Sunday, December 22, 2024
Sports

Suni Lee eyes another medal, Noah Lyles seeks 100m glory and more from Paris

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The second Sunday of the 2024 Paris Games includes a handful of Team USA’s biggest names vying for medals.

Suni Lee earned a bronze on uneven bars, the same event in which she earned bronze at the Tokyo Games in 2021. She’s the first American to medal twice on bars in Olympic history.

On the track, Noah Lyles will look to earn a medal in the men’s 100-meter final. But first he must advance past the semifinals. Lyles admitted he underestimated the field in his preliminary round run on Saturday, finishing second in the race.

Sunday marks the last day of the swimming events at the Paris Games with three finals. Team USA’s Gretchen Walsh can win her fourth medal of Paris in the women’s 50-meter freestyle, while American swimmer Kate Douglass looks for the same total as she competes in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay.

Also headlining Sunday’s events was the men’s singles gold medal match in tennis. In a rematch of the Wimbledon 2024 final, Novak Djokovic dispatched Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros to give Djokovic, of Serbia, his first Olympic gold medal.

Here’s what to look out for on Sunday.

1:17 p.m. ET — Bobby Finke sets a new world record

Team USA entered the 1500m freestyle at risk of leaving Paris without a gold medal in any individual men’s swimming event. Bobby Finke ensured that didn’t happen — and then some.

Not only did Finke defend his gold medal in the event from the 2020 Games, he set a new world record in the process. He expanded on his margin of victory from Tokyo in the process as well, beating out the next best finisher by 3.88 seconds, as opposed to 1.01 seconds in 2020.

11:58 a.m. ET — With six Olympic medals, Suni Lee is third in American record books

A little over one year ago, Suni Lee was diagnosed with two kidney diseases and didn’t know if she would compete in elite gymnastics again. Sunday, she won her sixth Olympic medal in her second Games, a bronze in the uneven bars, and is tied with Aly Raisman for third on the all-time list of American gymnasts. With one more, she will tie Shannon Miller for second. She competes in the balance beam final on Monday.

“I can’t believe I have six medals,” Lee said after the bars final. “This Olympics has definitely meant a lot more. I’m really trying to enjoy everything that comes with it.”

Including moments like Sunday, when she mounted the bars knowing she controlled her own fate. “I feel like I do really well with the pressure when it just comes down to me,” Lee said.

“I hate competing in the team final. It’s so nerve-wracking. I have to compete for the team and my score counts and it’s not just for me so if I were to mess up, I would take it really hard. If it’s just me by myself, that’s the only thing that I can control. I’m happy I’ve been able to handle the pressure this time around.”

Unbelievably, Lee’s last international competition was the Tokyo Olympics. “I didn’t have anything in between,” she said, “so I’m really happy I’ve been able to hit everything so far this time.” — Alyssa Roenigk

11:38 a.m. ET — Scheffler wins gold with amazing comeback

Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after a 100+ year absence. Not all of the top players opted in at Tokyo 2020, which had immense COVID implications. But the 2024 men’s tournament in Paris reminded us why one of the sport’s true global games belonged at the Olympics.

The final day’s leaderboard was as stacked as you’ll see. Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsyuama, Tom Kim and Rory McIlroy were among those fighting it out for their countries. Frenchman Victor Perez had a massive final day – going minus-8 – to springboard into contention. But with a 62 final round, it was Scheffler who came out on top for America, taking a one-stroke win over Tommy Fleetwood who took home silver for Great Britain. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama won bronze. Schauffele had won the 2021 Olympic tournament, making it back-to-back golds for the U.S.

Rahm led for half of the day Sunday, but he unraveled on the back nine. It hasn’t been an easy go for the Spaniard in major events since going over to LIV.

Another storyline throughout the tournament was Kim, representing South Korea. With an Olympic medal, Kim would be given an exemption for mandatory military service. He finished in eighth place, four strokes back from bronze after posting a 68 in the final round. The 22-year-old Kim was super emotional when he went to the mixed zone, at times wiping away tears. He declined to comment on the topic of military service — as he had all tournament — but talked about how much pride he had representing his country. Kim said he thought he played great on Sunday, but when he doesn’t win tournaments it’s a reminder of how much harder he has to work to get to where he wanted to be.

Some of the players afterward were gushing about how fantastic the atmosphere is. McIlroy, who finished tied for fifth representing Ireland, said the Ryder Cup to him is still the gold standard for events — but the Olympics have the opportunity to be right there with it. — Emily Kaplan

11:26 a.m. ET — Djokovic wins the one title missing from his resume: Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic is an Olympic gold medalist at last.

After a career filled with history-making accomplishments and 24 major titles, the 37-year-old finally achieved the lone achievement that has eluded him in four previous Olympic appearances.

And he did it with a statement-making win over Carlos Alcaraz, his young rival who defeated him in the Wimbledon final just three weeks ago. Needing tiebreaks in both sets, Djokovic ultimately got the job done 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a battle full of electrifying rallies and highlight reel-worthy points.

