the *DON* JONES INDEX…
		GAINS POSTED in GREEN LOSSES POSTED in RED 8/5/24... 14,796.58 7/29/24... 14,812.58
	6/27/13… 15,000.00
*(THE DOW* JONES INDEX: 8/5/24... 39,737.26; 7/29/24... 40,584.34; 6/27/13… 15,000.00)**

LESSON for AUGUST FIFTH, 2024

“LES JOURS d’OR (Week One)”

Three was the number of the week... three in Washington D.C. where the Vice’s Vices-in-waiting flef the heat and the flooding of their home states and pled their case for the Golden Ticket before Kamala Harris; three rhyming Americans in Paris (plus one), securing gold after gold after gold as the U.S. Olympians finally caught up to China in gold (comfortably ahead in overall metal medals) due to the efforts of one talented trio.

In Washington... at the Naval Observatory, in fact, which the winner and his family will call home if victorious in November... three men from three different states waited at the starting gate for Kamala’s whistle... Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, the former astronaut and husband of Gabby Gifford, poster girl for the ravages of political gun violence, and Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Plus one potentials Pete Butt was the wildcard, Govs. Whitmer (D-Mi) and Cooper (D-NC) are off the table because they would be replaced by Republicans.

And the three Olympians – gymnasts Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Noah Lyles plus swimmer Katie Ledecky thrilled the domestic and international billions with a series of wholly unique performancs.

Week One is in the books. Week Two transpires beginning today in Paris while the wannabee Veeps sweat it out in D.C.

The Summer Olympic Games in Paris have brought fame, honor and gold to American athletes, but were overshadowed, on Thursday, by that other essential quality Don Jones enjoys... freedom... before an unwelcome jobs report wiped America’s smile off its face on Friday.

Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovic and other hostages of the Russian government’s warped criminal justice system were exchanged, with others, for a planeload of cybercrooks and Putin’s formerly favorite hitman. The hostages were flown to Turkey, thence to San Antonio where they remain under medical quarantine, having already met with families and received welcomes from President Joe, closing out his tenure on a high note.

Gratitude, if not gold, greeted negotiator Jake Sullivan and supporters from NATO and the EU, with Americans Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza also released, along with prisoners from Germany, Slovenia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the Maldives.

President Joe, a week after facing up to his health issues and handing over the campaign to Kamala Harris, vowed to retain control of the country up to the next election and administrative change on Jan. 20, 2025, and secured a major and defining victory as the swap was finally accomplished and images of his meet and greet with Gershkovitz, Kurmasheva and Whelan stoked the airwaves. They will rest up and be checked out in San Antonio before returning home with the gratitude of the Stars and Stripes around their shoulders.

Now, on to the Games...

America, as of midnight (six o’clock this morning, French time) has clawed into a gold medal tie with the Chinese – each claiming nineteen victories. The Americans, overall, have amassed 94 medals, by far the most among the 206 participants in the Games.

The opening ceremonies a week ago Saturday featured un mélange of EuroPopStars; recovering “stiff person” Celine Dion serenading the Olympiad in a duet with Lady Gaga to wild international acclaim. (Almost, that is, Russia has been sanctioned and most of its athletes banned… a handful competing under AIN, the French acronym for Individual Neutral Athlete. The disgust among Putin’s enslaved population was palpable, but suppressed by thousands of angry policemen.) China, however, sent a large contingent of athletes and there was even a moment of unpartisan sportsmanship between North and South Korea.

As the week began, the United States had jumped out to its lead in overall medals (which it would never relinquish), but the Japanese and four others had more gold...

Medal Count (Monday opening)

Team Gold Silver Bronze Total

1, Japan 6 2 4 12

2. France 5 8 3 16

3, China 5 5 2 12

4. Australia 5 4 0 9

5, South Korea 5 3 1 9

6, United States 3 8 9 20

The weekend’s highlights (excepting, of course, the opening ceremonies as noted here) included...

WEEKEND, OPENING CEREMONIES

Towards the end of a night where the Parisian skies opened like sluice gates and did their damnedest to drown the ambitions of the most audacious opening ceremony in history, the head of the Paris Olympics had the confidence to crack a joke.

“When you love the Games, first of all you don’t let a few drops of rain bother you,” said Tony Estanguet. “Thank you to all those lovers of the Games who are with us – a little soggy – tonight!”

