Trojans At Tokyo Olympics Day 1 Recap: Katinka Hosszu In 400m IM Final; Micah Christenson Boosts USA

A number of USC athletes got USC's presence at the 2020 Olympics underway on Day 1 (Saturday, July 24, in Tokyo), competing in preliminary events in rowing, water polo, swimming and volleyball.

- Rower Ida Gørtz Jacobsen of Denmark was the first Trojan in action at the 2020 Games, placing fifth in heat 2 of the women's four. Her boat now moves on to the repechage on Sunday (July 25) at 1 p.m. JT (9 p.m. PT July 24), versus Poland, Great Britain, Canada, Romania and the U.S.

- In the women's eight in rowing, Chloe Brew of Great Britain finished fourth in heat 1 and advances to the repechage on Wednesday (July 28) at 10:30 a.m. JT (6:30 p.m. PT July 27), facing China, Canada, Romania and Australia.

- In preliminary women's water polo action, the U.S. team—which includes Trojans Kaleigh Gilchrist, Stephania Haralabidis, Paige Hauschild and Amanda Longan on its roster—dominated its first match against host Japan, 25-4. Haralabidis scored 5 goals, while Hauschild and Gilchrist each had 2 goals (Longan did not play). The Americans continue prelim play when they next meet China on Monday (July 26) at 2 p.m. JT (10 p.m. PT July 25).

- Then, several Women of Troy faced off against each other in the following water polo prelim, as Australia beat Canada, 8-5. Australia features Trojans Hannah Buckling and Tilly Kearns (neither scored), while Canada has Joelle Bekhazi and Hayley McKelvey (Bekhazi had 1 goal). Australia next faces the Netherlands, with USC's Maud Megens, on Monday (July 26) at 6:20 p.m. JT (2:20 a.m. PT), while Canada meets Spain, with Trojan Anni Espar, later that Monday (July 26) at 7:50 p.m. JT (3:50 a.m. PT).

- Espar scored 4 goals as Spain demolished South Africa, 29-4, in the following prelim.

- In swimming, Trojan Katinka Hosszu of Hungary will have a chance to defend her 2016 Olympic gold medal in the 400m individual medley. She advanced to the 2020 final by placing seventh in the prelims at 4:36:01. The 400m IM final is set for Sunday (July 25) at 11:12 a.m. JT (7:12 p.m. PT July 24).

- Louise Hansson of Sweden advanced to the semifinal in the 100m butterfly by finishing sixth in the prelims (56.97). Her semifinal race is scheduled for Sunday (July 25) at 10:40 a.m. JT (6:40 p.m. PT July 24).

- Hansson then came back to swim the third leg on Sweden's 400m freestyle relay, which placed eighth in a time of 3:35.93 to advance to the final. Hansson clocked 53.68 on her leg. The final is on Sunday (July 25) at 11:45 a.m. JT (7:45 p.m. July 24).

- Anika Apostalon swam the final leg on the Czech Republic's 400m freestyle relay team. The quartet finished 14th in 3:42.40 and did not advance (Apostalon's split was 55.93).

- The U.S. men's volleyball team, guided by Trojan setter Micah Christenson, swept France, 25-18, 25-18, 25-22, in a preliminary match. Christenson, who helped the U.S. win a bronze in the 2016 Olympics, had 43 assists, 5 digs and 1 kill. The U.S. next plays the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) team on Monday (July 26) at 11:05 a.m. JT (7:05 p.m. PT July 25) in prelim action.

- At the Opening Ceremonies on Friday (July 23), two USC Olympians carried their delegation's flag during the Parade of Nations: swimmers Robert Glinta of Romania and Yakov Toumarkin of Israel.

Sixty-six past, present and future USC students are competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, far more than any school in the nation this Olympics and the Trojans' most ever in a single Olympics. The Trojans represent 33 National Olympic Committees in 12 different sports.