We are at the half way point in the Rio Games, and what an amazing night for the Americans (and also, other countries). Let's take a look at some of my favorite moments:
It does my ancient heart proud to see someone older than me pull off the gold last night (probably for the last time in aquatics). That it was Anthony Ervin, whom I have crushed on since he tied Gary Hall sixteen years ago, is all the better. Arguably the coolest guy on Team USA, and someone who has struggled to get to this point with issues of drug abuse and depression, this has to be one of the most cathartic and wildest moments of the tournament.
In another upset, Maya Dirado, who has for some reason (I'm still not sure why) declared this her first and last Olympics, managed to end it with a bang. After pulling off a team gold and two individual medals, she came from behind in arguably her weakest event (seriously-what a finish!) to grab the gold medal in the 200m backstroke. An incredible moment with someone who clearly got swept up in the emotion of the Games!
I don't know what day of the Games this victorious Katie Ledecky is from, because honestly-isn't this the recurring image of the Games at this point? Ledecky clobbered in every one of her events, picking up a string of golds, last night her final one of the Games with the 800m. The only quibble I have now is that for some reason they don't include the 1500m in this tournament as well (or the 800m for the Men's)-let's get some more swimming out there and have her compete for another gold!!!
Finally, we'll end with a victorious Michelle Carter, picking up the first USA medal of Track & Field, this time in the shot put. She got to one-up her father Mike Carter (who won the silver at the 1984 Games), break an American record in the event, and also managed to win the first gold medal of the T&F events. Also, am I the only person who wishes they'd focus more on the field portion of Track & Field. Those runners are so impressive, but they spend more time on the blocks than they do on the track-the field events take a while and have a more climactic build, so I'm more about them. Either well done Team USA!!!
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