A few drops! If only. But while the rain soaked the skin, it did nothing to blunt the spirit among the thousands of athletes who took the 6km journey along the Seine, or the 330,000 spectators who cheered them on their way. Because for hours and hours they sang, danced and laughed like they were at the greatest party in the world.

The Dutch and Slovenians pogoed up and down on their boats. The Jamaicans sang and waved flags. And the Team GB’s flag bearers, Tom Daley and Helen Glover, played their part too, giving their best impressions of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic the Guardian U.K. reported – no doubt with Ms. Dion looking on.

Britain’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, as drenched as everyone else in the Trocadéro, applauded from the barely covered posh seats the British athletes, which included Sir Andy Murray. In total there were 39 Team GB members parading out of the 327 in Paris, a respectful number given the weather.

The idea of staging these Games outside of a traditional stadium was a high-wire act of spectacular proportions, but Paris somehow managed to pull it off. As Estanguet told his audience: “When you’re madly in love with the Games, you feel like you can do anything.

“We have been bold, doing things that have never been done before, like having this opening ceremony in the city, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games,” he added. “Like every host country our ambition has been to help the Games grow stronger.

“And when you love the Games, you are ready to court the Games for 100 years for the chance to bring them back to Paris!”

The biggest reception of the night, naturally, was given to the French team. As their boat sailed down the Seine, it was greeted by an extraordinary version of La Marseillaise from Axelle Saint-Cirel, from the roof of the Grand Palais.

As she sang, 10 golden statues of women from France’s history rose from the ground, to emphasise the fact that this is the first gender neutral Olympics in history. It was a moment referenced by the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach (no relation to the composer), in his speech.

“We will all together experience a more inclusive, more urban, younger, more sustainable Games,” he said. “The first Olympic Games with total parity on the competition arena.”

As he always does, Bach also gave a message of love to the host nation – and hope for a better world.

“Paris, birthplace of our founder Pierre de Coubertin, to whom we owe everything,” Bach said, alternating between French and English. “Paris, city of light, where he created the modern Olympic Games. Paris, city of love. Thank you France for this magical welcome.

“What more beautiful place than Paris to the magic of the Olympic Games with the whole world.”

The hope in Bach’s speech? Well, GUK continued, that came when he referenced the hope that these Games could be a force for good “at a time where the horrific war in Ukraine continues to rage, and the awful images from Israel and Palestine have dominated our screens for the past nine months continue.”

“Some may say we in the Olympic world, we are dreamers,” Bach told his audience, channeling another dude from over the Chanel, John Lennon. “But we are not the only ones. Olympians from all around the globe, showing us what greatness we humans are capable of. So I invite everybody: dream with us.

“Like the Olympic athletes, be inspired with the joy that only sport can give us. Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity.”

Also, GUK reported, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on those at conflict around the world to silence their guns as part of the Olympic truce, with the Paris 2024 Olympics set to open later on Friday.

Sir Keir Starmer had to make a change of plans today on account of the train disruption, instead flying to Paris so he could take his seat with all the other dignitaries at the opening ceremony.

Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch through the streets of Saint-Denis Snoop Dogg, as promised by organisers, has been carrying the Olympic flame in Paris today.

“Snoop, who was born in Los Angeles – host of the 1932, 1984 and 2028 Games – limbered up for his Olympic stint by posting a time of 34.44 seconds over 200 metres during a special exhibition race at the US trials in Oregon last month.”

The 65-year-old Flavor Flav is embracing his new responsibilities as hype man for the US water polo team with his usual brand of seemingly boundless enthusiasm. “I’m so ready, man. ... I’m so hype right now about this sport,” said Flav, wearing a custom USA Water Polo clock. “I wish I was playing it. I’m hyping myself up right now to ask them to let me on the team.”

President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vadym Guttsait insisted that Russian and Belarusian athletes “do not exist” for Team Ukraine. Russia and Belarus are banned from competing in the Olympics due to International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctions regarding their involvement in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, in December the IOC confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to complete as neutrals at Paris 2024 - Individual Neutral Athletes (INA) - under strict eligibility conditions. Those restrictions include competing under a neutral flag and anthem, while athletes and support personnel who actively support the war in Ukraine remain banned.
French authorities have revealed that the Seine was not suitable for swimming last Sunday. Data published today by Parisian and regional bodies showed that E coli and enterococci bacteria were above the acceptable threshold on Sunday, though they were below that level on the six other days in the reporting period of 17-23 July.

