Katie to anchor U.S. 4x100m freestyle relay.....Get this Gold girls.....Good luck!
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The PRIME-TIME event.
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U.S.A. Rugby is BACK in the Olympics and Team U.S.A. couldn't be happier.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Rugby is back in the Olympic Games and Team USA could not feel more welcome.
The Women's Eagles, as the U.S. team is known, lost to Fiji 12-7 in rugby sevens pool play Saturday at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in women’s rugby’s Olympic debut, and while the match was fierce, it was also friendly.
Roll back the clock to the last time rugby was played at the Games. The year was 1924 and the U.S. men beat host country France 17-3 for the gold medal in a final marred by fights in the stands. The French fans booed and hissed the Americans so lustily – even during “The Star-Spangled Banner” – that they needed police protection upon leaving the field.
The sport would not appear on the Olympic schedule again since until Saturday morning, when women – who did not play in rugby's previous Olympic appearances in 1900, 1908, 1920 or 1924 – took the field.
“It was exciting – putting your foot on this grass in general, you're making history,” said forward Kathryn Johnson. “And you're there with your buddies. So it can't get any better than that, right?”
A win would have been nice, but Team USA achieved that milestone later Saturday by walloping Colombia 48-0. The Eagles will face top-ranked Australia on Sunday, with hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals later the same day.
The USA/Fiji matchup was the most competitive of the openers, with France defeating Spain 24-7, New Zealand trouncing Kenya 54-0, Great Britain beating host team Brazil 29-3, Canada blanking Japan 45-0 and Australia rolling over Colombia 53-0 in 15,000-seat Deodoro Stadium, which was a little more than half full.
Fiji attacked early, but the Eagles made a goal-line stand. Luisa Tisolo scored a try and the conversion to give Fiji a 7-0 halftime lead. The South Pacific nation was up 12-0 when Alev Kelter scored a try 2:37 into the second half. Bui Baravilala added the conversion to make it 12-7.
That made Kelter the first American woman to score a try in the Olympic Games. “It truly is an honor,” she said, pausing. “Actually I hadn't thought about that. That's really cool.”
Kelter, who played soccer and ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin, said the first time she saw rugby sevens, “I thought that it was a tough sport and it's so fast-paced and it's something that Americans can definitely get behind. We're just so blessed and honored to be pioneering that right now.”
“It's phenomenal,” added forward Jillion Potter. “The Olympics provides a wonderful platform for rugby and we're hoping that more and more people start playing the game and we're excited the share the wealth of rugby for the world.”
Rugby sevens – a departure from the 15- a-side game played in previous Games – and golf were voted onto the Olympic program by the IOC in 2009. However, they are only guaranteed appearances in Rio and in Tokyo in 2020. The IOC will vote again next year, so it is vital that the men's and women's tournaments be successful.
“It's pretty insane,” said Johnson. “It's kind of unreal how much it can help grow the game. Especially women's sports, having a full-contact game in the Olympics is pretty amazing.”
While rugby is the national sport in Fiji, it still is trying to gain more of a cleat-hold throughout the world.
“That's because they have the exposure,” Johnson said of Fiji. “We have football and basketball. That's what we have to overtake, and we have to get the views in rugby, and this is what we're planning on doing in the Olympics.”
In the second match against Colombia, Kelter scored less than a minute into the contest, followed by a conversion to put Team USA up 7-0. Kelter added another try and conversion while Johnson had two tries for 10 points. Seven players contributed to the American scoring line.
The men's tournament, which begins on Tuesday with Team USA facing Argentina, features Carlin Isles, known as “the fastest man in rugby,” and New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner, the only active NFL player to qualify for the Rio Games. Ebner, who will try to add an Olympic medal to his Super Bowl ring from 2014, was the youngest player to play on the national rugby sevens team at age 17.
Brian Hightower, a former Eagles player and the NBC analyst for rugby, said the sport “is perfectly tailored for the Olympics. You have the best open field running. You have one-on-one tackling, you’ve got collisions, and it’s a very physical game, but it’s also a very beautiful game.
