SECTION D
THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Athletes hang on to dreams of gold at changed Summer Games
Simone Biles, shown at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials last month, is attempting to become the first woman to win consecutive Olympic titles in more than 50 years. JEFF ROBERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
GREATNESS AWAITS Olympians go it alone in Japan as families watch from far away
By Eddie Pells
Associated Press
F
or more than 100 years, the lead-up to the Olympics, as well as the Games themselves, have been as precisely choreographed as a Simone Biles floor routine. In 2021, the world’s best gymnast appears ready to deliver. The Olympics, on the other hand, have been a make-it-up-as-you-go proposition for more than a year now. That doesn’t figure to change much when they o∞cially open Friday in Japan. The coronavirus pandemic, debates over the IOC’s handling of athlete rights and welfare, the ritual cycle of doping scandals and a general feeling that many in the host country do not want thousands of outsiders entering their borders are among the hot-button issues that have enveloped the run-up to these history-making Games. Biles will take over the spotlight that, over recent Olympiads, had been commanded by Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps. But the absence of those now-retired champions hardly begins to explain all that has changed since the last time the world gathered for a Summer Games five years ago. At these Games — delayed by a year because of the pandemic, making them the first to be held in an odd-numbered year since the modern era began in 1896 — Biles will compete in front of a mostly empty arena. Fans will not be allowed because Japan is under a state of emergency as it continues to grapple with the virus. The 24-year-old defending Olympic champion’s relentless pursuit of perfection, and progression, is punctuated by an all-or-nothing vault that no woman before her dared even try. Biles’ performances will be the centerpiece of the action, which will take place over 17 days in more than three dozen venues in Tokyo.
Demonstrations Another focal point will be the medals stand. In the wake of a summer of social unrest in the United States in 2020, black sports figures sparked a conversation about how to use their Olympic platform to spread their message. Among the most vocal athletes have been hammer thrower Gwen Berry and sprinter Noah Lyles, who want to highlight racial inequality in America. They helped push the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee hard on the issue and the USOPC determined
There won’t be any reaction shots of excited, shocked or crying family members in the stands at Summer Games By Beth Harris
Associated Press
HAMISH BLAIR/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Tennis star Naomi Osaka will compete for Japan in the Games’ first week.
it will not punish athletes who demonstrate on medals stands, starting line or anywhere else on the field of play. The IOC has reluctantly agreed to some relaxation of the rule that bars demonstrations, but has not taken it o≠ the books. It’s that same restriction that led to the dismissal of U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos from the Mexico City Games in 1968 for raising their fists on the stand. In the summer of 2021, the issue of athletes’ rights involves more than a single country or a single issue. The growingly fraught conundrum of mental health has never been more relevant than this year. Some 11,000 of the world‘s most finely-tuned athletes, many of whom put their dreams on hold and kept training for an extra year, have been asked to head into a country that has not yet contained COVID-19 for their once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete on sports’ biggest stage. They will be there largely without friends and family, without fans in the stands, and without much chance to go anywhere other than the training gym, the competition venue and their hotel. The e≠ects of those strains might have been most acutely illustrated earlier this summer by tennis champion Naomi Osaka, who will compete for the host country over the first week of action in Japan’s steamy capital. Her withdrawal from the French Open and Wimbledon came with the bracing reminder that there is more to the games, and the attention that Please see story on Page D-4
OPENING CEREMONY Friday on NBC 4:55 to 9 a.m. — Live coverage 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Preview show 5:30 to 10 p.m. — Opening ceremony
INSIDE u Sports previews. PAGE D-2 u New sports. PAGE D-3 u Athletes to watch. PAGE D-3 u Broadcast schedule. PAGE D-4 u USA Gymnastics finds itself at a crossroads. PAGE D-4
Michael Phelps reached for his mother’s hand through a chain-link fence near the pool. The 19-year-old swimmer had just won his first Olympic medal — gold, of course — at the 2004 Athens Games, and he wanted to share it with the woman who raised him on her own. That kind of moment between loved ones won’t happen at the pandemicdelayed Tokyo Olympics. No spectators — local or foreign — will be allowed at the vast majority of venues, where athletes will hang medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. No handshakes or hugs on the podium, either. “I like to feed o≠ of the crowd,” defending all-around champion gymnast Simone Biles said, “so I’m a little bit worried about how I’ll do under
those circumstances.” Catching sight of familiar faces during competition can bolster an athlete on a big stage. It helped Matthew Centrowitz at the U.S. track trials, where fans were allowed. “Seeing my family in the crowd and hearing them gave me a little sense of comfort, and what I needed to hear and see to calm my nerves a little bit,” said Centrowitz, the defending Olympic 1,500-meter champion. The youngest athlete on the U.S. team in Tokyo calls it “weird” that her family won’t be in the stands. “They’re usually at all my meets,” said Katie Grimes, a 15-year-old swimmer from Las Vegas, Nev. Katie Ho≠ was the same age as Grimes when she was the youngest member of the U.S. team in Athens. Nerves got to her in her first event, and Ho≠ hyperventilated and vomited Please see story on Page D-4
BY THE NUMBERS
33
Number of sports
600+
Number of American athletes
11,000+
Number of athletes expected to compete
206
Countries participating
339
Number of events
11 hours
Time difference between Tokyo and New Mexico
Sports editor: Will Webber, wwebber@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Eric J. Hedlund, ehedlund@sfnewmexican.com
MATT SLOCUM/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The United States’ Michael Phelps celebrates winning his gold medal in the men’s 200-meter butterfly with his mother, Debbie; fiancée, Nicole Johnson, and baby Boomer during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Private, touching moments between loved ones won’t be happening at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics. SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM
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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
TOKYO OLYMPICS
SPORTS PREVIEWS Gymnastics
Men’s basketball
AMERICAN STAR BILES AIMS FOR MORE HISTORY
Highlights from Rio: The U.S. won its third consecutive gold medal and pushed its Olympic winning streak to 25 games. Serbia went only 4-4 in Olympic play but won the silver, and Spain topped Argentina in a one-point game for the bronze. What’s new: Iran is back in the Olympic field for just the second time since 1948 and Japan, which got in automatically as the host nation, will play for the first time since 1976. Gregg Popovich takes over as U.S. coach, after Mike Krzyzewski’s run of three consecutive gold medals. Teams that qualified: United States, Australia, Spain, France, Japan, Nigeria, Iran, Argentina. Tokyo expectations: With top NBA players like Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and more, the Americans have to be the favorite for gold once again. But the U.S. finished only seventh at the Basketball World Cup two years ago, albeit with a much different roster. Australia is desperate for a breakthrough medal, France has high medal hopes and Spain is the reigning World Cup champion. Athletes to watch: Durant is seeking a third gold medal. Rudy Gobert (France), Beal and Lillard were All-NBA players this season (and a first-team All-NBA pick, Luka Doncic, will also be there if Slovenia qualifies). Gold medal moments: The gold- and bronze-medal games are Aug. 7.
