From a bunch of Philadelphia women looking to keep up their winning ways to American basketball teams looking to continue their dominance to Michael Phelps return to the pool, here's what to watch Wednesday.
Michael Phelps in Line for 22nd Gold?
The most-decorated Olympian of all time is looking to add to his 21 golds – a total as high as the entire country of Ethiopia’s golden haul – by beating an old-time teammate and rival. [[389641381, C]]
After qualifying earlier in the day Michael Phelps will be swimming in the men’s 200m Individual Medley semifinal at 11:29 p.m. He faces teammate Ryan Lochte -- the current world record holder in the event, top time in the prelims and his gold medal teammate in the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Tuesday night.
Also in the pool, Chester County, Pennsylvania's Cierra Runge swam the anchor leg as the United States qualified for the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay with a 7:47.77. Pittsburgh's Leah Smith swam in the gold medal-winning final.
Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross Return to the Beach
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings formed a new partnership with London silver medalist April Ross just moments after defeating her in the 2012 Games. Now, the former combatants are eyeing gold in Rio.[[389534171, C]]
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After easily defeating Australia and China, the dynamic duo set their sights on Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Vergé-Dépré. The Americans dispatched the Swiss in three sets.
Men’s Basketball: Team USA Finally Working Up a Sweat Against Australia
The U.S men took on perhaps their toughest opponent of the Olympics so far when their third game tips off against Australia. The Aussies sport an NBA-studded lineup, featuring players from the last three NBA champions: Matthew Dellavedova (2016), Andrew Bogut (2015) and Patty Mills (2014).
After three quarters of even play, the U.S. superstars pulled away to win 98-88.
While early U.S. round matches have been decided in blowout fashion, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and DeMarcus Cousins were put to the test by one of the toughest front courts in the tournament in Bogut and the Detroit Pistons’ Aron Baynes. [[389532931, C]]
The powerhouse U.S women’s team didn't handle Serbia as easy as earlier teams but still took down the Serbs 110-84. Delaware's Elena Delle Donne had a tough game only scoring 2 points, grabbing one rebound and dishing out three assists in 12 minutes.
Male Cyclist Taylor Phinney Fails to Medal While Kristin Armstrong Is Golden for 3rd Time
Team USA’s Taylor Phinney says there is “something a little bit wrong with us” when describing endurance cyclists who push the limits of what their bodies can do on two wheels.
In the London Games, Phinney took to the pavement to compete in the road race and time trial where he finished fourth in both events. A horrific crash derailed his career in 2014, but now he’s back to compete for gold. Olympics is in the blood for Phinney. His father won bronze and his mother gold in cycling events during the 1984 Olympics. [[389535251, C]]
This time around Phinney came in 22nd with American teammate Brent Bookwalter finishing 23rd in Rio.
On the women's side, American Kristin Armstrong defended her gold, again, winning the women's time trial by more than five seconds of Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya.
A Field Hockey Winning Streak?
The U.S. women’s field hockey team -- full of Pennsylvania and South Jersey natives like Montgomery County's Katie Bam -- finished last at the London Olympics, winning just one of its six games. Following the 2012 Games, the team brought in a new coach, Craig Parnham, and overhauled its system in the hopes of Olympic success in Rio.
The team, featuring the Reinprecht sisters from Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, entered the Olympics with its highest world ranking ever at fifth and a legitimate shot at a medal, something the U.S. hasn’t accomplished in the sport since 1984.
Coming off an opening 2-1 upset win over Argentina, the women took down Australia in round-robin play by the same score Monday. On Wednesday, the women took down Japan to keep their winning streak alive.
They dominated Japan in an easy 6-1 victory.
