Accessibility links

Breaking News

Day 2 - What's Happening at Rio Summer Olympics?

update

Day two of the Summer Olympics Games is underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The most decorated athlete in Olympic history, Michael Phelps, will compete in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. Americans are hoping for first place this time after the French took the gold in 2012.

Phelps hits the water in the 200-meter butterfly and is expected to swim the 100 meter fly, 200-meter individual medley, and as many as three relays.

Women’s U.S. swimming has picked up its first medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle.The team included 19-year-old Katie Ledecky who is competing for three individual medals, and is a favorite in the 400 freestyle, in which she holds the world record.

Day two of the Rio Games is also a day for men’s fencing, judo, women’s road cycling and the U.S. gymnastics women's national team to make their debut.

Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas is facing heavy competition from other countries and her teammate Simone Biles. Douglas's became the first African-American to win all-around gold during the London Olympics to lead the United States to the women's team title.

United States' Gabrielle Douglas trains on the uneven bars ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 4, 2016.
United States' Gabrielle Douglas trains on the uneven bars ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 4, 2016.

Day 1

American shooter Ginny Thrasher, a 19-year-old competitor in the women’s air rifle event, took gold - the first of the 2016 Summer Games - edging out two Chinese competitors, Du Li and Yi Siling.

Australians set a world record in the pool in the 4x100-meter freestyle event to win in three minutes, 30.65 seconds, taking a third of a second off the record set by the Aussies two years ago.

Another world record was crushed by Hungary's Katinka Hosszu in the women's 400-meter individual medley, earning gold with a time of four minutes, 26.36 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than the previous record.Maya DiRado of the U.S. took the silver medal.

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu celebrates after setting a new world record and winning the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Aug. 6, 2016.
Hungary's Katinka Hosszu celebrates after setting a new world record and winning the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Aug. 6, 2016.

American tennis star Venus Williams lost in the first round to Kristen Flipkens of Belgium. While Williams has a record of four Olympic gold medals, Flipkens celebrated the first-round victory as if she won her first top medal.

“This is just one of the most epic matches in my life,” Flipkens said, adding, “They [spectators] just enjoyed my game because, I think, I’m a little girl trying to do some special stuff to get a chance to beat a champion like that.”

In women's handball, Brazil upset defending champion Norway 31-28 in the opening fame. Twelve goals for Brazil scored by Ana Paula Rodrigues led the team to victory in a sport in which Brazil has never earned gold.

Brazil's Ana Paula Belo, center, scores a goal past Norway's Marit Malm Frafjord, right, during the women's preliminary handball match between Norway and Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2016.
Brazil's Ana Paula Belo, center, scores a goal past Norway's Marit Malm Frafjord, right, during the women's preliminary handball match between Norway and Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2016.

In a group stage football (soccer), U.S. women won 1-0 in a match against France at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.

The American men's basketball team romped over China 119-62 in their opener.

French gymnast Samir Ait Said suffered a horrific leg break.The gymnastic’s leg snapped on his vault landing. According to the French gymnastic federation, Ait Said broke both his tibia and fibia.

Some material for this report came from AP and AFP.

  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG