Team USA loses Simone Biles but wins silver, USWNT through to the knockout round, and Alaska wins it’s first-ever swimming medal | What You Missed
The biggest news out of Tokyo on Tuesday was USA Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles pulling out of the Team Final, but her teammates battled tough and still secured a silver medal. The USWNT coasted to a draw with Australia that sent them through to the knockout rounds, and Lydia Jacoby shocked the world - and herself - by bringing home the first-ever swimming gold for the state of Alaska.
Video transcript
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LIZ LOZA: Good morning, America. Another day, another batch of medals for Team USA. From the waves of the surfing final, to the vault of the women's team gymnastics final, we've got a lot to get to. So here's what you might have missed.
The biggest news of the day came out of the Ariake Gymnastics Center at the Women's Team Final. Team USA hit the vault on its first rotation, but unfortunately, disaster struck. American superstar Simone Biles landed awkwardly on her vault attempt and quickly walked off the floor with a trainer. When she returned, USA Gymnastics announced that the GOAT had pulled out of the Team Final.
Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles, and Suni Lee were thrust into the spotlight and they delivered an incredibly gutsy performance, bringing home the silver behind the ROC. You made the nation proud, ladies. We're all crossing our fingers that Simone is OK.
From the gym to the pool, and the women's 100 meter breaststroke. All eyes were on American Lilly King, but it was 17-year-old Lydia Jacoby that shocked the world and herself to take home the gold. Jacoby is the first Team USA swimmer from the State of Alaska. And now, she's the first to win Olympic gold. Lilly King did join Lydia on the podium with a bronze of her own.
Now, up to the diving platform, where Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell secured team USA'S first ever medal in the women's synchronized 10 meter platform, by bringing home the silver. Congrats, ladies. That's big time.
From the pool to the ocean we go. Surfing made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, with Hawaii's Carissa Moore making history. Moore secured the first ever gold medal in women's surfing, posting her best score of the tournament, a 14.93 in the final round. Mahalo to you, Carissa, for repping us so well.
Now, to the football pitch, where the US Women's National Team took on Australia in their final match of the group stage. With Sweden topping New Zealand in their Group G match, the US women only needed a draw to secure a spot in the knockout round. And while it definitely wasn't flashy, that's exactly what they did. A 0-0 draw against the Aussies put the United States through to play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Finally, we go over to the softball diamond for the gold medal rematch between Team USA and Team Japan. The US was looking to avenge their gold medal loss from 2008, but Japan had other plans, scoring a run in the top of the fourth and then again in the top of the fifth to put the Americans in a 2 and 0 hole. Behind a masterful pitching performance by Yukiko Ueno, those two runs were all Japan needed to win the gold. Team USA gets its second straight Olympic softball silver, 13 years apart.
As of right now, Team USA is second in the gold medal standings just behind Japan. The Americans are currently leading the total medal standings narrowly ahead of China. Remember, medal counts are constantly changing, so be sure to follow @YahooSports on Twitter from moment-to-moment updates.
We look forward to continuing to bring you highlights of American brilliance throughout the game. So make sure you check back again tomorrow for another morning update.