A huge clean-up operation has been taking place amid fears for participants in marathon swimming and triathlon legs, that will take place on the river. Last week Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, fulfilled a pledge to swim in the Seine to prove it could be made safe in time. However, it has been revealed today that five days later, such a swim might have been posed a health risk.

The water will be retested before the events due to be held on the river – contingency plans exist to relocate the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne, the venue for rowing and canoeing events, while the triathlon would be downgraded to a duathlon just consisting of cycling and running legs.

And then came the spectacular finale which began with Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci charging down the Seine on a speedboat – and ended with lights beaming out of the Eiffel Tower, Lady G. and Mrs. D bringing down the house, and the Olympic flame floating into the sky.

It all amounted to a thrilling declaration of intent, especially in the final hour, GUK reported (after having paid mind to the weather, the polluted Seine and an attack upon the rails by terrorists unknown). The lingering applause at the Trocadéro suggested the crowd loved it too. The Games are off to a flyer.

MONDAY, 7/29/2024

Team USA

The talented trio (Biles, Chiles and Giles plus one) got the week off to a rousing, roaring start.

BILES

The last time Simone Biles attempted to vault in a competition arena at the Olympic Games, all hell broke loose. As Biles launched herself into her extremely difficult Amanar vault, she completely lost track of herself in the air, only managing one and a half twists instead of the planned two and a half. After withdrawing from the team final, Biles would spend most of her Olympic experience in the stands.

Three years on, Biles returned to the Olympic competition floor on Thursday morning as the women’s gymnastics teams worked their way through podium training, the one chance gymnasts will have to train inside the Bercy Arena before the gymnastics competitions begin with the men’s qualifications on Saturday.

The American had submitted an original skill on uneven bars ahead of the Paris Olympics that would be the American’s sixth move named after her – and her first on bars – if she can successfully complete it.

The new skill is a clear hip circle forward with 1.5 turns to handstand, a variation of an element named for the Canadian Wilhelm Weiler, which Biles has performed for much of her career, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said. FIG’s technical committee awarded it a difficulty value of E on a scale from A to J, meaning it is worth 0.5 in difficulty.

The four-time Olympic champion already has five elements named after her. Only Nellie Kim, the retired Soviet and Belarusian five-time Olympic gold medallist, has more skills named after her, with seven.

Biles is the fourth woman aiming to have a new element named after her at the Games, which for the women begin on Sunday with qualifications. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil will be attempting to perform a risky new vault in a bid to defend her gold medal from the Tokyo Games. Both Naomi Visser and Lieke Wevers of the Netherlands have submitted a triple-turn on floor exercise with the leg in the horizontal position to hopefully be completed in Paris.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2024/08/03/paris-olympics-simone-biles-wins-vault-and-third-gymnastics-gold_6708442_9.html

CHILES – FROM TIME

All About Jordan Chiles’ Beyoncé-Inspired Olympics Floor Routine

BY sOLCYRE bURGA July 28, 2024 8:19 PM EDT

Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles is bringing the fun to her second Olympic Games, this time through her floor routine set to the tune of Beyoncé.

Chiles’ stellar performance on the floor at the Paris Summer Olympics is set to a mix of anthems such as “My House,” “Energy,” and even “Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child. But it’s not the first time the 23-year-old Olympian has competed to music that is atypical for a floor routine. In fact, Chiles previously drew attention for a hip-hop inspired floor performance where she competed to DJ Kool’s "Let Me Clear My Throat," and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It,” among others.

That performance was during a collegiate match, which differs from an international meet where judges may be less open to popular music routines. Gymnastics rules dictate that floor routine music must have no lyrics, which is why many athletes opt to incorporate classical music in their routine.

But Chiles is hoping to make her mark. “She’s there to make an impact and she’s there to empower other gymnasts to just be themselves,” UCLA assistant coach BJ Das, the choreographer behind Chiles’ floor routine, told the Los Angeles Times.

Das also included Beyoncé’s influence in the signature Renaissance pose Chiles does after her second tumbling pass, a “Run the World” shoulder shake, and at the end her routine with the same pose Beyoncé does at the end of her “Everybody Mad” dance break at Coachella.

