U.S. wins first gold on Day 1 of the Summer Games in swimming relay

After overtaking Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky to successfully defend her gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus reflected on how her first victory prepared her for this one.

“I know what it takes to be an Olympic Champion,” Titmus, 23, said. “The noise and atmosphere and village life definitely makes performing well hard, but I’m really happy to come out on top.”

Speaking about the challenges of performing at your best in the Olympic atmosphere, Titmus added: “It’s about who can really keep it together in the mind.”

The three-time gold medalist said she thinks of herself as “so normal” and hopes to inspire young kids back home in Australia. When asked about her rival swimmers, she gave a shout-out to Ledecky.

“We’ve got a pretty good relationship outside the water, like I definitely don’t see my rivalry with her in anything but racing. I really respect her as a person,” Titmus said of the American legend.

Katie Ledecky was in a tight race with Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh during the 400-meter freestyle before finishing third for her 11th Olympic medal.

“I would like to have been faster, so just a little disappointed that I could not bring my best today,” Ledecky said. “But a medal is a medal.”

Canada has opened up a 48-38 lead on Greece at halftime.

Greece was within three points with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter, but were outscored 20-13 the rest of the way. Canada has three scorers in double digits: Dillon Brooks with 11, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 12, and R.J. Barrett leading with 13. Canada’s physicality was an issue for Greece—the Canadians got to the free-throw line 20 times in the first half.

Playing in his first Olympics, Giannis Antetokounmpo leads his country with 16 points. Turnovers have been an issue for Greece however, who coughed up the ball nine times in the opening 20 minutes.

Both teams are playing in their first game of the Olympics.

The men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team just brought home a gold medal for the U.S. — Team USA’s first in Paris.

The team — made up of Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong, and Caeleb Dressel — finished 1.07 seconds before the silver medal team, Australia. Italy won bronze.

The U.S. had won gold in this event in 10 of the last 13 Olympics. This win adds an 11th gold to the trophy cabinet. It’s also Dressel’s eighth Olympic gold.

Team USA brought home the silver medal in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay.

Australia won gold and China won bronze.

Australia had won three straight golds in the event, making this their fourth in a row.

The U.S. team was comprised of Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, and Simone Manuel. Earlier in the night, both Walsh and Huske qualified for the women’s 100-meter butterfly final.

The USA’s Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula teamed up on women’s doubles, coming out victorious against the Australian duo of Daria Saville and Ellen Perez.

The American duo won 6-3, 6-1.

Gauff — yesterday’s flag bearer along with Lebron James — won her first Grand Slam doubles title on the same court earlier this year, taking home the Roland Garros doubles trophy with partner Katerina Siniaková.

In the 5-8 placing match, the U.S. men’s rugby team fell to Ireland in a close game. Following a missed conversion from Ireland, the U.S. was in the lead, until Ireland’s Terry Kennedy scored a try to secure a 17-14 win.

When American rugby sevens legend Perry Baker touched down on his 10th try, he became the all-time leading men’s try scorer in Olympic history. The 38-year-old plans to retire following these Games.

The Americans went on to play for seventh place against Argentina but were shut out 19-0.

Canada holds a slim, 26-22 lead over Greece after the first quarter of their Group A game in men’s basketball.

Canada is one of the more intriguing squads at the Paris games, featuring nine NBA players, second most to USA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist from the 2024 NBA season, led Canada in scoring with eight points. R.J. Barrett added seven.

Greece was led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored eight himself. Greece fell down by double digits in the first quarter, but closed on a 13-4 run to close the gap.

This is the first game for either country in group play. Australia is currently leading the pack after a win over Spain.

Team USA’s Nic Fink is headed to tomorrow’s 100-meter breaststroke final, clocking in with the fourth-best time — 59.16 — after both semifinals. The other American in contention for the final, Charlie Swanson, did not advance.