2024-07-29 10:30:02
The 2024 Paris Olympics had another packed day Sunday, with Team USA grabbing seven medals.
Four of those medals came in swimming: gold for Torri Huske; silver for Gretchen Walsh and Nic Fink, and a bronze for Carson Foster. Americans Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs took gold and silver in fencing, while Haley Batten won silver in women’s mountain biking.
In team sports, the U.S. men’s basketball team beat Nikola Jokic and Serbia, and the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Germany 4-1.
Here’s how Sunday unfolded at the Olympics in France:
Lee Kiefer hopes all-USA fencing final inspires ‘little girls’
PARIS — Lee Kiefer smiled at the thought of what people had just witnessed. At what she’d just helped deliver Sunday night to Olympics viewers around the world.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
It’d been an All-American fencing final, Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs battling in the gold medal match of the women’s individual foil competition. Kiefer won the match, 15-6, and the gold. Scruggs won the silver.
“It was so cool being in a final with Lauren, because we’re both about 5-3, 5-4,’’ Kiefer said, referring to their relatively small stature in the world of fencing. “We’re both very athletic and we’re very creative. And I think that’s really cool for the sport, and I think it’s going to inspire a lot of little girls.’’
– Josh Peter
USWNT beats Germany in Olympic soccer
MARSEILLE, France – Emma Hayes can’t have too many complaints after this one.
The United States women’s soccer team defeated Germany, 4-1, in the second match of group play at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday. And like in the opener against Zambia, the scoring came early and often before the Americans cruised to a relatively stress-free victory.
It was an all-around effort for the U.S. Sophia Smith scored twice, Mallory Swanson punched in her third of the tournament and Lynn Williams also scored to account for the Americans’ goals. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stood stout in worrying moments and finished with four saves.
– Chris Bumbaca
Is Kevin Durant the greatest Olympic basketball player ever?
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – Kevin Durant off the bench isn’t fair. Durant making shot after shot after shot – eight consecutive attempts to be precise – isn’t fair either.
Poor Serbia, looking to upset the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and here comes Durant, who hadn’t played in a game since the Phoenix Suns lost in the first round of the playoffs in April, picking apart Serbia.
Durant scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half and led the U.S. to a 110-84 victory over Serbia, sending a message that with Durant on the court, it’s not the same team that almost lost to South Sudan and squeezed by Germany in pre-Olympic tuneups.
“I was tired. I’m not going to lie to you,” Durant said. “My lungs were getting used to that heat, the intensity of the game, but it felt good to make some shots. Everybody played their role pretty well tonight. My role was to come in, provide space and shot-making for the team.”
Sara Hughes, Kelly Cheng win in beach volleyball group play
Team USA’s Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng, the No. 3-seeded team, scored an easy 2-0 win (21-16, 21-11) over the Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova and Marie-Sara Stochlova in a Group C women’s match in beach volleyball. The American duo came into the Paris Olympics on a roll after winning the 2023 FIVB World Championship title. Before turning pro in 2018, the pair won 103 consecutive matches for the University of Southern California and notched the sport’s first two NCAA titles.
Paris Olympics organizers apologize after ‘The Last Supper’ backlash
Paris Olympic organizers apologized Sunday to people offended during a tableau of the opening ceremony that critics said mocked “The Last Supper.”
Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony’s artistic director, said on French TV station BFMTV on Sunday, “The Last Supper” was “not my inspiration” and the “idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus.”
Still, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized on Sunday for those offended by the scene.
“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” Descamps said. “Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
– Jordan Mendoza
NBC announces big ratings from opening ceremony
NBC announced its viewership ratings from the first days of the Paris Olympics, boasting 28.6 million viewers across all platforms for Friday’s opening ceremony, the network’s most-watched since 2012.
On Saturday, NBC reported more than 32 million viewers for the first full day of competition, an 83% increase from the opening Saturday of the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
Nic Fink wins silver in breaststroke
NANTERRE, France — American breaststroker Nic Fink finally won himself an Olympic medal, tying world record holder Adam Peaty of Great Britain for silver in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke final Sunday night at Paris La Défense Arena.
On the second day of swimming competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Peaty and Fink finished with an identical time of 59.05. They were just out-touched at the wall by gold medal winner Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy, who swam 59.03.
