Sunday, December 22, 2024
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Olympic updates: Lyles advances in 200m, Biles claims silver in floor final

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Simone Biles competed for the final time at the 2024 Paris Games on Monday, winning silver in the floor final. Earlier in the day, she and Suni Lee participated in the beam final, but both fell and ended up out of the medals.

Biles had won three gold medals to date in Paris, bringing her career total to seven. Although Biles has not confirmed whether she will compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, she said “never say never” on Saturday.

After winning gold in the men’s 100-meter final, Noah Lyles returned to the track for Round 1 of the men’s 200-meter race. He finished first in the heat with a time of 20.19 and qualified for the semifinals on Wednesday. Since 2022, Lyles hasn’t lost a race in the 200 at the World Championships or the Olympics.

In beach volleyball, Americans Chase Budinger and Miles Evans lost in the round of 16 to Norway’s Christian Sørum and Anders Mol, who won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S. men’s volleyball team will play Brazil in the quarterfinals after finishing undefeated in pool play.

Here’s what you missed on Monday.

9:32 p.m. ET — U.S. takes gold medal in women’s surfing

Caroline Marks won the gold medal in women’s surfing after conditions at first light in Tahiti caused a delay to the competition. Marks defeated Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb, the No. 1 seed, with a score of 10.50.

It marks the second Olympic Summer Games during which the U.S. has earned the gold medal in women’s surfing. Carissa Moore won at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

5:07 p.m. ET — U.S. men’s volleyball defeats Brazil, advances to semifinals

It wasn’t easy, but the U.S. men’s volleyball side fought to beat 2016 gold medalist Brazil 26-24, 28-30, 25-19, 25-19 in the quarterfinals.

Team USA will play Poland in the semifinals.

4:57 p.m. ET — Germany wins gold, U.S. bronze in women’s 3×3 basketball

Germany claimed gold in the 3×3 women’s basketball competition, beating Spain 17-16 in a thrilling final for the country’s first medal ever in Olympic basketball, men’s or women’s.

Neither finalist qualified for the inaugural 3×3 women’s appearance at the Tokyo Games, but they were the top two seeds from pool play, advancing directly to the semifinals. The Germany women lost just once in nine games in Paris but trailed 15-13 during the final. After Germany tied the game, Germany’s Sonja Greinacher hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute.

The Spain women got back within one point and forced a turnover, but Gracia Alonso De Armino missed at the buzzer, securing the gold for the Germany women.

After losing to Spain in overtime in the semifinals, the U.S. women rallied to earn bronze by coming back from a 12-9 deficit to beat rival Canada 16-13 in the third-place game. The U.S. women held Canada to just one point in the final 3:05, and a Dearica Hamby free throw with 1:17 remaining gave the Americans the lead for good, with Cierra Burdick making a pair of free throws in the final minute to ice the game. — Kevin Pelton

3:56 p.m. ET — Kendricks earns silver in men’s pole vault, Duplantis repeats

Sam Kendricks couldn’t outlast Sweden’s Armand Duplantis in the men’s pole vault final, winning silver with a height of 5.95 meters. The American won bronze in the event in 2016 but was forced to withdraw in Tokyo because of a positive COVID-19 test.

Duplantis goes back-to-back in winning gold in the Olympic event, reaching a height of 6.25 meters, a new world record. — READ MORE

3:48 p.m. ET — Allman wins another gold in women’s discus

Team USA’s Valarie Allman took home gold in women’s discus with a distance of 69.50m. Allman won gold in the same event in Tokyo when she threw the discus 68.98m.

3:44 p.m. ET — Top U.S. duo eliminated in women’s beach volleyball

An undefeated run in pool play preceded a loss in the round of 16 for Team USA’s Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss. The duo lost to Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson 21-19, 21-18.

Kloth and Nuss were making their first Olympic appearance in beach volleyball, but had a strong start, only dropping one set in three matches.

