The final Friday of the 2024 Olympics brings an important knockout round for some of Team USA’s top squads, and Sha’Carri Richardson takes to the track for the final time in Paris.
USA women’s basketball defeated Australia in the semifinals, moving to its eighth consecutive gold medal game. The team has dominated the Olympics so far, winning every game by double digits.
On the track, the men’s and women’s 4×100 relay teams competed in the finals. The women’s team raced first, winning gold in the race led by the anchor leg of Sha’Carri Richardson. The men’s team was disqualified for passing the baton outside the “takeover zone” as Canada took the gold. Later in the day, Rai Benjamin will be looking for his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Here is the full schedule for Friday.
2:05 pm ET — France-Spain enters extra time after coming back from two goals down
Down 3-1 in the men’s soccer gold medal match, France staged a clutch comeback against Spain to send the match into extra time.
Maghnes Akliouche scored in the 78th minute to make it a one-score game, then France were awarded a penalty late into extra time. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the penalty, sending the Parc des Princes crowd into a frenzy. Mateta’s attack is the latest regulation penalty target in the last three Olympics, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
DRAMA IN THE GOLD MEDAL MATCH. 😱
France were awarded a late penalty and Jean-Philippe Mateta SCORE to level the match at 3-3!#ParisOlympics | 📺 US Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/WVWxrpll20
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
1:52 PM ET — US men’s 4×100-meter relay disqualified, Canada wins gold
Unlike the women’s race, Team USA’s men’s 4x100m relay team failed to medal, due in part to a nightmare first hand between Christian Coleman and Kenneth Bednarek.
Coleman made good time but was unable to find a smooth transition with Bednarek, actually running into the back of his teammate before finally passing the baton.
This means he is then disqualified for passing the baton outside the “takeover zone.” — Connor O’Halloran
Andre de Grasse anchors Canada to 4x100m GOLD in Paris! 🇨🇦 #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/uA15jxhZHb
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
1:35 PM ET — US women’s 4×100-meter relay wins gold
Take a bow, Sha’Carri Richardson.
The United States has won several sprinting medals on the track this week, and just added another gold in the women’s 4×100 relay.
The US has been fast all week, and the quartet of Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry came in as favorites for the women’s relay. Three of them have picked up medals this week, including Thomas’ 200m gold, Richardson’s 100m silver and Jefferson’s 100m bronze.
The Americans were in third place when Richardson was handed the baton for the home straight, but he won the gold when he reached the finish line.
Here comes SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON!
Team USA took GOLD in the women’s 4x100m. #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/ZM6qaYCQOw
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Richardson showed again here that she is the fastest woman in the world when it comes to speed.
There was even enough time for Richardson to look long on the right when England’s Daryll Neita tried desperately to catch him. — Connor O’Halloran
1:29 pm ET — USA women’s basketball moves into the gold medal game
Team USA cruised to its 60th straight victory, defeating Australia 85-64 to clinch a spot in the gold medal game. The US had four players in double figures, led by Breanna Stewart’s 16.
They will face either France or Belgium on Sunday for their eighth Olympic gold medal. — Read more
ONE GAME AWAY GOLD 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/iVCrEnQDYT
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 9, 2024
12:56 pm ET — USA women’s basketball brings star-studded sidelines
When the U.S. women’s basketball team plays, it’s a show — especially in the most important games. With a stacked roster including stars such as A’ja Wilson and Diana Taurasi, it’s only right that the stars come out to witness the greatness. During Team USA’s semifinal game against Australia, the USA men’s basketball team, Carmelo Anthony and the Bryant family were among those in attendance.
12:09 PM ET — USA men’s volleyball takes bronze
The Americans have displayed strategy, strength and explosiveness in their quest for the Olympics. It all paid off with a bronze medal — their sixth — after the U.S. defeated Italy 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 26-24). The medal joins Team USA with Brazil and the Soviet Union for the most men’s volleyball hardware of any country, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It marked the second time the U.S. had won a medal match in straight sets at the Olympics. The other time was in 1984, when the Americans beat Brazil in the gold medal game.
Erik Shoji scored a point for @USAVolleyball with his shoulder?! 😂 #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/JyBZ8angqQ
– NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 9, 2024
11:23 am ET — Zhang sets up an eagle to finish strong
Rose Zhang finished for the day at 7 in, and it was shots like this that helped him secure that mark. Nelly Korda finished at 4 under, with Lilia Vu behind at 3 over. Lydia Ko is now in the lead at 9 in with holes left to play.
