Trojans At Tokyo Olympics Day 13: April Ross Wins Gold Medal; Allyson Felix Makes History
On a big day for Trojan Olympians in Tokyo, April Ross completed her Olympic medal collection by capturing the gold in women's beach volleyball, Allyson Felix became the most decorated female track Olympian with a bronze in the 400m, Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown led Canada's sprint relay team to a bronze and Kostas Genidounias helped Greece's men's water polo team advance to the gold medal match, all on Day 14 (Friday, Aug. 6, in Tokyo) of the 2020 Olympics.
- USC's April Ross of the U.S. and partner Alix Klineman took down Australia's Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy, 21-15, 21-16, to win the gold medal in women's beach volleyball. The Americans, who went 7-0 in Tokyo and lost just one set, established control early in each set, going on a 5-0 run in the first set to build a 7-2 margin and a 10-0 run in the second set for a 10-2 lead. Ross had match bests of 4 aces (the U.S. served 7 aces) and 8 digs to go with her 9 kills. This was the third Olympic medal for Ross, who now has the entire collection: she who won a silver in the 2012 Olympics with Jenn Kessy and a bronze in 2016 with Kerri Walsh Jennings. Read more about Ross' gold medal
- In the women's beach volleyball bronze medal match, the impressive Olympic run of the young Latvian team of Trojan Tina Graudina and partner Anastasija Kravcenoka ended with a 21-19, 21-15 loss to Switzerland's veteran duo of Anouk Verge-Depre and Joana Heidrich. Graudina, a senior at USC, had 9 kills, 4 digs and 1 block in the match.
- In the second-to-last day of the Olympic track events, Allyson Felix collected her 10th career Olympic medal (more than any female track athlete in history and upping her USC record) by capturing a bronze in the 400m in a season-best time of 49.46. In a career that spans five Olympics, Felix has won six gold medals, three silvers and now a bronze. She now is tied with Carl Lewis for the most Olympic medals by any track and field athlete in history.
- With USC's Aaron Brown running leadoff and Andre De Grasse anchoring, Canada's 400m relay team clocked 37.70 for a bronze medal finish. De Grasse took the baton in fifth place and made up about a 5-meter deficit to finish in third. It was De Grasse's third medal of these Tokyo Olympics (he also won a gold in the 200m and another bronze in the 100m) and his sixth all-time Olympic medal.
- In men's water polo, Trojan Kostas Genidounias and his Greece team beat Hungary in a semifinal contest, 9-6, and now advances to the gold medal match against Serbia on Sunday (Aug. 8) at 12:30 a.m. PT (4:30 p.m. JT). Genidounias was held scoreless against Hungary.
- In a 5th-8th place classification match, the U.S. men's water polo squad defeated Italy, 7-6. Neither of USC's American team members, Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic, scored. The Americans advance to the 5th-6th place classification game against Croatia on Saturday (Aug. 7) at 7 p.m. PT (11 a.m. JT on Aug. 8).
- After three rounds of the Olympic women's golf tourney, Trojan Sophia Popov of Germany is tied for 40th at an even par 213 and Hong Kong, China's Tiffany Chan was tied for 51st at 7-over. Popov shot a 1-under 70 in the third round, while Chan had a 2-under 69. The third round leader is 15-under. The fourth and final round is on Friday (Aug. 6), with Popov teeing off at 4:11 p.m. PT (8:11 a.m. JT on Aug. 7) and Chan going at 5:23 p.m. PT (9:23 a.m JT on Aug. 7).