Paris 2024 Olympics Day 4 Recap and Highlights – July 30

The fourth day of the 2024 Paris Olympics was filled with exciting moments across various sports. From gymnastics to tennis, swimming to soccer, athletes from around the world showcased their skills and determination. Here are some of the key highlights from the day’s events:

Gymnastics

Team USA had a commanding lead heading into the final rotation, the floor exercise. The team performed exceptionally well on the other events, including vault, balance beam, and bars. Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles delivered powerful floor routines, putting Team USA on the verge of securing the gold medal. Simone Biles, the last gymnast to perform, clinched the remaining points needed for the victory. The arena was electric throughout the night, with the crowd cheering loudly for the US gymnasts. Even Biles’ opponents showed their admiration, clapping and jumping up and down after her routines.

Tennis

In women’s tennis, US star Coco Gauff faced a heartbreaking loss against Croatia’s Donna Vekić in an emotionally charged match. The final score was 7-6 (7), 6-2. Gauff was in tears while arguing a call late in the second set, which ultimately gave Vekić a break and a 4-2 lead. Another American, Emma Navarro, the 11th seed, was also eliminated after losing to China’s Zheng Qinwen.

On the men’s side, the Spanish duo of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles. Former world No. 1 Andy Murray and his partner Dan Evans also secured their spot in the quarterfinals.

Swimming

In the women’s 100m backstroke, Australia’s Kaylee McKeown claimed the gold medal, breaking her own Olympic record and retaining the title she won in Tokyo. Americans Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff finished second and third, respectively.

Daniel Wiffen made history in the men’s 800m freestyle event, becoming the first Irish swimmer to win an Olympic medal by securing the gold.

Soccer and Basketball

The USA men’s soccer team advanced to the Olympic quarterfinals after a convincing 3-0 victory over Guinea. Kevin Paredes scored two of the three goals. The USA currently stands second in their group, behind France, who won all three of their group-stage games.

In basketball, the France men’s team narrowly defeated Japan 94-90 in a closely contested game. The win moved France to the top of Group B with four points, having previously won against Brazil.

Serbia Stuns USA in 3×3 Olympic Basketball Opener

Defending world champion Serbia rudely greeted the United States to 3×3 Olympic basketball, pulling away for a 22-14 victory. Serbia held American scoring machine Jimmer Fredette to just 4 points.

Strahinja “Dr. Strange” Stojačić nailed a long-range 2-pointer to win it.

Key Players

Game Highlights

• The U.S. led 10-9 before Serbia ended on a 13-4 run.
• Serbia won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, beating the United States in the final.
• The United States didn’t qualify for the Tokyo games, which were won by Latvia with Serbia taking bronze.

Rugby

Canada’s Women’s Sevens rugby team pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the heavily favored and current world champion Australian sevens squad 21-12. Canada went on to win the silver medal after losing to the Black Ferns Sevens, the New Zealand national team, in the gold medal game.

The USA Team made history by winning the bronze medal, their first-ever Olympic medal in the sport for either men or women, after a thrilling victory over Australia in the final minutes of the match.

Day 4 of the 2024 Paris Olympics showcased the incredible talent and determination of athletes from around the world. As the competition continues, fans can expect more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances in the days to come.