USA Swimming tops medal count at Paris 2024

Photo by Skylar Walker, Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

PARIS, FRANCE (August 5, 2024) USA Swimming had an incredible finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ending the pool competition with two world records and three medals on the final night. In an amazing performance, Bobby Finke from Clearwater, Florida, won the men's 1500-meter freestyle. He led the race from start to finish, earning a gold medal and setting a new world record with a time of 14:30.67.

Shortly after, the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay team added a silver medal to the tally. The team, consisting of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Caeleb Dressel, and Hunter Armstrong, worked together to secure second place in a thrilling race.

The women’s 4x100-meter medley relay was the final event of the competition, and the American team did not disappoint. Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske dominated the race, finishing over three seconds ahead of the Australian team. Their time of 3:49.63 set a new world record, highlighting the exceptional talent of USA Swimming.

USA Swimming finished the Olympics at the top of the medal table with a total of 28 medals—ten more than any other country. Here are some key highlights from their performance:

Total Medals: 28 (8 gold, 13 silver, 7 bronze)

World Records: 3

Olympic Records: 2

American Records: 3

Double Podiums: USA had two athletes on the podium in four races: women's 100m backstroke, women's 100m butterfly, women's 400m individual medley, and women's 800m freestyle

Katie Ledecky: With four medals, became the most decorated American female Olympian in history.

Torri Huske: She secured the most medals of any American swimmer in Paris with five (3 gold, 2 silver).

Other Standout Swimmers: Kate Douglass, Katie Ledecky, and Regan Smith each earned four medals.

Relay Success: USA Swimming won gold or silver in all seven relay events, with two relays setting new world records and one setting a new American record.

Milestone Achievement: USA Swimming surpassed 600 Olympic medals on day four and finished with 615.

IOC announces plans for the first-ever Olympic Esports Games

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND (June 14, 2024) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to launch the Olympic Esports Games, a new event featuring digital sports under the Olympic brand. This decision came after a report from the IOC’s Esports Commission during a three-day Executive Board meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The proposal will be brought to the IOC Session for approval when it meets in Paris on July 22.

IOC President Thomas Bach stated that David Lappartient, the Commission Chair who has been involved in this initiative since 2018, will continue to be a part of this new branch of the Olympic Movement. The IOC previously tested the waters with the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore in June 2023.

“This will bring our engagement in esports to a completely new level,” Bach said.

Currently, there are two major international federations that organize Esports world championships: the International Esports Federation (IeSF) based in South Korea, and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) in Singapore. However, these are not recognized by the IOC. Both federations host popular competitive titles, including battle games and simulated sports.

Bach has emphasized that the Olympic Esports Games will focus on family-friendly, non-violent titles, unlike some of the more popular violent games in the esports world. The IOC's Esports events have included games like Zwift for cycling and online Chess, aiming to promote Olympic values.

Some gamers have criticized the IOC’s choice of titles for not including their favorites. For instance, Epic Games' popular Fortnite was modified to a target shooting game for the Olympic Esports Series. Despite this, Bach believes the Olympic Esports Games will become a prestigious event in the esports world, much like the traditional Olympic Games.

The IOC will manage and finance the Olympic Esports Games separately from the traditional Olympics to ensure the financial stability of its member sports federations. The first host city for the event is yet to be announced, with Japan being a strong candidate. However, final decisions will be made after the IOC members vote in July.

This new initiative marks a significant step in integrating esports into the Olympic Movement, promising an exciting future for digital sports enthusiasts worldwide.

USWNT fall to Sweden, 3-0 at Olympic Games

By Jennifer Edwards

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

TOKYO, JAPAN (July 21, 2021) The United States Women’s National Team suffered their worst loss in recent history, losing to Sweden 3-0 in the qualifying round of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The United States showed their defensive weaknesses that have plagued them for some time. Sweden was able to press the US for 90 minutes, never giving the U.S. a chance to set up or regroup. Striker Stina Blackstenius was a standout for her team and an aggravation for the U.S. defense scoring two of the three goals. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher tried to keep the goals from connecting, but the defensive pieces just weren’t there. 

The United States never got the chance to create their signature set-ups and set pieces to score. Megan Rapinoe said, “I don’t remember the last time we gave up a goal. So to give up three is not great.” Sweden has always been one of the United States’ toughest opponents. The two teams tied 1-1 in their last friendly match early in 2021. 

The United States will take on the New Zealand Ferns on the 24th of July at 6:30 A.M. central time with a replay shortly after that. The match will air on NBCSN.