Fink, a 31-year-old two-time Olympian, advanced to the final ranked fourth, needing to drop a little off his 59.16 semifinals swim Saturday. He shaved off .11 seconds to earn a spot on the Olympic podium in his only individual event in Paris.
Team USA’s Torri Huske, Gretchen Walsh win gold, silver in butterfly 100
NANTERRE, France —In a battle of the fastest women’s butterfly swimmers in history, Americans Torri Huske won the gold medal in 55.59 seconds and American Gretchen Walsh won the silver in 55.63.
Huske and Walsh both won silver medals Saturday night as part of the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team.
For Huske, a 21-year-old former U.S. record holder taking a gap year from Stanford, this was a chance to perfect her performance in a race she nearly won three years ago. She ended up finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly in Tokyo after appearing to take the lead 10 meters from the finish. Huske did win a silver medal in the women’s 4×100 medley relay in 2021.
Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs win gold and silver in fencing
PARIS − A pair of American women fencers on Sunday night won a pair of coveted Olympic medals – one gold and one silver.
Lee Kiefer beat teammate Lauren Scruggs at the Paris Games in the final bout of the women’s individual foil competition that showcased U.S. talent.
Arguably, some of the best fencing talent the United States has ever produced.
It was on display not only in the golden medal bout – which Kiefer won 15-6 – but during the daylong competition that ended with an All-American final.
Olympic tennis: Coco Cauff wins singles opener
PARIS — Coco Gauff, perhaps the Americans’ best chance to win a medal in tennis, started her singles run with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.
American fans may remember Tomljanovic as the player who ended Serena Williams’ career at the 2023 US Open in a three-set thriller. Since then, however, Tomljanovic has struggled with injury and used a protected ranking to secure her spot on Australia’s Olympic team.
As for the 21-year old Gauff, who is seeded No. 2 and was Team USA’s female flagbearer at Friday’s opening ceremony, it was more or less an ideal start to the Olympics. On Sunday, she teamed with Jessica Pegula for a first-round victory in doubles. Gauff is also playing mixed doubles with Taylor Fritz.
She continues in singles Monday against Maria Lourdes Carles of Argentina, who is ranked 89th in the world. That match should start at around 7:30 or 8 a.m. ET, depending on how quickly the day’s first match finishes on Suzanne Lenglen Court.
– Dan Wolken
Why Jayson Tatum didn’t play in Team USA basketball win over Serbia
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is coming off an NBA title in June and another All-NBA selection in 2023-24.
Yet Tatum didn’t play in the USA’s 110-84 victory against Serbia Sunday in the men’s 5×5 basketball Group C opener for both teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
U.S. coach Steve Kerr explained his decision and talked to Tatum about it.
“It’s really hard in a 40-minute game to play more than 10 guys, and with Kevin (Durant) coming back, I just went to the combinations that I felt would make the most sense,” Kerr said. “It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and determined these are the lineups I want to get to. Jayson’s first-team All-NBA three years in a row, he’s one of the best players in the world.
“He’s incredibly professional, and that’s tonight. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way the rest of the tournament, so he’ll make his mark. But the key, and our guys know this, is to put all the NBA stuff in the rearview mirror and just win six games, and Jayson’s the ultimate pro and champion and he handled it well and he’s going to be ready for the next one.”
– Jeff Zillgitt
USWNT vs. Germany starting lineup
Team USA continues their Olympic slate vs. Germany at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. Here’s how they’ll line up:
- Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
- Defender: Emily Fox
- Defender: Naomi Girma
- Defender: Tierna Davidson
- Midfielder: Lindsey Horan (captain)
- Midfielder: Rose Lavelle
- Midfielder: Sam Coffey
- Forward: Sophia Smith
- Forward: Trinity Rodman
- Forward: Crystal Dunn
- Forward: Mallory Swanson
Available substitutes: Korbin Albert, Casey Krueger, Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, Casey Murphy, Croix Bethune.
Dawn Staley: Caitlin Clark would be in ‘high consideration’ for Olympics if repicking Team USA
While appearing on NBC on Sunday as part of the network’s basketball coverage at the Games, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley — a member of the selection committee that constructed the 12-player Team USA roster — said Clark would have been under “really high consideration” to make the team “if we had to do it all over again.”
“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent,” Staley said in an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA and wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now.”
Olympic women’s fencing gold medal match features Team USA showdown
It’ll be an all-American gold medal bout in fencing Sunday night, with U.S. teammates Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs facing off in the final of the women’s individual foil.
