“One thousand gold medals is a remarkable achievement made possible by the culture of sport that is the fabric and foundation of Team USA”, US Olympic Committee (USOC) head Scott Blackmun said. Sports Illustrated recently headlined the eights as “The Unbeatables”. The Americans held their own tier at the top, then the Chinese in second, Britons and third and everyone else well behind. Americans had earned 60 total medals by late Sunday morning, comprising 24 golds, 18 silvers and 18 bronzes. We’ve never been so ready. “I think when you’re in that mindset, you’re able to do something special”.
Advertisement
The U.S. was in third place after the 500m and 1000m splits in the six-minute, 2000m race, trailing leader Canada by.99 and.49, respectively, at each timer.
“Remember, before the Americans were dominant, the Romanians were dominant”.
“One of the reasons why the Americans have such success in the eight is because they have such a huge setup of women competing at the collegiate level, ” British coxswain Zoe de Toledo said.
Venus Williams can become the first tennis player with five career Olympic golds, pairing with Rajeev Ram against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock in an all-American mixed doubles final.
If the United States women had not captured the landmark medal, Michael Phelps and the men’s 4×100 medley relay squad would have done so, the quartet winning gold in the next event in the pool, which was also the final race on the Rio swimming programme.
Eleanor Logan is the only American who has been a part of all three Olympic triumphs during the 11-year dynasty. MacLennan won the country’s lone gold in 2012. Winning medals in both individual events and as part of an fantastic relay team, it’s hard to imagine how a 16-year-old could have accomplished so much both on her own and with her teammates. “We’re not really comparing, we just had to look every day to be better ourselves”. The British last won gold in the eight in 2000. There was a group of 14 who came into the team at the beginning of the year.
That wasn’t the only dramatic field event finish of the second session, as the men’s long jump final came right down to the wire. “We just want to make them proud and ourselves proud and our coaches”.
Advertisement
The women’s rugby sevens team won bronze in the sport’s Olympic debut.