AWESOME shot from Rose Zhang to set the EAGLE on the 18th! 🇺🇸🎯
📺 Golf and Peacock Channel | #ParisOlympicspic.twitter.com/rJvz4qJeVT
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
10:59 am ET — Too progressive, right?
If you think you’re strong, wait until you see this guy. Rizki Juniansyah from Indonesia just lifted almost three times his body weight above his head.
Rizki Juniansyah Indonesia weighs 160 kilograms. He just managed to lift 437 POUNDS of weight over his head in the clean and jerk to win gold and set an Olympic record. 🤯#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/9btpSyWNW6
– NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 9, 2024
10:08 a.m. ET — Sha’Carri Richardson’s sprint starts with pressed nails
American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson is an Olympic silver medalist in the 100 meters. He looks on the track well stands out. Richardson’s hair, jewelry and tattoos showcase her creativity and move to the track. A big part of Richardson’s look is her pressed nails. Discover the nail technology behind sprinter nail art. — Read more
9:28 am ET — What’s the point of the Seine in the Olympics?
Paris spent $1.4 billion to clean up the Seine River through four events that included a triathlon and marathon swim. However, any type of rain can lead to higher levels of E. coli and bacteria in the river. During the opening ceremony, more than a month’s worth of rain fell on the river in 36 hours.
A test run that would allow the Olympians to familiarize themselves with the course was canceled due to concerns about the quality of the water, and many athletes got sick. Is it a good idea for athletes to swim in the Seine? — Read more
8:47 am ET — Letsile Tebogo comments on Noah Lyles after the 200m final
After winning the men’s 100 meters in the photo race, Noah Lyles is expected to win his second gold in the 200 meters. However, Lyles earned the bronze medal in the 200 with a time of 19.70 seconds. Letsile Tebogo won the gold, at 19.46. In the postrace press conference, Tebogo was asked about being the new face of track and field — and he had some criticism for Lyles.
Tebogo: I’m not arrogant or loud like Noah Lyles
Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo says he will never be the face of athletics because he is not “arrogant or loud” like Noah Lyles.
7:13 a.m. ET — United States women’s 100-meter hurdles go 3-for-3 in final
America has always been dominant when it comes to the 100-meter hurdles. Grace Stark set the standard for US women with a perfect three-step technique to finish first in her heat with a time of 12.39 seconds.
Grace Stark led wire-to-wire to beat Devynne Charlton and qualify for the 100m hurdles final. 😲 #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/JI1cFooKX3
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Alaysha Johnson, from Spring, Texas, made it look easy with 12.34 to automatically qualify for the final.
Not catching Alaysha Johnson. 🔥
USA Lay jumps into Olympic 100m hurdles final. #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/fxE5rbu519
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
US Olympic Trials champion Masai Russell has a job to do. After coming off the 10th and final hurdle, Russell was in position to finish third in the heat. Russell leaned over the line to edge Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, finishing second with a time of 12.42 seconds to advance to the final.
Masai Russell finished STRONG to hold off the pack and win the last automatic qualification to the 100m hurdles final.👏 #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VsfvHWlFM2
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
6:44 am ET — Bryce Hoppel enters the 800m final
American Bryce Hoppel’s strategy to qualify for the final of the men’s 800 meters was correct. Staying with the pack was the name of the game for Hoppel, as he kicked enough in the final round to finish second in his heat and become an automatic qualifier with a time of 1:43.41.
Bryce Hoppel took it all the way to secure a spot in his first Olympic 800m final. 💪 #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/JNzIzi9998
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
6:40 a.m. ET — Team USA’s men’s 4×400 takes the baton into the finals
16-year-old Quincy Wilson not only made history as the youngest American male to compete in the Olympics, he earned the honor of getting out of the blocks as the first leg.
Quincy Wilson, 16, made his Olympic debut and became the youngest male track & field athlete to compete for the United States at the Olympics. 🇺🇸 #ParisOlympics
📺 US Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/XJ4HudX0Dx
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Wilson ran a split of 47.27 seconds, handing the seventh baton to Vernon Norwood. His 43.54 held Team USA with the pack. Bryce Deadmon ran 44.20 seconds to pass the baton to Chris Bailey, who was in the men’s 400m final, to pull through for the US. with a 2:59.15 to advance to the finals.