Kiefer, the reigning Olympic champion in the event, defeated Italy’s Alice Volpi in the semifinals 15-10.
Scruggs, 21 and a first-time Olympian, defeated Eleanor Harvey of Canada in the semifinals 15-9.
Both Americans won four matches apiece Sunday en route to the gold medal match. And regardless of how the bout unfolds, it’ll be another gold and silver medal for the United States. – Josh Peter
Brazilian swimmer dismissed from Olympics for leaving athletes’ village
PARIS — Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira has been sent home from the Paris Olympics and her teammate Gabriel Santos was given a warning after they left the athletes’ village without clearing it with the team, the Brazilian Olympic Committee said on Sunday.
The two swimmers had left the village, where most athletes for the Paris Games are staying, without their team’s knowledge and their infraction was discovered following their posts on social media.
The BOC said in a statement it had received a communique on Saturday from the head of the country’s swimming team informing them the swimmers had “committed acts of indiscipline.” – Reuters
Olympic fencing: American Lauren Scruggs advances to gold medal match
American fencer Lauren Scruggs advanced gold medal match of the women’s individual foil Sunday night at the Paris Games.
Scruggs, 21, defeated Eleanor Harvey of Canada in the semifinals 15-9, ensuring she’ll win no less a silver medal in her first appearance at the Olympics.
Scruggs will face the winner of the semifinal bout between American Lee Kiefer, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s individual foil, and Italy’s Alice Volpi. – Josh Peter
Team USA trounces Serbia in basketball opener
Kevin Durant, USA Basketball’s all-time leading Olympic scorer, made his first eight shots, including five 3-pointers, and sparked a U.S. turnaround after a sloppy, turnover-ridden start that led to a 110-84 victory Serbia in their 2024 Paris Olympics Group C opener Sunday at Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Durant missed his ninth shot early in the fourth quarter – with the U.S. ahead 86-65.
Durant finished with 23 points, and LeBron James had 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. – Jeff Zillgitt
Olympic judo: Three-time Olympian Angelica Delgado falls short in Round of 16
Facing defending world champion Odette Giuffrida in the Round of 16, Angelica Delgado again took the match to golden score before Giuffrida recorded a waza-ari 2:28 in.
“I gave it my all and that’s really all I can say. I’m not gonna say that I’m going to sleep easy tonight because this one’s gonna hurt for a while,” Delgado said following the loss. “Because I don’t know if I’ll be back here. You never know, but I can just say that I really gave it my all in everything that I did.”
USA vs. Serbia basketball: Kevin Durant on fire entering half
Team USA is off to a solid start in their opening matchup vs. Serbia, thanks to a sensational start from Kevin Durant.
Durant, playing in his first game action since suffering a calf strain in June, is 8-for-8 shooting with 21 points at the break. LeBron James adds 12 points as Team USA leads Serbia 58-49.
‘Bob the Cap Catcher’ makes waves in Olympic swimming pool
During the women’s 100-meter breaststroke on Sunday morning, American swimmer Emma Webber lost her swimming cap at the bottom of the pool. While common sense would dictate that a swimmer would just jump in after it, that’s, apparently, not the case.
Instead, a hero came to the rescue, in all his glory: Dubbed “Bob the Cap Catcher” by the NBC broadcast booth, a man of unknown origins in a small, flowery Speedo walked across the stage for all to see and dove to the rescue.
Olympic water polo: Team USA falls to Italy in opener
The U.S. men’s water polo team opened up group play with a 12-8 loss to Italy on Sunday. The team next faces Romania in another Group A match on Tuesday. – Ellen Horrow
Kevin Durant injury update: Team USA forward cleared to play after calf injury
After suffering a calf tweak during Team USA training camp, Kevin Durant is cleared to play and will play in Sunday’s matchup vs. Serbia. Durant missed practices and exhibition matchups ahead of Team USA’s 2024 Olympic debut.
USA vs. Serbia men’s basketball: Live updates, highlights and more
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the rest of Team USA Basketball tip off against Nikola Jokic and Serbia in their first match of group play in the 2024 Paris Olympics. USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more for the tilt.
Olympic canoeing: American Evy Leibfarth fails to qualify for finals in first of three events
VAIRES-SUR-MARNE, France – Team USA canoe racer Evy Leibfarth failed to qualify for the finals in her first of three events at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Leibfarth finished 15th in the 22-racer semifinal finishing at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium with a time of 1:09.54, 10.23 seconds behind semifinal winner Ricarda Funk of Germany.