“It’s one with a ton of strategy and what people will come to appreciate if they really focus on the athletes is the amount of work that they’re doing and how fit they are. Every game – and it’s two a day – they’re going to be sprinting a mile in that 14 minutes, and that’s a ton of work. It’s not just the running, but then you have to get up off the ground, you’ve got to tackle people, you’ve got to be tackled, you’ve got to make decisions. It’s just got everything.”
With each half lasting only 7 minutes, there's no time to make a mistake.
“And if you do,” Johnson said, “you've got to brush it off and keep going, so we did make a few mistakes and we've got to learn how to keep our heads high and go on to the next move.”
She said she doesn't mind playing twice in one day.
“I just love rugby,” Johnson said, “and any day that's a rugby day is a good day.”
RIO DE JANEIRO – Rugby is back in the Olympic Games and Team USA could not feel more welcome.
The Women's Eagles, as the U.S. team is known, lost to Fiji 12-7 in rugby sevens pool play Saturday at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in women’s rugby’s Olympic debut, and while the match was fierce, it was also friendly.
Roll back the clock to the last time rugby was played at the Games. The year was 1924 and the U.S. men beat host country France 17-3 for the gold medal in a final marred by fights in the stands. The French fans booed and hissed the Americans so lustily – even during “The Star-Spangled Banner” – that they needed police protection upon leaving the field.
The sport would not appear on the Olympic schedule again since until Saturday morning, when women – who did not play in rugby's previous Olympic appearances in 1900, 1908, 1920 or 1924 – took the field.
“It was exciting – putting your foot on this grass in general, you're making history,” said forward Kathryn Johnson. “And you're there with your buddies. So it can't get any better than that, right?”
A win would have been nice, but Team USA achieved that milestone later Saturday by walloping Colombia 48-0. The Eagles will face top-ranked Australia on Sunday, with hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals later the same day.
The USA/Fiji matchup was the most competitive of the openers, with France defeating Spain 24-7, New Zealand trouncing Kenya 54-0, Great Britain beating host team Brazil 29-3, Canada blanking Japan 45-0 and Australia rolling over Colombia 53-0 in 15,000-seat Deodoro Stadium, which was a little more than half full.
Fiji attacked early, but the Eagles made a goal-line stand. Luisa Tisolo scored a try and the conversion to give Fiji a 7-0 halftime lead. The South Pacific nation was up 12-0 when Alev Kelter scored a try 2:37 into the second half. Bui Baravilala added the conversion to make it 12-7.
That made Kelter the first American woman to score a try in the Olympic Games. “It truly is an honor,” she said, pausing. “Actually I hadn't thought about that. That's really cool.”
Kelter, who played soccer and ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin, said the first time she saw rugby sevens, “I thought that it was a tough sport and it's so fast-paced and it's something that Americans can definitely get behind. We're just so blessed and honored to be pioneering that right now.”
“It's phenomenal,” added forward Jillion Potter. “The Olympics provides a wonderful platform for rugby and we're hoping that more and more people start playing the game and we're excited the share the wealth of rugby for the world.”
Rugby sevens – a departure from the 15- a-side game played in previous Games – and golf were voted onto the Olympic program by the IOC in 2009. However, they are only guaranteed appearances in Rio and in Tokyo in 2020. The IOC will vote again next year, so it is vital that the men's and women's tournaments be successful.
“It's pretty insane,” said Johnson. “It's kind of unreal how much it can help grow the game. Especially women's sports, having a full-contact game in the Olympics is pretty amazing.”
While rugby is the national sport in Fiji, it still is trying to gain more of a cleat-hold throughout the world.
“That's because they have the exposure,” Johnson said of Fiji. “We have football and basketball. That's what we have to overtake, and we have to get the views in rugby, and this is what we're planning on doing in the Olympics.”
In the second match against Colombia, Kelter scored less than a minute into the contest, followed by a conversion to put Team USA up 7-0. Kelter added another try and conversion while Johnson had two tries for 10 points. Seven players contributed to the American scoring line.
