Tennis was an original Olympic sport and even included women’s tennis as early as 1900, however in 1924 it was dropped. That absence would last over 60 years as it didn’t return until 1988. It has remained ever since and added mixed doubles in London. Tennis will be contested at the Olympic Tennis Center, a brand new set of courts constructed just for this occasion. Qualification was based on the rankings by the WTA and ATP and limited to four per country. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Tennis Preview
Rio 2016 – Table Tennis Preview
Table Tennis has been in the Olympics since 1988 with equal men’s and women’s events throughout its history. In Rio it’ll be contested in the Riocentro, an exhibition center from the 70’s in the Barra zone. The US qualified their two men and two women through regional competitions while the teams qualified as the highest ranked country in North America. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Table Tennis Preview
Rio 2016 – Rugby Sevens Preview
Rugby has not been part of the Olympics since 1924 and back then it was the rugby union form of the game that was played. Rugby sevens is new to the Olympics this year and will be part of the Olympics again in 2020. The games will be played at the Deodoro Stadium, a temporary venue. The US men and women qualified in a North American championship. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Rugby Sevens Preview
Rio 2016 – Volleyball Preview
Volleyball debuted in 1964, with both a women’s and a men’s competition, and has been a part of the Olympics ever since. The volleyball matches will be held in the Ginasio do Maracanazinho, an older arena built in the early 50s that is next to the Maracana. The US men qualified from the World Cup while the women needed the North American qualifier. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Volleyball Preview
Rio 2016 – Gymnastics Preview
Gymnastics is one of the original Olympic events and has been contested at every modern Olympics. Artistic gymnastics was the original form and women started competing in 1928. Rhythmic gymnastics was added in 1984 and trampoline was added in 2000. The Men’s program took on it’s current form in 1932 and remains unchanged since then. The women’s form reached it’s current look in 1960. The competitions will be held in the HSBC Arena, built in 2007. The US qualified their artistic teams at the world championships as did the rhythmic group and individual members. The trampoline spots were qualified at the Olympic test event in Rio earlier this year.
The Team:
This year’s team is made up of six men and 12 women. Of the 18 team members only five have been to the Olympics before with all of those on the men and women’s artistic teams. Chris Brooks is the oldest team member at 29 while Laurie Hernandez is just 16.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling
Men:
Chris Brooks – Artistic
Jake Dalton* – Artistic
Danell Leyva* – Artistic
Sam Mikulak* – Artistic
Alex Naddour – Artistic
Logan Dooley – Trampoline
Women:
Simone Biles – Artistic
Gabby Douglas* – Artistic
Laurie Hernandez – Artistic
Madison Kocian – Artistic
Aly Raisman* – Artistic
Kiana Eide – Group Rhythmic
Alisa Kano – Group Rhythmic
Natalie McGiffert – Group Rhythmic
Monica Rokhman – Group Rhythmic
Kristen Shaldybin – Group Rhythmic
Laura Zeng – Individual Rhythmic
Nicole Ahsinger – Trampoline
* – Was part of team in 2012 – London
Format:
Artistic gymnastics will start with a qualification round where the team’s individuals will compete on all the apparatus. This will qualify eight teams for the team final, 24 gymnasts for the individual all-around final, and eight athletes per apparatus for the individual apparatus finals. The team final will see only three members per team compete on each apparatus. The qualification day is obviously most important for individuals trying to get into the finals for their events, while the top teams should be fairly safe to make the team final.
Rhythmic gymnastics starts with all individuals competing in a qualification round each taking their turn on the four apparatus. After this round only the top 10 move on the final. In the final they will compete on each apparatus again and the best combined score wins. In the group event the top eight move on from qualifying to the final. Each round in the group event is two routines, one with all five using balls and the other with three using ribbons and two using hoops.
Trampoline gymnastics starts with a qualification round with two routines. The first routine is restricted in difficulty and aims for execution. The second routine is where the competitors can show off the most difficult moves. The top eight combined scores from the two routines will advance to the final. In the final there is a routine of ten skills that will provide the final scores.