Her time included had a 2-second penalty for striking a gate.
Leibfarth has two more chances to medal in her busy schedule at the Olympics. She will compete in both canoe slalom and the new Olympic event kayak-cross beginning next week. The canoe finals are July 31, while Kayak-Cross finals are Aug. 5.
Jessica Fox, the Australian flag bearer and the heavy favorite entering the Olympics having won a silver and two bronze medals in the event at the past three Olympics, finished eighth in the semifinal to advance. – Dave Birkett
South Sudan peeved over anthem flub prior to basketball matchup vs. Puerto Rico
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – Just before the start of the South Sudan-Puerto Rico men’s 5×5 basketball game, the wrong national anthem was played for South Sudan.
“It gave us fuel for the fire,” said South Sudan’s Nuni Omot who had 12 points and six rebounds in the 90-79 victory. “Obviously, we felt disrespected when that happened. We got to still earn our respect. We just got to continue to show the world what we’re capable of. That is just a testament to people not respecting us still, so we took that as fuel.”
It was Sudan’s anthem that was played, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Said South Sudan’s Majok Deng: “They have to be better because this is the biggest stage, and you know that South Sudan is playing. There’s no way you can get that wrong by playing a different anthem. It’s disrespectful. I don’t know. I don’t want to say anything, but to us it didn’t feel right, and that kind of delayed the game. For you to play a different anthem, I don’t think it’s the right thing. Obviously, nobody’s perfect. They made a mistake. They played it at the end, and we moved on.”
South Sudan won its first Olympics game in its first Olympics appearance in men’s basketball.
Olympic fencing: Pair of Team USA fencers advance
American fencer Lee Kiefer took another step toward defending her Olympic title, advancing to the semifinals of the women’s individual foil competition Sunday.
Kiefer, who won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021, throttled Flora Pasztor of Hungary in quarterfinals 15-4. Earlier in the day Kiefer, 30, won bouts in the Round of 32 and Round of 16.
Fellow American Lauren Scruggs also advanced to the semifinals with a dramatic 15-14 victory over Arriana Errigo of Italy. – Josh Peter
Jade Carey explains fall on floor, says she hasn’t been feeling well
U.S. gymnast Jade Carey said she has been fighting an undisclosed illness in recent days, citing the bug as the reason for her uncharacteristically poor performance on floor exercise in Sunday’s gymnastics qualifying round at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Carey, 24, told Olympics.com that she hasn’t “been able to eat or anything” over the past few days due to the illness and wanted to disclose the issue so fans didn’t assume she was being affected by nerves. USA Gymnastics had previously announced that her coach and father, Brian Carey, missed the team’s podium training Thursday because he was not feeling well.
“I had, like, no energy today and didn’t really have a sense of what was going on in my head,” Carey told Olympics.com. “So, I just kind of wanted people to know that so, they know that there’s actually something wrong.”
Steph Curry a popular jersey ahead of USA vs. Serbia basketball matchup
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – In a completely unscientific survey, fans wearing Steph Curry shirts and jerseys outnumber any other player by about 5-1 inside and outside of the 2024 Paris Olympics 5×5 basketball venue ahead of the USA-Serbia men’s game Sunday. LeBron James jerseys are a close second followed by Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic. – Jeff Zillgitt
USA’s Haley Batten takes silver medal in mountain biking
ELANCOURT, France − Team USA women’s mountain bike rider Haley Batten earned a silver medal Sunday at the Paris Games, finishing with a time of 1:28.59. France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot pulled away from the field early and commanded gold in a time of 1:26:02, while Jenny Rissveds of Sweden took the bronze (1:29.04).
Batten incurred a flat on the fourth of seven laps while riding in fifth place, but still managed to improve her position from that point to take a place on the podium. Batten and Rissveds battled over the sixth lap, trading second and third place back and forth, before Batten pulled away in the final lap. Meanwhile, Ferrand-Prevot’s gold was well-secured and drew raucous cheers from home-country fans.
Batten’s first medal comes in her second Olympics appearance, having finished ninth in Tokyo in 2021. − Chase Goodbread
USA fencer Lee Kiefer advances to round of 8
U.S. fencer Lee Kiefer, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s individual foil, advanced to the round of 8 Sunday with a victory over Qianqian Huang of China.