The men's tournament, which begins on Tuesday with Team USA facing Argentina, features Carlin Isles, known as “the fastest man in rugby,” and New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner, the only active NFL player to qualify for the Rio Games. Ebner, who will try to add an Olympic medal to his Super Bowl ring from 2014, was the youngest player to play on the national rugby sevens team at age 17.
Brian Hightower, a former Eagles player and the NBC analyst for rugby, said the sport “is perfectly tailored for the Olympics. You have the best open field running. You have one-on-one tackling, you’ve got collisions, and it’s a very physical game, but it’s also a very beautiful game.
“It’s one with a ton of strategy and what people will come to appreciate if they really focus on the athletes is the amount of work that they’re doing and how fit they are. Every game – and it’s two a day – they’re going to be sprinting a mile in that 14 minutes, and that’s a ton of work. It’s not just the running, but then you have to get up off the ground, you’ve got to tackle people, you’ve got to be tackled, you’ve got to make decisions. It’s just got everything.”
With each half lasting only 7 minutes, there's no time to make a mistake.
“And if you do,” Johnson said, “you've got to brush it off and keep going, so we did make a few mistakes and we've got to learn how to keep our heads high and go on to the next move.”
She said she doesn't mind playing twice in one day.
“I just love rugby,” Johnson said, “and any day that's a rugby day is a good day.”
Japan wins the Gold......Couldn`t catch him......Congrats on the Silver medal.....And congrats to Japan winning the Gold.
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U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team Sweeps Puerto Rico To Open Olympic Play.
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In a result befitting of its No. 1 world ranking, the U.S. women’s volleyball team defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-17) to open play at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Opposite Kelly Murphy and outside hitter Kim Hill – both playing in their first Olympic Games – each scored 14 points to lead Team USA, while a pair of Olympic veterans, Jordan Larson and Foluke Akinradewo, added 11 and nine points, respectively.
<strike></strike>After playing to a 14-14 tie in the first set, the U.S. caught fire, going on an 8-1 scoring run en route to a 25-17 victory.
The second set was a similar challenge, as Team USA trailed 19-17. It took another late charge in which the U.S. scored eight of the final 13 points to secure the 25-22 win. And after a 13-13 tie in the third set, a 6-1 scoring run put the game out of reach for Puerto Rico, as the U.S. went on to take the final set 25-17.
“In general I think we are always using matches to learn,” captain Christa Dietzen told USA Volleyball. “I think each match we are working to improve, and I think we did that tonight. Now we are preparing for Netherlands.”
Team USA will take on the Netherlands, ranked No. 11 in the world, on Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
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In a result befitting of its No. 1 world ranking, the U.S. women’s volleyball team defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-17) to open play at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Opposite Kelly Murphy and outside hitter Kim Hill – both playing in their first Olympic Games – each scored 14 points to lead Team USA, while a pair of Olympic veterans, Jordan Larson and Foluke Akinradewo, added 11 and nine points, respectively.
<strike></strike>After playing to a 14-14 tie in the first set, the U.S. caught fire, going on an 8-1 scoring run en route to a 25-17 victory.
The second set was a similar challenge, as Team USA trailed 19-17. It took another late charge in which the U.S. scored eight of the final 13 points to secure the 25-22 win. And after a 13-13 tie in the third set, a 6-1 scoring run put the game out of reach for Puerto Rico, as the U.S. went on to take the final set 25-17.
“In general I think we are always using matches to learn,” captain Christa Dietzen told USA Volleyball. “I think each match we are working to improve, and I think we did that tonight. Now we are preparing for Netherlands.”
Team USA will take on the Netherlands, ranked No. 11 in the world, on Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
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Yes we report table tennis in this thread.....Lily Zhang is moving on to the next round.....Congrats and good luck!
