Thank you Stevie!
The Women's 200m Final is set!
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Congrats Jenny!
U.S. Women's Basketball Team Routs Japan, Advances To Olympic Semifinals.
RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. women's basketball team showed off its speed, size and depth in a 110-64 victory over Japan and advanced to the semifinals with another convincing win.
Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi each scored 19 points as the U.S. routed Japan for its 47th straight win. The U.S. did it without Sue Bird for most the game as the point guard went down in the second quarter with a knee injury.
The Americans, who will play the winner of France-Canada in the semifinals Thursday, apparently even impressed Japan.
The Japanese players posed for a team picture with the U.S. after the rout — the second straight opponent to get a memento with the Americans. China took a photo with the Americans in pool play. It's reminiscent of how opponents reacted to the Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. women's basketball team showed off its speed, size and depth in a 110-64 victory over Japan and advanced to the semifinals with another convincing win.
Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi each scored 19 points as the U.S. routed Japan for its 47th straight win. The U.S. did it without Sue Bird for most the game as the point guard went down in the second quarter with a knee injury.
The Americans, who will play the winner of France-Canada in the semifinals Thursday, apparently even impressed Japan.
The Japanese players posed for a team picture with the U.S. after the rout — the second straight opponent to get a memento with the Americans. China took a photo with the Americans in pool play. It's reminiscent of how opponents reacted to the Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Caleb Paine Wins Team USA’s First Olympic Sailing Medal Since 2008.
RIO DE JANEIRO — Caleb Paine wasn’t supposed to be here, standing on the podium accepting an Olympic bronze medal. During the Finn European Championship in March, the final Rio qualifying event for US Sailing, he was lagging 10 points behind Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey, who looked prime to take his place on his second Olympic team that summer.
In a stunning finish, Paine came from behind to place 24th in the event, with Railey placing 29th. The 25-year-old had made up the point difference and was going to Brazil.
Paine was steadier over the course of his Olympic competition. His worst finish in the opening series, 21st in the third of 10 races, was discarded per Finn scoring rules. Going into the medal race, he was in fourth place with 74 points. Thus, while Great Britain’s Giles Scott had all but locked up gold going into the final race, Paine knew he had a shot at the podium.
“Going into the race we had a game plan, so I was mainly just thinking about executing the plan to the best of my abilities,” Paine said.
His abilities allowed him to take the lead early in the final race and he never relinquished it, remaining in first for each of the four marks of the race. His closest competitor at any point in the final was Brazil’s Jorge Zarif, who rounded the first mark 13 seconds behind him, but Paine widened the margin with each subsequent mark, earning the bronze medal with 76 points behind Scott and Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia.
Paine should have already known if he would become an Olympian, but the event was postponed due to high wind speeds on Monday. Despite choppy water and a strong breeze again on Tuesday, he prevailed.
Paine started sailing at age 7, sailing a Sabot-class boat in San Diego where he grew up and now lives. He said he was attracted to sailing’s mix of physicality and need for technical knowledge from the beginning.
“I think it’s very multi-tasking,” he said of the sport. “And you’re out on the water, which is one of the amazing things of these Games, being near Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.”
He decided not to go to a traditional college in order to pursue the Olympic dream, the gamble paying off as he’s now the proud owner of a medal.
“You work so long and hard for something like this,” Paine said. “My parents have been the biggest supporters of me. Being able to represent them, it’s amazing.”
RIO DE JANEIRO — Caleb Paine wasn’t supposed to be here, standing on the podium accepting an Olympic bronze medal. During the Finn European Championship in March, the final Rio qualifying event for US Sailing, he was lagging 10 points behind Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey, who looked prime to take his place on his second Olympic team that summer.
In a stunning finish, Paine came from behind to place 24th in the event, with Railey placing 29th. The 25-year-old had made up the point difference and was going to Brazil.
Paine was steadier over the course of his Olympic competition. His worst finish in the opening series, 21st in the third of 10 races, was discarded per Finn scoring rules. Going into the medal race, he was in fourth place with 74 points. Thus, while Great Britain’s Giles Scott had all but locked up gold going into the final race, Paine knew he had a shot at the podium.
“Going into the race we had a game plan, so I was mainly just thinking about executing the plan to the best of my abilities,” Paine said.
His abilities allowed him to take the lead early in the final race and he never relinquished it, remaining in first for each of the four marks of the race. His closest competitor at any point in the final was Brazil’s Jorge Zarif, who rounded the first mark 13 seconds behind him, but Paine widened the margin with each subsequent mark, earning the bronze medal with 76 points behind Scott and Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia.
Paine should have already known if he would become an Olympian, but the event was postponed due to high wind speeds on Monday. Despite choppy water and a strong breeze again on Tuesday, he prevailed.
Paine started sailing at age 7, sailing a Sabot-class boat in San Diego where he grew up and now lives. He said he was attracted to sailing’s mix of physicality and need for technical knowledge from the beginning.
“I think it’s very multi-tasking,” he said of the sport. “And you’re out on the water, which is one of the amazing things of these Games, being near Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.”
He decided not to go to a traditional college in order to pursue the Olympic dream, the gamble paying off as he’s now the proud owner of a medal.