It has been a tough season for Djokovic — he hadn’t won a title all year entering the Olympics, marking his worst start of a season since 2006 — and he had knee surgery in June. He was understandably emotional at the match’s conclusion.

When it was over he immediately crouched in near-disbelief, and then seconds later, after exchanging a warm hug with Alcaraz, he went back out onto the court and fell to his knees. He leaned over and remained there as the crowd — even those who had been waving Spanish flags — gave him a standing ovation.

Djokovic then sobbed in his chair before running over to his family with a Serbian flag. He hugged his children while still crying.

After advancing to Sunday’s final — already resulting in his best result at the Olympics — Djokovic said he was ecstatic to know he was bringing home a medal.

“Just to secure a higher medal for the first time for my country, whatever happens on Sunday, [there’s] huge pride, honor and happiness,” Djokovic said. “It’s why I celebrated [on court] the way I did, and I still feel like I need to celebrate that, because it’s a big success.”

Djokovic now joins Serena Williams, who was in attendance for part of the match, as the only Olympic singles champions to not drop a set en route to the gold.

The silver marked the 21-year-old Alcaraz’s first Olympic medal. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti earned the bronze medal Friday with a three-set win over Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime.

10:35 a.m. ET — Suni Lee wins bronze, Kaylia Nemour makes history for Algeria

Three days after earning her second Olympic all-around medal, Suni Lee earned her second bronze in uneven bars. She now holds six Olympic medals, with one more opportunity in Monday’s balance beam final.

Lee was the last gymnast to compete in the uneven bars final and needed to score higher than 14.766 to bump Belgium’s Nina Derwael, the reigning Olympic champ, off the podium. Lee qualified third into the final with a 14.866 and earned an identical score during Thursday’s all-around. Just like in that meet, she mounted the bars knowing a medal was within her grasp.

Her performance was nearly flawless until she took one step on her landing. The crowd erupted when her score appeared. She didn’t match her qualifying score, but her 14.8 was once again good enough for bronze.

Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour, 17, the reigning world silver medalist on uneven bars, won Africa’s first ever Olympic medal in gymnastics. She scored a massive 15.7, earned by combining a 7.2 difficulty score with excellent execution. Born and raised in France, Nemour competed for France until 2022, and this crowd reacted with no less pride when she stuck her double-layout dismount than for every French gymnast who has competed here in Paris.

Seventeen-year-old Qiu Qiyuan of China hit a flawless routine with gorgeous lines and time-stopping handstands and nailed her landing. She matched Nemour’s incredible difficulty score but earned two-tenths lower in execution for a 15.5 and bronze.

Earlier in the afternoon, China’s Yang Liu won gold in the rings, followed by his teammate, Jingyuan Zou, who earned silver. Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias took bronze.

France’s Samir Ait Said dismounted to a Biles-like response from this majority French crowd. His score placed him just off the medals podium in fourth place, and let’s just say the crowd did not agree with the judging panel. — Alyssa Roenigk

9:58 a.m. ET — Djokovic inches closer to golden glory

Just one set stands between Novak Djokovic and his first Olympic gold medal.

The Olympic title has been perhaps the only thing in the sport Djokovic, the 24-time major champion, has yet to win. He has been open about just how much it would mean to him. On Sunday, facing Carlos Alcaraz, his young nemesis, Djokovic was pushed to the brink but ultimately held off the 21-year-old Spaniard in a tiebreak 7-6 (3) to take the opening set.

It’s so far been a far more compelling match than their lopsided clash in the Wimbledon final just three weeks ago. Alcaraz won that match in dominant fashion, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4), and needed just two hours and 28 minutes. Today’s opening set lasted 93 minutes.

The near-capacity crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier, which includes Serena Williams, has been electric throughout with fan loyalty seemingly divided between the two superstars. At one point late in the first set, they simultaneously chanted “No-vak” and “Car-los” until neither name was identifiable.

Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than two months ago and is still wearing a brace, called Alcaraz the “favorite” entering the match, and he has been animated throughout the match during the big points. In his four previous Olympic appearances, his best result was a bronze medal in 2008.

Since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988, Williams (2012) is the only singles champion to have won the gold medal without dropping a set. Djokovic is on track to join her, but will he be able to hold on? We’ll find out soon enough. — D’Arcy Maine

9:43 a.m. ET — Anthony Edwards continues to make the most of his time in Paris

Team USA men’s basketball is on a mission in France to bring home gold and show the world that the road to basketball glory still runs through the U.S. But that doesn’t mean they’re not enjoying the ride along the way — and no player is enjoying the ride more than Edwards.

The star Minnesota Timberwolves guard has thrived on the court — highlighted by his 26-point outing in the squad’s game against Puerto Rico, windmill dunk and all. But off the court he’s been getting the full Olympic experience as well: table tennis fandom and all. — READ MORE

9:27 a.m. ET — Rahm looking to close things out

Jon Rahm was tied for first place entering men’s golf’s fourth and final round. Now, halfway through a gold-medal-deciding round, he stands alone in front of the pack. Through nine holes, he has shot a torrid 5-under par — just one other competitor in the field has been better so far Sunday. Rahm’s lead in first place has grown to three strokes with nine holes left to play.

