Simones Biles & USA Go For Gold, Insane USA/Australia Rivalry, and Jimmer! (Olympics Day 7 Preview)
The primetime portion of Day 7 of the Paris 2024 Olympics is here, and we have some monster events about to happen. But first, let us take a look at the current Medal Table:
The United States leads the overall medal count and will likely cruise to that win once again. However, in terms of the count that matters across the world, we do find Team USA down right now with just three Gold Medals. That should change soon, especially today…
BILES & CO. LOOK TO TAKE BACK GOLD
If you want to see Team USA up their count in the Gold Medal column of the medal table, the Women's Team All-Around is likely going to be the place to look. After a disappointment with Silver in Tokyo, largely due to Simone Biles' issues with the twisties, a dominant Team USA Women's Gymnastics team (as I post this blog) is hitting the arena for the Women's Team All-Around Final at Paris 2024, where they're expected to dominate and take back Gold.
This team is stacked, and is the first team in Olympic history, Men's or Women's, to field two Olympic All-Around Gold Medals (Biles at Rio 2016, Lee at Tokyo 2020).
Simone Biles, who showed out with the insane vault above, leads the way as she will be at all four rotations this afternoon. The same goes for Jordan Chiles, while reigning Individual All-Around Gold Medalist Suni Lee will be on Bars, Beam, & Floor. Slotting into the Vault instead of Suni Lee will be Jade Carey, who actually won Gold on the Floor at Tokyo 2020.
There is always "the moment" that helps the Gold Medalist clinch that title (EX: McKayla Maroney's Vault at London 2012), so all eyes on if Simone Biles delivers one of the early premier highlights of these Games. The Women haven't finished worse than Silver since Athens 2004 and are looking for three Gold Medals out of the last four Olympic Games. With the Men taking home a surprising Bronze Medal yesterday (first medal since Beijing 2008), the expectations are sky high today for the women on what Simone Biles has called a "redemption tour."
MASSIVE USA vs. AUSSIE SWIMMING RIVALRY
One of the best rivalries in all of the Paris 2024 Olympics is about to hit its climax tonight in the pool as the USA's Regan Smith takes on Australia's Kaylee McKeown in the Women's 100m Backstroke. Combined, Regan Smith & Kaylee McKeown own the SIXTEEN (16!!!) fastest times in the history of the event. The United States Women have not had much Gold Medal success yet, a problem they also had at Tokyo 2020, but this showdown is going to be massive in the medal race in both the pool, and for the entire Games. Don't count out another American either, as Katherine Berkoff is no joke in the pool, and the daughter of Team USA legend David Berkoff, is a threat to end up on the podium as well. This event is a can't-miss, and starts today at 2:56|1:56c.
USA Men's Soccer Looks To Break 24 Year Drought
Team USA Soccer (both the Olympic & National Team) has not exactly been "great" lately for the Men, but the team at Paris 2024 has a massive opportunity today against Guinea. With a win, they will advance to the Knockout Stage of the Olympics for the first time since the Sydney 2000 Olympics!
Their match kicks off at 1:00|12:00c, and a win puts them through to the next round, where they'd take on the Group B (Argentina, Ukraine, Morocco, or Iraq) Winner. After a big 4-1 win over New Zealand, let's see if the men can keep things rolling!
RUGBY HISTORY FOR TEAM USA?
That above clip has been one of the viral moments of the Games so far, and the Team USA Women's Rugby Sevens team has a chance to cap things off with a medal today. After falling to New Zealand in the Semi-Finals, the women will take on Australia at 1:00|12:00c in the Bronze Medal Match, as they have the chance to win the first ever Rugby Sevens medal for the United States.
Rugby Sevens is easily one of the most enjoyable events at the Olympics, but it is sadly almost over, so do not miss this match, or the Gold Medal Match between New Zealand and Canada at 1:45|12:45c!
OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS
- 3x3 Basketball: Jimmer Fredette and the Team USA Men's 3x3 squad debuts today at 3:00|2:00c against Serbia. The team also has former Florida Gator Canyon Barry, son of Rick Barry. Hailey van Lith and the women debuted today with a shocking loss to Germany, but still have time to claw back in the rest of group stage matches. Reminder that the women are without the injured star Cameron Brink.
- Basketball: Germany, featuring Dennis Schroder and the Wagner brothers, is back in action today against Brazil. They gave the United States a fight in the (wholly meaningless) exhibition series, and are trying to get out to a 2-0 start.
- Swimming: The United States has a few other Gold Medal opportunities in the pool tonight as Bobby Finke looks to repeat as Gold Medalist in the Men's 800m Freestyle. The United States men also go for Gold in 4x200m Freestyle Relay after they were off the podium at Tokyo 2020, breaking a four-year streak of Gold Medals in the event. All of the swimming starts today at just before 3:00|2:00c.
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That's all for now. Go Team USA. See you tomorrow.