Sports

Olympics 2021 live updates — Team USA heads to the track, Lilly King goes for gold, U.S. womens hoops pursues perfection – ESPN

More Tokyo Olympics, more life. The action rolls on Thursday night as we make our way over to the track for the first time since the opening ceremony when track and field qualifying events begin. Team USA has medal contenders in Rai Benjamin in the men’s 400-meter hurdles and Athing Mu and Ajee’ Wilson in the women’s 800 meters.

The Americans resumed their regularly scheduled hardware chasing in the pool as two-time gold medalist Lilly King, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke earlier this week, got silver in the 200-meter breaststroke behind the world-record effort of South Africa’s Tatjana Schoemaker. American Annie Lazor took bronze.

Three-time gold medalist Ryan Murphy, who won bronze earlier this week in the men’s 100-meter backstroke, did one better in the 200 back, winning silver.

Then, for the late-night crowd, we get to watch Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird & Co. continue their quest for perfection as the U.S. women’s basketball team takes on host country Japan in its second game of tournament play.

If you’re looking for updates on all the Olympic action, you’ve come to the right place.

Track is here!

Team USA got to take the track for the first time, and Rai Benjamin served notice in his first 400-meter hurdles heat that he’s ready to play.

Suni Lee’s rise to the top

United States gymnast Suni Lee overcame less-than-ideal circumstances to become the fifth straight American women’s all-around gymnastics gold medalists. It’s been quite a ride for the 18-year-old Minneapolis native.

USA’s Andrew takes fifth in 200 IM, shows childhood swag

China’s Wang Shun took the gold in the 200-meter individual medley in 1:55, followed by Great Britain’s Duncan Scott and Switzerland’s Jérémy Desplanches. The United States’ Michael Andrew, who led for most of the race, dropped off in the last lap and finished fifth. Michael Phelps was the four-time defending Olympic champion in the event. — Aishwarya Kumar

Despite not getting the medal, Andrew did get some face time with Phelps back in 2008 and mean-mugged in a way that suggested that he knew he’d be in the Olympic pool in the future.

Australia’s McKeon sets Olympic record in women’s 100 free

The 100-meter freestyle was an Australian affair. Emma McKeon won her first individual gold medal, while teammate Cate Campbell won bronze. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who won silver in the 200-meter freestyle, picked up another silver in this race. — Aishwarya Kumar

Rylov completes backstroke sweep, USA’s Murphy takes silver

Defending champion Ryan Murphy picked up a silver in the 200-meter backstroke. Murphy, who also won bronze in the 100-meter backstroke, trailed only Russian Olympic Committee’s Evgeny Rylov, who finished at 1:54.27, an Olympic record. It is the first time since 1992 that an American man has not won gold in either backstroke event. — Kumar

After training together every day for the past three months, America’s Lilly King and Annie Lazor finished second and third in the 200-meter breaststroke for silver and bronze respectively. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker took the gold medal with a world-record time of 2:18:95. — Aishwarya Kumar

Kumar: How Annie Lazor overcame grief to win an Olympic medal

Dressel doing Dressel things

After picking up his first individual Olympic gold in the 100-meter freestyle on Wednesday, Caeleb Dressel punched his spot in the finals of the 100-meter butterfly, finishing first in his semifinal heat with an Olympic-record time of 49.71. He’ll race in the final on Friday. — Aishwarya Kumar

Ross and Kleinman roll on

The United States’ women’s beach volleyball duo of April Ross and Alix Kleinman were given a run for their money for a while by the Netherlands duo of Madelein Meppelink and Sanne Keizer, who won a game against Team USA’s No. 1 pairing. But Ross and Kleinman rose to the occasion, rolling 15-5 in Game 3 to end pool play undefeated.

Getting chippy

Olympic men’s golf is deep in Day 2 action, and Chile’s Mito Pereira is feeling pretty good. He’s off to a hot start, shooting 3-under through six holes after this nifty chip from the bunker.

The perfect gold medal accessory

Diving isn’t the only thing Great Britain’s Tom Daley does at a world-class level. The gold medalist, who won the men’s 10-meter synchronized diving event alongside teammate Marty Lee, broke out his knitting skills to create the ultimate medal keepsake.

No word on whether these will be available to the general public but let’s be real — you’d buy one.

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