Schedule:
All Times ET
Saturday, August 6th
1:30 PM – Men’s Artistic – Qualification – Subdivision 2
Sunday, August 7th
4:30 PM – Women’s Artistic – Qualification – Subdivision 4
Monday, August 8th
3 PM – Men’s Artistic – Team – Final
Tuesday, August 9th
3 PM – Women’s Artistic – Team – Final
Wednesday, August 10th
3 PM – Men’s Artistic – Individual All-Around – Final
Thursday, August 11th
3 PM – Women’s Artistic – Individual All-Around – Final
Friday, August 12th
1:03 PM – Women’s Trampoline – Qualification
2:42 PM – Women’s Trampoline – Final
Saturday, August 13th
1:03 PM – Men’s Trampoline – Qualification
2:42 PM – Men’s Trampoline – Final
Sunday, August 14th
1 PM – Men’s Artistic – Floor Exercise – Final
1:47 PM – Women’s Artistic – Vault – Final
2:34 PM – Men’s Artistic – Pommel Horse – Final
3:21 PM – Women’s Artistic – Uneven Bars – Final
Monday, August 15th
1 PM – Men’s Artistic – Rings – Final
1:54 PM – Men’s Artistic – Vault – Final
2:46 PM – Women’s Artistic – Balance Beam – Final
Tuesday, August 16th
1 PM – Men’s Artistic – Parallel Bars – Final
1:47 PM – Women’s Artistic – Floor Exercise – Final
2:34 PM – Men’s Artistic – High Bar – Final
Friday, August 19th
9:20 AM – Women’s Rhythmic – Individual All-Around – Qualification – Rotation 1 & 2
1:50 PM – Women’s Rhythmic – Individual All-Around – Qualification – Rotation 3 & 4
Saturday, August 20th
9 AM – Women’s Rhythmic – Group All-Around – Qualification – Rotation 1
11:40 AM – Women’s Rhythmic – Group All-Around – Qualification – Rotation 2
2:20 PM – Women’s Rhythmic – Individual All-Around – Final
Sunday, August 21st
10 AM – Women’s Rhythmic – Group All-Around – Final
Past Results:
The US trails only the Soviet Union in medals in artistic gymnastics having won 101 medals and 33 golds. The US has never medaled in rhythmic gymnastics or trampoline. Danell Levya won a bronze in London while Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas each won two golds with Raisman adding a bronze as well.
Rio 2016 – Beach Volleyball Preview
Beach Volleyball has been a part of the Olympics since 1996 though the format has changed over time to incorporate rally scoring and a pool stage. This year the competition will be held on the Copacabana Beach. The US qualified all of their teams through the Olympic rankings from the FIVB in June.
Rio 2016 – Field Hockey Preview
Field Hockey was held in 1908 and 1920 but didn’t fully take its place in the Olympics until 1928. The women’s version of things didn’t start until 1976. The US men haven’t qualified since 1996 (when they were in as the hosts) and haven’t played in an Olympics on foreign soil since 1956. The US women are in the Olympics for the third straight time for the first time. The competition will be held in the brand new Olympic Hockey Center. The US qualified at the Pan American Games in 2015.
The Team:
The US Team is made up of 16 women. Nine members of the team were part of the group in London with three making their third straight Olympic experience. It’s still a fairly young team with Lauren Crandall the oldest at 31 and Alyssa Manley the youngest at 22.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Field Hockey
Katie Bam*
Jackie Briggs
Lauren Crandall**
Rachel Dawson**
Katelyn Falgowski**
Stefanie Fee
Melissa Gonzalez*
Michelle Kasold*
Kelsey Kolojejchick
Alyssa Manley
Julia Reinprecht*
Katie Reinprecht*
Kat Sharkey
Caitlin Van Sickle
Michelle Vittese*
Jill Witmer
* – Was on team in 2012 – London
** – Was on team in 2012 and 2008 (Beijing)
Format:
There will be a five game group stage followed by a tournament amongst the eight teams which finish in the top four spots of the two groups. Wins are worth three points and draws a single point in the group stage with GD the top tiebreaker.
Schedule:
All Times ET
Saturday, August 6th
4 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Argentina
Monday, August 8th
9 AM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Australia
Wednesday, August 10th
4 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Japan
Thursday, August 11th
6:30 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. India
Saturday, August 13th
5 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Great Britain
Monday, August 15th
9/11:30 AM/5/7:30 PM – Women’s Quarterfinals
Wednesday, August 17th
11 AM/4 PM – Women’s Semifinals
Friday, August 19th
11 AM – Women’s Bronze Medal Match
4 PM – Women’s Gold Medal Match
Past Results:
The US hasn’t medaled since bronze in 1984 so obviously none of the current members have medaled.