“You work so long and hard for something like this,” Paine said. “My parents have been the biggest supporters of me. Being able to represent them, it’s amazing.”
The Silver Queen: Sarah Hammer Wins Her 4th Olympic Medal, Silver Again In Omnium.
RIO DE JANEIRO — Four years ago, the women’s omnium gold medal at the London Olympic Games was decided by one race, one point and less than one second.
And Sarah Hammer ended up on the short end of the duel, taking silver while Great Britain’s Laura Trott claimed gold in the six-event omnium, considered the “decathlon” of track cycling.
In Rio, it was the silver and bronze medals that were decided by the last race and a handful of points. And this time, Hammer came out on top, winning her second consecutive Olympic silver medal in omnium and her fourth silver overall.
“I’m so excited,” said Hammer, visibly more relaxed than she was in London four years ago.
“Of course, you always say you want to get a medal. When you’re talking about six events over two days in bunch racing, absolutely anything can happen. I’m so thankful that everything went as planned. There’s nothing that I could have done better.”
Trott — the 24-year-old current omnium world champion — dominated the omnium in Rio from the first event, collecting 230 points to successfully defend her Olympic gold medal. Jolien D’Hoore, who was locked in a two-day battle with Hammer, claimed bronze with 199 points, just seven shy of Hammer’s 206.
It’s Hammer’s fourth Olympic silver medal in two Games. In addition to her silver in the omnium in 2012, she has won silver medals twice in team pursuit.
The omnium debuted at the 2012 Olympics. But it came at the expense of Hammer’s favorite event, the individual pursuit. She’s a five-time world champion in individual pursuit.
While the individual pursuit is an endurance race, where cyclists start on either side of the track and “pursue” each other for 3,000 meters (though the real opponent is the clock), omnium includes both endurance and sprint events held over two days to determine the best all-around track cyclist. In each race, points are awarded. After the six events, the rider with the highest cumulative point total wins.
Hammer describes it as “two days, full full gas. Physically it is exhausting, mentally it is absolutely the toughest.”
Since winning the omnium silver medal at the 2012 London Games, Hammer has won the world title twice. And coming to Rio, her stated goal was to win gold.
But Trott seized control from the first event and by the end of three events on Monday was solidly in the lead, with D’Hoore in second and Hammer two points behind in third.
Racing on Tuesday started with Hammer’s toughest event: the time trial, where cyclists start from a standstill and race all out for 500 meters. She’s not naturally explosive off the start and takes time to reach full speed.
But after a fifth-place finish in the 500, she remained in the hunt.
“If we can say one race that I have spent the whole last four years trying to perfect, it was the 500,” she said. “I cannot be more thrilled with how my 500 went this morning. It really set the tone for the rest of the day.”
By the final event — the points race — Hammer and D’Hoore were tied with 172 points each, and far behind Trott, who had 196.
With Trott all but unbeatable (unless she crashed), Hammer’s attention turned to D’Hoore. If the American could beat the Belgian in the points race, she could claim the silver medal.
In the points race, cyclists race 25 kilometers (100 laps) in a group around the track, with a sprint held every 10 laps. Points (5, 3, 2 and 1) are awarded to the top four finishers in each sprint.
D’Hoore is an accomplished road rider who thrives in a pack and can sprint.
“I knew that it was going to be a big ask to try to match her in the sprints,” said Hammer.
The American rode tactically, sticking with D’Hoore (and Trott) throughout race. The Belgian and American went back and forth gaining sprint points. One moment, Hammer was ahead; 10 laps later, Hammer had pulled by.
D’Hoore started tiring though, and Hammer could sense it.
“That was definitely my plan,” said Hammer. “Stick with her, stick with her, stick with her, be within striking distance. My specialty is more the endurance stuff; that that was going to be where I was going to come out on top. It definitely went to plan.”
On the bell lap, Hammer flew off the front, claimed five points for the sprint, and won her fourth Olympic silver medal.
D’Hoore was not disappointed. She knew that Hammer is a fierce track rider.
“I just wanted to get a medal,” said D’Hoore. “Silver or bronze, it didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to get a medal. I came so close, fourth at worlds, fourth at European championships. I just didn’t want to get fourth today.”
For Hammer, this silver medal meant more than the one she earned in London. At age 32, she’s been in the sport for almost two decades and was one of the oldest competitors in Rio competing in the velodrome.
“It was so hard-fought over the last four years for me,” she said. “I am getting older. I have more injuries than when I was 20 or 21 years old. It has been a true fight for me to try to keep up with the new generation. It is an amazing generation to be a part of, and I am so honored to be on the tail end of this.”
She will not retire completely after Rio and plans to remain active in track cycling, working with the next generation of riders coming up and competing when she can.
“I still absolutely love racing my bike,” she said. “Am I going to go another four years? Probably not.”
The gold that she so badly wanted will have to wait for another American to win.
“We all want to win, absolutely,” Hammer concluded with a smile. “But I can honestly say that I did absolutely my best race. Thinking back, did I made a mistake? I didn’t. I am very proud of how I raced my race, of the team that prepared me to get here, all the staff that has got me to have this medal around my neck. We did it the best we could.”
