Just Falling Short
Day 12: What's Happening in Gymnastics?
If youâve been thinking that it seems like a lot of Gymnastics athletes are falling, youâre not alone.
Whether it was the 5 out of 8 Men falling off the Horizontal Bar Final, or half the Women losing their Balance Beam Final, something was up. (Maybe it was the Brady Curse.)
After the Final, Team USAâs Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee blamed the âweirdâ and âawkwardâ atmosphere, but watching the competition one couldnât help but wonder if something was wrong with the beam. It wouldnât be the first time a faulty apparatus cost an Olympic favorite the Gold.
In the middle of the Womenâs All-Around Final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 16-year-old Australian gymnast Allana Slater realized the vault had been set too low, resulting in many competitors inexplicably falling. Eighteen women, including the Gold Medal favorite had already vaulted at the wrong height, and though they were given the option of a re-do, the damage was already done. The debacle was ultimately a result of outdated paperwork, but it remains a black-eye on the sport.
Following the Sydney Games, the event switched from the horse to a vaulting table, revolutionizing the sport and spawning new forms of vaulting. Todayâs beam mishaps are unlikely to lead to such dramatic change, but we will definitely be listening for some background music in L.A.
What To Watch Today
(All times Eastern. Full event replays available on-demand on Peacock)
A generally slower day on the final Tuesday in Paris, but it is the beginning of very entertaining Canoe Sprint races, an American in the first Wrestling Final, and your last chance to see the horsies.
4:00 am - Equestrian: Jumping Individual Final đșđžđ„
4:00 am - Table Tennis: Womenâs Team Round of 16, USA vs Germany đșđž
4:00 am - Climbing: Womenâs Boulder & Lead, Semifinal Boulder đșđž
4:05 am - Athletics: Women's 1500m Round 1, Men's Javelin Qualis, Women's Long Jump Qualis đșđž
7:35 am - Climbing: Menâs Speed, Qualification heats đșđž
8:43 am - Sailing: Women's Dinghy Medal Race đșđžđ„
9:00 am - Diving: Women's 10m Platform Finalđ„
9:43 am - Sailing: Men's Dinghy Medal Raceđ„
11:00 am - Volleyball: Womenâs Quarter-Finals, USA vs Poland đșđž
11:30 am: Skateboarding: Women's Park Final đșđžđ„
12:00 pm - Soccer: Womenâs Semi-Final, USA vs Germany đșđž
1:30 pm - Artistic Swimming: Team Free Routine đșđž
1:30 pm - Wrestling: Men's Greco-Roman 60kg and 130kg Medal Matches, Women's Freestyle 68kg Medal Matches đșđžđ„đ„đ„
1:35 pm - Athletics: Men's 400m Semi-Final, Women's 400m Hurdles Semi-Final, Women's Hammer Throw Final, Men's Long Jump Final, Men's 1500m Final, Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final, Women's 200m Final đșđžđ„đ„đ„đ„đ„
1:55 pm - Track Cycling: Men's Team Sprint Medal Races đșđžđ„
2:35 pm - Water Polo: Womenâs Quarter-Finals, USA vs Hungary đșđž
3:30 pm - Basketball: Menâs Quarter-Final, USA vs Brazil đșđž
3:30 pm - Boxing: Men's 71kg - Semifinals, USA vs Uzbekistan đșđž
4:00 pm - Beach Volleyball: Women's Quarterfinal, USA vs Switzerland đșđž
5:06 pm - Boxing: Womenâs 60kg Finalsđ„
In Other Olympic NewsâŠ
Surfing FINALLY ended, and America won a Gold.
Maybe swimming in the Seine wasnât such a good idea after all?
The greatest pole vaulter ever paid homage to everyoneâs favorite shooter.
Sister vs sister in the wild sport of Kayak Cross.
Photo of the Day