2:36 p.m. ET — 100m gold isn’t enough for Noah Lyles, he wants 200m crown, too

On Sunday, Lyles had to stretch for his gold medal, when he outleaned Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by .005 seconds for a new personal best. But his win was entirely too close to stop there.

Lyles is an artist in the 200-meter dash and made it look effortless in the first round today. Though he came around the curve slightly behind, his arms pumped him into the front of pack. He won his heat to advance to the semifinal with a time of 20.19 seconds.

2:30 p.m. ET — A sub-20-second 200m for 20-year-old Knighton

Erriyon Knighton made a name for himself as one of the fastest men to run the 200-meter dash at an early age. He competed in his first Olympics at the age of 17 at the Tokyo Games, making him the youngest American to compete since Jim Ryun in 1964.

Now, his times — and technique — are only getting better. Using straight speed to push out of the blocks, Knighton advanced to the semifinals with a win in his heat and time of 19.99 seconds. — READ MORE

2:26 p.m. ET — ‘Kung Fu Kenny’ cruises his way to the next round of the 200m

Kenneth Bednarek finished seventh in the men’s 100-meter dash final, but that’s OK. Bednarek’s strongest event is the 200-meter dash, where he holds a personal best of 19.59 seconds. Bednarek made his first-round showing look easy after cruising to a 19.96 second first place finish in his heat to qualify for the semifinals.

2:19 p.m. ET — Stars arrive to celebrate 50 years of USA basketball

Team USA put together an event for the celebration of USA basketball’s 50 years. The organization honored the anniversary with its 50 greatest moments on its website, including LeBron James‘ triple-double in the 2012 London Games and the “Redeem Team” winning gold in 2008.

In Paris, some of Team USA’s biggest names came together at the event, including James and Tom Brady.

1:54 p.m. ET — U.S. men’s water polo defeat defending world champions

The U.S. entered its final match of group play with a 2-2 record and a spot in the quarterfinals already secured. But the Americans gained more momentum into knockout round, holding on to defeat Croatia, the world champion, 14-11.

Team USA finishes group play with a 3-2 record and will play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

1:27 p.m. ET — U.S. women’s 3×3 team falls to Spain in semifinals

USA Basketball’s bid for a second consecutive gold medal in women’s 3×3 basketball came to an end in agonizing fashion with an 18-16 overtime loss against Spain in the semifinals.

The U.S. team of Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard and Hailey Van Lith never trailed in regulation and took a 16-15 lead with 13 seconds left in the 10-minute 3×3 format on a Howard score. Spain almost immediately answered with Sandra Ygueravide — who scored a game-high nine points — shaking loose for a game-tying layup on a backdoor cut.

After the U.S. women were unable to get up a shot before the end of regulation, overtime saw Spain get the first possession and Ygueravide get to the hoop after an offensive rebound. With Spain a point away from winning, Team USA went for the lead via a 2-point shot, but Howard air-balled from long range.

A blocking foul on Hamby sent Ygueravide to the line for two shots, and she calmly made the first to advance Spain — the No. 2 seed, just ahead of the United States — to the final against top-seeded Germany. The U.S. women still has a chance to win a medal, facing Canada in the bronze-medal game Monday evening in Paris. — Kevin Pelton

12:43 p.m. ET — Italy takes its first mixed team skeet gold

American Vincent Hancock had never earned a medal that wasn’t gold in his Olympic career, a record dating back to the 2008 Games in Beijing — until Monday, when he took home his first silver medal, as Italy edged out Hancock and U.S. teammate Austen Jewell Smith 45-44 to earn gold in the mixed team skeet event.

Italy’s Gabriele Rossetti and Diana Bacosi combined to hit seven of their final eight targets to secure the victory.

11:46 a.m. ET — A first-ever gold medal is awarded

One of the debutant sports in Paris has its first champion.

Finn Butcher, representing New Zealand, outraced Great Britain’s Joe Clarke to capture the gold medal in men’s kayak cross. Noah Hegge of Germany took home the bronze.

