The women’s 10-kilometer marathon swim is taking place Monday just off of Copacabana Beach and most of the elite swimmers will take about two hours to complete the 6.2-mile course. Sports, including swimming, are generally regarded as leisurely pursuits, not to be taken as seriously as maths and science.
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Also the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter medley relay team of Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel is being recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as delivering the nation’s 1,000th gold medal in Summer Olympics history, although there are questions and disputes over past medals that shade the accomplishment a bit.
Think about that for a moment. Hosts Brazil squeezed through to the last four by beating Australia on penalties.
Yet, within the Olympic medal totals that Phelps insists will be the final tallies, is a number that perfectly expresses that goal.
With a total of five gold medals, one silver, and a remarkable comeback after having hard times, the Baltimore-born defeated his own professional climax achieved in Beijing 2008, when he won eight golds and broke Mark Spitz’s record. Yet, in swimming’s equivalent of David and Goliath, that’s exactly what happened, but it was no fluke. It might be once in 10 generations that someone like Michael comes along.
– The peerless Katie Ledecky was another record breaker as she won the women’s 800 metre freestyle by a huge margin on an evening that saw Michael Phelps finish in a three-way tie for second behind Joseph Schooling in the men’s 100m butterfly. Phelps announced his retirement after the London 2012 Games but returned to the sport two years ago, citing unfinished business. The Americans haven’t been beaten since 2006, winning every world championships and Olympic title since then.
“That’s really when everything started to hit me”, he said, “knowing it was the last time I’ll wear the stars and stripes in a race”. They give him that space because he is the greatest. “I have a bunch of people that came down to watch these games and I’d like to spend some time with them”. “I’m sure he’ll eventually take them over when I pass, but that’s a long time”.
The celebrations in Singapore were less restrained.
Klishina was the only one of 68 Russians cleared to participate in Rio by the IAAF, the sport’s governing body. “It wasn’t the best start, it felt kind of sluggish”, Bolt said, adding that he never has been a morning person and preparations for his noon race felt unusual. “I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in the sport and after 24 years in the sport, I’m happy with how things finished”.
“It’s not done yet; it’s not done growing, not in the US, and I’m going to continue to try to do it”.
We would push Phelps, the other reporters and I, trying to get him to reveal the golden goal posted on his mental marquee.
Schooling’s win came at a flawless time for Singapore, with the government investing and actively promoting the benefits of sport.
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Gregorio Paltrinieri stormed to Italy’s first swimming gold medal of the Rio Olympics with a brilliant victory in the men’s 1,500m freestyle on Saturday. It’s not even once in a generation.