Chase Kalisz chased down Japan's Kosuke Hagino but came up .7 seconds short in his chase for gold in the 400 IM Saturday night. Kalisz, a North Baltimore teammate of Michael Phelps, was third after the breaststroke leg, more than a second-and-a-half behind Hagino, before closing the gap and nearly catching him on the final touch. In his first Olympics, the 22-year-old Kalisz' time beat his personal best from Saturday's prelims by nearly two seconds. It is the first time an American male has not won the 400 IM in the Olympics since 1992.
Will Katie Ledecky Become the Most Dominant Swimmer in Olympic History?
If you've followed swimming at any point in the past four years, you know her name.
Ledecky's introduction for Friday morning's press conference began simply, "The lady to my left is no stranger to anybody."
But for the uninitiated, let's make one thing clear: At just 19 years old, Ledecky has accomplished more than most ever will.
As a 15-year-old in London in 2012, she won gold in the 800-meter freestyle. Since then, she has been busy setting and resetting the world record in that event (and several others).
According to Bryan Flaherty of the Washington Post, Ledecky has the eight fastest times in history in the 800-meter free and is more than seven seconds ahead of the next-closest challenger.
Seven seconds is nothing in our day-to-day lives, but in an eight-minute race, it's a downright ridiculous margin.
Nice shot from above.
Venus Williams lost a tough 3 setter to Flipkens.....6-4...3-6...6-7.....She gave it her all.....See you in New York.
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Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Tonight
7:24 PM West 4:24 East
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</figure> © 2012 / Comité International Olympique (CIO) / HUET, John
[h=1]Swimming medal streaks to watch at 2016 Rio Olympics[/h] <time class="pub-date" pubdate="" datetime=""> August 1, 2016
at 9:13am MST </time> By: Rachel Lutz
Michael Phelps could win his fourth consecutive Olympic gold in either the 100m butterfly or the 200m individual medley
The U.S. has won nearly a third of all Olympic swimming medals ever awarded and look to add to their 500-plus medals at the 2016 Rio Games.
Team USA swimmers have dominated a number of events – their gold-medal streaks date back to the ’90s or even earlier in some cases. The U.S. swimmers hope to continue this legacy, but other countries are in the hunt to disrupt the U.S. dominance.
Too many streaks to copypasta here, go to the link and be sure to watch at 7:24pm/4:24pm Katie anchoring the 4x100 cuz Australian Womens Team owns the Gold in this event, Katie and USA...
seek to dethrone them.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/swimming-medal-streaks-watch-2016-rio-olympics
Tonight
7:24 PM West 4:24 East
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[h=1]Swimming medal streaks to watch at 2016 Rio Olympics[/h] <time class="pub-date" pubdate="" datetime=""> August 1, 2016
at 9:13am MST </time> By: Rachel Lutz
Michael Phelps could win his fourth consecutive Olympic gold in either the 100m butterfly or the 200m individual medley
The U.S. has won nearly a third of all Olympic swimming medals ever awarded and look to add to their 500-plus medals at the 2016 Rio Games.
Team USA swimmers have dominated a number of events – their gold-medal streaks date back to the ’90s or even earlier in some cases. The U.S. swimmers hope to continue this legacy, but other countries are in the hunt to disrupt the U.S. dominance.
Too many streaks to copypasta here, go to the link and be sure to watch at 7:24pm/4:24pm Katie anchoring the 4x100 cuz Australian Womens Team owns the Gold in this event, Katie and USA...
seek to dethrone them.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/swimming-medal-streaks-watch-2016-rio-olympics
Dana Vollmer officially qualifies (57.06) for the 100m butterfly finals!
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I`m waiting for that race Dog.....Should be a good 1.
Venus Williams lost a tough 3 setter to Flipkens.....6-4...3-6...6-7.....She gave it her all.....See you in New York.
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I had a weird feeling when I saw that line......I don't know enough to say with any confidence of "knowledge" but it was that feeling of "Line Too Low".....on Venus, seems to be saying "too good of a price on Venus here" or better: Not enough of -$$$$....
I just stayed away.....gotta locate the courage to play on those.
