>>Bolt Defends Title On Day Nine
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Day Nine of the Rio Games is in the books. Jamaican track star Usain Bolt defended his title as fastest man in the world. Bolt edged American Justin Gatlin to win the 100-meter dash last night. Bolt is the first runner to ever win the sprint in three straight Olympic Games. South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk also made history on the track. He broke Michael Johnson’s world record in the 400-meter race. American LaShawn Merritt won bronze.
American gymnast Simone Biles captured her third gold of the Games. Biles won the top prize in the women’s vault. She is on pace to win an unprecedented five gold medals, with balance beam today and floor exercise tomorrow. The 19-year-old already earned gold in the team and individual all-around competitions.
Great Britain’s Justin Rose is the first gold medal winner in golf in 112 years. Rose birdied the final hole to finish 16-under-par for the gold. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson took silver after finishing two shots back. American Matt Kuchar won bronze.
The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams are still unbeaten in Rio. Klay Thompson scored 30 points as the men notched a 100-97 win over France. The women crushed China, 105-62. The women will face Japan in the quarterfinals tomorrow, while the men’s quarters start Wednesday.
In other action, Americans April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings are into the semifinals in the Olympic women’s beach volleyball tournament. The U.S. women’s volleyball team is safely into the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament. And Sarah Robles is the first American medal winner in women’s weightlifting in 16 years.
The U.S. sits alone atop the medal count standings. Team USA has collected 69 medals so far, 26 of which are gold. China is second in the overall standings with 45 medals, 15 of which are gold.
###
Daniel Mowbray/as SPT) OLY)
Copyright © 2016
TTWN Media Networks Inc.