBC reported the 12-day Olympic viewing average for 2024 at 31.6 million in 2024, compared to 17.8 million for Tokyo (a lot better) and the 10-day average of 27.7 million for Rio (better).
The measurement of “Total Audience Delivery” is based upon live-plus-same day custom fast national figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics. This is not a true “apples-to-apples” with prior Games, however, as the audiences prior to 2024 were for the NBC primetime show only and the Paris totals are for the daytime show (live) and the primetime show together. No out-of-home audiences were in the figures for Rio 2016; Nielsen added those in 2020.
= RESULTS: FRIDAY, 9 AUGUST =
● Athletics: Men’s 400 m hurdles-4×100 m-Triple Jump
Women’s 400 m-10,000 m-4×100 m-Shot-Heptathlon
It was raining in the Stade de France at the start of the session, which was hardly helpful. The U.S. stayed with same squad that had the fastest time in the heats and Melissa Jefferson was off well on the start and had an excellent pass to Tee Tee Terry. The second pass was good, but Gabby Thomas made up space, but had some trouble with the pass to Sha’Carri Richardson.
But Richardson got the stick and took off and she got the lead with 25 m to go, looked over at the other lanes and burst through the line in 41.78. Britain, with Daryll Neita on anchor, was second in 41.85 and Germany third in 41.97.
The U.S. men did not have Noah Lyles – suffering from Covid – for the 4×100 m final, so Christian Coleman now teamed with Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Fred Kerley on anchor. But as Coleman ran strongly on the first leg, the pass to Bednarek was a disaster, with Bednarek leaving early and coming to essentially a stop. Bednarek got going, but was way behind, and King and Kerley finished seventh across the line in 37.89.
Andre De Grasse brought Canada home in 37.50, with South Africa second in 37.57 and Britain third in 37.61. The U.S. was later disqualified for passing out of the zone and has not won a medal in this event since 2004 (and hasn’t won since 2000). If Lyles had been healthy, the first exchange would have been from Coleman to Kerley, which worked in the heats.
The sun came out for the women’s 400 m, which was all Marileidy Paulino (DOM), as expected. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser was out strongly on the outside, but Paulino moved up on the turn and was clearly in the lead coming home, winning in a sensational 48.17, an Olympic Record and now no. 4 on the all-time list with the no. six performance ever.
Naser was a clear second in 48.53, ahead of European champ Natalia Kaczmarek (POL: 48.98). American Alexis Holmes was sixth in a lifetime best of 49.77.
The women’s 10,000 m remained bunched with Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) leading at 5,000 m at 15:38.4. Then the Kenyans took over, with Margaret Kipkemboi ahead of world-record holder Beatrice Chebet (the 5,000 m winner) at 6,000 m, and Ethiopia’s Tisige Gebreselama went to the front by 7,000 m. At 8,000 m, Chebet moved up to trail Kipkemboi, but the lead pack of 13 was still together with four laps to go. And then Parker Valby of the U.S. ran to the front with 3 1/2 laps left!
At three laps to go, the pack was together again and Gudaf Tsegay moved into contention coming into the straight. Down to 800 m left and Kipkemboi was back in front, but with defending champ Sifan Hassan (NED) moving up. At the bell, sprinting finally started and the race broke up. On the back straight, Lilian Rengeruk came to the front with Kipkemboi with Italy’s Nadia Battocletti moving up, But Chebet roared around the turn and ran to the line with Battocletti chasing in 30:43.25 and 30:43.35, a national record.
Hassan moved into third in the final 75 m and got a second bronze in 30:44.12. Americans Weini Kelati was eighth in 30:49.98, followed by Karissa Schweizer, ninth in 30:51.99 and Valby, 11th in 30:59.28.
The final race of the night was the long-anticipated men’s 400 m hurdles, where Karsten Warholm (NOR) and Rai Benjamin of the U.S. went 1-2 in world-record style in Tokyo.
Off the gun, Warholm in lane seven got off well, but Benjamin – a lane outside in eight – was right with him down the back straight, something that rarely happens to the Norwegian. Benjamin was smooth on the turn and was in front over hurdle eight. He accelerated and Warholm chopped his step on hurdle nine and it was over. Benjamin had a small chop on 10, but rolled home with the win in 46.46, equal to his season best and the no. 5 performance all-time.
Warholm was a clear second in 47.06, with 2022 World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA: 47.26) third. Redemption and satisfaction for Benjamin for sure,
European champ and ex-Cuban Jordan Diaz (ESP) blew up the men’s triple jump in the first round, landing at 17.86 m (58-7 1/4) and daring anyone to follow. Ex-Cuban Andy Diaz (ITA), the Tokyo bronze winner, jumped 17.63 m (57-10 1/4) in round one and defending champion and ex-Cuban Pedro Pichardo (POR) got close at 17.84 m (58-6 1/2) in round two. Jamaica’s 2023 world leader, Jaydon Hibbert, reached 17.61 m (57-9 1/2) in the second.
Diaz also jumped 17.84 m (58-6 1/2) in round four as a back-up jump and Andy Diaz improved to 17.64 m (57-10 1/2) in round six. And when Pichardo’s final jump was a monster 17.81 m (58-5 1/4), it still wasn’t enough and Jordan Diaz won the gold.