Michael Phelps was our man.....We don`t have him anymore unfortunately.
Me to Dog......36 years old......Asking a lot for her to beat 25 year olds these days.
U.S. Men's Basketball Team Routs China 119-62 To Win Olympic Opener.
The U.S. Olympic men's basketball team began its charge toward a third straight gold medal with a 119-62 rout of China on Saturday.
Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Demarcus Cousins added 17 for the win.
Durant and Carmelo Anthony are the only two returning players from the 2012 squad that won it all in London, and the pair of NBA All-Stars showed their young teammates how the American team rolls at the Olympics. Despite not having big-name players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, the U.S. is an overwhelming favorite to win another title.
Durant made three 3-pointers in the first half as the U.S. opened a 29-point halftime lead and coasted.
The Americans have won 69 straight games, and improved to 81-1 under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who revived the U.S. program and plans to step down following these games.
The U.S. plays Venezuela on Monday.
The U.S. Olympic men's basketball team began its charge toward a third straight gold medal with a 119-62 rout of China on Saturday.
Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Demarcus Cousins added 17 for the win.
Durant and Carmelo Anthony are the only two returning players from the 2012 squad that won it all in London, and the pair of NBA All-Stars showed their young teammates how the American team rolls at the Olympics. Despite not having big-name players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, the U.S. is an overwhelming favorite to win another title.
Durant made three 3-pointers in the first half as the U.S. opened a 29-point halftime lead and coasted.
The Americans have won 69 straight games, and improved to 81-1 under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who revived the U.S. program and plans to step down following these games.
The U.S. plays Venezuela on Monday.
Just a few photographers here at the pool tonight.
Venus Williams crashes out in first round of 2016 Rio Olympics.
Former World No. 1 Venus Williams fought a tough first round battle against Belgium’s Kristen Flipkens. After three tight sets, the American fell hard, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Williams – a seven-time Grand Slam champion who was seeded fifth – was neck-and-neck with the unseeded Flipkens in the first set, but managed to overcome her opponent. She then surrendered the second set in a fairly decisive fashion. In the third set, Williams seemed to take control with a 4-1 lead, but experienced difficulty closing out the match. Flipkens soon tied up the score.
Finally, the two players swung it out in a tense third set tiebreak. The Belgian quickly established a lead and emerged the victor, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
She fell to the ground in disbelief. The Belgian had missed out on the London 2012 Games due to blood clots in her leg.
It's a huge loss for Williams, who showed promising signs earlier this year by making it to the fourth round of the French Open and the semifinals of Wimbledon. At 36, the Rio Olympics are likely her last Games.
Still, Venus isn't totally finished with the tournament - not yet. Tomorrow, she'll compete alongside her sister, current World No. 1 singles player Serena Williams, in doubles. The siblings are seeded first in the division, having won the category at this year's Wimbledon Championships.
Former World No. 1 Venus Williams fought a tough first round battle against Belgium’s Kristen Flipkens. After three tight sets, the American fell hard, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Williams – a seven-time Grand Slam champion who was seeded fifth – was neck-and-neck with the unseeded Flipkens in the first set, but managed to overcome her opponent. She then surrendered the second set in a fairly decisive fashion. In the third set, Williams seemed to take control with a 4-1 lead, but experienced difficulty closing out the match. Flipkens soon tied up the score.
Finally, the two players swung it out in a tense third set tiebreak. The Belgian quickly established a lead and emerged the victor, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
She fell to the ground in disbelief. The Belgian had missed out on the London 2012 Games due to blood clots in her leg.
It's a huge loss for Williams, who showed promising signs earlier this year by making it to the fourth round of the French Open and the semifinals of Wimbledon. At 36, the Rio Olympics are likely her last Games.
Still, Venus isn't totally finished with the tournament - not yet. Tomorrow, she'll compete alongside her sister, current World No. 1 singles player Serena Williams, in doubles. The siblings are seeded first in the division, having won the category at this year's Wimbledon Championships.
Michael Phelps Rio Schedule.....Part 1.
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