Unfortunate injury, surprises, USA vs China: Sensations from the 9th day of the Olympics
August 4 marked the end of the 9th day of the 2024 Olympics.
Athletics took center stage with dramatic finishes, two Ukrainians on the podium, and the remarkable Ethan Katzberg. Here are the main sensations from Sunday:
Badminton: Olympic Champion's Injury
Not quite a sensation but rather an unfortunate turn of events for one and a golden opportunity for another. Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin will not be adding another medal to her collection.
In the semifinals, the renowned Spaniard, ranked 4th in the world, was defeated by China's Bin Jiao He due to an injury—she fractured her anterior cruciate ligament. Marin left the court in tears, so close to her second gold. We hope she can make a return at the Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 35.
Basketball: Nigeria Makes History for Africa
The Nigerian women's basketball team made history in the final group stage game, defeating Canada 79:70 and advancing to the playoffs from 3rd place!
Canada’s tournament ended, while Nigeria became the first African team to progress past the group stage at the Olympics. The odds on Nigeria's success were as high as 4.00, while Canada’s was at 1.30. Nigeria’s coach, Rena Wakama, was our pick for Person of the Day—a true celebration for her country and the entire African continent!
China vs USA: An Unexpected Outcome
China’s men’s swimming team won the gold in the 4x100 medley relay with a time of 3:27.46, narrowly defeating the USA (3:28.01).
This is noteworthy because the USA had not lost in this event for 64 years! The defeat in Paris is particularly surprising against their perennial rival for the top spot in the overall medal tally.
Olympic Refugee Team to Win Their First Medal
For the first time, the Olympic Refugee Team will secure a medal at the Games, thanks to Cindy Ngamba from Cameroon, who has lived in the UK since she was 11. She secured at least a bronze in the boxing quarterfinals in the under-75 kg category.
The Refugee Team, competing since 2016, represents displaced individuals worldwide, with 37 athletes from over 10 countries in Paris. A remarkable achievement, indeed!
Gymnastics: Africa’s Gold Medal
In a field traditionally dominated by Asia and the USA, Algeria’s Kyla Nemour won gold in women's uneven bars with a score of 15.700.
She surpassed top contenders: China’s Xu Qiuyan (15.500) and USA’s Sunisa Lee (14.800). Nemour secured Algeria's first Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Leo Peterson
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