U.S. Trials winner Salif Mane jumped 17.28 m (56-8 1/2) in round one, and improved to 17.41 m (57-1 1/2) in round six and moved into sixth overall.
In the women’s shot, collegiate record holder Jaida Ross of the U.S. got out to the early lead at 19.28 m (63-3 1/4), but was passed by Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL: 19.58 m/64-3) and Yemisi Ogunleye (GER: 19.55 m/64-1 3/4) by the end of the third round.
China’s Jiayuan Song moved into third in the fourth round at 19.32 m (63-4 3/4), and then Wesche exploded with a lifetime best to take the lead at 19.86 m (65-2) in round five. Ogunleye improved to 19.73 m (64-8 3/4) in round five and took the lead at 20.00 m (65-7 1/2) to take the lead on the penultimate throw of the event. Wesche got close, but did not improve and Ogunleye closed out a shocking, upset win.
Raven Saunders of the U.S. was 11th at 17.79 m (58-4 1/2) and World Indoor champ Sarah Mitton (CAN), the pre-meet co-favorite, was 12th at 17.48 m (57-4 1/4).
Belgium’s Nafi Thiam moved into the lead by winning the women’s heptathlon javelin at 54.04 m (177-3), taking a 121-point lead into the 800 m over Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR).
American Anna Hall had a big throw in the javelin negated when her feet landed on the toeline; she was fifth going into the second heat of the 800 m and took the lead right away. She won her race in 2:04.39, with Johnson-Thompson second in a lifetime best of 2:04.90. Thiam got a lifetime best of 2:10.62 in sixth and that was enough for her third straight Olympic gold with 6,880 points. Johnson-Thompson scored 6,844 for second and Belgium went 1-3 with Noor Vidts scoring a lifetime best of 6,707 for third. Hall finished fifth at 6,165.
● Beach Volleyball: Women
The final was a battle between 2022 World Champions Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil, in a re-match with Canada’s 2022 Worlds runner-ups Melissa Human-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson. The marathon first set was won by the Brazilians, 26-24, but the Canadians came back in set two, 21-12. But the Brazilians got the final set and the gold, 15-10.
In the bronze-medal match, Swiss Tanja Huberli and Nina Brunner completed an upset campaign, beating Tokyo runners-up Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy (AUS) by 21-17, 21-15.
● Boxing: Men’s 71 kg-92 kg; Women’s 50 kg-66 kg
Uzbekistan’s 2023 World Champion Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev was a decisive winner against Mexico’s second-seeded Marco Verde in the men’s 71 kg final by 5:0. American Omari Jones and Lewis Richardson (GBR) won the bronzes.
Uzbekistan has another opportunity at 92 kg, with Lazizbek Mullojonov, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, facing Loren Alfonso (AZE), and Mullojonov dominated, winning 5:0, with three judges voting for him by 30-27.
Enmanuel Reyes (ESP) and Davlat Boltaev (TJK) won the bronze medals.
In the women’s 50 kg final, top-seeded Yu Wu of China, the 2023 World Champion, faced Turkey’s Tokyo runner-up Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey, the 2022 World Champion and the Tokyo 2020 runner-up. Wu won by decision and won the first round by 4:1, the second by 4:1 and 5:0 in the third for the 4:1 decision across all five judges.
Aira Villegas (PHI) and Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) took the bronze medals.
At 66 kg, China’s Liu Yang, the 2023 World Champion, faced Algerian Image Khelif, in the spotlight during the Games over claims by the International Boxing Association that she is not a woman. Khelif has competed for years in the women’s division and was the 2022 IBA Worlds runner-up and was dominant in the final, winning 5:0 and by 30:27 on all five cards.
Nien-chin Chen (TPE) and Janjaem Suwannapheng (THA) claimed the bronzes.
● Breaking: B-Girls
Here it was, Breaking as an Olympic sport, and in the final, Japan’s Ami (Amu Yuasa) was a 6-3 winner in round one and a 5-4 winner in rounds two and three for a 16-11 total and the gold medal over Lithuania’s 2023 World Champion Nicka (Dominika Banevic). China won the bronze with 671 (Qingyi Liu) taking the bronze battle against India (India Sardjoe: NED), 2:1 (19-8).
● Canoeing: Sprint Men’s C-1 1,000 m-K-2 500 m;
Women’s C-2 500 m-K-2 500 m
Another triumph for New Zealand legend Lisa Carrington, who teamed with Alicia Hoskin to win the women’s K-2 500 m, Carrington’s seventh Olympic gold. She won with Caitlin Regal in Tokyo, but with Hoskin, led at the half and finished in 1:37.28.
Hungary’s Tamara Csipes and Alida Gazso finished second in 1:39.39, just ahead of a tie for third between Germany’s Paulina Paszek and Jule Hake and Hungary’s Noemi Pupp and Sara Fojt.
World Champion Martin Fuksa (CZE) was the wire-to-wire winner of the men’s C-1 1,000 m final, winning by 3:43.16 to 3:44.33 over defending champ Isaquias Queiroz (BRA), with Moldova’s Serghei Tarnovschi third in 3:44.68.
Fuksa, a three-time Sprint World Champion, now has his first Olympic medal.
