Team USA Shines with Strong Performances on Day 14 of the Tokyo Olympics

Team USA is showing no signs of slowing down as the final days of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo approach. With a total of 98 medals, including 31 gold, 36 silver, and 31 bronze, as of mid-day Friday/Saturday morning Tokyo time, the United States leads the medal count, with China trailing closely behind (79 overall, with 36 gold, 26 silver, and 17 bronze). The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) sits in third place with 62 total medals. Meanwhile, Japan proudly claims the third-most gold medals, with 24.

One of the standout moments from Day 14 was in women’s beach volleyball, where April Ross made history by becoming the first beach volleyball player to win an Olympic medal with three different partners. Teaming up with Alix Klineman, Ross defeated Australia’s Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy to capture the gold. This victory adds to Ross’s previous achievements, having won a silver medal with Jen Kessy in 2012 and a bronze medal with Kerri Walsh Jennings in 2016. At 39 years old, Ross also became the oldest woman to win an Olympic beach volleyball medal. Despite challenging sand conditions with temperatures reaching 129 degrees, Ross and Klineman dominated the tournament, losing only one set throughout the entire Olympics, none in the knockout rounds.

In women’s volleyball, Team USA showcased an impressive performance against Serbia, securing a spot in the gold medal match. The Americans won the match in a convincing 3-0 sweep, with Annie Drews leading the team’s strong service game, including three of the six aces. This win sets the stage for the U.S. women’s volleyball team to compete for the gold medal for the fourth time in Olympic history. The team has consistently ranked among the world’s best over the past two decades but has fallen short of winning the ultimate prize, finishing as runners-up to Brazil in 2008 and 2012, as well as to China in 1984.

Adding to Team USA’s achievements, the women’s basketball team also secured a spot in the gold medal game with a commanding 79-59 victory over Serbia. The American women established a significant lead early in the game and maintained their dominance throughout. Brittney Griner, Chelsea Gray, and Breanna Stewart contributed heavily to the team’s success, proving too formidable for Serbia to overcome. This victory extends the U.S. women’s basketball team’s incredible Olympic winning streak to 54 games, a streak that dates back to the 1992 Barcelona Games. They will be vying for their seventh consecutive gold medal in the final.

Track and field events have also been fruitful for Team USA. In the men’s 5000m final, Paul Chelimo, Grant Fisher, and Woody Kincaid all represented the United States. Chelimo seized the opportunity and won a bronze medal, with a time of 12:59:05. This is Chelimo’s second Olympic medal, adding to the silver he won in the same event in 2016.

Although the women’s 400m event did not yield a gold medal for the United States, legendary sprinter Allyson Felix continued to make history by winning a bronze medal. This achievement brings Felix’s Olympic medal tally to an impressive 10, making her the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history.

The United States’ success in track and field continued with the women’s relay team clinching a silver medal in the 4×100 relay. The team finished second behind Jamaica, reversing the results from the 2016 Olympics when the United States claimed gold and Jamaica secured silver.

In golf, Nelly Korda, the reigning Women’s PGA Championship winner, maintained her lead in the women’s individual stroke play. Although she didn’t perform her best in Round 3, Korda remains at the top of the leaderboard with a three-shot lead heading into the final round on Saturday. Aditi Ashok from India closely trails behind at -12.

Team USA’s dominant performances across various sports on Day 14 of the Tokyo Olympics solidify their position as one of the strongest nations in the Games. As the competition draws to a close, fans eagerly anticipate further triumphs from the United States in these final days.