Rio Day 6: Biles Dazzles; Phelps Looks for 22nd Gold
VOA NEWS
American Simone Biles is now officially the best gymnast in the world.
Biles on Thursday won the women’s individual all-around contest, while her teammate Aly Raisman took the silver medal. Russian Aliya Mustafina took the bronze.
The 19-year-old Biles is now the fourth-straight American woman to win the all-around title and fifth overall, while taking her place as the greatest gymnast of her generation — and perhaps of all time.
United States’ Michael Phelps, top, and Singapore’s Joseph Schooling compete during a men’s 100-meter butterfly heat during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Swimming
U.S. swimming phenom Michael Phelps will be looking to earn his 22nd career gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night.
Phelps — who already has won three gold medals in Rio — will swim in the lane right next to American teammate and longtime rival Ryan Lochte, after the two took first and second place in the qualifier Wednesday. If Phelps wins, it will be his fourth-straight individual medley title at the Olympics.
Two Australian sisters, Cate and Bronte Campbell, will battle each other for the women’s 100-meter freestyle crown. Cate Campbell set a new Olympic record for the event during the semifinal Wednesday, while her sister came in fifth behind American swimmer Simone Manuel to qualify for the final race. Cate Campbell holds the world record, but her sister is the current world title holder.
Judo
In other medal action Thursday, Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic won the men’s judo gold medal in the 100-kilogram division after defeating Azerbaijan’s Elmar Gasimov, the world number two. After trying multiple times to throw Gasimov in the five-minute fight Thursday, Krpalek finally managed to flip his opponent in the last 30 seconds for an instant victory. The two embraced after the final and saluted the crowd together.
It is the Czech Republic’s first gold medal in judo.
The men’s bronze medals were won by Cyrille Maret, who turned 29 Thursday, and Japan’s Ryunosoke Haga.
American Kayla Harrison successfully defended her Olympic judo title in the women’s 78-kilogram division, after beating France’s Audrey Tcheumeo in a tense final. With just six seconds left, Harrison caught Tcheumeo’s arm in an armlock, and forced Tcheumeo to tap out in submission, automatically winning the contest.
The women’s bronze medals were won by Brazil’s Mayra Aguiar and Slovenian Anamari Velensek.
Golf, rugby sevens
Golf is being played for the first time at the Olympics in more than 100 years.
Rugby sevens also is being played for the first time in Rio, and will crown a champion Thursday evening.
Track cycling
Britain won the first gold medal of the track cycling program at the Rio Olympics, rallying past New Zealand in the final of the men’s team sprint by the slimmest of margins.
The squad of Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner trailed their rivals when their second and third riders dropped away, but Skinner was able to make up the difference. They finished in a time of 42.440 seconds, lowering the Olympic record that the Kiwis set in the previous round.
Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins stopped the clock in 42.542 seconds.
The French team of Gregory Bauge, Francois Pervis and Michael D’Almeida rallied on the final lap to swipe bronze from the Australian team.