The Rio Olympic Games kick off tonight, with athletes from all over the world fighting for glory and a place at the top of the podium, but how much is that gold medal really worth?
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And even if Olympic champions choose to hold onto their medals, the ultimate symbol of athlete prowess, they can expect a little cash to come their way.
Venus and Serena fall: In a stunning upset, three-time gold medalists Venus and Serena Williams were eliminated during the first round of the women’s doubles by the Czech duo of Barbora Strycova and Lucie Safarova. But prior to its ending, prediction of the top 10 countries, which are expected to lead the tally sheet of medals won, is already out and Australia is now ranked third.
Swimming, Women’s 200 meters freestyle: Katie Ledecky won her second gold in Rio and third overall with a time of 1:53.73, beating Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom by 0.35 seconds, and bronze went to Emme McKeon of Australia, who has a gold from a relay earlier.
They will get that chance Tuesday, while the men will be back in action later today during the team finals. As a freshman last season, Thrasher won both the individual small-bore and air rifle titles, vaulting her onto the Olympic radar. A Mountaineer shooter has now earned a medal in back-to-back Olympics, as 2011 graduate Nicco Campriani won gold and silver for Italy at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Zhang Chenglong, one of the stars on China’s gymnastics team, was distraught and admitted that winning the team gold was “the most important and precious” goal for the team heading into Rio. The 2016 first-place medals are made of 494 grams of silver and 6 grams of gold.
Russia’s Yulia Efimova was at the center of the controversy, originally banned from the Olympics after her second doping scandal. The U.S. team is now in second place. She set her sights on the American national team in 2007 when she realized there were no minorities represented.
A native of Springfield, Va., Thrasher won her first career medal with an Olympic record 208.0 final total, edging China’s Li Du, who finished second with a 207.0 mark. The British women previously beat Canada during pool play, but were no match for the Canadian team Monday, as Canada led throughout the entire match.
BASKETBALL: Australia has defeated France 89-71 to remain unbeaten in the women’s basketball competition and be placed in a strong position to win its pool. Meanwhile, the women will take on a 0-2 Serbia team.
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WATER POLO: Our men’s water polo side has kept its finals hopes alive after a gutsy 9-9 draw against powerhouse Hungary, the most successful team in Olympic history.
