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Jaylon Thompson

Best of 2016 Summer Olympics Stories

Updated: Dec 3, 2020


1.) Sandi Morris Continues Team USA’s Strong Pole Vault Tradition, Wins Silver

RIO DE JANEIRO – In her Olympic debut, Sandi Morris won a silver medal in women’s pole vault at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“I told myself that if I could get any medal today, I would be extremely happy,” Morris said. “I am so happy and blessed as it is so hard to make it to this position. To come away with a silver medal is absolutely phenomenal.”

Morris impressed throughout the event and nearly took home the gold medal. In the last jump at 4.90 meters, Morris nearly cleared the bar. However, a small misstep in her technique caused the bar to fall.

 

2.) Quest For Six Continues: U.S. Women’s Basketball Team Headed To Gold-Medal Game

RIO DE JANEIRO— The U.S. women’s basketball team is approaching uncharted waters in pursuit of its sixth consecutive gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The team moved one step closer on Thursday night by defeating France, 86-67, to advance to the gold-medal match. It was the U.S. women’s 48th consecutive win at the Olympics.

“It has been tough and it hasn’t been an easy road,” Angel McCoughtry said. “It is going to mean a lot as we are ready for the gold-medal game. We got to be serious and really get this (the gold medal).”

 

3.) Tori Bowie Pulls Off Successful Double, Takes Bronze In 200-Meter

RIO DE JANEIRO — Tori Bowie raced into the history books by winning a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and accomplished a dream years in the making.

“My goal was to finish the best that I could,” Bowie said. “I am leaving with another medal and I now have two.”

Her time was 22.15 seconds. The bronze medal is Bowie’s second at the Rio Olympics. She won a silver medal after running the women’s 100-meter in 10.83 seconds.

 

4.) 2008 Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt Returns To 400-Meter Podium, Earns Bronze

RIO DE JANEIRO — LaShawn Merritt won a bronze medal in the men’s 400-meter at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and set a season-best time in the process.

“It was a great race and I knew it was going to be a fast one,” Merritt said. “I didn’t think it was going to be 43 seconds fast, but we got our medals.”

Merritt ran 43.85 seconds and was in contention throughout the race. He had a strong start but couldn’t maintain the record-setting pace of South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk.

 

5.) Judoka Travis Stevens Wins Team USA’s First-Ever Olympic Medal In His Weight Class

RIO DE JANEIRO — U.S. men’s judoka Travis Stevens won a historic silver medal Tuesday at Carioca Arena 2 at Barra Olympic Park, one year after not knowing if he would ever compete again.

“It’s hard not to break down in tears after everything that I have been through in life,” Stevens said. “To be able to put it to the grindstone and have my team behind me to this point means more than the world to me.”

Despite losing to Russian gold medalist Khasan Khalmurzaevby ippon (100-point takedown) in Tuesday’s gold-medal match, Stevens’ Olympic result was something to celebrate. He became the first U.S. men’s judo silver medalist in the 81 kg. division after nearly losing his leg last year at the world championships.

 

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