Chiles has publicly spoken about Beyoncé’s influence, previously stating in a video for the Olympics Gymnastics that her motto is “I’m that girl” another Beyoncé record. “I feel like I’ve proved enough to this world,” she says. “I don’t have to, you know, change anything, and I can just be authentic to who I want to be.” The gymnast has even commissioned a custom leotard that matched one of Beyoncé’s tour outfits for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Chiles had the third highest qualifying score leading into the women’s floor final. Her biggest competitors: fellow teammate Simone Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the latter of which edged her out by just 0.034 points. (Andrade also did a floor routine to a Beyoncé song: “End of Time.”)

The routine appears to have received the Beyoncé stamp of approval, with the 32-time Grammy Award winner sending Chiles a signed copy of her latest album, Cowboy Carter. Chiles shared the gift on Instagram, which included a note of congratulations. “I always watch you with pride and admiration! Thank you for repping us,” Beyoncé wrote.

The final floor showdown, where viewers can watch Chiles’ rock her floor routine once again, will take place on Monday, Aug. 5.

TUESDAY, 7/30/2024

ATTACHMENT – FROM ESPN

2024 Olympics: Simone Biles, Team USA strike gold Tuesday

Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey's "redemption tour" is complete after they earned gold in the women's gymnastics team final. Coco Gauff fell to Donna Vekic in the women's singles third round. She paired up with Taylor Fritz in the mixed doubles first round and won. Katie Ledecky swam her way to advancing in the women's 1500m freestyle. The Olympic men's soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals of an Olympics for the first time since Sydney.

Alongside Gauff and Fritz, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz won their second men's doubles match at Roland Garros, and Andy Murray was victorious again in doubles.

Here's what you might have missed Tuesday.

Andy Murray delays retirement once again

Andy Murray is refusing to retire just yet.

Murray and his Team GB playing partner, Dan Evans, edged another match tiebreak victory at Roland Garros, this time saving two match points before winning.

This Olympic goodbye means so much to Murray. After Evans delivered the decisive overhead smash, the British pair were overcome with joy as they jumped up and down, hugged and threw fist pumps toward the roaring crowd.

They are one win from guaranteeing at least a bronze medal match. They couldn't ... could they? -- Connor O'Halloran

U.S. men earn silver in 4x200 relay

The British repeated gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay. But with a silver medal, the American men -- Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Drew Kibler and Kiernan Smith -- found redemption. In Tokyo, this event was the only relay in which Team USA did not earn a medal. The Americans fended off a decent push from Australia in the final leg, and the Aussies took home bronze.

That concluded the swimming events for Tuesday, yet another day in Paris when no world records were broken. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that some swimmers attributed that to a shallower-than-usual pool. In total, Team USA picked up three silvers and a bronze, which is not a bad haul. -- Emily Kaplan

Finke wins silver in 800m freestyle

American Bobby Finke did not defend his gold medal in the men's 800-meter freestyle -- but only by a slim margin (0.56 seconds) after he displayed some massive closing speed to make it close. It was Finke and Ireland's Daniel Wiffen in a tight finish, with the University of Florida star and Florida native taking home a silver.

Wiffen's win was an upset, and a huge win for Ireland. It was just the 12th gold all time for Ireland at the Summer Olympics. -- Emily Kaplan

Smith, Berkoff grab medals in 100m backstroke

The Americans picked up two more medals in swimming on Tuesday night -- a silver for Regan Smith and a bronze for Katharine Berkoff -- in the 100-meter backstroke. The U.S. teammates put their arms around each other as they walked off from the pool, all smiles, though both were edged by Australian Kaylee McKeown for the gold.

Smith, who broke the 100-meter world record at U.S. trials last month, had the fastest time in qualifying.

Just 22, Smith has spoken openly about the mental struggles of dealing with pressure and celebrity as a teenage phenomenon. During this Olympic cycle, the Minnesota native has worked with the famed Bob Bowman (best known as Michael Phelps' coach). Bowman is an assistant coach for France these Olympics but still consults with other swimmers. -- Emily Kaplan

U.S. men's soccer advances to quarterfinals

Playing in its third match of the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. Olympic men's soccer team struck first against Guinea.