Highlights from Rio: American star Simone Biles turned the 2016 games into her own personal showcase, earning five medals (four gold, one bronze) and redefining what is possible along the way. The U.S. women won their second straight team gold and captured nine medals in all during their final competition under former national team coordinator Márta Károlyi. ... Japan’s Kohei Uchimura edged Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev to win back-toback Olympic titles in the men’s all-around. More importantly, Uchimura also guided the Japanese men to victory in the team final while longtime rival and defending Olympic champion China faded to third behind Russia. What’s new: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) cut the official team sizes from five athletes in Rio to four in Tokyo in an effort to level the playing field a bit for countries whose talent pool doesn’t run as deep as superpowers like the U.S. and Russia. Countries could also earn a “plus-1” specialists spot by meeting certain qualifying standards, though the “plus-1” athlete will only be eligible for individual awards and will not be allowed to compete in the team competition. The FIG also allowed athletes to earn a nominative individual spot through the organization’s World Cup circuit. American Jade Carey took advantage of the change to lock up her own spot in Tokyo before the U.S. Olympic Trials. The trade-off is Carey will not be allowed to compete with the other Americans and will have to wear a different leotard. Sound confusing? It is, which is why the FIG announced it will do away with the nominative individual qualifying standard and restore team sizes to five athletes in Paris 2024. Tokyo expectations: Biles is attempting to become the first woman to win consecutive Olympic titles in more than 50 years. The 24-year-old has become a transcendent figure in the sports world since her star-making performance in Brazil. She’s also better than ever, adding upgrades on floor exercise, beam and vault that will basically turn the sport’s Code of Points into her own personal Wikipedia entry. The American women are heavily favored to earn a third straight team gold. Russia, China and host Japan have spent the last half-decade in a tight battle for supremacy on the men’s side. The Russians edged the Chinese at the 2019 world championships. Athletes to watch: Biles isn’t the only American who figures to come home with multiple medals. Sunisa Lee — the first Hmong-American to make an Olympic team — is a revelation on uneven bars. Jordan Chiles, who trains with Biles in Houston, is also a medal threat following a stunning rise Sunisa Lee over the last two years. ... Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan will be appearing in her record eighth Olympics at age 46. ... Russia’s Nikita Nagornny, the 2019 world champion, figures to be the favorite in the men’s competition. ... Uchimura, a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion, came out of semi-retirement at age 32 to earn an individual spot and a chance to compete in front of the home fans. Uchimura is a massive star in Japan. Gold medal moment(s): July 26: Men’s team final; July 27: Women’s team final; July 28: Men’s all-around final; July 29: Women’s all-around final; July 30: Women’s trampoline; July 31: Men’s trampoline; Aug 1: Men’s event finals in floor exercise, pommel horse; Women’s event finals in vault, uneven bars; Aug 2: Men’s event finals in rings, vault; Women’s event finals in vault; Aug: 3: Men’s event finals in parallel bars, high bar; Women’s event finals on balance beam; Aug. 7: Rhythmic Gymnastics all-around final; Aug. 8: Rhythmic Gymnastics team final.
ERIC GAY/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The United States’ Kevin Durant, right, drives to the basket against Spain’s Ricky Rubio during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Durant is seeking his third gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Athletes to watch: RHP Masahiro Tanaka, back with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles after seven seasons with the New York Yankees, is the lone holdover from the 2008 Japan team that lost to the U.S. 8-4 in the bronze medal game. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, the reigning Central League MVP, would attract interest from major league teams if he becomes available. The U.S. team is expected to include INF Todd Frazier, released by Pittsburgh in May. Gold medal moment: The medal games are Aug. 7.
Women’s basketball U.S. HEAVY FAVORITE TO WIN 7TH STRAIGHT GOLD Highlights from Rio: The United States won its sixth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball with arguably the best team ever assembled. The Americans routed their opponents, winning by an average of nearly 40 points a game, including a 29-point win over Spain in the championship contest. Serbia edged France for the bronze medal. Tokyo expectations: The U.S. is the heavy favorite to win another gold and give Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird a record fifth Olympic gold medal. The only previous American to play women’s basketball in five Olympics was Teresa Edwards. She won four golds and a bronze. It should be a really interesting contest to see who will join the U.S. on the medal podium with a handful of nations having their eyes on winning a medal, including Serbia, Spain, France, Canada and host Japan. WNBA flavor: Besides the U.S. team, many of the other countries are led by WNBA stars. Half of the Australian roster, led by Liz Cambage, is currently in the WNBA. The Opals are led by Phoenix Mercury coach Sandy Brondello. Some of the other WNBA players in the Olympics include Emma Meesseman (Belgium), Kia Nurse (Canada), Marine Johannès (France), Astou Ndour (Spain). African dreams: Nigeria will try to end a winless drought for African teams at the Olympics since the 2004 Athens Games. The African nation went 1-5 that year, and no team from that continent has won a game since. There are hopes for that to potentially change: Nigeria went 3-4 at the World Champions in 2018, falling to the U.S. in the quarterfinals. What’s new: With the addition of 3x3 as a basketball discipline, teams are now only playing potentially six games at most in the tournament instead of eight. The last time the medalists played fewer than eight games was 1992. The 12 teams were put into three pools instead of two. The quarterfinalists will be the top two teams in each pool and two others based on a FIBA ranking system. Gold medal moment: The gold medal game is set for Aug. 8.
Athletics NO BOLT MEANS STAGE OPEN FOR NEW STARS TO EMERGE Highlights from Rio: Usain Bolt. The 34-year-old Bolt, retired since 2017, will watch the Tokyo Games from the comfort of his home in Jamaica as someone other than him captures the Olympic title in
Swimming THREE NEW EVENTS SPICE UP SWIMMING SCHEDULE ASHLEY LANDIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The United States’ Gabby Thomas celebrates after winning the final in the women’s 200-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on June 26 in Eugene, Ore. Gabby Thomas could make headlines in the 200 meters. the 100 and 200 for the first time since 2004. Also missing will be British distance runner Mo Farah, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 in Rio. Farah missed the qualifying time in the 10,000 at the British athletics championships in Manchester and won’t defend. One of the most memorable moments in Rio was the dive by Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas. She launched herself across the 400meter finish line to beat Allyson Felix. There was also a feel-good moment after American 5,000meter runner Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin collided. They helped each other up and inspired each other to finish. D’Agostino hobbled her way to the end of the race on a knee that would require surgery. What’s new: The 4x400 mixed relay will be contested for the first time at the Olympics. The event made its major medal debut at the 2019 world championships in Doha, with the American team of Wil London, Felix, Courtney Okolo and Michael Cherry capturing gold. Tokyo expectations: There will be plenty of new gold medalists especially on the men’s side. Among those not in Tokyo to defend a title are Kenyan David Rudisha (800), Americans Kerron Clement (400 hurdles), Jeff Henderson (long jump) and Christian Taylor (triple jump) and of course Bolt. Another defending champion missing is Caster Semenya of South Africa, who is barred from running in the 800 meters by World Athletics’ testosterone rules and tried but failed to qualify in the 5,000 meters, which doesn’t fall under those rules. Athletes to watch: It was setting up to be sprinter Sha’Carri Rich-
ardson. But she won’t compete in the 100 meters after a positive test for marijuana. Harvard-educated sprinter Gabby Thomas could make headlines in the 200. She’s a threat to Jamaican star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. One of the most entertaining races figures to be the women’s 400 hurdles, where Sydney McLaughlin set a new world record (51.90 seconds) by edging Dalilah Muhammad at the U.S. track trials. Muhammad had the world record. Three-time high jump world champion Mariya Lasitskene will be a favorite after Russia named her to its 10-athlete team under rules limiting the size of its squad because of a long-running doping dispute. Noah Lyles, the 200-meter world champion, will lead a strong contingent of American sprinters that includes teenager Erriyon Knighton. Trayvon Bromell is the favorite in the 100. The heat could play a big factor and the race walks and the marathons were moved from Tokyo to cooler Sapporo. Gold medal moments: July 31, the women’s 100 final was shaping up to be a showdown between Fraser-Pryce and Richardson. The 4x400 mixed relay event also makes its Olympic debut with round one. Aug. 1, the 100 final where Bromell tries to earn the first U.S. Olympic gold in the event since Justin Gatlin in 2004. Aug. 4, the women’s 400 hurdles final where Muhammad will try to defend her title and take the world record away from McLaughlin. Aug. 5, the race walk in Sapporo Odori Park. It’s the first of several distance events being held in Sapporo due to the extreme heat. The women’s marathon is Aug. 7 and the men’s marathon Aug. 8 to close out the athletics program. The last event on the track is Aug. 7, featuring the women’s and then men’s 4x400 relay finals.
Baseball
JEFF ROBERSON/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The United States’ Katie Ledecky participates in the women’s 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on June 19 in Omaha, Neb. Ledecky will try to equal or better the four golds and one silver she won in Rio.
Highlights from Rio: Baseball was dropped for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. It has been dropped again for the 2024 Paris Games and is expected to return for 2028 in Los Angeles. What’s new: The eight-nation tournament in Beijing in 2012 was cut to six for Tokyo. A complicated format has two groups of three: Group A — Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico. Group B — United States, Israel, South Korea. The first round determines only seedings for the double-elimination, 10-game knockout stage. The Japan-Dominican Republic opener on July 28 will be played in Fukushima, the rest of the tournament in Yokohama. Tokyo expectations: Major League Baseball refused to give national teams access to 40-man roster players, while Nippon Professional Baseball is stopping the Central and Pacific League seasons for the Olympics, giving the hosts an All-Star team that is the favorite.
