It’s already day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics and competition continues to have us glued to our TV and phone screens. In today’s newsletter, we take a look at Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil and her goal for a medal in women’s 50m freestyle and we talk about MyKayla Skinner who will tap in for Simone Biles in women’s gymnastics.
Caeleb Dressel Wins 2 More Golds; U.S. Swimmers Finish with 30 Medals
On the last night of swimming at the Tokyo Olympics, the Americans won four more medals — setting records in two events — to finish with 30 medals overall: 11 gold, 10 silver and nine bronze.
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Caeleb Dressel won two more golds, giving him five in these Games and seven overall, while Bobby Finke picked up his second gold in the 1500m. Dressel and the rest of the men’s 4x100m medley relay capped off the night in world record style, while the U.S. women picked up silver in their medley relay.
Dressel set a new Olympic record to win the gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle final on Saturday night. He also won the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle in Tokyo. Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz are the only other male swimmers to win gold in three individual events at one Games.
Team USA’s Bobby Finke won gold in the men’s 1500m freestyle, while Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine took silver and Florian Wellbrock of Germany took bronze.
Fellow distance swimmer Katie Ledecky congratulated him on his gold medal victories.
The U.S. men broke the world record to win gold in the 4x100m medley relay, a race they have won every time they’ve entered it. The team was made up of Ryan Murphy, Andrew, Dressel and Zach Apple. The new world record is 3:26.78.
MyKayla Skinner taps in for Simone Biles in women’s gymnastics vault final
The United States will compete for a number of medals over the course of the next two nights in individual event finals. On Saturday, men will compete on the floor exercise and pommel horse, while the women will compete on vault and uneven bars.
After Simone Biles exited the team final and individual all-around final at the Olympics earlier this week, USA Gymnastics has announced she will withdraw from the event finals for the vault and uneven bars at Tokyo.
MyKayla Skinner, an American who was competing as an individual, will get Biles’ spot in the vault final. She had the fourth-best score in qualifying but did not advance to the eight-woman final because only two athletes from any country are allowed in the final.
All-around gold medalist Suni Lee will compete on bars for the U.S. She faces off against Belgian bars specialist Nina Derwael, who Lee bested by just .033 points in the uneven bars rotation of the all-around competition. Jade Carey will also compete for the U.S. on vault. Carey will look to win her first medal at the Tokyo Olympics in this event.
On the men’s side, Yul Moldauer will compete on floor exercise, and Alec Yoder will compete on pommel horse. The events begin at 4 a.m. ET streaming on Peacock.
American Hannah Roberts Wins First-Ever BMX Freestyle Park Silver Medal
Hannah Roberts finished second to claim the first-ever Olympic silver medal despite being a heavy favorite to win it all. She finished with 96.10 points behind
Great Britain’s Charlotte Worthington, who took gold with 97.50 points.
For the men, Australia’s reigning men’s world champion Logan Martin claimed gold finishing with 93.30 points.
Both Americans – Nick Bruce and Justin Dowell – finished out of medal contention. Bruce was unable to take his second turn due to injury, and Dowell fell on his second run.
Trayvon Bromell Sprints to Become World’s Fastest Man
Track and Field competition continues on Day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics. Coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network with five events: women’s hammer throw qualifying round, women’s 3000m steeplechase Round 1, women’s long jump qualifying round, women’s shot put final and men’s 400m Round 1.
There are a few Americans to keep your eye on around the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo Saturday. Raven Saunders and Jessica Ramsey will have the chance to medal in women’s shot put. Saunders topped the competition in qualifying on Friday. Michael Norman, Michael Cherry and Randolph Ross will compete for a spot in the 400m final. Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Valerie Constien will race in the 3000m steeplechase.
The next track and field events will take place at 4 a.m. ET on Sunday morning. Then, the men’s high jump final, men’s 100m semifinals, women’s 100m hurdles semifinals, women’s triple jump final, men’s 800m semifinals, men’s 400m hurdles semifinals will take place. The session will end with the crowning of the fastest man in the world in the men’s 100m final. American Trayvon Bromell will look to bring home gold in the event for the United States for the first time since Justin Gaitlin in 2004.
Watch the first session live in NBC’s primetime coverage and USA Network, or stream live at https://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-and-field-session-6-integrated-feed?chrcontext=KNTV. Watch the second session on Peacock, or stream live at https://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-and-field-session-7-integrated-feed?chrcontext=KNTV.
Xander Schauffele Looks to Hang Onto Lead in Final Round of Men’s Golf Tournament
American Xander Schauffele enters the men’s golf tournament’s final round with a one-stroke lead over Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. The two golfers went toe-to-toe at the 2021 Masters before Matsuyama ultimately earned the green jacket.
Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood are among the other golfers within striking distance of Schauffele’s 14-under score heading into the final 18 holes. While Schauffelehe is the leader, the rest of Team USA is just about out of contention. Collin Morikawa is tied for 17th place with a 7-under score, while Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed are tied for 38th with 4-under scores.
Schauffele and Matsuyama will be grouped with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who is tied for third place. The group will tee off at the first hole at 10:18 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Watch live beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, or stream at https://stream.nbcolympics.com/golf-mens-final-round-medal-fourth-sunday?chrcontext=KNTV.