Zolotic earns US its first gold medal in women’s taekwondo
TOKYO >> Anastasija Zolotic won the United States’ first gold medal in women’s taekwondo by beating Russian athlete Tatiana Minina 2517 on Sunday to claim the featherweight division title.
The 18-year-old Zolotic lets out a primal scream as she pulls on her helmet before each round. The Largo, Florida, native has been telling friends and family since early childhood that she would be an Olympic champion, and she needed only one trip to the Games to make it happen.
“My 8-year-old self was running around the school yard saying I was going to be Olympic champion but she could never have imagined what this moment is like,” Zolotic said. “It’s unbelievable. It really hasn’t sunk in yet.”
AUSTRALIA DOMINATES INDIA 7-1 TO STAY UNBEATEN AT OLYMPICS >> The Australia men’s field hockey team has put on an offensive show to start the Olympics.
The No. 1 team in the world rankings rolled past No. 4 India on Sunday. The outburst came a day after the Kookaburras rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Japan 5-3.
“To come out and put a performance in like that after yesterday is really pleasing for us,” said Australian midfielder Flynn Ogilvie, who scored a goal.
CHINA KEEPS PERFECT RE
CORD GOING IN OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING >> Three events, three gold medals. China kept its perfect record in Tokyo Olympic weightlifting Sunday, but only after plenty of drama.
It was gold or nothing
when Chen Lijun stepped onto the stage for his second lift in the clean and jerk. He had two shots at lifting 187 kilograms — one kilogram short of the world record — to beat Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera. Fail and he was off the podium in the 67-kilogram category.
US BEATS AUSTRALIA, SETS
UP GOLD MEDAL REMATCH WITH JAPAN >> Pinch-runner Ally Carda and Haylie McCleney came across the plate on Chidester’s eighthinning single, giving the United States a pulsating 2-1 victory over Australia on Sunday and a rematch with defending champion Japan in Tuesday’s gold medal game.
Monica Abbott (2-0) struck out 13 and threw a three-hitter in a 126-pitch complete game, giving up an unearned run when Jade Wall walked on eight pitches with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth to force home the automatic runner.
JAPAN TOPS MEXICO 2-1, STAYS PERFECT IN MEN’S
OLYMPIC SOCCER >> Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan scored in the opening 11 minutes to lead Japan to a victory over Mexico in men’s Olympic soccer on Sunday.
Kubo took advantage of a hesitation from the Mexican defense to net a powerful shot in the sixth minute. Doan then converted from the penalty spot.
KIEFER EARNS 3RD AMERICAN
FENCING GOLD EVER WITH FOIL WIN >> Lee Kiefer won the third gold medal for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics and the third fencing gold in the country’s history by beating defending champion Inna Deriglazova of Russia 15-13 in the women’s foil final.
Mariel Zagunis is the only other U.S fencer to earn gold, winning the saber events at the 2004 and 2008 Games.
RUSSIANS TOP BILES, AMERI
CANS IN GYMNASTICS QUALIFYING >> The trouble started early. A step out of bounds on floor exercise here. A short landing there.
Over the course of two hours on Sunday, the mistakes — some almost imperceptible, some laid bare for the world to see — kept piling up, chipping away at the aura USA Gymnastics has built over the past decade. Not even the greatest of all time was immune to the realities of a sport where perfection is unattainable. DRESSEL WINS, LEDECKY GETS BEAT >> Caeleb Dressel got started on his quest for six gold medals in swimming, while Katie Ledecky found herself in a very unusual position.
Second place.
Dressel led off an American victory in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics, easing a bit of the U.S. sting from Ledecky’s first Olympic loss.
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus — nicknamed the “Terminator” — lived up to her billing when she chased down Ledecky in the 400 freestyle to win one of the most anticipated races of the Summer Games.
Titmus, who trailed by nearly a full body-length at the halfway mark of the eight-lap race, turned on the speed to touch in 3 minutes, 56.69 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in history.
Ledecky was the defending Olympic champion and world-record holder. She settled for the silver this time in 3:57.36 — the fourth-fastest time ever recorded.
A SON OF TOKYO WINS SKATEBOARDING’S 1ST GOLD >> Yuto Horigome, the 22-year-old son of a Tokyo taxi driver, had the gold medal for men’s street skateboarding draped around his neck.