The U.S.
women’s volleyball team has never won the gold medal. They played in the final
match in Beijing but came up short, 3-1, to the Brazilians. Since so many
things in the Olympics are about redemption, what team do you think they are
playing in the final? That’s right, Brazil. Both teams swept their opponents in
the semifinals and have some heavy hitters on their respective sides of the
net. American (and Texas Longhorn) Destinee Hooker is second in the tournament
in scoring with 147 points, while Brazil’s Sheilla Castro is fourth with 125
points. The U.S. is ranked first in hitting efficiency and better than Brazil
in blocking. However, Brazil is the stronger receiving team and is just behind
the USA in hitting.
If the
volleyball team wins gold, it will be the second team head coach Hugh
McCutcheon leads to an Olympic championship. He was the head coach of the U.S.
men’s Olympic championship team in 2008. You may remember the tragedy
McCutcheon went through at the beginning of the games in Beijing when his
in-laws were assaulted and his father-in-law killed on the opening day of the
Olympics.
The U.S.
women’s basketball team came into London a heavier favorite to win the gold
than their male counterparts. The USA is looking to win its fifth-straight gold
medal and its 41st straight Olympic game. They will face France who
is looking to win its first medal in women’s basketball. Both teams are
undefeated in the tournament and it’s the first time since 1996 that the final
game isn’t between the U.S. and Australia.
The women’s
4x100m team was absolutely amazing last night, winning the gold and setting a
new world record. Tonight it’s the men’s turn and is sure to be another
exciting relay. The Jamaicans own the world record, set last September, but
qualified second behind the Americans by 0.01. Of course the Jamaicans have the
two fastest men in the world on their relay team in Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake
and did not race Bolt yesterday. The U.S. posted an American record of 37.38 in
the heats and looked great with Justin Gatlin running anchor. Tonight, Team USA
will run Trell Kimmons, Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey in the final. Gatlin,
Gay and Bailey all ran in the final of the men’s 100m on Sunday, while only two
of Jamaica’s relay team (Blake and Bolt) were in that final.
While the
U.S. men took silver last night in the 4x400m with a rookie team, the women
will have some experience on their side. The team qualified first out of all the
heats and is looking to defend its title from Beijing. Sanya Richards-Ross won
it for the USA in the anchor leg in 2008 and will run in the race again, along
with 200m champion Allyson Felix.
The men will
run the 5000m tonight and Team GB’s Mo Farah will look to follow his gold in
the 10000m with a gold in this event. Anyone else see the 10000m last week? The
scene was incredible with a Brit winning. The place will be cheering heavily
for this guy tonight. The silver medalist in the 10000m was American, and
Farah’s training partner, Galen Rupp, who will run in the final along with 2007
champion Bernard Lagat and Lopez Lomong. All three make a strong contingent for
the U.S. There will be the typical challenges with the Kenyans and Ethiopians
because none of them raced in the 10000m. I can assure you that if Farah wins,
Olympic Stadium will be going crazy.
Also being
raced tonight is the always-entertaining men’s 50km and women’s 20 km walk.
You’ve probably made fun of these events at some point in the past, but watch
how fast they go. It’s not easy.
Other final
track and field events include the women’s 800m, women’s high jump and women’s
800m.
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