Complete Sports Roundup & Medal Count from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

By: Marvin Azrak

It may have taken a year longer than we expected, but this past week saw the beginning of the 2020 Olympic games from Tokyo, Japan with two days of action preceding the opening ceremonies before a rush of play over the weekend has left everyone’s head spinning including us Americans, who at one point seemed to have the momentum atop the medal count standings, before losing their grip on it just as fast as they had received it a day later. On Friday, although the USA had Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez be their flag barriers respectively, it didn’t mean competition hadn’t begun in some sports, because Softball, Soccer, and Rowing previously supplied us sports fans starved for the Olympics, with some riveting action. Here are some takeaways from those first two “unofficial days” of this year’s OLYMPIAD!

* USA Women’s softball took their first two contests in group play with back to back shutout wins over Italy(2-0), and Mexico(1-0). US pitching only allowed one hit in each of the two contests. Up next for the Americans, is Mexico(0-2) on Saturday. Meanwhile, the hosts in Japan started out 2-0 as well with wins over Australia (8-1, mercy rule), and Mexico(3-2).

* In an early shocker, Sweden stunned USA women’s soccer 3-0. The US loss broke a streak of 44 games without a loss. They have won gold in 4 of the 6 olympics Women’s soccer has played in, got silver in 2000, and finished 5th in 2016- losing to Sweden who are their recent nemesis. The loss pushed the Amrecians to the brink of elimination

* In Rowing, No american qualified in the men’s single sculls which is 36 racers- 1 per country, top 3 of each heat (6 racers per heat) advance to QF, rest move to the repechage: basically double elimination before the QF. However, Canadien Trevor Jones was able to win his Heat, while in women’s singles Kara Kohler won her heat for the US, and Canadian Carlin Zeeman finished second in her race respectively.

Rowing doubles saw both US and Canada finish second in their respective heats, while quadruples saw the USA finish dead last, as they headed into Saturday’s repechage round needing a win to stay alive.

DAY 1 RECAP(7/24):

• In the first round of Women’s Table Tennis, Juan Liu of the USA upset fan-favorite, and living legend of the sport in Nigerians Olufunke Oshonaki, in five sets 11-7,11-3, 11-4, 11-13, 11-4 to advance to round two, and continue her olympic campaign.
• The day session of Men’s volleyball treated us to our first five-setter of these Olympics, as podium -favorites in Italy rallied for an exhilarating 26-28,18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11 win, coming back from two sets down in a match that lasted 112 minutes. Meanwhile, the Amrecians started out on the right track with a straight sets sweep of France 25-18, 25-18, 25-22. Following suit was the US Women’s Volleyball team, who swept Argentina 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 to begin group play.
• In men’s Beach Volleyball, the top-ranked Canadiens took down Netherlands 21-16, 21-14 to start their olympic campaign.
• The Badminton duo that is Great Britain’s Marcus Ellisand Laurean Smith got their Olympic campaign off on the right foot in their opening match, defeating team France in straight sets 21-18, 21-17.

The first Gold Medal of these Olympic games went to China’s YANG Qian, who took home first in the Women’s 10M air rifle competition , with an Olympic finals record score of 251.8, to capture the championship.

Syria’s Hend Zada became the youngest athlete to ever appear in the Olympic games, inspiring others even though her Table-Tennis campaign only lasted four sets in her first round defeat.

In Tennis on day one, 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland began her Olympics quite comfortably, taking out Germany’s Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the round of 32. Also enjoying their time out on court was the legendary Novak Djokovic, who is vying for the”Golden Slam”(Which is when you win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics, and the US Open all in the same year), and his first career Olympic Gold Medal, defeated Hugo Dellien 6-2,6-2 in round one. Just two weeks prior to these games, Djokovic made history at Wimbledon becoming just the third Tennis man to reach 20 grand slams in his career, tying his rivals in Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, who have both pulled out of these Olympic Games due to injury.

In Rowing, the US women’s doubles team qualified for the semifinals along with Romania.