Kiefer, 30, coasted to a 15-9 win over Huang in the round of 16 bout while taking another step toward the medal rounds set for later Sunday. She bolted to a 10-2 lead before Huang mounted a brief scoring spree that wasn’t nearly enough to derail Kiefer.
Fellow American Lauren Scruggs also advanced to the round of 8 with a 15-11 victory over Jessica Zia Jia Guo of Canada.
Men’s four leads Team USA’s Sunday rowing competition
A solid performance by the men’s four highlighted the action for Team USA in Sunday morning’s rowing competition and the Nautical Stadium for Flatwater in Paris.
Women’s pair – Azja Czajkowski and Jess Thoennes placed third to advance to the semifinals with a time of 7:25.52. The Netherlands took first in the heat with a time of 7:17.81, while Lithuania was second, reaching the line in 7:22.53.
Men’s pair – Oliver Bub and Billy Bender finished fifth in their qualifying heat, covering the course in 7:02.62. Spain won the heat with the fastest time of the morning at 6:32.28. Bub and Bender move into the repechage round, which will be held Monday.
Women’s lightweight double sculls – Molly Reckford and Michelle Sechser finished second in their heat with a time of 7:12.65, which advanced them to the semifinal round. Romania won the heat in 7:03.65. The semifinal round begins Wednesday.
Women’s four – The quartet of Emily Kallfelz, Kelsey Reelick, Daisy Mazzio-Manson, and Kate Knifton finished fourth in their qualifying heat and will move to the repechage round. Their 6:49.66 was 7.09 seconds behind the leading boat from Great Britain, which had the fastest time of the day with their 6:42.57. The repechage round will be held Tuesday.
Men’s four – The boat crewed by Nick Mead, Justin Best, Michael Grady, and Liam Corrigan won the second heat and had the second-fastest time of the field. Their time of 6:04.95 advanced them directly to the final round and put them into the discussion of potential podium finishers. New Zealand won the first heat with a time of 6:03.08. The finals are scheduled for Thursday.
Summary of Team USA swimming results from Sunday morning’s session
Men’s 200m freestyle – Luke Hobson advanced to the semifinal round, tying for seventh among the qualifiers with a time of 1:46.23. That was 0.58 seconds behind the fastest time, a 1:45.65 posted by David Popvici of Romania. Chris Giuliano also swam for Team USA, ranking 19th in the field with a time of 1:47.60, which missed the cutoff for the semifinals by 0.21 seconds.
Men’s 400m IM – Carson Foster advanced to the final after placing fourth in qualifying. His time of 4:11.07 was 2.77 seconds behind Leon Marchand of France, whose 4:08.30 was 1.21 faster than the rest of the field. Chase Kalisz placed 11th for Team USA, clocking in at 4:13.36.
Women’s 100m breaststroke – Lilly King, a two-time Olympic medalist and world record-holder in the event, advanced to Sunday’s semifinal round after posting a time of 1:06.10, fifth fastest among the qualifiers. Tatjana Smith of South Africa had the fastest time at 1:05.00. Emma Weber swam a 1:07.65, ranking her 23rd.
Men’s 100m backstroke – Ryan Murphy and Hunter Armstrong advanced to the semifinals. Murphy had the fourth-fastest time in the qualifying heats with a 53.06 result, 0.28 behind the 52.78 of Hubert Kos of Hungary. Armstrong’s 53.34 ranked ninth in the field.
Women’s 200m freestyle – Claire Weinstein and Erin Gemmell moved through the to semifinals. Weinstein’s 1:56.48 was sixth in the field, 0.69 off the pace of 1:55.79 set by Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan. Gemmell’s 1:57.23 ranked 11th among the qualifiers.
What Simone Biles’ coaches said about her injury
Cecile Landi, one of Simone Biles’ coaches, said after Sunday’s qualifying session that she doesn’t have concerns about Biles continuing to compete in Paris. Landi said it was Biles’ left calf that was bothering her and said “she felt better at the end, yeah.”
Landi went on to say there was no discussion about Biles not continuing to compete on Sunday. “Never in her mind,” Landi said.
Landi also said there was no discussion about Biles doing just one vault or watering down her planned skills. Landi was then asked what Biles did with her leg: “Just a little pain in her calf. She felt it a little bit on floor. And we taped it to kind of (tighten) it up.” Biles finished competing in the qualifying session with her left ankle taped.