Germans Jacob Schopf and Max Lemke led at the half and held on to win the men’s K-2 500 m in 1:26.87, just ahead of Bence Nadas and Sandor Totka (HUN) in 1:27.15. Australia’s Tokyo 2020 C-2 1,000 m winners, Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green, were third in 1:27.29.
Americans Jonas Ecker andAaron Small made the final and finished eighth (1:30.02).
China’s defending champions Shixiao Xu and Mengya Sun had no trouble in the women’s C-2 500 m final, winning in 1:52.81, ahead of Ukraine (1:54.30) – which was second in Tokyo – and Canada – third in Tokyo – in 1:54.36. Both Ukraine (Liudmyla Luzan) and Canada (Katie Vincent) had one of their Tokyo team members back again for second medals.
● Cycling/track: Men’s Sprint; Women’s Madison
No surprises in the men’s Sprint. Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen won in Tokyo, had already won the Team Sprint in Paris and had won the Worlds gold five times in a row. So he added to the trophy case with the Paris gold, defeating Australia Matthew Richardson, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, 2-0, by 0.024 and 0.047 seconds.
Britain’s Tokyo bronze winner Jack Carlin took the bronze, winning two of three from Dutch star Jeffrey van Hoogland, the Tokyo silver medalist.
Italy’s Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini won the women’s Madison in an upset with 37 points to 31 for Britain’s Elinor Barker and Neah Evans, the 2023 World Champions. The Dutch team of Maike van der Duin and Lisa van Belle won the bronze (28) with the U.S. pair of Jennifer Valente and Lily Williams fourth.
● Diving: Women’s 3 m Springboard
China’s Yiwen Chen entered as the 2022 and 2023 World Champion and won four of the five dives for the Olympic gold with 376.00 points. The fight for second was a surprise, as 2024 World Champion Yani Chang (CHN) had a disastrous first dive (12th) while Australia’s 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Maddison Keeney was second and Keeny won the final dive to claim silver at 343.10 to 318.75.
China continued its march to a gold-medal sweep, but Keeney’s silver is a surprise.
● Football: Men
The men’s final was crazy, with Spain taking a 3-1 lead at the half, but the French tying it with a 79th-minute goal by Maghnes Akliouche and then a penalty at 90+3 by Jean-Philippe Matea!
In extra time, Sergio Camello got the winners for Spain with a brilliant, right-side shot to the far side of the French goal in the 100th minute and the final at 120+1 for the 5-3 win and the gold medal.
Spain moved up from silver in Tokyo. Morocco stomped Egypt, 6-0, for the bronze.
● Gymnastics: Rhythmic All-Around
No question about Germany’s 2023 World Champion Darja Varfolomeev, who won three of the four apparatus – Hoop, Ball and Clubs – to win at 142.850, ahead of Boryana Kaleyn (BUL: 140.600) and 2022 World Champion Sofia Raffaelli (ITA: 136.300). Kaleyn won on Ribbon, with Varfolomeev second.
● Hockey: Women
Of course the final was tight, even though the Netherlands came in at 7-0 and China was 4-3. Both scored one goal in regulation and it went to penalties, with Pien Sanders, Maria Verschoor and Marijn Veen scoring three for the Dutch while China could only manage one goal in four tries.
The bronze-medal game also went to penalties, with Argentina finally defeating Belgium by 3-1, after a 2-2 tie.
● Sailing: Men’s Kite
Delayed a day due to a lack of wind on Thursday, 2022 Worlds runner-up Toni Vodisek (SLO) led after the seven-race opening series with just 12 net points. But in the finals, Austria’s Valentin Bontus, fourth at the 2022 Worlds, was supreme, winning all three races anf taking the gold medal. Vodisek placed second and Singapore’s Max Maeder, who won the 2023 and 2024 Worlds, was third.
American Markus Edegran finished ninth.
● Sport Climbing: Men’s Boulder & Lead
The men’s Combined event – Boulder and Lead – was be contested for the first time at the Olympic level, with Britain’s Toby Roberts, 19, finished third in the Boulder segment and then tied for third in Lead and that was enough for an upset win with a total of 155.2 points.
Japan’s Sorato Anranu won the Boulder segment but was only fifth in Lead and totaled 145.4 points for second. Jakob Schubert (AUT), a consistent Worlds medalist, won the bronze at 139.6 and American Colin Duffy was strong on Boulder, but seventh on Lead to finish fourth at 136.4.
● Swimming: Men’s 10 km open water
This turned into a two-man race with Hungary’s 2024 World Champion Kristof Rasovszky leading and German Oliver Klemet, the 2023 Worlds bronze medalist close. But Rasovszky held on and touched first in 1:50:52.7 to 1:50:54.8, moving from silver in Tokyo to gold in Paris.
Hungary’s David Betlehem worked his way up from sixth after four laps to the bronze-medal position on the final half-lap and was third in 1:51:09.0, just out-touching Italy’s Domenico Acerenza (1:51:09.6). Ivan Puskovitch of the U.S. was 19th in 1:57:52.5.