10:58 a.m. ET — Biles’ legacy will live forever

After a week and a half of competition for American gymnast Simone Biles, her Paris Olympic Games could be the cherry on top of her iconic career. Biles earned four medals in Paris — three gold and one silver — which grew her collection to 11 Olympic medals in total, making her the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history. Although Biles’ showing in Paris could possibly be the last time we see her in an Olympics, the legacy she has left on the sport is golden. — READ MORE

9:48 a.m. ET — Ex-NBA vet Budinger & Evans fall in beach volleyball round of 16

The 2024 Olympic medal dreams of Chase Budinger, the NBA veteran-turned-beach volleyball player, and his partner Miles Evans came to an end Monday.

Playing Norway’s Anders Berntsen Mol and Christian Sandlie Sørum– the defending gold medalists — in the round of 16, the Americans were the overwhelming crowd favorites at the packed Eiffel Tower Stadium, but they simply were no match for their more seasoned opponents. As their family members and friends held up signs (Evans’ mom had one that read, “That’s my boy!”) and waved American flags, Budinger and Evans fell in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14.

With the loss, the two wrapped up their Olympic debut tied for ninth place.

Budinger, 36, and Evans, 34, had advanced to the round of 16 after winning their lucky loser match against Australia’s Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert on Saturday.

After the loss, Budinger was asked what he would be taking away from his experience in Paris.

“Memories,” he said. “Playing in this arena with all the U.S. support is really special, emotional and fun. My Olympic experience was amazing, probably better [than expected]. Stepping on to the court with 12,000 people cheering. Our first match was against France, I remember the crowd going crazy for both sides. It was an incredible atmosphere.” — D’Arcy Maine

9:41 a.m. ET — Rebeca Andrade wins floor; Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles earn silver and bronze

Simone Biles closed out her Olympics with a silver medal on floor. She was electrifying in the final gymnastics competition of the Paris Games, but she stepped out of bounds twice with both feet during her performance and earned a 14.133 after .6 of deductions.

She stuck one of the best triple doubles — the Biles II — and had the crowd on their feet throughout. But Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade edged Biles with a 14.166 for gold.

Jordan Chiles, who was seeking her first individual Olympic medal, landed a clean routine but initially was awarded 13.666, which placed her fifth. She was the last performer of the meet and was visibly disappointed with her score. After an inquiry, it was changed to a 13.766, which moved her into third.

When her new score appeared on the big screen, Chiles grabbed her chest and broke out in tears. She and Biles celebrated together before leaving the arena to prepare for the medal ceremony.

Biles leaves Paris the most decorated American gymnast in history with 11 Olympic medals, seven of them gold.

Earlier, in the third event of the day, Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka won gold on high bar with 14.533. Angel Barajas of Colombia took silver with an identical 14.533 but a higher execution score. China’s Zhang Boheng took bronze with a 13.966. — Alyssa Roenigk

8:55 a.m. ET — A double world record in sport climbing

It’s one thing to break your own world record at the Olympics. It’s another to break it twice.

Polish climber Aleksandra Miroslaw did just that on Monday, surpassing her prior world record on her first qualification run with a time of 6.21 seconds. Not content, however, Miroslaw improved on her second attempt — breaking her new record with a time of 6.06 seconds.

7:36 a.m. ET — Alice D’Amato wins gold on beam, Suni Lee and Simone Biles fall

Simone Biles and Suni Lee were back at work on the final day of gymnastics competition at the Paris Olympics. The women competed first on beam, where Biles and Lee were favorites for medals. It was a meet marred by falls.

Lee competed second and had a brilliant routine going before her right foot slipped on her aerial series and she split the beam. She took a hard fall, then remounted and finished her set. After her dismount, she hugged Biles and her coach, Jess Graba, and told them she was OK. Lee finished in sixth with a 13.1 and will leave Paris with a total of six Olympic medals over two Games.

Biles competed second to last and suffered a fall on her series after a remarkable start. She remounted and stuck her landing and then waited an incredibly long time for her score to appear. She was also awarded a 13.1, but with a higher execution score than Lee, which placed her off the podium in fifth.

