tokyo olympics

6 to Watch: USA Basketball Rebounds After Shocking Loss, Water Polo Drops Heartbreaker and More

Here are our 6 things to watch on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics

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Tuesday marks day five of the Tokyo Olympics - and with it comes some interesting storylines for athletes on Team USA.

Swimming sensation Katie Ledecky made Olympic history - while Team USA men's basketball aimed to get back on track after suffering its first loss since 2004.

Here are our 6 things to watch Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympics:

1. Katie Ledecky makes Olympic history

Fellow American Erica Sullivan took the silver medal, and German Sarah Köhler earned bronze.

Katie Ledecky has become the first-ever women's 1500m freestyle Olympic gold medal winner. Ledecky finished with a time of 15:37.34. Fellow American Erica Sullivan finished with the silver medal in second and German Sarah Köhler came in third to earn a bronze.

Ledecky couldn't make the podium in the 200m freestyle, finishing fifth with a time of 1:55.21. Australia’s Ariarne Titmus won the event in 1:53.50. 

American Gunnar Bentz came in seventh in the men's 200m butterfly with a time of 1:55.46. Hungary’s Kristof Milak broke Michael Phelps’ 200m butterfly Olympic record with a time of 1:51.25 to win gold. Phelps set the previous Olympic record in 2008 with a time of 1:52.03.

Team USA took home the silver and bronze medals in the women's 200m individual medley, with Alex Walsh coming in second and Kate Douglass finishing third. The Americans finished behind gold medal winner Yui Ohashi from Japan.

Katie Ledecky, of the United States poses with her silver medal in the women's 400-meters freestyle at the 2020 Olympics on July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
AP Photo/Matthias Schrade
Katie Ledecky, of the United States poses with her silver medal in the women's 400-meters freestyle at the 2020 Olympics on July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

2. U.S. men’s basketball gets back on track with win vs. Iran

After losing to France in their opening game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the USA men’s basketball team beat Iran 120-66.

After losing to France in their opening game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the USA men’s basketball team beat Iran 120-66.

Miami Heat superstar Bam Adebayo had just six points in the game.

Team USA was stunned by France in the fourth quarter of their Group B opener on Sunday. France ended the game on a 16-2 run, handing the Americans’ their first Olympic loss since 2004 in Athens.

Members of the U.S. men's basketball team stand in blue jerseys with the letters "USA" across the front.
Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, July 25, 2021 - Mens Basketball, USA vs. France at Saitama Super Arena.

3. Team USA advances to 3x3 basketball gold medal game

The U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team is one victory away from a gold medal.

The team defeated France 18-16 on Wednesday, advancing to the sport's first gold medal game against the ROC starting at 8:55 a.m.

Team USA never trailed in the game, taking a 15-12 lead when Kelsey Plum eluded her defender with a hesitation dribble drive and converted the layup with 2:17 remaining. France came back to tie it at 16 with 1:07 remaining on a layup by Laetitia Guapo.

USA's Stefanie Dolson (l) fights for the ball with Japan's Stephanie Mawuli during the women's first round 3x3 basketball match between USA and Japan at the Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo, on July 27, 2021 during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

4. U.S. women’s water polo team drops game vs. Hungary

Team USA has looked like a team determined to win its third straight Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo - until Tuesday.

Undefeated in London and Rio, Team USA dropped a tight preliminary match to Hungary 10-9 for their first loss since Beijing 2008. They had already qualified for the knockout rounds.

The squad started off the tournament with a historic, 21-goal victory of host nation Japan on Saturday. The margin of victory was the most ever in a women’s Olympic water polo game - until Spain broke the record against South Africa just a few hours later.

Team USA is led by Miami native Ashleigh Johnson, with the Ransom Everglades School alum in net for the Americans.

Ashleigh Johnson stops a goal in Olympic waterpolo
Marcel ter Bals/BSR Agency/Gettyimages
Ashleigh Johnson of United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Women match between Team United States and Team China at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

5. Andrew Capobianco, Mike Hixon take silver in men’s synchronized springboard

U.S. divers Michael Hixon and Andrew Capobianco won a silver medal in the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

Andrew Capobianco and Mike Hixon soared for Team USA in the men’s synchronized springboard final on Wednesday.

The U.S. has won a medal in the event in the last two Olympics, with Hixon and Sam Dorman claiming silver at the 2016 Rio Games. That tandem fell four points shy of Great Britain’s gold medal duo.

United States' Michael Hixon and Andrew Capobianco perform a dive during the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard preliminaries at the FINA Diving World Cup Sunday, May 2, 2021, at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo.
AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
United States' Michael Hixon and Andrew Capobianco perform a dive during the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard preliminaries at the FINA Diving World Cup Sunday, May 2, 2021, at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo.

6. U.S. men’s volleyball dominates Tunisia in group play

The U.S. men’s volleyball team was able to bounce back from its first loss in Tokyo with a dominating win over Tunisia in group play.

Team USA started off pool play strong with a 3-0 sweep over France but took a step back in a 3-1 loss to ROC.

Entering Tuesday tied for third place with France in Pool B, the U.S. faced a Tunisia squad that was 0-2 and has yet to win a single set.

Getty Images
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 26: Dmitry Volkov #7 of Team ROC attacks at the net against Team United States during the Men's Preliminary Round - Pool B volleyball on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
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