Highlights from Rio: Michael Phelps won five golds and a silver to close out his career as the winningest Olympian in history. American Simone Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual swimming gold in the 100-meter freestyle. The U.S. topped the medals table, winning 33 overall, including 16 gold. Australia was second with 10 medals (three gold) and Japan was fourth with seven medals (two gold). What’s new The men’s 800meter freestyle is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1904. Emil Rausch of Germany set the Olympic record of 13 minutes, 11.4 seconds over 880 yards at the St. Louis Games. By contrast, the world record of 7:32.12 was set by Zhang Lin of China in meters at the 2009 world championships during the height of the rubber suit era. The women’s 1,500 free will be contested at the Olympics for the first time. Katie Ledecky of the U.S. owns the world mark of 15:20.48 set in 2018. The new mixed 4x100 medley relay features teams of four — two men and two women — racing against each other doing each of the four strokes: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. The tactics and strategies involved make it an exciting event. The Tokyo Aquatics Centre is newly built in a seaside park for the games. Tokyo expectations: Finals will be at 10:30 a.m. in Tokyo, so NBC can show swimming live at night in the U.S. Preliminaries will be at 7 p.m. in Tokyo. It’s a similar format to the 2008 Beijing Games. Athletes to watch: American Caeleb Dressel has been tabbed as the potential successor to Phelps. Dressel won a record eight medals at the 2019 world meet and is the one to beat in his sprint events in Tokyo. Ledecky tries to equal or better the four golds and one silver she won in Rio. Adam Peaty of Britain defends his title in the 100 breaststroke. He’s the first man to swim the event under both 58 and 57 seconds. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden will be a threat in the butterfly and freestyle events depending on her conditioning after breaking her elbow in February. Daiya Seto of Japan will be the hometown favorite in the 200 and 400 individual medley events. Katinka Hosszu of Hungary has not been the dominant swimmer she was in winning three golds at Rio, and it remains to be seen if she can retain her titles at her fifth Olympics. Gold medal moments: July 26, Ledecky and world champion Ariarne Titmus of Australia face off in the 400 free final. At night, Ledecky returns for the heats of the 200 free and 1,500 free. July 28, Ledecky could swim in the finals of the 200 and 1,500 in the morning and the 4x200 free relay heats at night. July 31, mixed 4x100 medley relay final could pit Peaty against American star Lilly King in the breaststroke leg.
Men’s soccer VETERAN ALVES, NO NEYMAR AS BRAZIL EYES GOLD Highlights from Rio: Brazil winning gold lifted the footballing mood of the nation two years after
a humiliating, 7-1 loss to Germany at the last major sporting event to be held in the country — the World Cup. Neymar’s status as a national hero was also cemented when he scored from a free kick and added the winning kick of the Olympic final penalty shootout against Germany. The boisterous celebrations spread far from the Maracana Stadium. Tokyo expectations: Brazil starting the group stage in Rio five years ago with two draws shows how difficult it can be to even advance as one of the two top-placed teams in a group. This time, the reigning champion has not only Germany to overcome but less esteemed challengers Saudi Arabia and the Ivory Coast. France is hotly tipped for glory but has a group with host Japan, Mexico, which won the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, and South Africa. Athletes to watch: Neymar won’t be able to win a second gold because, unlike in 2016, he’s playing at the Copa America. Maybe it’s time for a star of this year’s host nation to shine such as Takefusa Kubo, who flaunted his skills by nutmegging four opponents when Japan played an Olympic warmup against Jamaica in June. The winger is a Real Madrid player who has spent his time in Spain on loan at Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe. At the other end of the age spectrum, Brazil is taking the 38-year-old Dani Alves, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona defender now back in his homeland with São Paulo. Gold medal moments: The gold medal match is set for Aug. 7 in Yokohama.
Women’s soccer U.S. WOMEN FAVORITES AFTER UPSET IN BRAZIL Highlights from Rio: Germany won its first gold medal with a 2-1 victory over Sweden. It was quite a swan song for Germany coach Silvia Neid, a two-time FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year. She stepped down after the game at Rio’s historic Maracanã Stadium. But the big story was that the United States wasn’t in the final for the first time since women’s soccer became part of the Olympics in 1996. That’s because the Americans were memorably eliminated by Sweden — and former coach Pia Sundhage — in the quarterfinals. Afterward, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo called the Swedes cowards for bunkering in on defense. Canada won its second straight bronze medal by defeating host Brazil. Tokyo expectations: The United States has four Olympic gold medals, most of any nation, and they’re the favorites in the field of 12 teams. The Americans are trying to become the first team to double, winning Olympic gold after winning the World Cup. The U.S. team is deep, with stars like Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe. Canada is back, too, hoping to improve on back-to-back bronzes. Among the other teams looking to medal are the Netherlands, runners up to the United States at the World Cup, and host Japan. Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman will step down following the Olympics to take over as England’s head coach heading into the 2023 World Cup. Athletes to watch: Brazil’s Marta is back for her fifth Olympics. The six-time FIFA World Player of the Year helped Brazil win silver medals in 2004 and 2008, but the gold has eluded her. ... Canada’s Christine Sinclair is the game’s top international goal scorer, among men and women. She’s heading to her fourth Olympics. ... Australia’s Sam Kerr is known to do backflips after she scores — which she does a lot. ... On the American side, Carli Lloyd has worked to show she’s still got it at 38, and will be 39 when the tournament opens. And of course Megan Rapinoe usually has something to say at these big events. Gold medal moments: The gold
TOKYO OLYMPICS
NEW SPORTS Skateboarding What’s new: Absolutely everything. Skateboarding is one of four sports making their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Games, along with karate, surfing and sport climbing. As was the case when its winter sports cousin, snowboarding, joined the Olympic program in 1998, some skateboarders fear the sport is selling out. But the Olympic spotlight will introduce skating to a huge global audience and, as proved true in snowboarding, likely attract more kids to skating and encourage them to push the sport and their daredevil tricks forward. Tokyo expectations: For their inaugural Olympic competition, the 40 men and 40 women have a custom-built skate park on the shores of Tokyo Bay to play with. They’ll be chasing medals in two events: park, where they skate in a bowl, and street, where they navigate stairs, rails, curbs and other urban furniture. Skateboarding will have one of the largest age-spectrums of the games, with competitors ranging from pre-teens to middle age. Athletes to watch: Host Japan will be looking for medals in the women’s park competition from the top-ranked Misugu Okamoto and Sakura Yosozumi, as well as 12-year-old Kokona Hiraki. British phenom Sky Brown, who’ll just have turned 13, will be trying to stop them. With no-fear stunts and polished messaging that age is irrelevant, Brown already has a rich portfolio of sponsors and social media accounts. She is back from a terrifying fall last year — video of which was posted on an Instagram account managed by her parents. Gold medal moment: The street contests are in the first week, with the men competing on July 25, followed the next day by the women. The park events round out week two, with the women’s competition on Aug. 4, with the men dropping into the bowl the next day.
Karate What’s new: After nearly a half-century of attempts to add karate to the Olympics, the Japanese martial art finally makes its debut on a temporary basis as one of five sports added only to the Tokyo program. The athletes will compete in two disciplines: kumite (sparring against an opponent) and kata (a demonstration of form, often compared to a floor exercise in gymnastics). Karate won’t be in Paris in three years, but organizers remain hopeful it will get another chance if it proves compelling in Tokyo. Tokyo expectations: The field contains 82 karateka from at least 36 countries, and the individual winners aren’t as important to many karate aficionados as an overall entertaining tournament in karate’s big moment under the Olympic spotlight. Three-fourths
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Sky Brown of Great Britain competes May 23 in the women’s Park Final during an Olympic qualifying skateboard event at Lauridsen Skatepark in Des Moines, Iowa. Brown will represent Great Britain at the Tokyo Games in skateboarding’s debut. of the athletes are competing in kumite, where fans can expect to see the competitive fire that attracts millions to the sport, even if the usual five weight classes are compressed to three in Tokyo. The events are being contested on the final three days of the Olympics, and it isn’t clear whether that will help or hurt the sport’s visibility. The tournament has the added gravitas of being held at the Nippon Budokan, the beloved shrine of martial arts. Athletes to watch: Spain’s Sandra Sánchez, a 39-year-old latebloomer who has won gold in six straight European Championships, is among the favorites in women’s kata. Japan’s Kiyou Shimizu is her top rival. Former world champion Ryutaro Araga could be host Japan’s top medal hopeful in the men’s kumite events, while Miho Miyahara and Ayumi Uekusa are former world champions in the women’s divisions. France’s Steven Da Costa is a gold favorite, but faces stiff competition from Italy’s Angelo Crescenzo at men’s 67 kg. Azerbaijan’s 36-year-old Rafael Aghayev has won five world championships, but just one since 2010. He could face Iran’s Bahman Asgari, who won a world championship in 2018, at men’s 75 kg. Gold medal moment: Aug. 5: men’s 67 kg, women’s 55 kg, women’s kata; Aug. 6: men’s 75 kg, women’s 61 kg, men’s kata; Aug. 7: men’s +75 kg, women’s +61 kg.