9:21 a.m. ET — A star-studded men’s tennis singles final

It would be difficult to prearrange a better gold medal match then the one that the Olympic men’s tennis singles bracket delivered. Just weeks after meeting in the Wimbledon final, 37-year-old legend Novak Djokovic will square off once more with ascendant 21-year-old star Carlos Alcaraz. They have played each other six times head-to-head, entering their latest match with an even 3-3 record. Djokovic took home victory in their lone meeting at Roland Garros, with the win coming in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open.

8:36 a.m. ET — More trouble in the Seine

The saga of the Seine continues at the 2024 Games, as it was determined late Saturday night that training for the triathlon mixed relay event would be canceled due to concerns with the water’s quality — not the first time this Games where the river’s quality has caused delays.

Rain leading up to Saturday created heightened levels of pollution in the river, a similar cause to the postponement of the men’s triathlon competition earlier in the week.

8:14 a.m. ET — An unconventional racing strategy

The Olympics have marked the debut of the repechage round in certain track and field events, a second chance for competitors who failed to qualify for the semifinals from their preliminary heats. For American Freddie Crittenden, the new wrinkle offered a chance to alter his approach to the competition.

With his heat in the 110-meter hurdles looming, Crittenden knew he was nursing a minor injury that might hold him back. His solution? Intentionally jog out the initial heat to save energy for the repechage round.

Had Crittenden gone all-in on the heat, he would have needed to finish third place or better to qualify automatically, and if that didn’t happen, he would be running in the repechage round anyway. Why not take the opportunity to tax his still-not-100% body a little less than his competition ahead of the second-chance round, Crittenden reasoned.

“I decided to just not make an emotional choice,” he said after the heat. “Make a smart choice. Give my body time to recover a little bit from being aggravated.”

7:29 a.m. ET — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone starts off gold medal defense strong

Having just broken her own world record in the 400m hurdles earlier this summer — the fifth time she’s reset the world record in the event — expectations couldn’t have been much higher for McLaughlin-Levrone as she entered her first chance to run her signature event in Paris.

She still met them in stride though, leading the pack throughout her heat by a considerable margin en route to a comfortable first round success. McLaughlin-Levron will race in the event’s semifinal round on Tuesday.

7:14 a.m. ET — ‘Powerful’ American 200m sprinters win heats

Team USA’s women’s sprinters got off to very strong start Sunday morning at Stade de France, when all three 200-meter runners won their respective opening-round heats.

It started with two-time Olympian Gabby Thomas. The current world’s No. 2 in the event breezed through the second heat in 22.20 seconds, easing up in the final 10 meters after it was clear she would win and move on to the semifinal. Thomas’ time held up as the fastest for the day.

Following Thomas’ run, 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long dominated her first round in 22.55 seconds, and fellow first-time Olympian Brittany Brown cruised to her own victory in 22.38 seconds.

All three Americans will be in Monday’s semifinal.

“My coach wanted me to go out there and win, but be dominant and smooth and in control and that’s what we did,” Brown said.

Brown ran a comfortable race, coming out the blocks quickly and owning the heat from start to finish. Her first few steps were filled with power — just like her eyelids.

Sporting glittering nails and a purple and blue eye shadow, Brown raced in style. She said the fitting eye shadow was part of Danessa Myrick’s “I am” palette series. The specific eye shadow Brown went with Sunday?

“I am powerful,” Brown said.

For the semifinals, she said she plans on trotting out the “I am brave” color series, “because I’m going to need to be brave.”

A first-time Olympian, the 29-year-old’s top international accomplishment to this point was a silver earned at the 2019 world championships.

Moments before the start of Sunday’s 200-meter races, Jamaican favorite Shericka Jackson withdrew. It remains unclear why she pulled out of the race. Her non-start came one day after her countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also withdrew from the 100 meters due to an injury, her coach said.

Jackson also pulled out of the 100 meters just before the Olympics began, but indicated she was not injured. –Coley Harvey

7:11 a.m. ET — Scheffler finding his groove

Scottie Scheffler spent the first three rounds of the Olympic golf circuit lingering between sixth and 10th place. Now, the world No. 1 is heating up and making a move. Back-to-back birdies have fired Scheffler to a 3-under par start to the fourth and final round, and he’s climbed up the standings to third position, just one stroke back from the first-place tie between Spain’s Jon Rahm and American teammate Xander Schauffele. Rahm and Schauffele teed off for the final round roughly 20 minutes after Scheffler got underway.

6:50 a.m. ET — Holloway cruises in preliminary heat

The reigning back-to-back world champion in the 110-meter hurdles, Grant Holloway arrived in Paris with intentions of upgrading his silver medal from the 2020 Games to gold.

He looked on pace to just that in a dominant Round 1 showing, flying out of the blocks en route to a blistering 13.01 finish — good for the best time from any first round heat.


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