• HOU Zhihui of China set an Olympic Weightlifting record in the 49Kg finals, with a lift of 116kg, for a total of 210kg on the night, bringing home another gold medal for China.
• In the Men’s 10M Air Pistol final, Italy’s Javad Foroughi went for a record-performance of 244.8, outshooting Serbia’s Damir Mikec(237.9), and China’s PANG Wei(217.6), who won Silver, and Bronze respectively.
• Water Polo saw the US Women’s team record the biggest win in team history, with a 25-4 rout over the hosts in Japan to open pool play. The Olympic record was then shattered later in the day when Spain bested South Africa 29-4.
• The most hard-fought victory of day one at these Olympic came, when Richard carpaz of Columbia took home Gold in the Mens Cycling race, which is one that took six hours to complete. Wou VAn Aert of Belgium took home Silver, with Teddy Pogacar of Serbia taking home the Bronze.
• In a Judo final for the ages, Japan’s TAKATO Naoshia ousted YANG Yung Wei of China in overtime, for the hosts nation’s first gold of the games.
• 3X3 basketball made its Olympic debut on Saturday, with the USA on the Women’s side beginning their campaign in style, stunning the world NO1 in France 17-10 to begin divisional play. They also defeated Mongolia 21-9, moving to 2-0 thus far.
• In the Fencing arena, Sun Yiwen of China took out Ana Maria Popescu(Russian Olympic Committee) in Overtime to win Women’s Epee gold. As for the bronze medal, that went to Katrina Lehis of Estonia.

• Taekwondo saw Israel win their first medal of these games, as Abishag Semberg took home the Bronze Medal, joining Tijana Bogdanovic of Serbia(Bronze), Adrian Cerenzo of Spain(Silver), and Panipak Wongpattanakit of China(Gold) on the podium.
• Norway made history in Handball, not only qualifying for the olympics for the first time since 1972, but also starting out well with a 27-24 win over Brasil.
• Needing a win to keep their medal hopes alive after a shocking opening loss to Sweden, the USA Women’s soccer team got back on track with 6-1 thumping of New Zealand.

MEDAL COUNT STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE:

1. China: 4 (3 gold, 0 silver, 1 Bronze) (10 pts)
2. Japan: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver) (5pts)
3. Italy: 2(1 gold, 1 silver) (5pts)

DAY 2 RECAP(7/25)

• The sport of Skateboarding made its Olympic debut, and although he was the finals-favorite, and topped the qualifying rounds, American Najee Hudson couldn’t replicate that success in the finals finishing seventh out of eight competitors. For USA to even medal at this event took a surprise performance from Jageer Eaton, who notched the Bronze Medal, with a score of 35.35, finishing behind Silver medalist Kelvin Hoefler of Brasil(36.15), and Gold Medalist Horigimo Yuto(37.18) of Japan.
• In Tennis, hometown hero Kei Nishikori shocked fifth seeded Andre Rublev(ROC) 6-3, 6-4, joining countrymate Naiomi Osaka of Japan in the first-round winner’s circle. However, Australian, Women’s world NO1, and Wimbledon champion Ash Barty was ousted in round one 6-4, 6-3, by Sarah Sombers of Spain.
• Swimming ruled the action on day two, especially for the USA who took home six medals in five events on Sunday. It all began in the men’s 400M final, as two Americans topped the podium with Chase Kalisz taking the first Amrecians gold of these Olympics, and countrymen Jay Litherland following suit by netting the Silver. The US wasn’t done as Emma Weyant took home Silver to OHASHI Yui’s gold from Japan in the Women’s 400M final, before Bronze medals greeted the Americans in the Women’s and Men’s 100m Relay races, as well as the women’s 100M singles final.
• A World record was also set in the pool, with Australia bringing home the Gold in their Women’s 100M relay victory, clocking in at 3:29.69.
• In Women’s Field Hockey, the reigning champions in Great Britain were stunned by Germany 2-1.
• Womens Beach Volleyball saw team USA down China in straight sets 21-7, 21-19 to open Pool Play.
• In Women’s softball, the USA remained undefeated with a thrilling 2-1 extra-innings over Australia.
• The Women’s 10M Air pistol final now has a new record-holder, as VItalaina Batesarshkina out of the ROC scored a record of 240.3 to win Gold.
• In Men’s Water Polo, the USA opened things up by rallying from an early deficit to defeat Japan 15-13.
• USA won gold in shooting! 20 year- old William Shanner sets an Olympic record with a score of 251.6, ousting his opponent from China Lenardo Shang, who finished with 250.9 points.
• Lee Kiefer made USA history, by becoming the first to bring home a Gold Medal in the sport of Fencing. A few rounds before her 15-13 Gold Medal game victory over ROC’s Inna Deriglazova she rallied to defeat Canadian Eleanor Harvey in the round of 16, with two pints in four seconds as the clock wound down, before adding another one late to lock up a 15-13 win, keeping her then still ongoing road for a Gold Medal alive.
• 18 year-old American Anaasjia Zolotic became the first athlete to bring home gold, let alone a medal for the US in Taekwondo,when she defeated Tatiana Minnina(ROC) 25-17 in the games -57kg event.
• In what was perhaps the biggest upset of the olympics, France rallied from an early deficit for a shocking 83-76 victory over the USA in day one of men’s basketball on Sunday. The Americans took an 11 point lead early, and were up 45-37 at the break, before a 25-11 surge by the French in the third put them in front 62-56 headed into the final minutes of play. The Americans would take a 74-68 lead with 3;41 remaining, but a 16-2 France clip the rest of the way sealed the shocking win. Evan Fournier led France with 28 points on the night, with Rudy Gobert(14 Pts), and Jrue Holiday(18 pts) contributing as well.

