tokyo olympics

6 to Watch: US Superstar Gets Track Gold, USA Women's Basketball Advnaces and More

Here are our 6 things to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

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Tuesday marks day 12 of the Tokyo Olympics - and you won't want to miss out on the action as Team USA competes for more medals.

Two of the fastest women on Team USA track tried to add to its medal count while looking to set some records in the process - while the U.S. women's basketball team was back on the court and in the knockout round against one of the favorites to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

Here are the 6 things to watch at the Tokyo Olympics.

1. Sydney McLaughlin Defeats Dalilah Muhammad, Shatters Own 400m Hurdles WR for Olympic Gold

Team USA track star Sydney McLaughlin took gold in the women’s 400m hurdles and broke her own world record, while Dalilah Muhammad took silver and posted the second fastest time ever.

It was a race of the American superstars.

Dalilah Muhammad topped the world record time in the women's 400m hurdles final on Tuesday night, but it wasn't enough for her to repeat as Olympic champion.

Sydney McLaughlin beat her own world record to win the highly anticipated race and secure her first Olympic medal. McLaughlin took nearly half of a second off her previous world record (51.90 seconds) by finishing in 51.46.

Muhammad, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Games, earned silver with a time of 51.58.

Sydney McLaughlin of Team United States competes in round one of the Women's 400m hurdles heats
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Sydney McLaughlin of Team United States competes in round one of the Women's 400m hurdles heats on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

2. US Women's Basketball Team Routs Australia, Advances to Semifinals

U.S. women's basketball advanced to the semifinals with its win over Australia. The win marks the team's 53rd straight win, putting the U.S. two victories away from a seventh straight gold medal.

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For a team that has won six straight gold medals and more than 50 consecutive games, playing from behind is unfamiliar and unexpected territory.

Yet, after the first quarter in all three games during pool play, the mighty U.S. women's basketball team found itself in that very territory: trailing.

That changed on Wednesday as the U.S. jumped out to an early lead en route to a 79-55 rout of Australia in its quarterfinal matchup at the Tokyo Olympics. The fast start helped secure a spot in the Final Four as Team USA extended its winning streak to 53 games and put itself within two victories of a seventh straight gold medal.

The U.S. advances to the semifinals to face Serbia, which defeated China 77-70 in the quarterfinals, on Friday at 12:40 a.m. ET.

3. US Women's Volleyball Advances to Semifinals With Win Over Dominican Republic

The U.S. women’s volleyball team advanced to the semifinals after shutting out the Dominican Republic 3-0.

Despite being without setter Jordyn Poulter and opposite hitter Jordan Thompson, the United States women’s volleyball team handled the Domincan Republic with relative ease, winning 3-0 in the quarterfinal matchup. 

The U.S. team now will play in the semifinals, where they can punch their ticket to the gold medal game. It's the United States' fourth straight Olympic semifinal appearance.

The U.S. will face the winner of Serbia and Italy in the semifinals. The United States came from down 2-1 to defeat Italy 3-2 in the last match of group play. 

That match will take place Friday, Aug. 6 at 8 a.m. ET. 

4. Nelly Korda Four-Under Par After Women's Golf Tournament First Round

The first round of the women’s golf tournament is in the books and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom is on top of the leaderboard by one stroke, while Team USA’s Nelly Korda and India’s Aditi Ashok are tied for second.

Korda entered the Olympic tournament as the world's top-ranked golfer and finished four under par and one stroke behind Sagstrom.

Viewers can stream Round 2 of the tournament on Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Click here for more information on scheduling.

Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda stand in front a pink fence with the Olympic Rings.
Getty Images
Jessica Korda (L) and Nelly Korda (R) of Team USA play during a practice round at Kasumigaseki Country Club ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

5. Spain splashes past USA in men's water polo quarterfinal

The United States kept Spain at bay during the first half of their quarterfinal match at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough.

The European team -- whose Alvaro Granados is the tournament's top scorer, with a cumulative total of 17 goals so far -- dumped the Americans in the last two quarters, winning 12-8.

Spain moves onto the semifinals, two wins away from gold. They remain perfect -- six for six, between their five preliminary matches and this quarterfinal

Getty Images
Alex Bowen of the United States Men's Waterpolo Olympic Team practices during a media availability on July 08, 2021 in Newport, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

6. Sakura Yosozumi wins gold in women's park skateboarding

Japan won its third straight gold to kick off the inaugural Olympic skateboarding competition.

Japan's Sakura Yosozumi won the first ever Olympic gold medal in women's park skateboarding on Wednesday in Tokyo. Yosozumi, 19, was the oldest medal-winner by more than six years. Japanese teammate Cocona Hiraki, 12, took silver with a 59.04; she scored a 58.05 on her first run, 59.04 on her second, and 5.70 on her third.

Sky Brown, who turned 13 less than a month ago, took the bronze with a 54.04. 

World No. 1 Misugu Okamoto, 15, qualified first out of prelims but missed the podium in the final, finishing fourth. Her highest run score was a 53.58.

American Bryce Wettstein advanced to the final but teammates Brighton Zeuner and Jordyn Barratt missed out, finishing in 11th and 12th in prelims, respectively. Wettstein finished sixth with a 44.50 on her first run.

Getty Images
Jordyn Barratt looks on during the Women's Park Open qualifier at the 2021 Dew Tour in Des Moines, Iowa.
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