Surfing Highlights from Rio: None. Surfing’s Olympic debut has been a century in the making. It was the fervent wish of Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer who medaled five times in the early 20th century and Hawaiian icon revered as the godfather of modern surfing. The International Surfing Association has been lobbying the International Olympic Committee for inclusion since 1995. Tokyo expectations: Reigning
FRANCISCO SECO/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
The United States’ Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against France in June 2019 at the Parc des Princes in Paris. medal match is set for Aug. 6 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
Tennis OSAKA BACK IN FIGHT; MURRAY DEFENDS Highlights from Rio: Andy Murray began the 2016 Summer Games by carrying Britain’s flag in the opening ceremony and ended them with a Union Jack draped over a shoulder while celebrating his history-making gold medal: He was the first man or woman to win two tennis singles gold medals at an Olympics Andy Murray — and he did it consecutively, too. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, beat Juan Martin del Potro in four sets in the final. That the Argentine left with a medal at all was quite an accomplishment given that he had only recently returned from three operations on his left wrist; he beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in Rio. Monica Puig won the women’s singles title by beating Angelique Kerber in the final to give Puerto Rico its first gold medal in any sport in Olympic history, then cried so much during the island’s anthem she couldn’t manage to sing the lyrics her father had emailed her. Despite early exits by Serena Williams in singles (third round) and doubles with her sister,
Venus (first round), the U.S. left with the most medals: one gold (Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock in mixed doubles), one silver (Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram in mixed) and one bronze (Sock and Steve Johnson in men’s doubles). The only other country to win three medals was the Czech Republic, all bronze: Petra Kvitova in singles, Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova in women’s doubles, and Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek in mixed doubles. What’s new: There are several changes from past Olympics, including that the men’s singles final will now be best-of-three-sets instead of best-of-five. There will be a 25-second serve clock in use for the first time, as has become customary at Grand Slam tournaments and on the tours in an attempt to speed things along. Hawk-Eye will be on five courts to review line judges’ calls, after being available on just three courts in Rio, instead of just three, to review line judges’ calls. And men’s and women’s doubles matches that are tied at a set apiece will be decided by a match tiebreaker (first to 10 points), instead of a full third set. Tokyo expectations: With Wimbledon wrapping up less than two weeks before the tennis competition begins in Tokyo, it is hard to know exactly who will be in the best form, entirely healthy — and even still entered in the Olympics. Indeed, there already are several big names who will not go to the Summer Games, including the Williams sisters (with a combined nine medals), Nadal (who’s won
world champion Carissa Moore of the U.S. looks to be the woman to beat, as well as the Australian Stephanie Gilmore, whose record-tying seven world titles makes her the most decorated female surfer in competition today. The Brazilians are expected to dominate the men’s side, with Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira known as the masters of aerial maneuvers. Athletes to watch: Kanoa Igarashi, a Californian with dual Japanese citizenship who is representing Japan, has the local advantage of growing up surfing at Olympic site Tsurigasaki Beach. Johanne Defay of France may surprise as a dark horse in the women’s game, having recently pulled off an upset against Moore at the high-intensity Surf Ranch competition. Dependable Australian Sally Fitzgibbons and the young American hotshot Caroline Marks also have something to prove. Gold medal moment(s): Scheduled for July 28 or following the last day of competition, which depends on wave conditions. The events are expected to run over four days between July 25 to August 1.
Sport climbing Highlights from Rio: None. Sport climbing will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo in a format that has rankled many climbers. Lead and bouldering are disciplines most climbers are familiar with because both are similar to what they experience in the outdoors. Because the IOC is only awarding two medals — one for men, one for women — it decided to include speed climbing in the combined competition. Speed climbing is a more specialized event, climbers scaling a 15-meter wall with standardized holds as fast as they can. Lead and bouldering athletes have had to play catch up on speed, but may only have to have an average finish if they do well in lead and bouldering. Tokyo expectations: Climbing
golds in singles and doubles), two-time major champion Simona Halep and 2020 U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem. But Naomi Osaka has said she will be there to represent the host country in what would be her first competition since withdrawing from the French Open at the end of May to take a mental health break. She’s as good as it gets on the surface being used at the Olympics — hard courts, where she collected all four of her Grand Slam titles, including at the Australian Open in February — and will be among the favorites to win gold. Djokovic entered Wimbledon with eyes on a goal of a Golden Slam: winning all four major tournaments and an Olympic gold in the same year. No man has ever done that. Athletes to watch: Osaka. Osaka. Osaka. She is a former No. 1-ranked player (currently No. 2) who is the highest-earning female athlete in the world, and she was born in Japan, so she would have received as much attention as any athlete in Tokyo, anyway. The events of the past couple of months only will make the spotlight brighter. Murray has had two hip operations since Rio, and just played singles at Wimbledon for the first time in four years (the other reigning singles champion, Puig, is out after shoulder surgery). Djokovic and, if he’s there, Federer will be mustsee TV, as always. Gold medal moments: July 30 will have the first gold medal match, in men’s doubles. July 31 has the women’s singles gold medal match. Aug. 1 closes the tennis competition with the last three gold medals: men’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Golf MOST OF THE TOP MEN NO LONGER DUCKING SHOT Highlights from Rio: Inbee Park of South Korea had not faced top competition in two months because of a thumb injury and was under pressure to give up her spot to another player for powerhouse South Korea. Park beat the No. 1 player, Lydia Ko, by five shots to win the gold. Shanshan Feng of China won the bronze. In the men’s competition, Justin Rose of England won a tight duel with British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden to win the gold medal. Matt Kuchar won the bronze. Improved field: For the second
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
has been touted as the embodiment of the Olympic motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (faster, higher, stronger). Speed offers the fast element, with the quickest men racing up the wall in less than 6 seconds and the women in the low 7s. Lead hits the higher mark, points awarded to who can climb the highest on the 15-meter wall in six minutes. Bouldering requires strength as climbers try to work their way up four ”problems” that include overhangs and fingertip-width holds. Some problems require climbers to hang upside to make their way up the 4.5-meter wall. The Tokyo Games will show the world climbing is much more difficult than it appears. Athletes to watch: Czech climber Adam Ondra has been hailed as the best climber in the world, tackling outdoor routes that seem impossible. He’s a threat to win bouldering and lead, which could be enough with relatively slow times in speed. Austria’s Jakob Schubert will likely contend for a medal and the Japanese duo of Kai Harada and Tomoa Narasaki should give the host country a shot at adding to its medal total. American Nathaniel Coleman is one of the world’s best in bouldering and is rounded into a strong all-around climber. Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, like Ondra, has tackled difficult routes other climbers wouldn’t even consider attempting. She’s won six world championships and is the only climber to finish a World Cup season undefeated (2019). Like their male teammates, Japan’s Akiyo Noguchi and Miho Nonaka will likely be in the mix to medal. Brooke Raboutou may be the US team’s best shot to medal. Gold medal moment: Finals in all three disciplines will be Aug. 6 at Aomi Urban Sports Park.
3x3 basketball What’s new: Everything. The Olympics website calls this version of hoops “exciting, urban and innovative.” It was added as a new event to traditional basketball for Tokyo to lure a younger audience and get more countries involved in one of the core sports of the games. In one way, that has worked. Mongolia will field a women’s team. The United States did not qualify for the men’s tournament. Tokyo expectations: Fast-paced fun for those who don’t have the stamina to watch an entire, fullcourt game. Held on an outdoor half-court under a dome-like covering, teams will play to 21, or for 10 minutes, whichever comes first. Buckets are worth one point inside and two from outside the line. Athletes to watch: The international basketball federation, FIBA, ranks 3x3 players. Top on the men’s list is 35-year-old Dušan Domociv-Bulut of Serbia. Laetitia Guapo of France is the top-ranked woman. Gold medal moment(s): Gold and bronze medal games are July 28.