MEDAL COUNT AFTER DAY 2:

1. China 11:(6 Gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) (24 pts)
2. USA 10: (4 Gold, 2 silver, 4 Bronze) (20 PTS)
3. ROC 7: (1 gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze) (13 PTS)

DAY 3 RECAP(7/26):

• Kelsie Stewert sent the USA softball team to the Gold Medal game with their undefeated tournament still in tact, after walloping a walk-off HR to defeat Japan 2-1, and will have “Home field” in the Gold Medal game against their rivals on Tuesday for all the marbles. Mexico will face Canada in the Bronze medal game.
• In the Women’s 400M freestyle race, Anne Titus of Australia shocked the world, when she defeated USA superstar, and living legend Katie Ledecky for Gold, by 1.10 of a second. For Katie, it was the 1st time she’s lost an individual event at the Olympics. Meanwhile, in the Mens 400M relay, the USA blew the competition out of the Water, taking home their eighth Swimming medal in these games. In the men’s 100M breaststroke final, Adam Peaty of Great Britain defended his title from Rio in 2016, by winning Gold in Tokoto five years later.

In the Women’s 100M Butterfly, it was Margaret Mcneil took home Gold for Canada.

• Women’s skateboarding saw the youth on display, as 13- year old Rayssa Leal took home Silver, finishing second to fellow 13- year old from Japan Nishiaa Momigi , who took home Gold.
• In Men’s Volleyball, the USA suffered their first defeat in Group play, falling to the ROC in four sets, 25-23, 25-27, 25-21, 25-23. The win keeps ROC perfect in the division.
• In Archery, South Korea defeated Japan 5-4 in a shootout for a spot in the Men’s final
• In weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz took home the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal with a lift of 127K in Women’s Weightlifting
• Great Britain’s Tom Daley, Martian Lee won Men’s diving Gold, ousting China in the finals.
• NBA superstar Luka Donic went for a career-high 48 points lifting Slovenia to a 118-100 Men’s BAsketball win over Argentina.
• USA won two more Gold late in day 3 in mens and womens skeet shooting, which were both team events.
• The 3×3 US Women’s basketball team remained undefeated(4-0) with a 21-19win over China, on a game-winner by Kelsey Plum.
• Rickey Rubio poured in 27 points leading to Spain’s basketball win 88-77 win over China.
• The hosts Japan were victorious on Monday in the Mixed doubles Table-Tennis final, winning 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6
• In Mens Rugby, the USA are 2-0 after defeating Ireland 19-15
• Tennis favorites Novak Djokovic, and Naomi Osaka advanced to round three in straight sets.

MEDAL COUNT AFTER DAY 3:

1. CHINA 18:(6 Gold, 5 silver, 7bronze) (35 PTS)
2. USA; 14 (7 Gold, 3 silver, 4 Bronze) (31 PTS)
3. Japan: 13 (8 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze) (31 PTS)

DAY 4 RECAP(7/27)

• Drama in the pool

Men’s 200M freestyle GB goes 1-2, the first time Great Britian takes gold in the event since 1908!

