We’re nearing the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics and I have to contemplate the prospect a dull, meaningless existence without Gold Zone every morning.
One of the main stories of this week is the US absolutely bodying* the various Track & Field events.
*with a few key exceptions
Our first aforementioned exception came on Thursday. The Draymond Green of track and field, Noah Lyles, won only the bronze in the men’s 200m, his favored event. Having taken home gold in a dramatic 100m race earlier in the week, he thus nonetheless failed to complete the sprint double he was aiming for.
After the race, he was carted off the track in a wheelchair, only to reveal he had been diagnosed with COVID two days prior.
One group that did not screw up was pretty much every American female track and field athlete.
On Thursday, Tara Davis-Woodhall took the gold in the long jump, and was a general joy to watch on the track.
That same day, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone did a Full Ledecky in the 400m hurdles, taking godl and breaking the world record.
Finally, this morning, Sha’carri Richardson got her long awaited gold medal along with the rest of the women running the 4x100m relay.
Finally, somebody focusing on the most important question:
The men, in contrast, fumbled the baton exchange during their 4x100m relay, in keeping with tradition. Lots of folks, including Olympian Carl Lewis are fed up with the coaching.
To end the track and field section on a high note, let’s revisit the gold medal winning pole vaulter, Sweden’s (and Louisiana’s) Mondo Duplantis.
For all of the drama in Track & Field, perhaps the most exciting comeback came in the USA/Serbia men’s basketball semifinal, where Team USA came back from a 17-point deficit to win, advancing to the gold medal match against France on Saturday.
But Steph isn’t the only player inspired by Simone:
I for one hope he never stops posting.
For the last two weeks, we have born witness to mind-boggling feats performed by the world’s most accomplished athletes reflecting decades of dedication to their sport. But one could argue the highlight of the Olympics came today in the debut of the Olympics’ newest sport, breaking:
Uh oh:
Hey, this rules.
In non-Olympics news, ISIS had a good run but it is absolutely lights out for them now.
The Pentagon wants you to know that it’s not just the Kamala Harris campaign that can make pop culture references:
Have a great weekend!
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