Summer Olympics 2012: Day 5 Update

Let's just kick things off with Mike's email.  Also, we finally get a glimpse of that world-famous spelling....

Day 5 results:

The day started off with us going 0-3 in Boxing, not good.  Also the #1 Archery guy got upset who was a USA guy.  If you watched the team competition he was very overrated anyway.  We still have 1 Women alive in Archery. 

We did pick up a +1 medal in Cycling and it was a Gold!

In rowing there were 3 events, we were supposed to get 1 medal and we did(in a different even then what was projected)

China broke even in Weightlifting.

Because one of their women’s badminton teams got the kicked out of the Olympics, they will lose a medal there as well.

Our Men’s Gymnastic came up big.  Leyva came out of nowhere to win a medal and a +1 for USA.(major spoiler alert too late)  Just to give you an idea with the remaining Gymnastic events(counting of course the Trampoline which is considered Gymnastics) China is expected to get 13 medals and we are only expected to get 3.  I think If we get a few of our people to step up here, it could be a double whammy, one for us to get a couple medals and 2 for us to keep China from getting some.  The all-around events are a lot of work for 1 medal.  But the individual events can give us a chance to rack up some medals fast. 

Fencing saw 2 Americans make it to the semi-finals.  Mariel Zagunis the world #1 was dominating up 10-2(you play to 15) but completely CHOAKED and lost 15-13.  Her male counterpart Kelsey also lost a heartbreaking 6-5 matchup in the semifinals.  In the Bronze Medal match Kelsey went into a sudden death overtime.. Honestly does anyone else think they should take all the gear of in Fencing for Sudden Death?  Either way we lost in overtime and a chance to steal a medal.  Heartbreaking.  In the Women’s Bronze medal match Zagunis lost again after being up 8-2.  Boy this Woman is a complete CHOAK artist and cost our country a medal and a -1. 

Let’s spend some time talking Tennis.  USA Today’s projections had no doubles or mixed double projections.  We also weren’t predicted to win in Men’s or Women’s(Serena is ranked #4).  That said we have quite a few alive and you can see below where they are and when they play next.  Venus did lose a heart breaking match today in singles.  If we get 2-3 medals in Tennis it will go a LONG way to us catching China

Also knock out round in Beach Volleyball and Soccer will get started soon.  You will see the standing update turn into a schedule update, similar to Tennis and Boxing. 

In Swimming we lost one in the 200 Brest.  Also disappointing Michael Jamison from Great Briton got out touched for Silver.  He is my favorite non-American of course.  We didn’t medal in Women’s Butter either and China won, but China was predicted to win 2 medals and didn’t.  In the Men’s 100 Free we picked up another un expected medal and a Gold!  We also won Gold in the 4 x 200 after an unbelievable finishing leg by Schmidt.  Wow.  China also lost a medal in that event.  

All in all it was an OK day.  We fell behind the Chinese a little, but this is the reason why I do this.  We actually gained 3 on them on the projected medal count.  This was because today had some China friendly swimming events, and some Table Tennis medals.  However today could have been much better.  Two Fencing finishes like we had hurts and a couple of 4^th places in swimming/rowing/cycling or else we would be on top of China right now. 

Day 6 what to watch:

Women’s Archery final, and in the round of 8 the last Chinese person is squaring off against the last American.  The all-around Women’s Gymnastic finals.  2 USA and 2 China competitors in that. We are actually favored in Women’s Judo tomorrow so look for a medal there.   In rowing there are 3 events again, and we are projected to get 1 medal.  We go head to head with China in shooting in Men’s double Trap in which we are both projected to medal.

In Swimming tomorrow there are 4 events and we are projected to get 5 MEDALS!  We have a total of 8 swimmers going and tomorrow is the day we find out if Ryan Lochte has “it” or not… 

2012 Olympics US Snapshot Day 5
Country	Overall	Gold	Silver	Bronze	+/-	Prediction
China	30	17	9	4	+1	94
USA	29	12	8	9	+6	88
Team Sports	W	L	T	Standings	Place to make it to Medal Round
M-Basketball	2	0		1	Top 4
W-Basketball	3	0		1	Top 4
M-Volleyball	2	0		T1	Top 4
W-Volleyball	3	0		T1	Top 4
M-Water Polo	2	0		1	Top 4
W-Water Polo	2	0	1	T1	Qualified
W-Soccer	R8 August 3rd
W-Field Hockey	1	1		4	Top 2
Beach Volleyball	W	L	T	Standings
M- Dalhausser/Rodgers	2	0		T1	Qualified
M-Gibbs-Rosenthal	R16 Next Match TBD
W-Trenor/Walsh	R16 Next Match TBD
W-Kessy/Ross	2	0		T1	Qualified
Tennis	Round
M- Isner	R8	2-Aug	*Federer Next
W-Swilliams	R8	2-Aug
M2-Bryan	R8	2-Aug
W2-Huber/Raymond	R4
W2-Williams	R8	2-Aug
Mix- Raymond/Bryan	R8
Mix - Huber/Bryan	R16	2-Aug
Boxing
M-Fly Warren	R16	3-Aug
M-Middle Gausha	R16	2-Aug
M-Light Ramirez	R16	2-Aug
M-Welter Spence	R16	3-Aug
W-Fly Esparaza	R8	6-Aug
W-Light Underwood	R16	5-Aug
W Middle Sheilds	R8	5-Aug

My Two Cents:

Don't let Mike's spelling throw you off here, because the world #1 fencer absolutely choaked!  I honestly do not have much to add on yesterday's events, as I only watched a small part of the men's gymnastics (enough to see Leyva make a nice comeback to score a bronze medal). 

As for today, don't forget to check out Thursday's Olympic Viewing Guide.  I'll start utilizing this space to preview what I consider to be the "high-profile" events of the day:

7:00am EST - Tennis - Bravo:  Some big matches in tennis this morning.  The only big USA match is Serena Williams v. Caroline Wozniacki.  A girl that used to sleep with Shaq v. the girl that is sleeping with pimple-faced Rory McIlroy.  Advantage - USA.

11:30am EST - Women's Gymnastics Individual All-Around - Computer:  2 competitors for USA are Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman.  We definitely should pick up at least 1 medal here.  Where is Jordyn Wieber you might be asking?  Oh, she's right here.

2:46pm EST - Swimming - Men's 200M Backstroke - Computer:  This is Ryan Lochte facing off against fellow American Tyler Clary for the gold.  Big night for Lochte as just a half hour later....

3:15pm EST - Swimming - Men's 200M Individual Medley - Computer:  Phelps v. Lochte.  Boom, roasted. 

5:15pm EST - Men's Basketball - USA v. Nigeria - NBC Sports Network:  Time to see what Team USA is all about!  Huge test here as they face their toughest....wait, what?  Oh, Nigeria?  107-50. 

USA USA USA!!!