Thursday, August 11, 2016

The Oympics: Day 6 Rio

Destiny fulfilled. Simone Biles won the Women's All Around today. Biles has been undefeated in three consecutive World Championships and tonight completed what has been a long journey. She was unstoppable and untouchable finishing two points ahead of her teammate Aly Raisman.  And it was redemption indeed for Aly Raisman who won the silver. I would argue that she is better today than she was four years ago. This marks the first time US Gymnasts have gone 1, 2 in the All Around since 2008 when Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson did it in Beijing. Mustafina who won the Bronze 4 years ago repeated as Bronze medalist today.

Women's All Around Finals Gymnastics

1. Simone Biles, USA, 62.198
2. Aly Raisman, USA, 60.098
3. Aliya Mustafina, Russian Federation, 58.665

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No Americans made it to the finals in the Women's 200m Breaststroke, a rarity during these games. Rie Kaneto of Japan won the gold. It was the first time in 3 Games that an American did not win. In 2004, Amanda Beard won Gold and in 2008 and 2012 Rebecca Soni took the Gold. Controversial swimmer from the Russian Team, Yulia Efimova improved to Silver from Bronze 4 years ago in this same event.

Women's 200m Breaststroke

1. Rie Kaneto, Japan, 2.20.30
2. Yulia Efimova, Russian Federation, 2.21.97
3, Shi Jinglin, China, 2.22.28

There is a new king in the Backstroke, and it's Ryan Murphy. At 21 years of age and making his Olympic debut, Murphy swept the Backstroke events winning Gold in both and keeping the US streak alive at 6 in a row in Olympic Games. He beat out Mitch Larkin who is the 2015 World Champion in this event.

Men's 200m Backstroke

1. Ryan Murphy, USA, 1.53.62
2, Mitch Larkin, Australia, 1.53.96
3. Evgeny Rylov, Russian Federation, 1.53.97

This was one of the events I was looking forward to during this entire Olympics. After all, it may be the last time that Phelps and Lochte go head to head in an Olympic event. I honestly expected them to go 1, 2 in this event. It's always been Michael and Ryan, but tonight for some reason, it just was not to be. It's like only half the story ended as it should have. Ryan was even leading at one point. Michael pulled ahead, like so many times before, and never looked back, the only difference is that this time Ryan was not right behind him.

Men's 200m Individual Medley

1. Michael Phelps, USA, 1.54.66
2. Kosuke Hagino, Japan, 1.56.61
3. Wang Shun, China, 1.57.05

5. Ryan Lochte, USA, 1.57.47

Wow Simone Manuel! You are a firecracker! Simone became the first African American woman to win an individual swimming medal, and go figure, it was Gold! And she died for an Olympic record with Penny Oleksiak of Canada. This is the first Olympics for Manuel and Oleksiak who beat out sisters and favorites in this race from Cate and Bronte Campbell from Australia. Sarah Sjostrom who won a couple of Golds earlier in the week took a silver.

Women's 100m Freestyle

1. Simone Manuel, USA, 52.70 Olympic Record
1. Penny Oleksiak, Canada, 52.70 Olympic Record
3. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden, 52.99  

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