Rio 2016 Summer Olympics: Events to watch for Aug. 14-21
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be held from Aug. 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All sports will be held across 33 different venues throughout the Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro and Maracanã regions of the city. Maracanã Stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies on Aug. 5 and 21.
Here are the events and athletes to watch for the second week of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Sunday, Aug. 14
Golf: Will Jordan Spieth or Bubba Watson bring back the first Olympic golf medals to the United States since 1904?
Tennis: The world's No. 1 and 2 ranked tennis players in Novak Djokovic (SRB) and Roger Federer (SUI) have never won gold medals at the Olympics. They are 20-20 in their first 40 matches against each other. In London, Federer took silver as Djokovic lost in the semifinal to eventual gold medalist Andy Murray.
Track and Field: The eyes of the world will be on Usain Bolt (JAM) for less than 10 seconds, as he could become the first man to win three gold medals in the 100-meter dash. American Justin Gatlin appears to be his biggest challenger after running the fastest times of 2014 and 2015.
Monday, Aug. 15
Track and Field: David Rudisha (KEN) set the world record in the men's 800-meters in London but has since lost his grip on the event. 2012 silver medalist Nijel Amos has solved Rudisha's race plan and looks to deliver Botswana's first ever gold medal in Olympic history. The U.S. has not had a medalist in the event since Johnny Gray in 1992.
In the women's 400-meter final, Sanya Richards-Ross could make her individual return to a global championship for the first time since taking gold in London. 2012 200-meter gold medalist Allyson Felix could elect to run the 400-meter dash after committing to the event for the 2015 World Championships.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
Track and Field: The men's 110-meter hurdles provided a world record in 2012 with Aires Merritt winning gold and is the last event of the night. Another world record could be threatened with Mutaz Barshim (QAT) and Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) have come very close having jumped 2.42-meters in 2014.
Americans Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury present America's best medal hopes against the likes of world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, if she elects to run the distance or opt for the 5,000-meters.
Wednesday, Aug. 17
Track and Field: Evan Jager looks to end the United States' medal dry spell in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The United States has not won a medal in the event since Brian Diemer took bronze at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The United States has a chance of sweeping the women's 100-meter hurdles after consistently having the fastest women in the event. Dawn Harper-Nelson has not slowed down since winning gold in 2008 and could try to retain her title from Australia's Sally Pearson, who was sidelined in 2015 with a wrist injury.
Volleyball: An Olympic final on Copacabana Beach? You're not dreaming. Kerri Walsh-Jennings may attempt the golden four-peat with new partner April Ross, who took silver in London. Jennings won gold with Misty May-Treanor in Athens, Beijing and London.
Thursday, Aug 18
Track and Field: Bolt could take the track for his final individual race in the men's 200-meter dash final, an event he has won in Beijing and London. Bolt intends to retire in 2017.
In the multi-events, world record holder Ashton Eaton looks to become the first repeat Olympic champion in the decathlon in 32 years.
Joe Kovacs could bring back a gold medal in the shotput for the first time since Adam Nelson, who retroactively received his 2004 Olympic gold after the Ukrainian first place finisher was stripped of his title due to doping.
Friday, Aug. 19
Golf: The women's final round of play takes place and the first women's gold medals will be handed out since 1900.
Soccer: After winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the United States women's national team looks to win their fourth consecutive Olympics gold medal. The United States has never won the World Cup and Olympics in back-to-back years.
Track and Field: Watch Bolt run one last time in the men's 4x100-meter relay for Jamaica. The United States defeated Jamaica for the first time since 2007 at the IAAF World Relays in May 2015.
Water Polo: After striking gold in 2012, can the American women win back-to-back titles? The U.S. has never missed the podium since the sport's debut at the 2000 Olympics.
Wrestling: Jordan Burroughs took gold in 2012 to remain undefeated in his career at global championships. In the years since, Burroughs sprained his MCL and took bronze at the 2014 World Championships.
Saturday, Aug. 20
Basketball: The U.S. women look to make it six straight gold medals at the Olympics. After sitting out the 2015 season, Diana Taurasi aims to return and make her fourth Olympic team. She could win her fourth gold medal, a feat only accomplished by the USA's Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie. Brittney Griner could make her Olympic debut as well.
Diving: David Boudina shocked many with his upset over the Chinese divers for gold in London and has since claimed silver at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships. A rematch awaits in Brazil. Tom Daley (GBR), who came out as gay two years after London, looks to improve upon his bronze medal from 2012.
Soccer: The Brazil men could win gold in front of their own home crowd in their most popular sport. The team never played in Maracanã Stadium during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in which they finished fourth. The U.S. has not medaled since 1904.
Triathlon: Gwen Jorgensen is the most dominant triathlete in the world at the moment. An unfortunate flat tire in London led to a 38th place finish by the Wisconsin-native and prevented Jorgensen from becoming just the second American woman to medal in the triathlon at the Olympics. The United States could also have Sarah True on the podium, as she finished fourth at the ITU World Olympic Qualification Event in Rio and fourth in London 2012.
Track and Field: The United States can collect a few more medals in the men's and women's 4x400-meter relay, men's 1,500-meters and women's 800-meter run. The U.S. women ran a new world record in the 4x400 in London and are expected to return most of their relay members 2016.
Volleyball: Can Brazil make the final and repeat as Olympic champions in front of their home crowd? The United States took silver in London and later upset Brazil at the 2014 FIVB World Championships, led by outside hitter Kimberly Hill.
Sunday, Aug. 21
Marathon: After a fourth place finish at the 2012 Olympics in London, Meb Keflezighi could make his return to the summer games as the oldest U.S. runner to ever compete at the Olympics. No American has medaled in the marathon since Keflezighi took silver in Athens. The race could also feature world record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya.
Basketball: LeBron James and the United States are looking to win their third consecutive gold medal. The U.S. won gold over Spain by just seven points in London's gold medal match. James and Carmelo Anthony could surpass Michael Jordan's two Olympic gold medals from 1984 and 1992. Stephen Curry could add an Olympic medal to his hardware collection that includes an MVP and NBA Finals trophy.
Closing Ceremony: The Olympics come to a close as the Olympic Flame is extinguished and the countdown begins for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang and the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
- Christopher Chavez