Volleyball CHINA, BRAZIL LOOK FOR OLYMPIC REPEATS Highlights from Rio: The Chinese women beat Serbia to win gold for the third time in their history behind coach Lang Ping, who became the first person to win gold in volleyball as both a player and coach having won as a player in 1984. Host Brazil beat Italy in the men’s tournament for its third gold medal. Both U.S. teams medaled with each earning the bronze. Tokyo expectations: Volleyball returns to its Olympic home having been first held at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The reigning gold medalists are in contention to win
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ATHLETES TO WATCH Simone Biles, USA
Age: 24 Hometown: Spring, Texas Sport: Gymnastics Best shot at gold: Everywhere. But while she’s favored to lead the U.S. to the team title and win the all-around, it’s her Yurchenko double pike vault that’s garnered the most attention this year. It’s so difficult and scary that no woman has dared tried it before. If Biles lands it in Tokyo, it will stand in alongside perfect 10s by Nadia Comaneci’s and Mary Lou Retton in gymnastics lore.
Sydney McLaughlin, USA
Age: 21 Hometown: Dunellen, N.J. Sport: Track and field Best shot at gold: She can ride a unicycle. She can juggle. She can even do both at the same time. McLaughlin’s also fast on the track, breaking the world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic track trials last month. McLaughlin’s time of 51.90 seconds surpassed the mark of Dalilah Muhammad, the defending Olympic champion in the event. The record could be lowered again in Tokyo.
Kanoa Igarashi, Japan
Age: 23 Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif. (where he grew up); Ericeira, Portugal (where he spends his time); and Japan (the nation he represents). Sport: Surfing Best shot at gold: Igarashi’s father grew up an avid surfer in Japan. He moved his family to Huntington Beach to help his son pursue his surfing dream. Igarashi’s among the favorites to take home the inaugural gold medal as the event makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo. Igarashi has won countless contests, appeared in surf films and is one of the most recognizable faces in Tokyo. Big expectations ride on his board with him.
Sky Brown, Great Britain
Age: 13 Hometown: Miyazaki, Japan Sport: Skateboarding Best shot at gold: Brown was born in Japan and represents Britain. She becomes Team GB’s youngest summer Olympian at just over 13 years old as skateboarding makes its Olympic debut. The newly turned teenager has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts about surfing, having her own energy bar, and, of course, skateboarding. In a spring 2020 training session, she suffered a fractured skull and broke bones in her hand during a frightful fall.
Caeleb Dressel, USA
Age: 24 Hometown: Green Cove Springs, Fla. Sport: Swimming Best shot at gold: The University of Florida standout will be a favorite to bring home quite a few golds. He’s expected to swim in at least six events in Tokyo and could possibly add his name to the pantheon of swimmers who’ve captured seven or more seven medals at one Olympics. Names like Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi.
Kohei Uchimura, Japan
Age: 32 Hometown: Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan Sport: Gymnastics Best shot at gold: The two-time Olympic champion came out of semi-retirement at age 32 to earn an individual spot and a chance to compete in front of the home fans. Uchimura is a big star in Japan. His nickname is “King Kohei.”
Associated Press
straight Olympics, the men’s 60-man field featured a number of players who chose not to compete. It just doesn’t look as bad this time. Dustin Johnson at No. 2 in the world is the only player from the top 10 who withdrew. Five of the top six men are playing, along with five of the last seven major champions. Tokyo expectations: Depending on what Japan allows for attendance, golf should get more attention Rory McIlroy than in Rio de Janeiro, where a course had to be built for the Olympics. Japan has been mad about golf for decades, and it celebrates two major champions of Japanese heritage this year with Hideki Matsuyama (Masters) and Yuka Saso (U.S. Women’s Open), whose father is Japanese. Athletes to watch: All eyes will be on Matsuyama, a national hero after becoming the first Japanese player to win the Masters in April. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is the most prolific major champion in the field and skipped on the Rio de Janeiro Games. For the women, there has been a surge in American talent led by Florida sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda. South Koreans still will be favored. Newcomers include major champions Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Yuka Saso of The Philippines. Gold medal moments: Aug 1: Final round of men’s competition. Aug. 7: Final round of women’s competition.
THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN
A’ja Wilson, USA
Age: 24 Hometown: Hopkins, S.C. Sport: Women’s basketball Best shot at gold: Wilson is 47-0 as a member of USA Basketball teams. She, along with Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, will be trying to help Team USA to a seventh straight gold medal. Wilson was picked No. 1 in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Las Vegas Aces. She earned rookie of the year honors.
Associated Press
again five years later with Brazil’s Bruno Rezende seeking his fourth medal having won silver in 2008 and ’12 before getting gold in Rio. China has won back-to-back women’s World Cups to go along with the 2016 gold. Poland is a top contender on the men’s side, while the United States has a shot at its first gold medal ever on the women’s side. Athletes to watch: Brazil’s Alan Souza was the MVP of the 2019 World Cup and one of the top players headed into his first Olympics. Cuban-born Wilfredo Leon, who competes as an outside hitter for Poland, is known as the Cristiano Ronaldo of volleyball for his skill as an outside spiker. Among the top players on the women’s side are American Foluke Gunderson, who is back for a third Olympics after giving birth to her first child in 2019, and 2016 women’s MVP Zhu Ting of China. Gold medal moments: The men’s medals will be awarded on Aug. 7 with matches for the bronze and gold medal. The women’s medals will be contested for the following day, just before the closing ceremonies.
Boxing 2 NEW WEIGHT CLASSES FOR WOMEN BOXERS Highlights from Rio: Uzbekistan heralded its arrival as an Olympic boxing powerhouse by topping the medals table with three golds and seven total. U.S. middleweight Claressa Shields and British flyweight Nicola Adams became the first two-time gold medalists in women’s boxing. Bantamweight Robeisy Ramírez also won his second gold, while lightweight Robson Conceição had the tournament’s biggest moment in winning Brazil’s first boxing gold. Evgeny Tish-
chenko’s heavyweight gold-medal victory over Kazakhstan’s Vassily Levit inspired outrage in a sport with decades of questionable decisions in its history. What’s new: Two additional women’s weight classes have been added, and the total number of women fighters is up to 100 from 36 in Rio. That addition also meant the subtraction of two men’s weight classes. Instead of five divisions below welterweight, Tokyo will have just three. The women will fight three three-minute rounds after going for four two-minute rounds in Rio. Tokyo expectations: The fighters are competing at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the site of the biggest events in sumo for the past century. Several professionals are competing in the second Olympics in which they are allowed, including three Americans, but none is an established pro. With five weight classes and a wealth of new talent, boxing could see its first women’s gold medalist from outside North America and Europe. Athletes to watch: Levit is back for another shot at gold. So is Vladimir Nikitin, the Russian scrapper who won bronze in Rio with a decision over an infuriated Michael Conlan, who then beat Nikitin in a pro rematch. Three-time world champion Lázaro Álvarez of Cuba will try again for his first gold. GOLD MEDAL MOMENTS: Aug. 3: women’s featherweight and men’s welterweight; Aug. 4: men’s light heavyweight; Aug. 5: men’s featherweight; Aug. 6: men’s heavyweight; Aug. 7: men’s flyweight, men’s middleweight, women’s flyweight, women’s welterweight; Aug. 8: men’s lightweight, men’s super heavyweight, women’s lightweight, women’s middleweight.
Associated Press
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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
TOKYO OLYMPICS
USA GY MNA S TIC S
Program in throes of culture shift finds itself at crossroads By Will Graves
Associated Press
FORT WORTH, Texas — The U.S. gymnastics championships were over. The pressure — mercifully if only momentarily — gone. On the floor at Dickies Arena, Olympic hopefuls milled about aimlessly. Some talked. Some grabbed their phones. Others searched the stands for their families. Jordan Chiles did what she usually does when there’s a lull in the action. She danced. Soon, a couple joined in. Then a few more. Then a few more. Within a minute or two, nearly the entire group was doing “The Cha Cha Slide” for all the world to see. Márta Károlyi’s program, this is not. The vibe around the top level of the sport in the United States has loosened in the five years since the highly successful yet highly divisive national team coordinator retired. The impromptu flash mob at national championships last month o≠ered a symbolic if somewhat superficial glimpse at how the landscape is evolving. “I feel like the trainings are actually kind of a lot more fun and not — I mean, it’s still stressful, but it’s not as stressful as it used to be,” said MyKayla Skinner, an alternate on the 2016 Olympic team who will be one of six American women competing in Tokyo this month. Still, the greatest gymnast of all time wonders if the pendulum has swung too far, too fast. Simone Biles has embraced the long-overdue push to create a more athlete-centric environment. Her concern, however, is that the sport’s brave new world might make it di∞cult for the coaches hired to mold prodigies into champions to e≠ectively do their jobs. “I think the culture shift is happening, but it’s almost as if the athletes almost have too much power and the coaches can’t get a rein on it,” Biles told the Associated Press in May.