Chellsie Memmel, the technical lead for the U.S. women, said: “What she was able to do … was remarkable.”
South Sudan earns historic win vs. Puerto Rico in men’s basketball
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – Playing in its first Olympics in men’s 5×5 basketball, South Sudan produced a historic result, beating Puerto Rico 90-79 Sunday.
Carlik Jones, who played college basketball for Radford and Louisville and spent time in the NBA, led South Sudan with 19 points. Marial Shayok, who played college ball at Virginia and Iowa State and was an NBA second-round draft pick, scored 15 points.
In its infancy as a country, South Sudan did not qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics or 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but as the African nation with the best finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, it qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
South Sudan plays the United States Wednesday (9 p.m. ET) in a Group C game, and it nearly beat the U.S. in an exhibition game July 20. The U.S. won 101-100 but South Sudan had a chance to win on the final shot of the game.
The team is coached by former NBA player Royal Ivey, and former NBA All-Star Luol Deng is the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and an assistant coach. — Jeff Zillgitt
USA’s Kanak Jha reaches round of 32 in men’s table tennis
Kanak Jha battled his way into the men’s singles round of 32 with a hard-fought victory over No. 15 seed Cho Daesong of Korea, 4-2 (8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2, 8-11, 12-10) Sunday morning at the South Paris Arena.
Jha is the second Team USA entry to advance to the round of 32 in table tennis singles. He joins teammate Amy Wang, who defeated Priscilla Tommy of Vanuatu 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5) Saturday evening.
The No. 23 seed in the women’s field, Wang next will face No. 6 seed Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico. Wang’s teammate, Lily Zhang, will play Mariana Sahakian of Lebanon on Sunday. Sahakian defeated Chile’s Zhiying Zeng in the preliminary round for the opportunity to face Zhang, the tournament’s No. 19 seed.
Jha becomes the first U.S. men’s singles player to advance to the round of 32 in Olympic table tennis since Jimmy Butler did it at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992. He will face the winner of Sunday’s match between Panagoitis Gionis of Greece and Edward Ly of Canada.
Tom Cruise, John Legend among celebrities on hand to watch Simone Biles
On the northern side of Bercy Arena, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen took their seats near a luxury box with their children, who held up a white flag adorned with the American flag and Olympic rings. A few rows away, Tom Cruise shook hands with a fellow spectator and smiled. Snoop Dogg, who is in Paris as a contributor with NBC, leaned back in a seat in the front row.
Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain and USA snowboarder Shaun White and his girlfriend, Nina Dobrev, were among the other notable figures in attendance Sunday. Businessman David Lauren, the son of eponymous clothing designer Ralph Lauren was also seated nearby.
Sunday’s women’s gymnastics team qualifying drew such high interest because it’s the first time Simone Biles competes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she is expected to add to her gold medal haul. — Tom Schad
Simone Biles tweaks ankle, but continues competing
Simone Biles left the floor briefly with Dr. Marcia Faustin, the U.S. gymnastics team doctor, after tweaking her left ankle during warmups on floor exercise Saturday. Another member of the medical team came and wrapped the ankle tightly. Biles got up and walked around, as if testing it.
Biles opened the floor with the triple-twisting, double somersault, better known as the Biles II. It’s both incredibly difficult and demands a lot of every part of her leg.
Biles spotted her parents when the Americans moved to vault, their next event, and she could be seen smiling and laughing again. After landing one practice vault, she motioned to teammates and then jokingly crawled partway toward the runway. Then she got up and hopped on her right leg. “I’m going to need a wheelchair,” she said, according to the Peacock broadcast, though she appeared to be making light of the apparent ankle injury.
Follow for more updates on the women’s gymnastics qualifications. — Tom Schad and Nancy Armour
Olympic fencing: American Lee Kiefer wins opener
American fencer Lee Kiefer, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s individual foil, won her opening bout at the Paris Games Sunday and advanced to final 16.
Kiefer, who won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021, beat Martyna Jelinska of Poland 15-13 at the Grand Palais. Leading 8-1, Kiefer lost eight of the next nine points but never trailed before she triumphed.
