The first official day of competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics is complete and the action did not disappoint, though outside of the events themselves, organizers have had to deal with early issues including food shortages and a potentially re-contaminated Seine River.
FIFA also doled out hefty punishments Saturday over Team Canada's drone-spying scandal, banning the women's soccer head coach (Bev Priestman) and two staffers for one year while additionally levying a six-point deduction for the women's soccer team in its Olympic group stage.
On the first day of competition, Spain's Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz were victorious in their Olympic tennis doubles debut Saturday — dubbed the "King and Prince of Clay" due to their combined success in clay-court tournaments, particularly the French Open.
Let's take a look at the medal table after day one at #Paris2024 #Olympics #BBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/wF0mbV3Y8o
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 27, 2024
1. U.S. and Australia renew rivalry in the pool
The 4x100 freestyle relays took center stage Saturday with the Australians earning gold for the women and the Americans coming out on top in the men's event, snatching Team USA's first gold of the Paris Games. American Katie Ledecky also earned bronze in the 400 freestyle, falling to Australia's Ariarne Titmus who earned her second consecutive gold in the event. For those keeping score at home, it's 2-1 Australia in the pool after day one.
2. Men's soccer earns multiple firsts in group stage win
Team USA defeated New Zealand 4-1 in its second group stage match on Saturday, marking multiple firsts for the squad. Djordje Mihailovic's eighth-minute penalty kick was the team's first Olympic goal in 16 years and the win was also the team's first since the 2008 Games in Beijing. It was also the first time the U.S. has scored four goals in an Olympic match.
3. First medals won for U.S. in diving, cycling
The first American medals at the Paris Games were won early Saturday morning. Divers Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook took home silver in the women's 3m synchronized event and road-biker Chloe Dygert secured bronze in the women's individual time trial despite having to recover from a fall.
You won't believe this
Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi apologized humorously to his wife on Instagram, lamenting he lost his wedding ring in the Seine River after serving as his country's flag bearer Friday. He hoped it was a sign he would "come home with even bigger gold," posting a photo comparing himself to Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings.
Defending Olympic high jump champ Gianmarco Tamberi lost his wedding ring last night in the Seine during the #OpeningCeremony
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
"May it be auspicious to come home with even bigger gold!!!"
Via gianmarcotamberi/IG pic.twitter.com/BV5kC1YkKU
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