RIO DE JANEIRO — Four years ago, the women’s omnium gold medal at the London Olympic Games was decided by one race, one point and less than one second.
And Sarah Hammer ended up on the short end of the duel, taking silver while Great Britain’s Laura Trott claimed gold in the six-event omnium, considered the “decathlon” of track cycling.
In Rio, it was the silver and bronze medals that were decided by the last race and a handful of points. And this time, Hammer came out on top, winning her second consecutive Olympic silver medal in omnium and her fourth silver overall.
“I’m so excited,” said Hammer, visibly more relaxed than she was in London four years ago.
“Of course, you always say you want to get a medal. When you’re talking about six events over two days in bunch racing, absolutely anything can happen. I’m so thankful that everything went as planned. There’s nothing that I could have done better.”
Trott — the 24-year-old current omnium world champion — dominated the omnium in Rio from the first event, collecting 230 points to successfully defend her Olympic gold medal. Jolien D’Hoore, who was locked in a two-day battle with Hammer, claimed bronze with 199 points, just seven shy of Hammer’s 206.
It’s Hammer’s fourth Olympic silver medal in two Games. In addition to her silver in the omnium in 2012, she has won silver medals twice in team pursuit.
The omnium debuted at the 2012 Olympics. But it came at the expense of Hammer’s favorite event, the individual pursuit. She’s a five-time world champion in individual pursuit.
While the individual pursuit is an endurance race, where cyclists start on either side of the track and “pursue” each other for 3,000 meters (though the real opponent is the clock), omnium includes both endurance and sprint events held over two days to determine the best all-around track cyclist. In each race, points are awarded. After the six events, the rider with the highest cumulative point total wins.
Hammer describes it as “two days, full full gas. Physically it is exhausting, mentally it is absolutely the toughest.”
Since winning the omnium silver medal at the 2012 London Games, Hammer has won the world title twice. And coming to Rio, her stated goal was to win gold.
But Trott seized control from the first event and by the end of three events on Monday was solidly in the lead, with D’Hoore in second and Hammer two points behind in third.
Racing on Tuesday started with Hammer’s toughest event: the time trial, where cyclists start from a standstill and race all out for 500 meters. She’s not naturally explosive off the start and takes time to reach full speed.
But after a fifth-place finish in the 500, she remained in the hunt.
“If we can say one race that I have spent the whole last four years trying to perfect, it was the 500,” she said. “I cannot be more thrilled with how my 500 went this morning. It really set the tone for the rest of the day.”
By the final event — the points race — Hammer and D’Hoore were tied with 172 points each, and far behind Trott, who had 196.
With Trott all but unbeatable (unless she crashed), Hammer’s attention turned to D’Hoore. If the American could beat the Belgian in the points race, she could claim the silver medal.
In the points race, cyclists race 25 kilometers (100 laps) in a group around the track, with a sprint held every 10 laps. Points (5, 3, 2 and 1) are awarded to the top four finishers in each sprint.
D’Hoore is an accomplished road rider who thrives in a pack and can sprint.
“I knew that it was going to be a big ask to try to match her in the sprints,” said Hammer.
The American rode tactically, sticking with D’Hoore (and Trott) throughout race. The Belgian and American went back and forth gaining sprint points. One moment, Hammer was ahead; 10 laps later, Hammer had pulled by.
D’Hoore started tiring though, and Hammer could sense it.
“That was definitely my plan,” said Hammer. “Stick with her, stick with her, stick with her, be within striking distance. My specialty is more the endurance stuff; that that was going to be where I was going to come out on top. It definitely went to plan.”
On the bell lap, Hammer flew off the front, claimed five points for the sprint, and won her fourth Olympic silver medal.
D’Hoore was not disappointed. She knew that Hammer is a fierce track rider.
“I just wanted to get a medal,” said D’Hoore. “Silver or bronze, it didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to get a medal. I came so close, fourth at worlds, fourth at European championships. I just didn’t want to get fourth today.”
For Hammer, this silver medal meant more than the one she earned in London. At age 32, she’s been in the sport for almost two decades and was one of the oldest competitors in Rio competing in the velodrome.
“It was so hard-fought over the last four years for me,” she said. “I am getting older. I have more injuries than when I was 20 or 21 years old. It has been a true fight for me to try to keep up with the new generation. It is an amazing generation to be a part of, and I am so honored to be on the tail end of this.”
She will not retire completely after Rio and plans to remain active in track cycling, working with the next generation of riders coming up and competing when she can.
“I still absolutely love racing my bike,” she said. “Am I going to go another four years? Probably not.”
The gold that she so badly wanted will have to wait for another American to win.
“We all want to win, absolutely,” Hammer concluded with a smile. “But I can honestly say that I did absolutely my best race. Thinking back, did I made a mistake? I didn’t. I am very proud of how I raced my race, of the team that prepared me to get here, all the staff that has got me to have this medal around my neck. We did it the best we could.”
Thank you James.....Excellent job in the play of the day thread!
The host ladies take out our U.S.A. ladies......Great job ladies!.