Kiefer’s quest for another Olympic gold medal will play out later Sunday with the final rounds of competition in the women’s individual foil set to follow. She entered the Paris Games ranked No. 1 in the world. — Josh Peter
Tokyo 400 IM gold medalist Chase Kalisz fails to qualify for final
NANTERRE, France — American swimmer Chase Kalisz will not get the chance to defend his 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medal after the three-time Olympian missed the top-8 cut for the 400 individual medley final Sunday.
In one of the most grueling events, the 30-year-old’s prelims time of 4:13.36 landed him in 11th place overall and more than five seconds behind France’s favorite, Léon Marchand, the top qualifier. Kalisz also won silver in the event at the 2016 Rio Games.
Fellow American Carson Foster’s 4:11.07 prelims swim was the fourth-fastest overall and advanced him to the final Sunday night (about 2:30 p.m. ET). − Michelle Martinelli
USA boxer Roscoe Hill wins unanimous decision
An American boxer who has trained at George Foreman’s gym in the Houston area won his opening bout at the Paris Olympics Sunday.
Roscoe Hill won by unanimous decision on points over Omid Ahmadisafa, who was born in Iran and was competing on the Refugee Olympic Team, in a round of 32 bout.
Hill, 29, not only trained in Foreman’s gym but was baptized by the former heavyweight world champion, according to Hill’s bio on USA Boxing. − Josh Peter
USA’s Angelica Delgado advanced to judo round of 16
Angelica Delgado battled to a golden score 1-0 victory over Gultaj Mammadeliyeva of Azerbaijan in the women’s judo -52kg elimination round of 32 Sunday morning at the Champ de Mars Arena.
A three-time Olympian, Delgado fought Mammadaliyeva to a scoreless draw after the four minutes of regulation, taking the match into golden score overtime. Delgado finally was awarded a waza-ari 3:04 into the golden score time to claim the victory.
She advances to the round of 16, where she will face Italy’s Odette Giuffrida early Sunday afternoon Paris time.
Jason, Kylie Kelce watch USA women’s field hockey
Former Philadelphia Eagles six-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce − sporting a French beret − and his wife Kylie were in attendance as the United States women’s field hockey team lost 4-1 to Argentina in a Pool B match.
“We’re in France, in Paris, and I love assimilating to different cultures and whatnot,” Jason Kelce said according to Olympic News Service. “I know this is about as stereotypical as you can get … I’ve already had a bunch of croissants and baguettes too, I just didn’t carry them with me to the game.”
Kelce announced his retirement in an emotional speech in March after 13 NFL seasons.
Carissa Moore, the defending Olympic women’s surfing champion, and her four American teammates each won their first-round heats as the competition in Tahiti got underway at the Paris Games.
All five U.S. surfers advanced directly to third round as a result of winning the first-round heats, each of which included three surfers, this weekend. — Josh Peter
Women’s archery team eliminated
The U.S. women’s archery team of Catalina Gnoriega, Casey Kaufhold and Jennifer Mucino was eliminated from the team competition on Sunday, falling to Chinese Taipei 5-1 in the Round of 8 at the Olympic archery range at Invalides.
Olympics schedule today
Here are some Olympic schedule highlights. Peacock is streaming every sport and event live as it unfolds in Paris (all times Eastern).
- Swimming heats start at 5 a.m. The finals for the men’s 400m individual medley and the women’s 100m fly are back to back, starting at 2:30 p.m. The final for the men’s 100m breaststroke is at 3:53 p.m. NBC is airing the finals.
- Qualification in women’s gymnastics is in five subdivisions, the first at 3:30 a.m. and the last at 3:10 p.m. The U.S. is in subdivision 2, which starts at 5:40 a.m. NBC is airing subdivision 2, E! is airing all five subdivisions.
- Women’s soccer has six group play matches throughout the day.
- Men’s basketball has two group stage games: South Sudan vs. Puerto Rico (5 a.m.), Serbia vs. U.S. (11:15 a.m.).
- Women’s basketball has two group stage games: Spain vs. China (7:30 a.m.), Serbia vs. Puerto Rico (3 p.m.)
- The women’s street final in skateboarding is at 11 a.m. CNBC is airing it.
- Other sports in action: Tennis, fencing, boxing, beach volleyball, badminton, canoe slalom, cycling mountain bike, equestrian, handball, field hockey, judo, rowing, rugby sevens, sailing, shooting, surfing, table tennis, volleyball, water polo, archery.