MyKayla Skinner, a member of the six-woman U.S. team, has been highly critical of former national team coordinator Márta Károlyi and believes USA Gymnastics is in a better place following her 2016 retirement. JEFF ROBERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
“So then it’s kind of wild. It’s like a horse out of the barn: You can’t get it back in.” Biles, among the most outspoken critics of USA Gymnastics in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal and herself a Nassar survivor, is not complaining. It’s unlikely she would have returned to the sport in late 2017 if Károlyi was still in charge. Things needed to change. Yet the 24-year-old is also acutely aware of the pressure that follows when the perennially loaded U.S. team is on the international stage. The Americans have produced the last four Olympic all-around gold medalists and captured every major team title since the 2011 world championships, a streak they are heavily favored to extend in Tokyo thanks in large part to Biles’ unmatched brilliance. The question is what comes next. How will one of the gold standards of the U.S. Olympic movement foster a healthy, positive climate and a competitive one at the same time? The two are not mutually exclusive by any stretch. Biles need only point to her relationship with former coach Aimee Boorman and current coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi as proof. Yet she also knows her experience is not exactly commonplace for a sport in the middle of a reckoning. Gymnastics federations from the U.S. to Great Britain
BROADCAST SCHEDULE Olympic events through Wednesday, July 28. Schedule subject to change. All times local. TUESDAY, JULY 20
NBCSN 6 p.m. — 8 p.m. Softball — Japan vs. Australia (LIVE) 9 p.m. — 11 p.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Italy (LIVE)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21
NBCSN midnight — 2 a.m. Softball — Mexico vs. Canada (LIVE) 2 a.m. — 4 a.m. Women’s Soccer — China vs. Brazil (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. — 6:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Japan vs. Canada (LIVE) 6:30 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Sweden 8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — China vs. Brazil 10:30 a.m. — 12:15 p.m. Women’s Soccer — Japan vs. China 12:15 p.m. — 2 p.m. Women’s Soccer — Australia vs. New Zealand 2 p.m. — 4 p.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Italy 4 p.m. — 6 p.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Sweden 6 p.m. — 8 p.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Canada (LIVE) 9 p.m. — 11 p.m. Softball — Japan vs. Mexico (LIVE) OLYMPIC CHANNEL 1:30 a.m. — 3:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Great Britain vs. Chile (LIVE) 3:30 a.m. — 5 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Great Britain vs. Chile 5 a.m. — 7 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Netherlands vs. Zambia (LIVE) USA 2 a.m. — 2:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Pregame Show 2:30 a.m. — 4:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Sweden (LIVE) 5:30 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — Australia vs. New Zealand (LIVE)
THURSDAY, JULY 22
NBCSN midnight — 2 a.m. Softball — Italy vs. Australia (LIVE) 2 a.m. — 4 a.m. Men’s Soccer — New Zealand vs. South Korea (LIVE) 4 a.m. — 5 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Mexico vs. France 5 a.m. — 7 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Japan vs. South Africa (LIVE) 7 a.m. — 9 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Egypt vs. Spain 9 a.m. — 11 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Mexico vs. France 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. Men’s Soccer — Japan vs. South Africa 1 p.m. — 3 p.m. Men’s Soccer — Brazil vs. Germany 3:30 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Canada 5:30 p.m. — 9:10 p.m. Rowing — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 9:15 p.m. — 11:15 p.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Sweden 11:15 a.m. — 12 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Egypt vs. Spain OLYMPIC CHANNEL 1:30 a.m. — 3:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Egypt vs. Spain (LIVE) 3:30 a.m. — 4:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Ivory Coast vs. Saudi Arabia (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. — 6:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Argentina vs. Australia (LIVE) 6:30 a.m. — 7 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Honduras vs. Romania (LIVE) USA 2 a.m. — 4 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Mexico vs. France (LIVE) 4 a.m. — 5:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Egypt vs. Spain 5:30 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Brazil vs. Germany (LIVE)
FRIDAY, JULY 23
NBC 4:55 a.m. — 9 a.m. Opening Ceremony (LIVE) 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Preview Show
5:30 p.m. — 11 p.m. Opening Ceremony NBCSN midnight — 2 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Mexico vs. France 2 a.m. — 4 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Japan vs. South Africa 4 a.m. — 6 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Brazil vs. Germany 6 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Italy Softball — U.S. vs. Canada Rowing — Qualifying Heats 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer — China vs. Brazil 1:30 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer — Japan vs. Canada 3:30 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Sweden 10 p.m. — 12 a.m. 3x3 Basketball Archery — Mixed Team Elimination Rounds Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) OLYMPIC CHANNEL 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round USA 5:30 p.m. — midnight Rowing — Qualifying Heats & Repechages (LIVE) Cycling — Men’s Road Race (LIVE)
SATURDAY, JULY 24
CNBC 6 p.m. — 11 p.m. 3x3 U.S. Women’s Basketball Qualifying Round Softball — U.S. vs. Australia (LIVE) Rowing — Qualifying Heats Table Tennis — Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal 11 p.m. — midnight Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) NBC 7 a.m. — 8:45 a.m. Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. France (LIVE) 8:45 a.m. — 12:45 p.m. 3x3 U.S. Women’s Basketball Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan Rowing — Qualifying Heats and Repechages Archery — Mixed Team Final Cycling — Men’s Road Race 12:45 p.m. — 4 p.m. Swimming — Qualifying Heats Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round Gymnastics — Men’s Team Competition 6 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Gymnastics — Men’s Team Competition Swimming Finals (LIVE) Men’s 400m Individual Medley Men’s 400m Freestyle Women’s 400m Individual Medley Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Skateboarding — Men’s Street Qualifying 6:30 — 7 p.m. (PT) Skateboarding — Men’s Street Final (LIVE) 10 p.m. — midnight Skateboarding — Men’s Street Final (LIVE) Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Argentina NBCSN midnight — 5:30 a.m. Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) Softball — U.S. vs. Mexico (LIVE) Archery — Mixed Team Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball Women’s Soccer — Sweden vs. Australia (LIVE) Men’s Handball — France vs. Argentina 5:30 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. New Zealand (LIVE) 7:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. Women’s Soccer — Netherlands vs. Brazil Table Tennis — Elimination Round Equestrian — Dressage Badminton — Qualifying Round Men’s Handball — Denmark vs. Japan Beach Volleyball — Qualifying Round Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. France 6 p.m. — midnight Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. France Softball — U.S. vs. Australia OLYMPIC CHANNEL midnight — 5 a.m. Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 5 a.m. — 2 p.m. Tennis Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Wom-
to Australia are grappling with their own version of a #MeToo movement as athletes in each country have come forward to detail a culture they viewed as toxic. Despite measures by leadership to push USA Gymnastics forward, the Nassar fallout isn’t going away anytime soon. Even as Biles and her teammates flew to Tokyo on July 14, the Justice Department’s inspector general released a long-awaited report that pointed out repeated failures by the FBI to properly investigate Nassar while making sure not to let the organization o≠ the hook. The air needs to be cleared. It’s one of the many reasons why World Champions Centre is awash in floor-to-ceiling windows. There are 36 cameras placed throughout the 50,000 square-foot facility in the northern Houston suburbs, each with the volume turned all the way up. “Everything needs to be visible, and the coaches know that,” said Nellie Biles, who opened the gym to give daughter Simone a place to train. “The coaches know that they are watched at all times, not only from the viewing arena but by cameras. They know that. That should not distract from what they’re doing if they’re doing their job. They just know that there are cameras and they know that nothing is a secret. So yeah, just do whatever is right and you don’t even have to worry that anyone is watching you.”
