Two of USA Swimming's biggest stars are back in the pool Saturday in Tokyo.
Caeleb Dressel, who already has two golds in these Olympics, could break his own world record when he swims in the final of the 100-meter butterfly to kick off the day's swimming events.
During Friday's semifinals, Dressel set a new Olympic record with a time of 49.71, just over two tenths of a second off from the world record he set in 2019. The two-time Olympian is the only man to have ever broken 50 seconds in the event. Hungary's Kristof Milak had the second-fastest time in the semis, racing a 50.31.
Dressel won his first individual gold in Tokyo in the 100-meter freestyle on Thursday and added another gold in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay.
Katie Ledecky, meanwhile, will compete in her final individual race of the Games in the 800-meter freestyle. She'll attempt to three-peat in the event, having won gold in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Ledecky already won silver in the 400-meter freestyle, gold in the first-ever Olympic 1500-meter freestyle and anchored the silver-winning women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
FRIDAY RECAP: USWNT beats Netherlands in penalty kicks, US swimmers medal
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TEAM USA MEDAL COUNT: Full list of every American who has earned hardware in Tokyo
TOKYO – Morgan Pearson gutted out a blistering run on the final leg of the triathlon mixed relay on Saturday to give the United States a silver medal in the event’s Olympic debut.
The Americans had battled for first position throughout the relay but were in second when Pearson took over the final leg. France’s Vincent Luis came from third to first halfway through the bike on the final leg, but Pearson ran him down to finish second.
Britain won gold, while France took bronze in the first Olympic race for the event, in which teams of four each swim 300 meters, bike 7.4 kilometers and run 2 kilometers.
Katie Zaferes, the bronze medalist in the women’s race, gave the Americans a narrow lead on the first leg. But the Americans were battling for first after the second leg, with Kevin McDowell finishing nine seconds behind Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee. He tagged Georgia Taylor-Brown, the silver medalist in the women’s triathlon, and she extended the Brits’ lead.
That left Taylor Knibb alone in second for much of the race, and she entered the run 11 seconds behind Taylor-Brown. Knibb tagged Pearson 21 seconds behind Britain.
By the end of the swim, Luis had nearly caught Pearson in second and he passed Britain’s Alex Yee to take first halfway through the bike. The three leaders came into the final transition together, setting off a battle on the final run.
Yee took a commanding lead to give the Brits the gold, and Pearson passed Luis halfway through to get the United States to silver.
--Rachel Axon
Ever wonder how the horses used for equestrian competitions at the Olympics make it to the host cities? Just like their riders, they fly business class, and it took 19 planes to transport over 300 horses to Tokyo.
The U.S. team, which consists of 12 Olympic and Paralympic athletes along with coaches, groomers, doctors and more, flew first to Europe for their pre-export quarantine before heading to Tokyo. Each horse's groomer and vet has to bring a month's worth of supplies with them. Team USA is known for overpacking.
Horses don't have any more trouble flying than humans, though. Some like it more than others, and they're tended to during the entirety of the flight.
--Gabriela Miranda and Rachel Axon
Another new event, the triathlon mixed relay, makes its debuts at the Tokyo Olympics.
There are 17 countries listed as competing in the event. Each country has a four-person team — two men and two women — who will each compete in a super sprint triathlon that consists of a 300-meter swim, 6.8-kilometer bike ride and 2-kilometer run. The order of competitors will alternate between genders and start with a woman.
Kevin McDowell, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Knibb and Katie Zaferes will race for the U.S. Zaferes finished third in the women's individual event on Monday.
Team USA has won five World Championship medals since this triathlon discipline was formalized in 2009, including gold in 2016 and silver in 2020. France is the three-time defending world champion. Australia and Great Britain will be other teams to watch.
Team USA's Schauffele leading as third round of golf begins
Xander Schauffele overtook Mexico's Carlos Ortiz in Friday's second round for first place halfway through the tournament. He shot 8-under par on the day and is 11-under in the tournament heading into the third round. Schauffele is likely the best shot Team USA has for a medal in men's golf.
Schauffele's fellow Americans, Patrick Reed and Collin Moriwaka, are 8-shots back from the lead.
The first two days of the Olympic tournament have been marred by bad weather, with stoppages occurring due to storms in the area.
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