Italy’s Alice D’Amato won gold with a score of 14.366. China’s Zhou Yagin earned silver with a 14.1, and Italy’s Manila Esposito took bronze.

In the first final of the day, China’s Zou Jingyuan took gold on parallel bars with a whopping score of 16.200. Illia Kovtun of Ukraine earned silver and Shinnosuke Oka of Japan finished with bronze.

Next up: The floor final, Biles’ and Jordan Chiles’ last chance to earn medals at the Olympics. Chiles is the only returning member of Team USA who does not have an individual Olympic medal. She qualified third into this final. Now’s her chance. — Alyssa Roenigk

7:31 a.m. ET — Tom Brady in the house for gymnastics

Everybody wants to see the Simone Biles show — even Tom Brady. The NFL legend made his way to Bercy Arena to see Biles compete for her fourth gold medal in Paris on beam.

7:04 a.m. ET — Rai Benjamin glides through first round of 400m hurdles

The 400-meter hurdles have always been second nature for American runner Rai Benjamin, who was a silver medalist in the event at the Tokyo Games. But he’s seeking revenge in Paris. His 13-step technique to float through the 10 barriers in the first round led to crossing the line first in his heat with a time of 48.82 seconds to advance to the semifinals.

6:55 a.m. ET — Team USA gymnastics’ ‘Golden Girls’ ready to roll

Between a return to gold for the women’s team and the first team medal in 16 years for the men’s squad, it’s been an Olympics to remember for USA gymnastics. But Team USA isn’t done just yet. Simone Biles won the vault Saturday for her seventh career Olympic gold, and she is back in action Monday looking to repeat the feat in floor and on beam. Biles arrived to Bercy Arena with teammates Jordan Chiles and bars bronze medalist Suni Lee as the team looks to add more hardware to their Paris showing.

6:23 a.m. ET — Inside how Omega determines winners in photo finishes

Two hours after the men’s 100-meter final, Alain Zobrist, Omega’s head timekeeper of the Olympics, is at a party at the Omega House in Paris’ Hotel de Poulpry to celebrate the Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028. It’s a star-studded affair, but Zobrist spent the past hour in a room upstairs speaking with news outlets on the phone and via Zoom to explain how he oversaw a room of judges at Stade de France as they determined who, in fact, was the fastest man in the world Sunday.

“Wait here. Let me get something,” Zobrist said after rejoining the party. He returns with an 8½ x 11 image from Omega’s photo finish camera that represents the finish line over a specific period in the final milliseconds of the race. At first glance, it looks like a photograph of the eight sprinters crossing the finish line. It’s a screenshot of the technology the judges used to determine the winner, which has split the runners to show when each man’s chest crossed the finish line. According to Olympic rules, the first runner whose torso reaches the closest edge of the finish line is the winner.

Whose toe or knee or head crosses first is irrelevant. The chest is what matters.

“Something said I need to lean, and I was like, ‘I’m going to lean,’ because it was that kind of race,” gold medalist Noah Lyles said after the race.

In the image, red vertical lines are drawn through the “frontest part of each man’s chest,” according to Zobrist. In real time, it was impossible to determine a winner, but in the image, Lyles’ chest clearly is out front. “It’s clear. He crossed the line first,” Zobrist says. “That’s the technology.

“Time doesn’t matter,” he says. What matters is finish order, and once the judges determine who won, they look at when precisely that happened. Then they compare how that time — 9.784 seconds — compares to records that have come before it.

The AI program then breaks down the data even further. A readout distributed by Omega shows Lyles’ reaction time of 0.178 seconds was comparatively slow to his competitors, but that he reached his top speed of 43.60 kph (or approximately 27.09 mph) at the 65.1-meter mark. It explains that the race’s critical moment came at the end. Lyles maintained his speed for the final 34.8 meters, while silver medalist Kishane Thompson decelerated, allowing Lyles to take the lead just after the 9-second mark. Most importantly, the document ends with a report of Lyles’ medal color: gold. — Alyssa Roenigk


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