On this day in Olympic History, August 1

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 1, 2020) August 1 is a unique day in Olympic history. Many newsworthy Olympic events have happened on August 1; dating back 92 years to the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. On that day, the United States sweep the medals in a rainy pole vault final with Sabin Carr capturing the gold medal, followed by William Droegemuller (silver) and Charles McGinnis (bronze).

Below are more events from Olympic history of August 1.

1936: The Games of the IX Olympiad open in Berlin.

1976: The Games of the XXL Olympiad officially close in Montreal, Canada

1980: Gerd Wessig of East Germany becomes the first male to set a high jump world record at the Olympics with a jump of 2.36 meters (7 feet, 9 inches) in Moscow.

1980: East German runner Waldemar Cierpinski wins his second consecutive Olympic Games marathon in 12:11:03 in Moscow.

1992: American sprinter Gail Devers wins an incredibly close blanket finish in the women's 100 meters with the time of 10.82 seconds in Barcelona, with five athletes within 0.06 seconds of Devers.

1996: Dan O'Brien wins the decathlon gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics to become the first American since Bruce Jenner in 1976 to win the event.

2012: American Nathan Adrian clocks 47.52 in winning the 100-meter freestyle gold at the London Olympics; his first swim under 48 seconds.

Will the "postponed" 2020 Olympic Games occur in 2021?

Photo courtesy of Adrian O. Alegria, via Flickr.com

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

TOKYO, JAPAN (July 23, 2020) Exactly one year from today, July 23, 2021, the "postponed" Games of the XXXII Olympiad are scheduled to begin. On that day, fans will see preliminary competition in archery and rowing, along with the Opening Ceremonies to be held at Olympic Stadium from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Japan Standard Time. The Games were postponed from the original schedule dates in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The postponement was viewed around the world with both positive and negative comments, but with the general consensus that the Games mustt be safe for all concerned; athletes, coaches, officials, media, and spectators alike.

On Wednesday, July 22, TIME magazine published an article entitled "Tokyo Olympics Head: 2021 Games Not Possible Under Current Coronavirus Conditions." To begin the article, it was stated:

The delayed Tokyo Olympics could not be held next year if conditions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continue as they are, the president of the organizing committee said Wednesday. In an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK, Yoshiro Mori said he was hopeful the situation would improve and suggested a vaccine was the key. “If this kind of situation (with COVID-19) continues, is it possible to hold the games?” Mori was asked by NHK. “If current situation continues, we couldn’t,” Mori replied, speaking in Japanese.

So here we are; one year put from the "postponed" Games. Athletes are training and plans are being made for the Games to go on. If the situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic does not improve, the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee have stated that the Games will not be postponed again and could possibly be cancelled.

That would be devastating to the athletes who are preparing for the competition, but what other decision do they have? Professional sports seasons in the United States and around the world have been postponed or delayed. College sports have been suspended with questions arising whether or not their seasons will even occur.

This is a trying time for all sports; whether it be the Olympic Games, professional sports, college programs, and even scholastic and youth sports. Decisions are being weighed with sport administrators facing the results and consequences of their decisions.

Around the world, 10,000-plus athletes are wondering of they will be able to achieve that goals of competing in the Olympic Games. All they can do is continue to train and hope everything works out. The pandemic has altered the lives of everyone on the planet, and everyone just hopes for a positive outcome, a healthy life, and that everyone  comes through these trying time in good measure.

2020 Summer Olympics, Paralympics postponed

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved
Video courtsey of CGTN via YouTube.com 

TOKYO, JAPAN (March 25, 2020) It has been decided by the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and the 16th Summer Paralympic Games will be postponed due to the worldwide COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The Games will be delayed to 2021, and held no later than summer 2021. The Games will still be publicly branded and marketed as Tokyo 2020 and 2020 Summer Paralympics, even with the change in scheduling.

Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 September 2013.^[1] This will be the second time that Japan, and specifically Tokyo has hosted the Summer Olympic Games, the first being in 1964, making it the first city in Asia to host the summer Games twice. Overall, these will be the fourth Olympic Games to be held in Japan, which also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 (Sapporo) and 1998 (Nagano). The 2020 Games will be the second of three consecutive Olympics to be held in East Asia, the first being the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, and the next being the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

As part of a formal agreement between the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee first established in 2001, the winner of the bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics must also host the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

TexSport Publications will post further information as it becomes available.