The third day of official competition at the Tokyo Olympics features more action in the pool as U.S. swimmers — including Katie Ledecky and Torri Huske — look to build on their record-breaking opening day performance on Sunday.
After being shut out of any medals on Day 1, Team USA bounced back in a big way with 10 medals, including four golds.
Highlighting Monday’s action are the men’s team competitions in gymnastics and archery, as well as medal events in men’s and women’s fencing. Meanwhile, Olympic organizers are keeping a close watch on the weather as a tropical storm by the name of Nepartak is heading Japan’s way and could impact several events.
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TOKYO — Ten years ago, Kevin McDowell beat cancer.
On Monday at Odaiba Marine Park, he competed against 43 fellow triathletes and finish sixth (1:45:54) — the best ever result for an American man in an Olympic triathlon.
McDowell overcame a slow start in the 1,500-meter swim to start the race, and was in 47th place after the swim. He made up the lost ground in the biking portion (40 kilometers), when he stuck with the group and executed smooth transition to enter the final leg, a 10-kilometer run, in fourth.
By the third running lap, the 28-year-old had moved into second – and also displayed quality sportsmanship, sharing a water bottle with a Belgian competitor while in stride. He dropped to fifth place over the next 2.5-kilometer lap, and ultimately finished sixth in the event won by Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt. Great Britain’s Alex Yee took silver and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde bronze. Fellow American Morgan Pearson finished 42nd (1:52:05).
–Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY
Broadcast boat delays start of triathlon
The men’s individual triathlon got off to a chaotic start when half the field entered the water before the other half was able to as a broadcast boat blocked their entry into Tokyo Bay (water temperature around 29 degrees Celsius Monday morning).
The triathletes already in the water for the 1,500-meter swim believed the race of their lives had been underway. They swam with vigor until organizers in speedboats and kayaks caught up to them and impeded their paths. Upon their return to the starting pontoon, the race began without a hitch. No athletes were injured by the boat.
–Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY
BLAINE, Minn. – Patrick Reed had finished Saturday’s third round of the 3M Open when he learned he would represent the U.S. in the men’s golf competition at the Summer Games in Tokyo after Bryson DeChambeau tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw.
Per COVID protocols, Reed began testing Saturday night and needs to pass tests on Sunday and then at least 24 hours later on Monday to be able to play. Reed said he was flying home to Texas and will test there on Sunday and Monday.
If the two tests come up negative, he will fly from Houston to San Francisco on Tuesday morning and then fly from the Golden City to Tokyo, arriving Wednesday afternoon. Reed, who tied for 11th in the 2016 Rio Summer Games, would join Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele on the U.S. team.
— Steve DiMeglio, Golfweek
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