The goal came from a wonderful free kick by midfielder Djordje Mihailovic in the 14th minute -- his second of the tournament. Kevin Paredes added a second tally in the 31st minute then another in the 75th minute for a 3-0 win.

Team USA qualifies for the knockout rounds for the first time since the Sydney Games in 2000. The U.S. will play Morocco on Friday at 9 a.m. ET.

A fitting finale for the U.S. women's gymnastics team

With one of the most dominant performances in Olympic history, the U.S. women's gymnastics team are gold medalists once again. Italy took silver and Brazil earned bronze.

After opening with a commanding performance on vault, the women extended their lead after every rotation, finally winning by a whopping 5.802 points.

As the top team to qualify into the final, the U.S. performed last on floor, where its crowd-pleasing routines gave the meet more of a concert feel than a competition. And because reigning Olympic floor champion Jade Carey, who competed in Tokyo as an individual, did not compete in the rotation, the Americans closed out their team competition with the three returning members of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic team. All three received standing ovations from a crowd that was well aware these women wanted to earn the gold they felt they'd left in Tokyo.

Lee opened the rotation with an elegant, emotional routine, the perfect ending to her night. Next up was Chiles, with her electric Beyonce-inspired choreography and stuck landings. She fought back tears after hitting her final pose, then jumped up, turned to her teammates and yelled, "Let's go!" while punching her fists toward the mat. "That was fire," Lee said to her afterward. "Fire!"

And then there was Biles. Fans lucky enough to score tickets to this team final likely forgot about the meet and just enjoyed the show. She was the last performer of the night. "The green light is on," the venue announcer said. "For the United States of America, please welcome Simone Biles." The arena fell as silent as it had all night.

From the opening notes of Taylor Swift's "...Ready For It?" to her signature triple-double pass, Biles was phenomenal. She wasn't perfect. She stepped out of bounds on both of her eponymous passes. But this night wasn't about perfection. It was about redemption.

With this medal, her eighth, Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history. -

More Olympics content from ESPN

• How young stars have cashed in on new fame
• Salif Mane inspired by his late father
• The irrefutable legacy of Simone Biles
• After nine gold medals, Ledecky not done yet
• U.S. water polo team bonds after tragedies

WEDNESDAY, 7/31/2024

ATTACHMENT – FROM USA TODAY

PARIS OLYMPICS LIVE UPDATES: QUINCY HALL WINS 400M THRILLER; USA WOMEN BEAT NIGERIA

The 2024 Paris Olympics keep barreling on Wednesday with a full track and field slate as well as the men’s skateboarding park final, Round 1 of women’s golf, women’s basketball quarterfinals and artistic swimming’s team acrobatic medal event.

The Olympic track and field schedule features four finals, including the women’s pole vault and men’s 400m, and Noah Lyles running in the men’s 200m semifinal.

Twenty sports in total are in action, and USA TODAY Sports will bring you live results, medal count, highlights, and more throughout the day. Follow along.

Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma stretchered off after hard fall in steeplechase

Ethiopian runner Lamecha Girma was stretchered off the track at Stade de France on Wednesday during the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase final.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

As the defending silver medalist in the event from the Tokyo Olympics was approaching a hurdle in the race, he tripped over the hurdle, resulting in a hard fall to the ground. He was placed in a neck brace and stretchered off by medical personnel. - John Leuzzi

USA women's basketball team beats Nigeria

PARIS — The U.S. women's basketball team defeated Nigeria, 88-74, to advance to the semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A'ja Wilson led the U.S. in scoring with 20 points. Jackie Young added 15, Breanna Stewart put up 13 and Brittney Griner scored 11.

The Americans will face Australia in the semifinal on Aug. 9 for a spot in the gold medal game, which is on Aug. 11. They are going for their eighth consecutive gold medal and have not lost an Olympic game since 1992.

Andre De Grasse says allegations against coach were distraction

SAINT-DENIS, France — Canadian sprinter and defending Olympic 200 champion Andre De Grasse attempted to defend his title Wednesday while his coach Rana Reider is embroiled in controversy.

De Grasse finished third in the first heat of the men’s 200 semifinal and failed to qualify for the final. After the race, De Grasse said he was running at less than 100% after aggravating an old injury. When asked directly if the allegations of abuse levied against his coach were a distraction, he said, "Yeah, of course."