Greatness awaits Continued from Page D-1
surrounds them, than just lacing up a pair of shoes and hitting the court. Osaka will be there. So will sprinters Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix. Both are in their 30s, and both have been front and center in the discussion about women’s rights in sports — namely, in their push to show the world that having a baby does not have to put an end to an athlete’s Olympic aspirations. Unable to challenge Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100-meter race is American champion Sha’Carri Richardson. She was banned for using marijuana at the Olympic trials — a penalty that put doping back in the Olympic spotlight.
The Games must go on All of this is what $25 billion
Athletes go it alone Continued from Page D-1
on the pool deck. “I hope us older swimmers can show them the ropes a little bit and create that family environment,” three-time Olympian Katie Ledecky said. “We will make sure we stay in touch with our families and keep them connected to what we’re doing.” The decision to prohibit fans was made for health and safety concerns. The Games will be held during a state of emergency in Tokyo, with rising coronavirus infections in a country where less than 20 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Variant strains of the coronavirus are emerging around the world, too. Those reaction shots of excited, shocked or crying family members in the stands? Forget it. Singing, chanting and cheering among flag-waving fans at the venues? TV producers will have to look elsewhere. Phelps’ son, Boomer, who was 3 months old at the time, became an adorable
en’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round PEACOCK 4 a.m. — 9 a.m. Men’s Gymnastics Qualifying (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. France (LIVE) USA midnight — 7:50 a.m. Cycling — Men’s Road Race (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing — Qualifying Heats and Repechages Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) 8 a.m. — 6 p.m. Women’s Water Polo — China vs. Taiwan Beach Volleyball — Qualifying Round Men’s Handball — Germany vs. Spain Fencing — Men’s Sabre & Women’s Epee Finals Shooting — Women’s Air Rifle Weightlifting — Women’s Final Boxing — Elimination Rounds Judo — Finals Taekwondo — Finals Table Tennis — Elimination Round Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. New Zealand 6 p.m. — midnight Skateboarding — Men’s Street Qualifying (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Archery — Women’s Team Elimination Round Skateboarding — Men’s Street Final (LIVE) Cycling — Women’s Round Race (LIVE)
Doubles, Second Round PEACOCK 4 a.m. — 9 a.m. Women’s Gymnastics Qualifying (LIVE) Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. France (LIVE) USA midnight — 6:20 a.m. Cycling — Women’s Road Race (LIVE) Women’s 3x3 Basketball — U.S. vs. Romania (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 6:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. Archery — Women’s Team Final Canoe Slalom — Qualifying Men’s Soccer — Brazil vs. Ivory Coast Women’s Handball — Spain vs. Sweden Fencing — Women’s Foil & Men’s Epee Finals Judo — Finals Taekwondo — Finals Boxing — Elimination Rounds Weightlifting — Men’s Finals Surfing Report Day 1 3:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Triathlon — Men’s Final (LIVE) Women’s Beach Volleyball (LIVE) 7 p.m. — 9 p.m. Softball — U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) 9 p.m. — midnight 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing — Semifinals Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. China (LIVE)
CNBC midnight — 2 a.m. Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) Diving — Women’s Synchronized Springboard Final (LIVE) Archery — Women’s Team Final (LIVE) 6 p.m. — midnight Skateboarding — Women’s Street Final (LIVE) Rugby — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Archery — Men’s Team Elimination Round Skateboarding — Women’s Street Final (LIVE) Fencing — Men’s Individual Foil Round of 32 Men’s Basketball — Argentina vs. Slovenia (LIVE) NBC 6 a.m. — 10:15 p.m. Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) Women’s 3x3 Basketball — U.S. vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan Rowing — Qualifying Heats & Repechages Cycling — Women’s Road Race 10:15 p.m. — 4 p.m. Canoe Slalom — Qualifying Skateboarding — Men’s Street Final Surfing Day 1 Report Swimming — Qualifying Heats Diving — Women’s Synchronized Springboard Final Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. France 5 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. Triathlon — Men’s Final (LIVE) Gymnastics — Women’s Team Competition 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. Swimming — Finals (LIVE) Women’s 100m Butterfly Men’s 100m Breaststroke Women’s 400m Freestyle Men’s 4x100 Freestyle Relay Skateboarding — Women’s Street Qualifying 6:30 — 7:05 p.m. (PT) Skateboarding — Women’s Street Final (LIVE) 10:05 p.m. — midnight Skateboarding — Women’s Street Final (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Taiwan NBCSN midnight — 2:30 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. New Zealand 3x3 Basketball 2:30 a.m. — 4:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Brazil vs. Ivory Coast (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. — 6:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Australia vs. Spain (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. — 7 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Japan vs. Mexico (LIVE) 7 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. Men’s Water Polo — Serbia vs. Spain Women’s Handball — Norway vs. Korea Table Tennis — Elimination Rounds Badminton — Qualifying Rounds 11:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. Equestrian — Dressage Table Tennis — Elimination Rounds Men’s Soccer — Japan vs. Mexico Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Argentina 6 p.m. — midnight Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Japan Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Argentina Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. France OLYMPIC CHANNEL midnight — 5 a.m. Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 5 a.m. — 2 p.m. Tennis Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Second Round Men’s and Women’s
CNBC midnight — 3 a.m. Men’s Basketball — Argentina vs. Slovenia (LIVE) Shooting Skeet — Women’s Final Shooting Skeet — Men’s Final (LIVE) Archery — Men’s Team Final (LIVE) Cycling — Men’s Mountain Bike 6 p.m. — 8:10 p.m. Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. South Africa (LIVE) 8:10 p.m. — 10 p.m. Rugby — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Fencing — Women’s Team Epee Quarterfinals (LIVE) Rowing — Semifinals and Finals 10 p.m. — midnight Softball — Bronze Medal Game (LIVE) NBC 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Canoe Slalom — Men’s Final Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. China Women’s 3x3 Basketball — U.S. vs. China Skateboarding — Women’s Street Final Swimming — Qualifying Heats Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round 6 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. Diving — Men’s Synchronized Platform Final Gymnastics — Men’s Team Final 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. Swimming — Finals (LIVE) Men’s 200m Freestyle Women’s 100m Backstroke Men’s 100m Backstroke Women’s 100m Breaststroke Triathlon — Women’s Final 6:30 — 7:05 p.m. (PT) U.S. Men’s Rugby Qualifying Round 10:05 p.m. — midnight Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. China NBCSN midnight — 3 a.m. Men’s Beach Volleyball Softball — U.S. vs. Japan 3 a.m. — 6 p.m. 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Fencing — Men’s Individual Foil & Women’s Individual Sabre Finals (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing — Semifinals & Qualifying Heats Men’s Handball — Egypt vs. Denmark Badminton — Qualifying Round Men’s Handball — Spain vs. Norway Women’s Water Polo — Australia vs. Netherlands Men’s Volleyball — Poland vs. Italy Men’s Basketball — Argentina vs. Slovenia 6 p.m. — midnight Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. China Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Taiwan U.S. Rugby — Qualifying Round Triathlon — Women’s Final OLYMPIC CHANNEL midnight — 5 a.m. Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Second Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Second Round 5 a.m. — 2 p.m. Tennis Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Second Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Second Round 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals PEACOCK 4 a.m. — 9 a.m. Men’s Gymnastics Team Final (LIVE) USA 12 midnight — 8:30 a.m. Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. China (LIVE) Diving — Men’s Synchronized Platform Final (LIVE) Fencing — Men’s Individual Foil & Women’s Individual Sabre Quarterfinals Canoe Slalom — Men’s Final (LIVE) Rugby — Men’s Qualifying Round
SUNDAY, JULY 25
buys a country these days. That’s one of a handful of ballpark guesses of the cost of an Olympics that was awarded to Japan back in 2013, with the thought that Tokyo would be a “safe” choice during a time of a global recession. Money is a reason some cynics (and realists) believe Olympic administrators have been so determined to make these Games happen. They are pressing forward in the face of negative polling throughout Tokyo along with health warnings that have persisted in a country where less than 20 percent of its citizens were vaccinated as of early July. With no fans allowed in the venues, this will be an event to be seen almost exclusively on TVs and iPhones and computer screens. Four new events are being added that were, in part, designed to reach a younger audience with divergent viewing habits: 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding. Nothing on the Olympic horizon, though, feels newer and shinier than the prospect of seeing Biles on the floor. In
MONDAY, JULY 26