● Table Tennis: Men’s Team
No problem for China, which has never lost this event at the Games. Its fifth straight gold came at the expense of Sweden by 3:2, 3:2 and 3:2 for a 3-0 sweep by Chuqin Wang, Long Ma and Zhendong Fan. In fact, China did not lost a single match-up in its four wins: 12-0.
Ma 35, won his sixth Olympic gold from 2012-24, with two Singles wins and four Team titles. France won the bronze-medal match over Japan, 3:2.
● Taekwondo: Men’s 80 kg-Women’s 67 kg
Tunisia Firas Katoussi, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist, triumphed in the men’s 80 kg final, defeating Iran’s 2022 Worlds bronzer Mehran Barkhordari, 2:0, winning by 4-2 and 5-1.
Italy’s Simone Alessio, the 2023 Worlds winner, won a bronze over Carl Nickolas of the U.S. by 2-0, and Edi Hrnic (DEN) took the other, also 2-0, over Geon-woo Seo (KOR).
Serbia’s Aleksandra Perisic, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, got to the final of the women’s 67 kg class, but it was 18-year-old Viviana Marton (HUN) who pulled the upset, winning 7-4 and 4-2 for a 2:0 victory and the gold medal.
American Kristina teachout won a bronze with a 9-1, 3-0 (2:0) win over China’s Jie Song, and Sarah Chaari (BEL) won the other, 2:1 against Ozoda Sobirjonova (UZB).
● Weightlifting: Men’s 89 kg; Women’s 71 kg
The U.S. came to Paris having won one Olympic gold in women’s weightlifting, back in 2000. Now there are two, as Olivia Reeves, the 2023 Worlds bronze medalist, set an Olympic Record in the Snatch at 117 kg and made two of three lifts in the Clean & Jerk to finish at 262 kg, ahead of Mari Sanchez (COL: 257 kg) and Ecuador’s 2023 Worlds silver medalist Angie Palacios (256 kg).
In the men’s 89 class, a new division for 2024, Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar, 20, moved up from his 2021 Worlds gold at 81 kg to win in Paris, so-winning the Snatch at 180 kg and then setting an Olympic Record of 224 kg in the Clean& Jerk to finish with a WORLD RECORD of 404 kg!
Colombia’s Yeison Lopez also lifted 180 kg in the Snatch, but 210 in the C&J and finished second at 390 kg, with Antonio Pizzolato (ITA: 384 kg) taking the bronze, his second straight Olympic third after his 81 kg bronze in Tokyo.
● Wrestling: Men’s 57 kg Free-86 kg Free; Women’s 57 kg Free
Japan’s Rei Higuchi, the Rio 2016 silver winner, took the men’s 57 kg gold with a 4-2 victory over Spencer Lee of the U.S. Lee had a 2-0 lead after the first period, but Higuchi won the second period by 4-0 for the victory.
India’s Aman Aman and Gulomjon Abdullaev (UZB) won the bronze medals.
Iranian star Hassan Yazdani is a three-time World Champion in the men’s 86 kg Freestyle class, but was thoroughly beaten in the men’s 86 kg final by Bulgaria’s Magomed Ramazanov, a former Russian was the 2020 European silver winner at 79 kg, by 7-1.
The U.S.’s Aaron Brooks won a bronze medal by 5:0, and Greece’s Dauren Kurugliev won the other.
Three-time World Champion Tsugumi Sakurai has mauled the field in the women’s 57 kg class, winning 6-1, 11-0 before a pinfall and then 10-4 against 2016 Olympic 53 kg winner Helen Maroulis of the U.S. in the semis. She did not let up in the final against Moldova’s Anastasia Nichita, the Worlds 2023 runner-up, winning 6-0.
Maroulis won her third Olympic medal – a bronze this time – with a pinfall of Canada’s Hannah Taylor in 24 seconds. China’s Kexin Hong won the other bronze by 10-0 over Giullia Penalber of Brazil.
Elsewhere:
● Athletics ● In the morning heats, the men’s 800 m semis were won by favored Djamel Sedjati (ALG: 1:45.08), 2023 World Champion Marco Arop (CAN: 1:45.05) and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:43.32), with American Bryce Hoppel second in 1:43.41. Teammates Brandon Miller (1:45.79 in semi one) and Hobbs Kessler (1:46.20 in semi two) did not advance.
All three Americans advanced in the women’s 100 m hurdles semis, with Grace Stark winning semi one in 12.39, then Alaysha Johnson winning semi two in 12.34 and defending champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) winning semi three in 12.35. Masai Russell of the U.S. was right behind in 12.42. World-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) was the no. 9 qualifier and did not advance, finishing third in semi one (12.55).
The women’s 4×400 m heats had the U.S. winning easily in the first race, with Quanera Hayes (51.27), Shamier Little (49.22), Aaliyah Butler (50.41) and Kaylyn Brown (50.54) winning by more than three seconds in 3:21.44. The next-best time of the day was Great Britain in second in the same heat at 3:24.72.
The U.S. was in the men’s 4×400 m first heat, with 16-year-old Quincy Wilson running lead-off. And he ran like a high school sophomore – which he is – at 47.27 and in seventh place. From there, Vernon Norwood, 32, ran 43.54 to get the U.S. back into contact and into sixth. Bryce Deadmon, the 2023 U.S. national champion, followed with a 44.20 leg to get the Americans into fourth, with the top three qualifying automatically. Anchor Chris Bailey steamed to a 44.14 final leg and passed Japan on the final turn to get the U.S. into the final at 2:59.15. Botswana, with Letsile Tebogo running 44.33 on lead-off, won at 2:57.76, with Great Britain next at 2:58.88 and those were the top three times of the day.