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“I try to keep my head and stay mentally strong. It’s always tough not having your coach out there with you,” De Grasse told reporters. “He kind of leads you through these Games, and been with him all year. It’s definitely a tough one.” - Tyler Dragon

USA vs Nigeria score after 3Q

The U.S. is rolling with a 76-48 lead through three quarters. Four players have scored nine points or more, led by Jackie Young’s 15. And every player has scored at least one point, and the Americans are shooting 60% from the field. It’s safe to say Australia is counting on playing the U.S. at this point.

USA women's basketball vs. Nigeria score at halftime

The Americans lead 52-33 at halftime in the women's basketball quarterfinals. They shot 59% from the field, 36% from 3. Breanna Stewart led the U.S. with 13 points, A'ja Wilson putting up 10 and Brittney Griner adding 5.

US wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt wins gold medal

PARIS — Over the past four years, Sarah Hildebrandt has established herself as one of the best wrestlers in the world in her weight class. She won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Then silver at the 2021 world championships. Then another bronze, at worlds. Then another.

Yet on Wednesday night, Hildebrandt wasn't one of the best. She was the best.

And the Olympic gold medal draped around her neck was proof.

Hildebrandt gave Team USA its second wrestling gold medal in as many nights (following Amit Elor) at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating Yusneylys Guzmán of Cuba, 3-0, in the 50-kilogram final at Champ-de-Mars Arena. It is the 30-year-old's first senior title at the Olympics or world championships – the gold medal she's been chasing after disappointment in Tokyo. - Tom Schad

Kenneth Rooks wins silver in steeplechase

SAINT-DENIS, France - American Kenneth Rooks, ranked 24th in the world in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, shocked the field with a silver medal Wednesday, clocking a personal-best 8:06.41. After 1,000 meters, Rooks trailed 11 racers, and was running just ninth after 2,000 meters. From there, however, Rooks found another gear and passed the entire field to take the lead with a few hundred meters remaining.

He was overtaken by gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco (8:06.05), and Rooks barely beat bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya (8:06.47). Rooks, the only American in the race, earned Team USA's first men's steeplechase medal since Evan Jager won silver in the 2016 Rio Games. - Chase Goodbread

Jourdan Delacruz falls short of medal in women's weightlifting

PARIS — U.S. women’s weightlifter Jourdan Delacruz significantly improved on her finish from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but fell short of a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics Wednesday.

Competing in the 49 kilograms weight class, Delacruz placed fifth, lifting a combined weight of 195 kilograms, which is nearly 430 pounds – 185 pounds in snatch and 244 pounds in the clean and jerk.

Delacruz, who won bronze at the 2023 world championship, finished last in Tokyo after she unable to complete a lift for the clean and jerk. She had no problem completing her lift in Paris.

China’s Hou Zhizui won gold (206 kilograms or 454 pounds) and set an Olympic record in clean and jerk, lifting 117 kilograms (258 pounds). Romania’s Mihaela Valentina Cambei earned silver and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao took bronze. – Jeff Zillgitt

USA women's basketball vs. Nigeria: Live updates and more

Team USA women's hoops takes on Nigeria with a chance to punch their ticket to the semifinals of the Olympic basketball tournament. USA TODAY Sports will provide highlights, updates and more from the matchup.

Quincy Hall wins men's 400m in thrilling finish

SAINT-DENIS, France – Take that, Noah Lyles.

United States runner Quincy Hall won the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter dash Wednesday – besting Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith and Zambia's Muzuala Samukonga and posting a time of 43.40 to set a personal best.

Hall trailed early but a spectacular straightaway dash allowed him to catch Hudson-Smith steps before the finish line. – Chris Bumbaca

U.S. men's water polo squad wins a thriller vs. Australia

Alex Bowen came through again for the U.S. men's water polo squad on Wednesday.

Down a goal late vs. Australia, Bowen netted a game-tying goal that sent the match to a shootout. Team USA would down Australia 11-10 (4-3 in shootout) to advance to the semifinals.

Team USA wins artistic swimming medal for first time in 20 years

SAINT-DENIS, France — Team USA artistic swimmers won their first Olympic medal in the team competition in 20 years, winning silver behind China with gold (996.1389) and ahead of Spain with bronze (900.7319). They entered Wednesday night’s team acrobatic routine and overall final ranked second behind the gold medalists and held on to finish second with a total score of 914.3421.

