Olympic Recap August 2-5

USA currently leads the total medals in Tokyo with 98. China is next with 70, and Russia’s Olympic Committee has 62. Interestingly America has been struggling to get gold and is currently five medals behind China’s 36. Let’s look back at the last few days of Olympic competition and see how Team USA has performed in some events.

August 2nd

Women’s Floor Exercises

“The best floor routine I’ve ever done in my life” is how American Jade Carey described her own performance. The judges agreed and awarded the 21 year old Phoenix native a gold medal in the event. She beat out Italian Vanessa Ferrari who took silver, and two more competitors who tied for Bronze, Japan’s Mai Murakami and the Russian Olympic Committee’s Angelina Melnikova.

Women’s 100m Hurdles

Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the territory its first ever gold medal in track and field by winning the 100m Hurdle event. This is an event that has been dominated by Americans in the past, but Keni Harrison settled for the silver and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper finished with bronze.

Women’s Discus

Valerie Allman brought USA it’s first track and field gold medal of this Olympic games in the discus throw. Allman was an underdo, her previous best finish in an international event was seventh in 2019. Germany was awarded the silver, and Cuba the bronze.

August 3rd

Women’s Balance Beam

After withdrawing from all of her events after the team gymnastics finals, Simone Biles returned to the balance beam to win bronze. Biles said of the medal to NBC’s Hoda Kotb that it, “means more than all of the golds because I pushed through so much the last five years and the last week while I’ve been here. This bronze is the seventh in Biles’ illustrious career.

Women’s Freestyle Wrestling

American Tamyra Mensah-Stock defeated Nigerian, Blessing Oborududu won the second ever gold medal for the USA in women’s freestyle wrestling. The 28 year old is the first ever black U.S. woman to win gold in a wrestling event. “I can’t believe I frickin’ just did that,” Mensah-Stock said after winning.

Track and Field

A trio of silver medals were passed out to USA’s Brittney Reese, Benjamin Rai, and Christopher Nilsen as each athlete came in second in the Women’s Long Jump, Men’s 400m Hurdles, and Men’s Pole Vault.

The Women’s 200m Sprint saw American Thomas Gabrielle win bronze. In the Women’s 800m two Americans sandwiched silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson. Raevyn Rogers took bronze and 19 year old Athing Mu won gold. Not only did she win the US it’s first gold in the event since 1968, she did it while setting a new American record.

August 4th

Track and Field

America’s Sydney McLaughlin and Daliah Muhammad finished with the first two spots on the podium in the Women’s 400m Hurdles. McLaughlin set a world record with her time of 51.90.

Canada’s Andre de Grasse crossed the finish line first in the Men’s 200m. He was followed closely by three Americans, Kenneth Bednarek with silver, Noah Lyles with bronze, and Erriyon Knighton in fourth.

Women’s Park Skateboarding

The first ever Olympic gold in Women’s Park Skateboarding went to Japan’s own Sakura Yosozumi. Another hometown skater, Kokona Hiraki finished with silver, and Great Britain’s 13 year old Sky Brown took bronze.

August 5th

Track and Field

America took gold and silver in the men’s shot put. Portland Oregon’s Ryan Crouser set a new Olympic Record with his mark of 23.30m. Fellow countryman Joe Kovacs finished closely behind with a throw of 22.65m.

Katie Nageotte brought USA another gold medal in the Women’s Pole Vault. She eat out Russian silver medalist Anzhelika Sidorova and British bronze medalist Holly Bradshaw. Nageotte failed her first two attempts at clearing 4.50 meters, but made it on here third and final try. From there she improved to get over the bar at 4.90 meters again on her third try, and secure her first Olympic medal.

Baseball

After losing an overtime game to Japan, the U.S. advanced through the losers bracket to a game vs. South Korea for a spot in the finals. They won 7-2 in a dominant fashion, spurred along by great pitching, and solid hitting in the middle innings. This now gives team USA a rematch with Japan in the finals

Basketball

After a rocky start, USA Men’s basketball seems to have hit their stride. The U.S. found themselves down by 15 to Australia in the first half of it’s semi-final matchup. Coming out of the locker rooms post halftime the red white and blue stifled the Aussies with great defense and won the third quarter 32-10. From there it was smooth sailing to the win, and a spot in the gold medal match.

Devin Booker had 20 points and Kevin Durant finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. Jrue Holiday continued his hot hand in the tournament finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Team USA now faces a French squad that beat them in a close pool play game early in the tournament.

Interested in betting the Olympics? Take a look at our Betting the Olympics Guide and get ready to wager on some of the biggest events in the world.

Upcoming Events to Watch

August 7th

Men’s and Women’s 4 x 400 Relay Final

Baseball Gold Medal Game USA vs. Japan

Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Game USA vs. France

Men’s Soccer Gold Medal Game Brazil vs. Spain

Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal Game USA vs. Spain

August 8th

Women’s Basketball Gold Medal Game USA vs. Japan

Men’s Boxing Lightweight Gold Medal Match USA vs. Cuba

Men’s Boxing Super Heavy Gold Medal Match USA vs. Uzbekistan

Women’s Volleyball Gold Medal Game USA vs. Brazil