She crushed her own world record in the 400 freestyle Sunday night, touching almost 5 seconds ahead of her closest pursuer.
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It was, at the least, a momentary reprieve for the host country bracing for what once seemed unthinkable: an early exit by its men’s soccer team from the Olympic tournament.
Brazil had to wait until the third day of the Rio Olympics to get a gold medal, but it may have been worth the wait because it made Rafaela Silva’s reaction that much better. After months of dire predictions from overseas about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, some locals are doing some stinging of their own: They’re jeering USA athletes and taunting them over the fears that kept some competitors away from South America’s first Olympics.
Silva’s emotions were understandable after nearly quitting the sport at just 20 years of age following her London disappointment. She won all five of her matches without giving up a single score to earn Brazil’s gold medal of these Games. “The fans have always encouraged me, especially the kids from my own community in the City of God”, Silva told reporters following her victory.
Silva upset world number one Sumiya Dorjsuren for what was a hugely welcome win for Brazil after apathy and protests in the run-up to South America’s first Olympics. Also in the opening threesome: Graham DeLaet of Canada, which IGF President Peter Dawson referred to as the defending champion at the Olympics. The 19-year-old gymnast was adopted by her maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie, after spending time in foster care.
SPECTACULAR SEAS: Sailing, not the dirty water, was finally the focus on troubled Guanabara Bay during a spectacular start to the Olympic regatta on Monday.
After the finishing the second day with 3 golds, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals, the United States won seven more medals on day 3, including two golds, to continue at the top of the medal table.
The rise has been meteoric since Ketleyn Quadros won Brazil’s first Olympic women’s judo medal in Beijing in 2008, taking under-57kg bronze.
The American won the 100-meter breaststroke on Monday night, holding off the reigning world champion from Russian Federation in what some will surely call a victory of clean athletes over the dopers.
WALKING THE WALK: King took exception to Efimova, who has served a ban for doping and had her ban for the Rio Olympics overturned, raising her finger in the No. 1 sign after winning her heat in the semifinals.
Russia’s Yuliya Efimova, who has twice failed drugs tests, was booed before the women’s 100m breaststroke final, and she came under fire again after finishing second.
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Phelps went out strong in Monday night’s race, and then backed off a bit in the final 50 to save his energy for Tuesday’s final.