Team USA’s most recent Olympic medal in the team competition was bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.

The last time Russia (or athletes competing under the Russian Olympic Committee) did not win Olympic gold in artistic swimming’s team competition was at the 1996 Atlanta Games, when Team USA finished first in the event’s Olympic debut.

The team competition is broken into three routines: the team technical routine, the team free routine and the team acrobatic routine. Following the acrobatic routine Wednesday night, the scores from all three routines are added together to determine the final rankings.

After the team technical routine Monday, Team USA was ranked fourth (282.7567) behind China, Spain and Japan. But the Americans stunned in the team free routine Tuesday, finishing second (360.2688) behind China and setting themselves up to contend for their first Olympic medal in 20 years. – Michelle R. Martinelli

Tony Hawk pushing for more skateboarding at Olympic Games

PARIS — Standing outside the park venue Wednesday after American Tom Schaar won the silver medal, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk said he’s been pushing as hard as he can for more forms of skateboarding to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“It’s LA,” he said. “It’s what people consider the birthplace of modern skateboarding. We should celebrate all styles of skateboarding.”

That includes, of course, his hope that the International Olympic Committee will add a vert competition – the style of skateboarding most associated with Hawk’s tricks.

“I’ve been trying my best to have words with them at every turn here,” Hawk said. – Dan Wolken

British swimmer says there are worms in Olympic village food

There are many things athletes look forward to when hanging out in the Olympic Village.

Unfortunately for one British swimmer, food isn't one of them.

“The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform. We need to give the best we possibly can,” Adam Peaty, who won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, said to Inews this week.

Peaty said in other Olympic stops, like Tokyo and Rio, the food was excellent.

“I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough," Peaty said. “The standard, we’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re feeding them not the best."

See more at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/08/07/paris-olympics-live-updates-results/74191093007/

THURSDAY, 8/1/2024

ATTACHMENT – FROM TIME

HOW U.S. WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM REWROTE THEIR STORY AND RECLAIMED OLYMPIC GOLD

Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee of Team USA celebrate victory in the womens team final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. Markus Gilliar—GES Sportfoto/Getty Images

By Alice Park/Paris July 30, 2024 6:24 PM EDT

It was a bit of déjà vu, and a bit of rewriting history at the Bercy Arena on Tuesday for the women’s gymnastics team final.

Simone Biles waited her turn on the vault runway, and all eyes were on her. The last time she stood at the same position in an Olympic Games, in Tokyo in 2021, she took off, launched herself into the air and then lost herself. She couldn’t complete the flips and twists she had planned, and instead landed with a confused, and scared, look on her face. Following that vault, she withdrew from the team event because of "the twisties," which prevented her from orienting herself in the air.

“I’m not going to lie; it did cross my mind,” her coach, Cecile Landi said of the eerie repeat of Tokyo.

Then, as now, Team USA women competed first on vault before moving on to the other three events—uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. And then, as now, Biles was the last of the three U.S. gymnasts to go.

This time, however, Biles ran down the runway, pushed herself off the vault, completed the flips and twists she needed for the Cheng vault, and landed with a smile on her face.

“I was like, ‘whew,’ because there were no flashbacks or anything," Biles said. "I did feel a lot of relief.”

As she came off the vault podium, Landi told her “‘Well, that’s a way better start than three years ago.’”

And it only got better from there. The U.S. led after the first rotation and maintained that lead over after all four events, finishing nearly six points ahead of silver medalists Italy and nearly seven points ahead of the bronze medalists from Brazil.

With four of the five members of the team—Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Sunisa Lee—returning from that Tokyo team, they’ve been calling Paris their redemption tour. Redemption for the silver medal they earned in Tokyo instead of the gold they were expected to earn, and redemption for Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, who had to make an unexpected exit from the event.

“She wanted to rewrite her story again, and I think she had to finish on an good note,” said Landi.

Biles’ withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics wasn't just a shock to the gymnastics community. It sparked a necessary but often unspoken conversation about mental health in elite sports and beyond; the twisties are often the result of anxiety and pressure, and Biles has since talked about the stress she felt leading up to the Olympics in 2021, which were the first Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Going into tonight, it felt different,” Biles said in Paris. “It was super exciting, we had fun and enjoyed each other’s time out there and just did our gymnastics.”

