In Rio there are fewer golds at 10 so far, but more silvers at 13, and 7 bronzes. The gold won by the relay team of Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Manuel, has been recognized by the US Olympic Committee as the nation’s 1,000th gold medal in Summer Olympics history. The men’s team included Ryan Murphy (gold in the 100-meter backstroke), Cody Miller (silver and a US record in 100-meter breaststroke), Michael Phelps (silver in 100-meter butterfly), Nathan Adrian (bronze in 100-meter freestyle).
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Athletes from the D.C. area have already raked in several gold, silver and bronze medals for the U.S.
Britain chased hard on the medals table by scooping three golds on Day 8. For those who have not been privy this information, the Olympic gold medal has not been constructed of solid gold since 1912.
Team USA continues to challenge the record for most medals at an Olympics.
Other contenders: Japan, the 2012 silver medalist, and Australia, which took bronze at the last games.
Illustrating how not-so-simple this medal-counting business is, the official info portal for the Rio Games even has a different number than the USOC, saying the one the Americans will recognize as No. 1,000 is really No. 1,001.
Artistic gymnasts are enjoying a two-day break after a truly punishing schedule in which USA sensation Simone Biles became all-round women’s champion and could yet add to her titles in Rio. “To do it today, the Olympic Games, I don’t know what to say”. It was the first American medal in equestrian individual eventing since 2008. The remaining 494 grams of metal is silver which is “bathed in gold”. “We can all agree that these Olympians who dedicate their lives to athletic excellence should not be punished when they achieve it”, Rubio said in a statement then.
The quartet won gold in the next event in the pool, which was also the final race on the Rio swimming program.
This is an event the US has owned: the Americans have set the past 10 world records in this relay, dating back to 1984 at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
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Maryland and Virginia swimmers are making a splash at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium.