● Basketball ● The U.S. women had no trouble with Australia in their semifinal, leading 45-27 at half and rolling to an 85-64 victory and their 60th straight win in Olympic play. Breanna Stewart led the U.S. with 16 points, Jackie Young had 14 and Kahleah Copper had 11. On to the final. The U.S. shot 50% and held Australia to 36%.
Just as in the men’s tournament, the U.S. will face France, which needed overtime to defeat Belgium, 81-75, in its semifinal.
● Volleyball ● The U.S. men won a hard-fought bronze medal with a 25-23, 30-28, 26-24 win over Italy, the first U.S. medal since Rio 2016.
● Water Polo ● In the men’s semifinals, Serbia defeated the U.S., 10-6, taking a 6-4 halftime lead, 8-6 after three and scoring two more in the final quarter. Nikola Dedovic had four scores for the winners; Marko Vavic scored two to lead the U.S.
In the second semi, Croatia managed a 9-8 win over Hungary, holding on after a 7-5 halftime lead. Loren Fatovic scored five to lead Croatia.
The medal matches will be on Sunday; the U.S. has a chance for a medal for the first time since 2008.
= PREVIEWS: SAT., 10 AUGUST =
(39 finals across 21 sports)
● Artistic Swimming: Duet
This event has been dominated nu Russia, which had won six straight Olympic golds coming into 2024. They aren’t entered, so China’s 2024 World Champions, twin sisters Liuyi Wang and Qianyi Wang, are favored. Their primary challengers are Britain’s Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe (‘24 Worlds Tech silver and Free bronze), Dutch Free silver sisters Bregje de Brouwer and Noortje de Brouwer and Spain’s Duet Tech bronze medalists Alisa Ozhogina and Iris Tio.
● Athletics: Men’s 800 m-5,000 m-Marathon-4×400 m-High Jump
Women’s 1,500 m-100 m hurdles-4×400 m-Javelin
Back-to-back Olympic champ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) has not been dominant, finishing 10th at the Tokyo Marathon in his only race of the year, in March. Tokyo winner Benson Kipruto, the world leader at 2:02:16 is a favorite and Alexander Mutiso, the London winner (2:04:01) are the other Kenyans.
Ethiopia counters with London runner-up and three-time Olympic track gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele, Seville Marathon winner Deresa Geleta (2:03:27) and Sisay Lemma, the 2024 Boston winner. Tokyo silver winner Abdi Nageeye (NED) is back as is bronze winner Bashir Abdi (BEL), and what about France’s Morhad Amdouni (2:03:47)?
On the track, the greatest year in history in the men’s 800 m will be decided among Djamel Sedjati (ALG), the 2022 Worlds runner-up, Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi, France’s Gabriel Tual and Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui, all of whom have run 1:42.04 or faster. American Bryce Hoppel is an excellent tactician and won the World Indoor title, and 2023 Worlds winner Marco Arop (CAN) are also contenders.
The men’s 5,000 m is shaped by the 1,500 m held on 6 August. How will Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen react to his fourth-place finish? If he’s looking for redemption after a loss, as he did at the 2022 and 2023 Worlds, he won both with strong finishes. Opposing him are Ethiopian stars Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha, who were 1-2 in the race of the year in Oslo in 12:36.73 and 12:38.95, with Jacob Kiplimo (UGA: 12:40.96) third. If you’re looking for a story, how about European champ Dominic Lobalu, who does not have Swiss citizenship yet, so he’s running on the Refugee Olympic Team! American Grant Fisher, third in the 10,000 m, is looking for another medal.
The women’s 1,500 m should be a showcase for Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the two-time defending champion and world-record setter at 3:49.04. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, entered in the 15-5-10, ran 3:50.30 in China in April and Australian Jessica Hull got the world 2,000 m record and has run 3:50.83 this year. Ethiopians Birke Haylom and Diribe Welteji, Tokyo runner-up Laura Muir (GBR) and others are all in the hunt for medals.
No one knows how the women’s 100 m hurdles will finish. Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR), Americans Masai Russell (world leader: 12.25), Grace Stark (12.31) and Alaysha Johnson (12.31) are all contenders, as is Ackera Nugent of Jamaica (12.28). The crowd will be with France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (12.31).
Tokyo Olympic co-champ Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) won the Euro title at a world-leading 2.37 m (7-9 1/4) and was the favorite, but apparently developed kidney stones just before arriving in Paris. His Olympic co-champ Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) could be ready to challenge, and American Shelby McEwen is clearly a medal possibility.
The women’s javelin should be a fight between 2023 Worlds winner Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN), 2023 bronze winner Mackenzie Little (AUS), little-known Flor Dennis Ruiz of Colombia, the world leader at 66.70 m (218-10) and European champ Victoria Hudson (AUT). American Maggie Malone Harden is also a medal possibility.
