Here's our round-up of five things to watch at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27, 2021 (San Diego time) and the results.
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1) Simone Biles Exits Team Finals, US Gymnastics Takes Silver
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It was a tough day for U.S. gymnastics as Simone Biles left the team competition after a vault run, but Team USA managed to pick up a silver medal without her.
Biles bailed out of her Amanar in the vault and only completed a 1.5 twist on a 2.5-twisting Yurchenko, then stumbled backward on the landing. She had previously posted the best score in the vault during the all-around qualifiers.
She withdrew from Tuesday's final due to a medical issue, according to a statement from USA Gymnastics. But Biles later told Today she felt good physically, but "emotionally, it varies."
The organization said she will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.
The Russian Olympic Committee won gold and Great Britain won bronze. The U.S. had won gold in the event at the last two Olympics, while ROC earned silver in both Olympics.
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Italy and Japan placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
2) Women's Basketball: Team USA vs. Nigeria
Team USA overcame a rusty start in women's basketball to post a 81-72 comeback win over Nigeria to open pool play at the 2020 Olympics in Japan on Tuesday.
The win is the Americans' 50th-straight win in Olympic women's basketball.
A'Ja Wilson was one of three U.S. players in double digits, leading all scorers with 19 points, while Sue Bird's 12-assist day stands as another highlight.
The U.S. next meets hosts Japan on Friday, Tokyo time, before tangling with France to finish group play on Aug. 2, Tokyo time.
Meanwhile, Team USA for 3x3 basketball includes Kelsey Plum, a powerhouse player from Poway in San Diego County.
Plum graduated from La Jolla Country Day School in 2013. Her Team USA profile says she helped lead her high school to the 2012 CIF Division IV state title, four straight San Diego Section Division IV titles. She was also San Diego Player of the Year. She also played volleyball in high school. Plum’s dad has San Diego ties, too: He played football and baseball at San Diego State University.
The 3x3 team will compete again on July 28. You can catch that stream live here.
3) Team USA Shut Out By Japan in Softball Gold Medal Game
For the second time in Olympic history, Japan has upset the U.S. in the softball gold medal game.
Team USA, which went undefeated in round-robin play, only had three hits.
The Japanese had a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings before finally converting on an infield single in the fourth inning.
Japan added a second run in the top of the fifth inning.
Both teams were 4-0 entering Sunday’s matchup and had clinched their spots in the gold medal game before facing one another in the final game of round-robin play.
The game was a rematch of the 2008 gold medal game at the Beijing Olympics, where Japan became the first and only team to keep Team USA off the top of the podium in softball.
Watch the highlights here, or rewatch the full game anytime here.
4) Team USA Takes Home Medal in Team Dressage
The U.S. equestrian team took home silver in the dressage team grand prix special.
The team of Adrienne Lyle, Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery totaled 7,747 points. Germany won gold with 8,178 points and Great Britain won bronze with 7,723 points.
Peters, 56, is originally from Germany but calls San Diego County home (and trains in Del Mar). Tokyo marks his fifth Olympics; he also competed in the Olympics in 1996, 2008, 2012 and 2016. He has won two bronze medals.
With the medal, Peters becomes the oldest U.S. Olympic medalist since 1952 at the age of 56 years old. It's his second medal in his career, as he also won the bronze in 2016 with the United States. It is the first medal for Schut-Kery and Lyle.
USWNT Advances to Quarterfinals
The United States women’s soccer team is headed to the quarterfinals, after tying Australia 0-0 in their final game of group play.
With the tie, the United States finished second in Group G, going 1-1-1 in its three group games. The U.S. won the tiebreaker over Australia based on goal differential, with the goal differential of 2 being better than Australia's -1.
In the match, Alex Morgan had a goal called back after VAR determined that she was offside. That was as close as the two sides would get to scoring. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped the two shots she faced.
The quarterfinals for women’s soccer begin on Friday, July 30.
