Well....today started off badly! I woke up with a migraine and tried to power through but had to take a break and allow it to pass before continuing to watch today's coverage. I'm so sorry that I didn't post this until now but I just finished watching all the Day 1 competitions.
Another thing I need to get use to is that the games are only in Europe and not in Asia as they have been for the last 3 Olympic games (winter & summer). When the games are in Asia, NBC times its broadcasting differently than it is now with only a 6 hour difference between Paris time and Eastern time. With Asian games, they don't show them live but with the Paris games, they are showing them live and then the Primetime coverage is for the best of the day and the events that American's watch the most. This is going to take a little getting use to, but I'm up for the challenge!
So...what happened today? Well...I started my day watching Dressage for the Team Eventing competition and I'm actually finishing it up now. Eventing is the triathlon of the Equestrian events with each of the 3 disciplines (Dressage, Cross-country, and Show Jumping) occurring over 3 consecutive days. There are 66 competitors and each Dressage pattern (they all do the same one) taking 3.5 minutes in performing moves that would be more common for Eventing horses. In the Individual Dressage, the event is much more involved and takes at least double that time. So watching it takes a REALLY long time. The goal is to get a low score and then the rest of the evens will build on that.
I'm noticing that lots of horses are having at least 1 spook, usually near one of the flower planters just outside the little Dressage fencing. It's a nice opportunity to see the horses and riders and learn more about them. It is also easy to do other things while watching like....writing this right now. Best finish by a USA rider was 19th. Let's see what happens with Cross-Country. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Versailles! Let me give a Shout-out to my old family friend, Shannon Garrett, who is currently in Paris for the Equestrian events and keeps feeding me info!
I am really impressed with all the stories about our Team and how the team of veterinarians in Paris are ensuring the health and safety of the horses. I remember in past Olympic games how many horses got very ill or were ill after competition. They are part of our team and their safety is very important!
Badminton: Team USA lost in the mixed doubles and in the women's doubles. They won't be up for a medal.
Air Rifle: I'm so disappointed in our Team. We didn't make it to the finals in Mixed doubles or Men's doubles.
Sculls: Team USA moved to the next round in Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles . The Women's 4 boat will go to the repechage where they may be able to get back on the podium.
Kohler of Team USA wins her heat
Canoe and Kayak: Team USA tends to not even have someone qualify in these competitions but not only did we have competitors in Men's Canoe and Women's Kayak, they both did well enough to move to the next round!
Judo: In the Women's 48 K - LaBorde won her match against China and moves onto the next round
Women's 3M Synchro Springboard: Team USA's Cook & Bacon (best Team names ever!) came in with a good shot at the podium. The main thing the rest of the world is trying to do though is just beat China! While the Chinese weren't perfect today, they were stronger than the rest of the field and came away with the Gold. Team USA held 2nd place securely through the 5 dives and had to keep upping their game to fight off Great Britain, Australia, and Italy. In the last round, the one of the Aussies made a critical error, jumping off the side of the board, and opened the door for Team GB and they did not waste that opportunity! Team USA comes away with Silver and Team GB the Bronze. Well done ladies!
Bacon & Cook with their medal
Swimming: Team USA did well in the qualifying heats with everyone moving forward except Kieren Smith in the 400M Freestyle. In the Women's 100M Butterfly, both Huske and G. Walsh did well in the Semifinals as well. In the Men's 100 M Breaststroke Fink and Swanson both made it through to the finals and it looks like a close race!
Finals were contested in both Men and Women's 400M Freestyle and for both the 4 X 100 Relays. In the Men's 400M Free Team USA finished 8th. Germany won the Gold, Australia won Silver and South Korea won the Bronze.
In the Women's 400M Free, Katie Ledecky took on her biggest rivals: Team Austrailia's Titmus and Team Canada's McIntosh. This is Katie's worst race. She does much better at longer distances but likes to swim this. Well....the youngsters from AU and CA were on form tonight with the Aussie swimming the fastest and taking Gold, Canada taking the Silver, and Ledecky taking Bronze. Don't worry....Katie is fine. We will see her again in the 800M and the 1500M.
Women's 400M Free medalist
In the Women's 4 X 100M Relay, Team China and Team Australia were our biggest competition. While our girls did well in the qualifier, the other Teams seem to have saved their best for the final. Team USA wins Bronze and should be very proud but you know they wanted Gold. The Aussies took the Gold this time with China just edging us out and taking the Silver.
Then the Men were up with their 4 X 100M Free relay and they did not disappoint! Ohio's own Carson Foster swam the 3rd leg and gave Caleb Dressel quite a lead which he ran away with, finishing in over 1 second faster than the next Team! Team USA wins the GOLD, Aussies get the Silver and Italy took the Bronze. Way to go, boys! It was so entertaining to see Snoop Dogg with Caleb's wife and baby boy cheering on Team USA!
Women's Waterpolo: Team USA has won Gold in the last 3 Summer Olympics in water polo and started off great again today against Greece winning 15-5. The Team looks really strong!
Men's Indoor Volleyball: Gosh I really love watching Volleyball! The Men of Team USA had a strong showing today. The format has changed some for Paris as each team will only play 3 Round Robin games instead of 5 as they have in the past. Today we faced Argentina and won 3-0. The team has a few things to work on but I have high hopes that they will make it to the podium!
Beach Volleyball: The Men of Team USA took on Cuba today and Cuba was in control from the beginning winning 2-0. Our team is young and this was their first match. Hopefully they will improve as they move along. Team Cuba is one to watch!
On the Women's side, Team USA looks much stronger wit the team of Nuss and Kloth. They took on Team Canada and won 2-1. I can't wait to see more.
In Women's 60kg Boxing, Team USA got the worst draw for Gonzalez with pulling the reigning Gold medalist, from France. Gonzalez didn't let the hype bother her though and fought well, winning the match and moving to the next round!
Surfing: The Men started competing today in Tahiti and John John Florence is in the lead allowing him to move straight to the finals!
Men's Soccer: Team USA hasn't done well in this event in quite some time but today, they actually won against New Zealand. Way to go guys!
Road Cycling Time Trials: A great way to see Paris but it rained the entire time and MANY of the competitors for the Men and Women crashes/slipped and took some damage. Team USAs men didn't perform the best but the Dygert on the Women's side fell on cobblestones, got up and won Bronze! Aussies won the Gold and Team GB won the Silver.
Men's Singles Table Tennis: Jha of Team USA won his match soundly against his Moldovan competitor and moves to the next round.
Men's Gymnastics Team Qualifier: Teams USA will move onto the Team competition coming in 5th today in the qualifier. Japan, China, Great Britain, and Ukraine area all in as well. It was a hard day for Brady, hopefully he got all of his nerves out of the way! The rest of the guys did fairly well. There's room for improvement. Next round is on Monday and Teams will start fresh!
For Day 2 you can look forward to Women's Gymastics Team Qualifier, more swimming, more diving, the cross-country part of equestrian eventing, more beach volleyball, and so much more.
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