How to watch Olympics today
NBC is airing and streaming the Paris Olympics from all angles: Peacock is streaming every sport and event live as it unfolds; NBC, USA Network, CNBC and E! are carrying various live events and replays throughout the day. Here are 6 tips and tricks for getting the most out of Peacock during the Olympics.
Medal count today
Our 2024 Paris Olympics medal count tracker updates after every single medal event.
Which U.S. teams are playing at the Olympics today?
(All times Eastern)
- The U.S. women’s gymnastics team competes in qualification starting at 5:40 a.m. NBC airs it.
- The U.S. men’s water polo team faces Italy in group play at 9 a.m. NBC and USA Network are airing it.
- The U.S. women’s rugby sevens team plays Japan in pool play at 10:30 a.m. The Americans then play Brazil in pool play at 2 p.m. CNBC is airing it.
- The U.S. men’s basketball team faces Serbia in group play at 11:15 a.m. NBC is airing it.
- The USWNT plays Germany in group play at 3 p.m. USA Network is airing it.
- The U.S. competes in women’s beach volleyball against Czech Republic at 4 p.m. NBC is airing it.
What Olympic medals can be won today?
(All times Eastern)
- Shooting: 10m air pistol men’s final (3:30 a.m), 10m air pistol women’s final (6 a.m.)
- Cycling mountain bike: women’s cross country (8:10 a.m., NBC)
- Archery: women’s team bronze medal match (10:48 a.m.), women’s team gold medal match (11:11 a.m., USA Network)
- Skateboarding: Women’s street final (11 a.m., USA Network)
- Canoe slalom: women’s kayak single final (11:45 a.m., USA Network)
- Judo: three medal events for men -66kg (11:18 a.m. start), three medal events for women -52 kg (11:49 a.m. start)
- Swimming: men’s 400m individual medley final (2:30 p.m., NBC), women’s 100m butterfly final (2:45 p.m.), men’s 100m breaststroke final (3:54 p.m., NBC)
- Fencing: women’s foil individual finals (2:50 p.m., CNBC), men’s épée individual finals (3:20 p.m., CNBC)
Olympic swimming schedule today
(All times Eastern)
- Heats for the following events start at 5 a.m.: men’s 200m free, 400m IM, 100m backstroke; women’s 100m breaststroke, 200m free. USA Network is airing heats.
- Semifinals for the following events start in the afternoon: men’s 200m free (2:51 p.m.), women’s 100m breaststroke (3:15 p.m.), men’s 100m backstroke (3:37 p.m.), women’s 200m free (4 p.m.)
- Today’s finals: men’s 400m IM (2:30 p.m.), women’s 100m fly (2:25 p.m.), men’s 100m breaststroke final (3:54 p.m.).
Olympic gymnastics today: What to watch
In women’s team qualifying, fans will get their first glimpse of Simone Biles, a seven-time Olympic medalist who is now 27 competing in her third Summer Games. The U.S. women are in Subdivision 2 with Italy, China and a mixed group of athletes from other countries that did not qualify a team. Qualifying on Sunday determines which countries make it to the team finals, which individual gymnasts reach the all-around finals and who will qualify for the event finals.
Olympic fencing today: What to watch
In women’s foil, American Lee Kiefer is one to watch. In Tokyo, Kiefer won team and individual gold. At last year’s world championships, she took bronze in the individual event. At 29, Kiefer is the most decorated women’s foil fencer in U.S. history. She won four consecutive NCAA championships at Notre Dame before pursuing a medical degree at the University of Kentucky.
Olympic soccer today: What to watch
The U.S. women’s national team faces Germany in their second group game. The Americans are fourth in the FIFA rankings, followed by Germany at No. 5. The Olympic tournament has 12 teams and the top two in each group advances to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.
Olympic cycling today: What to watch
In women’s mountain bike, American Haley Batten had a strong start to the World Cup season, placing third in a cross-country race in Mairipora, Brazil, followed by a win the next weekend in Araxa. Growing up in Park City, Utah, Batten got her start in cycling at age 9 and won her first national title at 14. Now 25, Batten is expected to be among the medal contenders in the cross-country final.
Olympic swimming today: What to watch
Torri Huske was 18 when she made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, winning silver in the women’s 100-meter butterfly. She’s back for the Paris Olympics, with more international experience under her belt. Gretchen Walsh, a senior at the University of Virginia, won the 100 fly at the U.S. Olympic trials and will make her Olympic debut.
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