Fans saw plenty of standout performances at the Summer Games yesterday, from South Korean archers to newly crowned French swimming royalty. But the US in particular brought the star-power during an exciting day of action in Paris.
If you’re just catching up, here’s what happened at the Games on Sunday:
Gymnastics:
- Many Americans were just waking up when two things became clear: Simone Biles was feeling some pain during her long-awaited return to Olympic gymnastics — and it wasn’t going to stop her. Biles, who is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all times, dealt with some calf pain after an awkward landing during warmups for her floor routine, but powered through it to ace each apparatus and register the top all-around score of 59.566.
- Backed by strong performances from Americans Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, Team USA finished on top of the women’s gymnastics qualifying scores, putting them in a confident position ahead of Tuesday’s medal round. Individually, Lee and Biles will compete for gold in all-around, while Chiles qualified for the floor exercise and Carey has qualified for the final in vault.
Basketball:
- LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards led the “Re-Dream team” to an emphatic win over NBA MVP Nikola Jokić and Serbia. James, Durant and Jrue Holiday showed this US team still runs through its veterans, but the 22-year-old Edwards made his presence known — on the court, and with sideline antics — in his Olympics debut.
Tennis:
- British legend Andy Murray, who has said he will retire after these Games, extended his career at least another match with a thrilling comeback win alongside doubles partner Dan Evans.
- Spain’s Rafael Nadal won in his return to singles action on the familiar clay courts of Roland-Garros, and set up a tantalizing second round match with Novak Djokovic. Nadal had previously suggested he may not compete in the singles tournament at all, and the crowd roared with approval at the veteran’s presence even before the match began.
Swimming:
- French prodigy Leon Marchand set an Olympic record and crushed the field in the 400m individual medley. Marchand entered the Games widely considered the host nation’s top hope for gold in the pool, and the atmosphere was electric in La Défense Arena as the 22-year-old finished up his swim.
- American swimmers Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh finished in first and second place respectively in the women’s 100m butterfly final. The 21-year-old Huske finished with 55.59 to take home Team USA’s first individual gold medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Other key moments:
- The US women’s soccer team brushed aside Germany in its second game of the Olympics, using a dynamic three-goal first half to cruise to a 4-1 victory. Forward Sophia Smith had two goals and the USWNT looks on track to shake off several frustrating tournaments.
- French cycling superstar Pauline Ferrand-Prévot claimed a gold medal in the women’s cross-country mountain bike race — then announced her retirement from the discipline to focus on road racing.
- The South Korea women’s archery team is now tied for the longest active gold medal streak in an event at the Olympic Games, after defeating China in a thrilling shoot-off.
- Japanese teenage phenomenon Coco Yoshizawa won gold in the women’s street skateboarding. The 14-year-old was joined by two other teens on the podium: Liz Akama, also from Japan, and Brazil’s Rayssa Leal.