sight at the Olympic pool in 2016. No kids allowed this time. The people who raised them, comforted them, financed them, and encouraged them through injury and defeat will have to be content to keep up with their athletes through calls, texts and video chats, when they’re not watching the competition on various devices. “She said, ‘On TV, I can see it better anyway,’ ” Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint said of her mother, Jolanda de Rover, a gold medalist swimmer at the 1984 Olympics. Building support and camaraderie among athletes who usually compete individually has taken on new importance for coaches during the pandemic. They’re turning to veterans to inform and reassure younger first-timers. “We’re going to have to rely on each other a lot more than we would have to if our loved ones were able to come to Tokyo to watch,” said Lindsay Mintenko, national team director for the
(LIVE) Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball — Brazil vs. Argentina (LIVE) 8:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. Archery — Men’s Team Final Table Tennis — Mixed Doubles Final Surfing Report Day 2 Cycling — Men’s Mountain Bike Weightlifting — Women’s Final Shooting — Women’s and Men’s Skeet Finals Boxing — Elimination Rounds Taekwondo — Finals Judo — Finals 3:30 p.m. — 6 p.m. Triathlon — Women’s Final (LIVE) 9 p.m. — 10:30 a.m. Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Archery — Individual Elimination Rounds 10:40 a.m. — noon Women’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Nigeria (LIVE)
TUESDAY, JULY 27
CNBC 12 a.m. — 2:30 a.m. Diving — Women’s Synchronized Platform Final (LIVE) Slalom Canoeing — Women’s Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball 6 p.m. — midnight Rowing — Finals and Semifinals (LIVE) Cycling — Women’s Time Trial (LIVE) Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round Cycling — Men’s Time Trial (LIVE) NBC 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Slalom Canoeing — Women’s Final Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round Cycling — Women’s Mountain Bike 3x3 Basketball — Quarterfinal Swimming — Qualifying Heats Diving — Women’s Synchronized Platform Final Swimming — Qualifying Heats 6 p.m. — 10 p.m. Gymnastics — Women’s Team Final Swimming — Finals (LIVE) Women’s 200m Freestyle Men’s 200m Butterfly Women’s 200m Individual Medley Women’s 1500m Freestyle Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay 7 — 7:35 p.m. (PT) Slalom Canoeing — Qualifying (LIVE) 10:35 p.m. — midnight Cycling — Women’s Team Trial Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Hungary (LIVE) NBCSN midnight — 5 a.m. Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Women’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Nigeria Rugby — Men’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball 5 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. Softball — Final (LIVE) 7:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Women’s Handball — France vs. Spain Archery — Individual Eliminations Badminton — Qualifying Rounds Equestrian — Team Dressage Final Fencing — Women’s Team Epee Final Softball — Final Table Tennis — Elimination Rounds Surfing — Semifinals Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. China 6 p.m. — midnight Women’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Nigeria Softball — Final Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Australia Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. China OLYMPIC CHANNEL midnight — 5 a.m. Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals 5 a.m. — 2 p.m. Tennis Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round PEACOCK 4 a.m. — 9 a.m. Women’s Gymnastics Team Final (LIVE) USA midnight — 8 a.m. Women’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Nigeria (LIVE) Cycling — Women’s Mountain Bike (LIVE) Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball — Quarterfinals (LIVE) 2 a.m. — 4 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Australia (LIVE) 8 a.m. — 10 a.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Australia 10 a.m. — noon Women’s Soccer — Canada vs. Great Britain noon — 4 p.m. Rugby — Men’s Quarterfinal Weightlifting — Women’s Finals Judo — Finals Taekwondo — Finals Boxing — Elimination Rounds Women’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Nigeria 4 p.m. — 6 p.m. Women’s Soccer — U.S. vs. Australia 8 p.m. — 2 a.m.
FACTS AND FIGURES Slogan: “United By Emotion” Mascot: “Miraitowa,” a largeeyed, large-eared character styled after the blue-and-white checkered pattern of the Tokyo 2020 Games emblem. Medals makeup: All the Olympic medals are made of metals extracted from more than 6 million old mobile phones and small electronic devices collected around Japan during a two-year donation drive. Number of medals Americans won in the 2016 Summer Games: 121, including 46 Golds. New Events: 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding. Noteworthy: Olympic venues are going to be mostly quiet compared to past Games as Japan is not allowing spectators into the events because of its state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tokyo, she could very well be the closest thing there is to a sure thing. Given what the world went through just to get to these Olympics, that really is saying something.
American swimmers. “The bond might be stronger because we don’t have that outlet.” American high jumper Vashti Cunningham will have her coach, Randall Cunningham, who is also her father, on hand. But she’ll be missing the rest of the family. “It just feels good to go and eat with them, for them to be at the Bible studies with me, just everything, going to the stores,” she said. “But it doesn’t really matter to me if there are fans or not. I’m just really excited to go out there and jump. I do wish that our families could come and watch, though.” American discus thrower Mason Finley is prepared to hunker down at the athletes village with his Nintendo Switch for endless gaming while his pregnant wife and two dogs wait at home. “I’m just going to kind of nest in there and stay entertained,” he said. Some athletes’ families will host watch parties back home. Biles’ mother, Nellie, won’t attend. “I will be home watching gymnastics by myself,” she said. “I just get too nervous.”
Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Table Tennis — Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Tunisia (LIVE) Rugby — Men’s Semifinals Archery — Individual Eliminations Slalom Canoeing — Qualifying (LIVE)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
CNBC midnight — 3 a.m. Cycling — Men’s Individual Time Trial (LIVE) 6 p.m. — midnight Rowing — Finals (LIVE) Cycling — BMX Racing Quarterfinals (LIVE) Fencing — Women’s Team Foil Quarterfinals Archery — Individual Eliminations Fencing — Women’s Team Foil Semifinals (LIVE) GOLF 4:30 p.m. — 1 a.m. GOLF — Men’s First Round (LIVE) NBC 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Rowing — Finals Cycling — Individual Time Trials Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round Swimming — Qualifying Heats 1 p.m. — 3 p.m. Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Iran 6 p.m. — 10 p.m. Gymnastics — Men’s Individual All-Around Diving — Men’s Synchronized Springboard Final Swimming — Finals (LIVE) Men’s 800m Freestyle Men’s 200m Breaststroke Women’s 200m Butterfly Men’s 100m Freestyle Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay 7 — 7:35 p.m. (PT) Table Tennis — Women’s Semifinal 10:35 p.m. — midnight 3x3 Basketball — Finals Beach Volleyball — Men’s Qualifying Round Cycling — BMX Racing Quarterfinals NBCSN midnight — 2 a.m. Women’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. China Beach Volleyball — Women’s Qualifying Round 2 a.m. — 4:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Germany vs. Ivory Coast (LIVE) Men’s Soccer — Romania vs. New Zealand (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. — 5:30 a.m. Slalom Canoeing — Women’s Qualifying 5:30 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — France vs. Japan (LIVE) 7:30 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. Men’s Soccer — Spain vs. Argentina 9:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. Men’s Basketball — Australia vs. Italy 11:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. Men’s Handball — France vs. Germany Badminton — Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals Equestrian — Dressage Individual Final Women’s Water Polo — China vs. Japan Rugby — Men’s Bronze Medal and Final 6 p.m. — midnight 3x3 Basketball — Finals Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Tunisia Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Hungary Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Iran Rugby — Men’s Bronze Medal and Final OLYMPIC CHANNEL midnight — 5 a.m. Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round 5 a.m. — 2 p.m. Tennis Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round 8 p.m. — midnight Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles and Mixed, Quarterfinals Women’s Singles and Doubles, Semifinals PEACOCK 10:40 p.m. — midnight Men’s Basketball — U.S. vs. Iran (LIVE) 4 a.m. — 9 a.m. Men’s Gymnastics All Around (LIVE) USA midnight — 10 a.m. Diving — Men’s Synchronized Springboard Final Slalom Canoeing — Qualifying (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball — Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Rugby — Men’s Bronze Medal and Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball — Men’s Semifinal Swimming — Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball — Finals (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball — Brazil vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Surfing — Finals Slalom Canoeing — Men’s Qualifying 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. Archery — Individual Eliminations Table Tennis — Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals & Semifinal Rowing — Finals Fencing — Men’s Team Sabre Finals Judo — Finals Weightlifting — Men’s Final Boxing — Elimination Rounds 3x3 Basketball — Finals Men’s Volleyball — U.S. vs. Tunisia Women’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Hungary 6 p.m. — midnight Beach Volleyball — Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rugby — Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Table Tennis — Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo — U.S. vs. Italy (LIVE)