Women’s 100M backstroke- Kaylee McKeown (Olympic Record) becomes the 1st Australian to win the event, Canadian Kylie Masse takes silver, Regan Smith takes Bronze for USA.

Men’s 100M backstroke

• The streak of 12 straight gold medals for the U.S. men in the individual backstroke ended when a pair of Russians(Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov ) beat out defending Olympic champion Ryan Murphy in the 100-meter race.

Women’s 100m backstrokes.

17 year-old American Lydia Jacoby took home Gold for the USA, while Lilly King took the Bronze, bringing another medal to US soil as well. Lydia is from Alaska, which only has one 50- meter pool in the state. Remarkable!

• Flora Duffy wins Bermuda’s 1st ever Gold Medal in the Women’s Triathlon. Georgia Taylor-Brown(Great Britain) takes silver in her olympic debut and Katie Zaferes takes bronze for the USA.
• Canada won the Bronze medal in Softball with a 3-2 victory over Mexico in a game that was played during a rainstorm.
• In a shocker, women’s favorite Tennis: Naomi Osaka has dropped her third round match to Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 6-4, and has been ousted from these Olympics. The “Japan Dream” is over.
• In the softball Gold Medal game, Japan took the early lead and never looked back en route to a 2-0 victory over the previously undefeated USA team for the Gold Medal.
• USA won Gold in surfing and took Silver in Diving & Shooting
• The ROC took home their first Olympic Gold on the gymnasium floor in 25 years, topping the podium in Men’s Gymnastics. The ROC women’s team also won Gold, defeating team USA after superstar Simon Biles pulled out of the final due to a “Mental Health issue”, as the Amrecians settled for Silver.

• A scoreless tie with Australia was enough to lift the USA Women’s Soccer team to the playoffs, as they finished with a record of 1-1-1, second in their group to Sweden(3-0), and will face either Netherlands or Brazil on Friday in the Round of 16.
• The surging 3X3 US Women’s basketball team finally met their match on Tuesday, falling to Japan 20-18 in their final game of group play, finishing up 6-1 as they prepare for the semifinals against France(5-3),who will be coming off a 16-14 elite eight win over Japan Tuesday night, on Wednesday for a spot in the Gold Medal game. Meanwhile, the other Womans basketball team took home their 50th straight win dating back to 1996, , defeating Nigeria 81-72, kicking off their campaign for their seventh straight Gold Medal.
• USA Women’s Beach Volleyball improved to 3-0 with a 21-13, 21-16 victory over Spain.
• USA Men’s Rugby suffered their first loss, blowing a 5-0 lead in a 17-12 loss to South Africia. Up next for was the 2016 silver-medalists in Great Britain in the quarterfinals on Tuesday evening. USA raced out to a 21-0 lead, but then collapsed in epic fashion , getting run off the field 26-0 in the second half for a devastating 26-21 defeat, putting Great Britain into the semifinals against New Zealand.
• Hawaiian Carissa Moore is the first women’s surfing champion in Olympic history!!! Cool story!
• Delaney Schnell and Jessica Parratto(USA) won silver in Women’s synchronized platform diving. They weren’t even partners until 10 days before trials, which is incredible. China took gold in this competition.
• In the mixed doubles Archery final, China defeated the USA 17-13 to capture the Gold Medal.
• In Equestrian park, USA took home the Silver Medal.
• In Kayaking, Richard Funk of Germany made the most of her debut, and took home Olympic Gold.
• The first podium sweep of these Olympic Games came in Womens Mountain Biking, with Switzerland taking home Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
• Italo Ferreira took home Gold in Men’s Surfing for Brazil.

MEDAL COUNT AFTER DAY 4:

1. USA: 25(9 Gold, 8 silver, 8 Bronze) (51 PTS)
2. China: 21 ( 9 Gold, 5 Silver, 7 Bronze) (44 PTS)
3. Japan: 18( 10 gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze) (44 PTS)
4. ROC: 18(7 Gold, 7 Silver, 4 Bronze) (39 PTS)
5. Great Britain: 13 (4 gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze) (26 PTS)