Olympics 2021 live updates – USA women’s hoops continues dominance; boxer Keyshawn Davis goes for gold – ESPN
The final day of competition at the Olympic Games is here. After record-breaking days in the pool and on the track, history-making feats and inspiring moments, the Games come to a close in Tokyo. After the events, the Olympic closing ceremonies begin at 7 a.m. ET Sunday.
But first, we’ve got medals to hand out.
Olympics medal tracker | Schedule
Saturday’s action started with the men’s marathon winding through the streets of Sapporo, Japan, where Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won his second consecutive gold medal in dominant fashion, beating the field by more than a minute.
Then came the evening’s main event: the women’s basketball gold-medal game, which saw the United States take care of Japan for its seventh consecutive gold medal. Japan’s first-ever shot at gold was derailed in a 90-75 defeat, with Americans Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each winning an unprecedented fifth gold medal.
Coming up: The U.S. women’s volleyball team will go for its first-ever gold medal against Brazil (12:30 a.m. ET). We’ll also see one of the most anticipated fights in Olympic boxing this year: the men’s lightweight final. American Keyshawn Davis will face rival Andy Cruz (1:15 a.m. ET). Cruz has had the better of Davis in previous fights. Davis is seeking to be the first U.S. men’s boxer to win a gold medal since Andre Ward in 2004. An American hasn’t won this weight class since Oscar De La Hoya won gold in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Here’s the best action from the last night in Tokyo:
USA women’s volleyball up on Brazil
Team USA is looking to win its first volleyball gold medal, and so far, so good, as the Americans took the first set against Brazil.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
If you need me, I’ll be watching this slide on repeat for the rest of the night 😍#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/q0MIChK2jw
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 8, 2021
USA women’s hoops wins seventh straight gold
Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird made history by winning their fifth women’s basketball gold medals with Team USA, which won its seventh straight gold by beating Japan 90-75.
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
A brief list of basketball players who have five Olympic gold medals ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sFFF0PT4lx
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The two vets, who won their first golds for Team USA in Athens in 2004, helped get the Americans out to a big lead Sunday.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Birdie with the 3️⃣. #TokyoOlympicspic.twitter.com/oBuBdP0RC1
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Brittney Griner also did quality work for the Americans, scoring 30 points to help extend Team USA’s Olympic winning streak to 55 games.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
A gold medal game performance for the record books for Brittney Griner. #OlympicHERstory #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/GTWk9CZJky
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 8, 2021
Bird and Taurasi might not be done with Olympics hoops quite yet, though.
“See you in Paris.” –@DianaTaurasi @Paris2024 | #OlympicHERstory #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Nb6OschdwK
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Cycling to gold
The United States’ Jennifer Valente rode to gold in the women’s omnium, putting the U.S. at 38 gold medals, tied with China for tops of any country.
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Ingebrigtsen sets Olympic record
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen ended his Olympics with an epic performance, as the 20-year-old raced to gold in the men’s 1,500-meter run with a time of 3 minutes, 28.32 seconds.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Kipchoge goes back-to-back
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge ran it back for gold, literally, in the men’s marathon in Sapporo, pulling away down the stretch to win his second consecutive gold medal. Kipchoge’s winning time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 38 seconds was more than a minute better than the silver medalist, Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye.
Here’s Kipchoge putting a bow on his dominant performance.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The battle for silver and bronze was also pretty epic.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The marathoner’s philosophy
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 7, 2021
Backing it up
As the Olympics come to a close, here’s an alternative, fun look at the action in Tokyo.
The @Olympics, but in reverse. ⏪#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/cVJ13Ly7vd
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2021
Shot-putting in real life
Gold medalist Ryan Crouser is the best in the world at shot put, but how does that relate to everyday life? Crouser shows us by shot-putting things.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