If the U.S. can keep the stick off the ground, both the men’s and women’s 4×400 m teams will be favored. The men have 400 gold winner Quincy Hall, 2022 World Champion Michael Norman, Chris Bailey, Vernon Norwood, and Rau Benjamin to anchor, as he did in Tokyo. No one should be that close.
The women can call on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on anchor, as in Tokyo, and have solid legs in front from Kendall Ellis, Kaylyn Brown, Aliyah Butler and Alexis Holmes, among others. But the Dutch – with Bol on anchor – will be in contention, as will Ireland and perhaps Poland.
● Basketball: Men
Of course, it had to be France and the U.S. in the final, a re-match of the Tokyo final, won by the Americans by 87-72 after the French had beaten the U.S. in the group stage. In Paris, the French edged Canada, 82-73 and then eliminated 2023 FIBA World Cup champs Germany, 73-69.
The U.S., trying to win its fifth title in a row, is led by LeBron James (two-time gold-medalist) and Kevin Durant, a three-time gold medalist in 2012-16-20. Durant almost single-handedly pushed the U.S. over the top in Tokyo. They have had lots of help from Steph Curry, whose 36 points helped bring the Americans back from 17 down against Serbia, finally taking the lead in the fourth quarter and winning, 95-91.
What the U.S. does about young French star center Victor Wembanyama will be fascinating: pushed around by Joel Embiid, or smothered by Bam Adebayo, or both?
● Beach Volleyball: Men
The hot team coming into the tournament was Sweden’s David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig, the 2023 Worlds silver medalists and winners of four Elite 16 tournaments this season. Germans Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler eliminated defending champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) and get to play for gold; Wickler won a Worlds silver back in 2019 with a different partner.
● Boxing: Men’s 57 kg-+92 kg; Women’s 57 kg-75 kg
Top-seeded Abdumalik Khalokov (UZB) is in the men’s 57 kg final and is the 2022 Asian Games winner and 2023 World Champion. Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu (KGZ) has gotten better with each round, winning by 3:2, then 5:0 and 4:1. Upset perhaps?
The bronze medals went to Charlie Senior (AUS) and ex-Cuban Javier Ibanez (BUL).
In the Super Heavyweight,+92 kg class, Tokyo gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov (UZB) is back and will face Spain’s unseeded Ayoub Ghadfa, who won by quarterfinal and semifinal by unanimous (5:0) decisions. Jalolov is a two-time World Champion, including 2023; Ghadfa was a 2023 Worlds bronze winner.
Germany’s Nelvie Tiafack and Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze (FRA) won the bronze medals.
In the women’s 57 kg class, two-time World Champion Yu-ting Lin (TPE) was the top seed and is in the final, after enduring questioning of her female status by the discredited International Boxing Association. She has won all three of her bouts by 5:0 decisions. Poland’s Julia Szeremeta has already won the country’s first boxing medal since 1992 and is its first finalist since 1980! She has also dominated, winning her fights by decisions: 4:`1, 5:0. 5:0 and 4:1.
Esra Yildiz (TUR) and Nesthy Petecio (PHI) are the bronze winners.
Top-seeded Tokyo runner-up and Rio bronze winner Qian Li of China is back to try for gold in the women’s 75 kg class. She won the 2018 Worlds gold and was the bronze winner in 2023. Panama’s seventh-seeded Atheyna Bylon, 35, won the Worlds gold back in 2014 in the 69 kg class and was the runner-up in this class in 2022.
Bronzes went to Caitlin Parker of Australia and to Cindy Ngamba, an ex-Cameroonian who won the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team.
● Breaking: B-Boys
In the men’s Breaking, Victor Montalvo of the U.S. (Victor) enters as reigning World Champion, ahead of Philip Kim (CAN: Phil Wizard) and Shigeyuki Nakarai (JPN: Shigekix). They will battle Olympic Qualifier Series stars Lee-Lou Demierre (NED: Lee) and Korea’s Hong-yul Kim (Hongten).
● Canoeing/Sprint: Men’s K-1 1,000 m;
Women’s C-1 200 m-K-1 500 m
The Tokyo K-1 1,000 m podium is back: Olympic champ Balint Kopasz (HUN), silver winner Adam Varga (HUN) and bronze medalist Fernando Pimenta (POR). Pimenta and Varga were 1-2 at the 2023 Worlds with Jakob Thordsen (GER) third, and Czech Josef Dostal, the 2014 World Champion, won the K-1 500 m at the 2022 Worlds.
But the fastest time in the heats was by unheralded German Anton Winkelmann.
The women’s sprint – the C-1 200 m – has defending champion Nevin Harrison back and she posted the fastest time in the heats. Tokyo bronzer Liudmyla Luzan (UKR) is back as well, but so is the medal stand from the 2023 Worlds: Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo, Antia Jacome (ESP) and China’s Wenjun Lin. Not everyone can get a medal this time.
In the women’s K-1 500 m, New Zealand’s 2021 World Champion, Aimee Fisher, had the fastest heat time, with the other heats won by Sweden’s Linnea Stensils, Nan Wang (CHN) and Alida Dora Gazso of Hungary. This event looks to be wide open in the absence of stars like New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington, busy with other races.