Team USA Gymnastics Women's National Team athletes Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, and Healy Rivera, pose with their gold medals after the Women's Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France on July 30, 2024.Aytac Unal—Anadolu via Getty Images

At the press conference following the event, Biles’ personality appeared, as she joked about the name for the squad (“I’m not going to say it,” she said of the risqué name) and chided Chiles for copying her every move. “Everything Jordan does she learned from me,” Biles said. “Watch me warm up and then watch Jordan’s.” When asked about the calf injury that led her to crawl at one point during the qualification round in Paris, she shot back “You all are so nosy, give me a break—it’s one thing after the next!”

Biles was definitely back.

Although the U.S. team—which also included newcomer Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the Team USA Olympic squad—qualified with the highest score, the nerves were still on display. On beam, Chiles, who has traditionally been the most consistent performer who executes clean and solid routines, came off beam in her front mount, a skill that she’s admitted scares her.

Biles competed in all four events—uneven bars, beam, floor, and vault, although there had been some discussion about whether she would do so since she faced a heavy competition schedule, starting with qualification, then the team event, all-around, and three individual events. When asked about whether she wanted to compete on all four events, Landi said Biles told her “I am mentally prepared to do all four events and I’m ready.”

Chiles also competed on all four events and continued to add to Team USA's scores in the remaining three. Although she finished with the fourth-highest score in the all-around qualification, the Olympic rules only allow two gymnasts from each country to compete, in an effort to ensure that countries with small teams can participate in that event. So for Chiles, the team event also doubled in a way as her all-around.

“The two-per-country rule—I don’t like it,” she said with her characteristic candor. "But having the opportunity to do all the events definitely felt good and being part of a winning gold medal team with everything we have gone through has been an amazing experience.”

Reigning all-around champion Lee racked up points on uneven bars, beam, and floor, while newcomer Rivera sat out the entire competition, but gained valuable experience in being on the floor—and earning a gold—in her first Olympic Games. Carey, the reigning Olympic gold medalist on floor, struggled in qualification on that event—she stepped out of bounds once and then bounced backward and fell on another tumbling run, and those mistakes on the first day cost her the opportunity to compete in the event final to defen"d her title. The following day, she said she had “not been feeling well the past few days” and “[hadn’t] been able to eat or anything. I had, like, no energy today and didn’t really have a sense of what was going on in my head. So I just kind of wanted people to know that…there’s actually something wrong.”

Carey rallied for the team event, but only competed in vault, and did not compete on floor. In explaining that decision, Chellsie Memmel, the U.S. women’s team technical lead, said “My biggest thing is her safety. I didn’t want to put her out there in a situation where she wasn’t 100% confident that she could do that floor routine, and that’s why we made that decision—for safety.” Memmel wouldn’t detail what caused Carey’s uncharacteristic fall, and only said “she’s doing well.”

The win, while in some ways anticlimactic because it was so expected, still carries tremendous emotional weight for the team, given the unexpected circumstances of Tokyo. “We have definitely been through a lot,” said Lee of the journeys that each of them made to be part of the team—Biles in overcoming her Tokyo experience, Lee in recovering from kidney conditions that kept her from training for months, Chiles in building her confidence after almost quitting the sport before being invited by Biles to train with her before the Tokyo Games. Carey agreed: “I’m really proud of every single one of us in overcoming something before or during this trip to get to where we are today,” she said.

Beyond what it means for the five members of the team, the gold also represents a validation of sorts for a culture shift in gymnastics, a sport that in the U.S. is rebuilding itself after a sexual abuse scandal involving several Olympic team members, including Biles. It’s a much-needed change that is prioritizing respecting and empowering athletes over results and standings. “Gymnasts—they used to try to put us in a box,” Biles said. “So if you weren’t like this you weren’t successful. When I came around nobody really talked or laughed and all that stuff [at training camps]. But I was like, that’s not how I do gymnastics. So I’m going to continue to do the gymnastics that I know and love and the reason why I fell in love with the sport. Now we show off our personalities and really have fun, but know that once we get on the floor, we’ve put in the work and it shows in the results. And we don’t have to be put in a box any more.”