Rio 2016 – Equestrian Preview
Equestrian competitions have been a part of the Olympic competition since 1912 and involves mixed-gender competition. This year they will be held in the National Equestrian Center in the Deodoro zone. The US qualified their teams at the Pan American Games and the FEI World Equestrian Games. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Equestrian Preview
Rio 2016 – Boxing Preview
Boxing has been at every Olympics since 1912 and has given us some big moments for some of Boxing’s biggest names. Oscar de la Hoya, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman all won Gold for the United States. This year it will be held in the Riocentro, a convention center built in the 70s. The US qualified boxers at the regional event as well as the world qualifying tournament. Carlos Balderas qualified based off a strong season in the World Series of Boxing and Claressa Shields qualified at the world amateur championships. Continue reading Rio 2016 – Boxing Preview
Rio 2016 – Basketball Preview
Basketball at the Olympics began in 1936 (don’t worry even then we won the first seven) and the women’s game was added in 1976. This year’s competition will be held in the Carioca Arena in the Barra zone. The US qualified in the men’s and women’s events by winning the last world championships in 2014.
The Team:
The US teams are made up of twelve men and twelve women. The women’s team leans heavier on returning players with nine Olympic veterans including five three-time Olympians and three four-time Olympians. On the men’s side only two are returners though one is a four-time Olympian. Tamika Catchings is the oldest member at 37 while Breanna Stewart is the youngest at just 21.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Basketball
Men:
Carmelo Anthony***
Harrison Barnes
Jimmy Butler
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMar DeRozan
Kevin Durant*
Paul George
Draymond Green
Kyrie Irving
DeAndre Jordan
Kyle Lowry
Klay Thompson
Women:
Seimone Augustus**
Sue Bird***
Tamika Catchings***
Tina Charles*
Elena Delle Donne
Sylvia Fowles**
Brittney Griner
Angel McCoughtry*
Maya Moore*
Breanna Stewart
Diana Taurasi***
Lindsay Whalen*
* – Was on team in 2012 – London
** – Was on team in 2012 and 2008 (Beijing)
*** – Was on team in 2012, 2008, and 2004 (Athens)
Format:
In the Olympics the basketball competitions take the form of a six-team group stage followed by an eight team tournament. The top four teams in each group will advance. Head-to-head results are the tiebreaker.
Schedule:
All Times ET
Saturday, August 6th
6 PM – Men’s Group Stage – USA vs. China
Sunday, August 7th
11 AM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Senegal
Monday, August 8th
11 AM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Spain
6 PM – Men’s Group Stage – USA vs. Venezuela
Wednesday, August 10th
2:30 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Serbia
6 PM – Men’s Group Stage – USA vs. Australia
Friday, August 12th
2:30 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Canada
6 PM – Men’s Group Stage – USA vs. Serbia
Sunday, August 14th
11:15 AM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. China
1:15 PM – Men’s Group Stage – USA vs. France
Tuesday, August 16th
10 AM/1:30/5:45/9:15 PM – Women’s Quarterfinals
Wednesday, August 17th
10 AM/1:30/5:45/9:15 PM – Men’s Quarterfinals
Thursday, August 18th
2/6 PM – Women’s Semifinals
Friday, August 19th
2:30/6 PM – Men’s Semifinals
Saturday, August 20th
10:30 AM – Women’s Bronze Medal Game
2:30 PM – Women’s Gold Medal Game
Sunday, August 21st
10:30 AM – Men’s Bronze Medal Game
2:45 PM – Men’s Gold Medal Game
Past Results:
The US gold streaks are two on the men’s side (and five of six) and five on the women’s side (and seven of eight). Any of the women who have been before won gold in those appearances totaling 17 golds among the nine veterans. On the men’s side the two who were there in London have golds with one holding two golds and a bronze from 2004. Overall the US has seven of the 10 women’s golds and 14 of the 18 men’s golds. The US has never failed to medal.