● Cycling/Track: Men’s Madison
This is only the fifth time this race has been on the Olympic program and parts of the Tokyo podium are back. Winners Michael Morkov and Niklas Larsen return to defend, with Britain’s silver winner Ethan Hayter with a new partner (Oliver Wood) and France’s Omnium winner Benjamin Thomas – third in Tokyo – now partnered with Thomas Boudat. Meanwhile, 2023 World Champions Jan Willem van Schip and Yoeri Havik (NED) are in, as are New Zealand’s Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart who won bronze.
● Diving: Men’s 10 m Platform
China plans to complete its first-ever sweep of the Olympic program with Yuan Cao and Hao Yang. Cao won in Tokyo in 2020 and wants to be the first to repeat since Greg Louganis of the U.S. in 1984 and 1988. However, Yang won at the 2024 Worlds over Cao, by almost 11 points.
Chasing both will be Ukraine’s Oleksiy Seeda, third at the 2024 Worlds and Cassiel Rousseau (AUS), who pulled off a major upset with his win at the 2023 Worlds. Lightning striking twice?
● Football: Women
A U.S. women’s team which had sagged to fifth in the FIFA World Rankings has been revitalized under new coach Emma Hayes (GBR) and the RSS line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson. With stern midfield play from Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle and solid goalkeeping from Alyssa Naeher, the Americans won their group games by a combined 9-2 and then skated through two extra-time wins over Japan and Germany by 1-0 each to land in the final. Hayes’s team is 9-0 so far.
Brazil is trying for its first women’s Olympic gold after being runner-up to the U.S. in 2004 and 2008. Only 1-2 in group play, they got by France, 1-0, in their quarterfinal and then got Women’s World Cup winner Spain out of sorts and won by a stunning 4-2. They will try to do the same against the U.S., looking for its fourth Olympic women’s gold.
● Golf: Women
The women’s golf tournament started with the U.S. coming in with the top two in the rankings, in Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. Korda won the Chevron Championship this year, but the other majors went to Yuka Saso (JPN: U.S. Open), Amy Yang (KOR: Women’s PGA) and Ayaka Furue (JPN: Evian). Korda has been on fire, winning six tournament this year, but none since May.
But after 54 holes, Swiss Morgane Metraux and Lydia Ko (NZL) were both -9 (207), with Miyu Yamashita (JPN) and Rose Chang of the U.S. tied for third at -7. Korda is lurking at -4 in a tie for seventh,
● Gymnastics: Rhythmic Group All-Around
Bulgaria is the defending Olympic champion (and 2022 Worlds winner), with Italy third in Tokyo, but Israel, China and Spain were 1-2-3 at the 2023 World Championships. Expect those four to fight for the medals.
● Handball: Women
No surprise for Norway and France to be playing in the gold-medal game. The French have been silver-gold in Rio and Tokyo and Norway has won medals in four Games in a row: gold-gold-bronze-bronze.
The two met in the 2023 IHF Women’s Worlds final, with France pulling out a 31-28 win.
● Modern Pentathlon: Men
Hungary’s Csaba Bohm and Balazs Szep went 1-2 at the 2024 UIPM Worlds in June, with Korea’s Tokyo bronze winner Woong-tae Jun third. Expect them to be challenged by the 2022 Worlds podium, starting with Joe Choong (GBR), the defending Olympic champion, plus Emiliano Hernandez (MEX) and Mohanad Shaban of Egypt. France’s hopes are with Valentin Prades, the 2018 Worlds silver medalist.
● Sport Climbing: Women’s Boulder & Lead
The women’s Sport Climbing Combined event has a prohibitive favorite in Slovenian Janja Garnbret. She was the Tokyo 2020 gold medalist and owns three Worlds golds in Boulder and two more in Lead. Austria’s Jessica Pilz, Japan’s Ai Mori and American Brooke Raboutou should all be in the fight for medals. But Garnbret stands alone.
● Table Tennis: Women’s Team
No surprise: no. 1 seed China will meet no. 2 Japan in the gold-medal final. China has won this event all four times it has been held and defeated Japan for the gold in 2012 and at Tokyo 2020. China has won all nine sets in its three matches; Japan has won nine of 10.
And China has defeated Japan in five straight Worlds Team finals in 2014-16-18-22-24. Let’s say China is favored.
● Taekwondo: Men’s +80 kg; Women’s +67 kg
In the men’s +80 kg heavyweight category, Cuba’s Tokyo bronze winner and 2019 World Champion Rafael Alba returns, but the focus is likely on 2023 World Champion Cheick Sallah Cisse (CIV) and runner-up Carlos Sansores (MEX), who won in 2022. Turkey’s Emre Atesli, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, should also be in the mix.
● Volleyball: Men
France and Poland will meet in the final, after the French sailed past Italy, 3-0, in their semi and Poland had to come from behind to get past the U.S., 3-2.
France are the defending champs from Tokyo and won the 2024 FIVB Nations Cup in June. But the Poles are a powerhouse, winning the FIVB Worlds in 2014 and 2018, and losing in 2022 only in the final to Italy. Is the pro-French crowd enough to make a difference?
● Water Polo: Women
The U.S. women won three straight Olympic golds, but lost in an extended penalty shoot-out against Australia in the semifinals. Spain is in the final as in 2012 and at Tokyo 2020, and after winning the 2013 Worlds over Australia, lost to the U.S. in the Worlds final in 2017-19-2023.
The Spanish have to be favored, but no one can tell the Australians they can’t win after their performance against the U.S. The Americans will face the Netherlands for the bronze medal.
● Weightlifting: Men’s 102 kg-+102 kg; Women’s 81 kg
In the men’s 102 kg class, defending champion Akbar Djuraev (UZB) returns, along with China’s 102 kg World Champion Huanhua Liu, along with silver winner Yeon-hak Jang (KOR) and bronze winner Yauheni Tsikhantsou of Belarus (as a “neutral”). Djuraev won the 2024 Worlds at 109 kg, but has gone down in weight for Paris; will he be as effective?
The weightlifting world is waiting for the world’s strongest man to show what he can do in Paris in the +102 kg class. Georgia’s Lasha Talakhadze owns all the world records and all the Olympic records, and the 6-6, 403-lb. giant will be defending his Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic golds. He owns seven World titles and is the overwhelming favorite.
Armenia’s Varazdat Lalayan was the 2023 Worlds runner-up and ex-Armenian Gor Minasyan (BRN) took the bronze. If they stumble in Paris, look for Iran’s Ali Davoudi or Syria’s Man Asaad to get into the mix for a medal.
The women’s 81 kg division has Australia’s 2023 Worlds bronze winner Eileen Cikamatana as a leading entry and 76 kg World Champion Sara Ahmed (EGY) ready to challenge. But Ecuador’s Neisi Dajomes, the Tokyo 2020 76 kg winner, is going to be a factor, but this is a higher weight for her. Norway’s Solfrid Koanda has come down in weight, from 87 kg, where she was the 2022 World Champion, to compete. Look for 2024 European 81 kg champ Weronika Zielinska-Stubinska to be in the mix as well.
● Wrestling: Men’s Freestyle 74 kg-125 kg;
Women’s Freestyle 62 kg
Japan’s Daichi Takatani, the 2022 Asian Champs runner-up, upset 2022 World Champion Kyle Dake of the U.S. in the semifinals in a wild scoring fest, 20-12. He will face ex-Russian Razambek Zhamalov (UZB), the 2019 World U-23 champ, in the final.
In the super-heavy 125 kg class, Georgia’s three-time World Champion Geno Petriashvili and 2023 Worlds gold medalist (and Tokyo bronze winner) Amir Hossein Zare will meet in a replay of two recent championship bouts.
Petriashvili defeated Zare in the Tokyo 2020 semifinal by 6-3, but Zare defeated Petriashvili, 11-0 in the 2023 Worlds final.
Japan has won the women’s 62 kg class all five times it has been held at the Games. Japan has Sakura Motoki in the final, the 2023 Worlds silver winner, against Ukraine’s Iryna Koliadenko, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal winner.
= INTEL REPORT =
● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency announced an above-their-dues donation from the Japan Anti-Doping Agency of ¥23.773 million, or about $160,000 U.S. The money will be used for “for one year to support the development of Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in Asia and Oceania.”
The announcement noted that Japan has contributed more than $2.3 million U.S. above their dues to support WADA projects commissioned by the Japanese government. While there has been attention given to Chinese donations about their dues, added donations have been made by other countries, notably Canada and Japan.
● Korea ● The latest international flap on the Korean Peninsula is whether North Korean athletes have received the Samsung Galaxy Flip6 phones being distributed by International Olympic Committee sponsor Samsung to all athletes.
The IOC Press Office issued a Thursday statement that “We can confirm that the athletes of the NOC of DPRK have not received the Samsung phones.”
However, if they were received by the National Olympic Committee and taken back to North Korea, it would be a violation of United Nations sanctions against the North Korean regime. The South Korean foreign ministry is working to ensure that the phones are not allowed to be brought into North Korea.
● Russia ● Russia’s new sports minister, Mikhail Degtyarev is now telling people that the continuing invasion of Ukraine and the takeover of Ukrainian sports organizations is not the reason why Russia and Belarus were sanctioned for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He told the Russian news agency TASS:
“If we talk about a conflict, for example, ours, about the [Ukraine invasion], now in the world, according to various estimates, up to 20 armed conflicts are in a high stage, so to speak, of fervor. There are conflicts everywhere, I’m not even talking about the Israeli-Palestinian one. But for some reason only Russia and Belarus are banned.
“This is unfair. Everyone has common sense, eyes, everyone understands that this is not connected with a special military operation. This is connected exclusively with a Russophobic position, a political one.”
No word in the TASS story about whether Degtyarev had been tested recently by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (or any other, for that matter).
● Athletics ● South Africa’s two-time Olympic women’s 800 m champion, Caster Semenya, the subject of a years-long battle over rules concerning athletes with hyperandrogenism, told the German ARD channel that she plans to run for the presidency of World Athletics in 2015.
Current chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) will be termed out and Semenya, 33, says “It’s not about me, it’s about protecting athletes and making sure they are all treated equally.”
● Boxing ● IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) was asked about the timing on a decision on boxing being admitted to the 2028 Games program with a new international federation in charge and he indicated that this would need to happen in the first half of 2025.
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