4 Olympic events to watch today
The Rio Olympics are underway, and Thursday has a jam-packed calendar of events to watch, many with Canadians involved. Here are four big ones worth your attention.
Artistic gymnastics: Women’s individual all-around
The U.S. super team of Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles has already locked up the gold in the team event, but there’s more hardware on offer in the individual disciplines.
All eyes will be on Biles, the 19-year-old who is a heavy gold medal favourite to take the individual crown and make the U.S. the only country to win the all-around gold at four straight Olympics.
But Canadian Ellie Black is also competing. She’s in tough against Biles, Raisman and others, but after winning gold at the Pan Am Games last summer, Black could be a dark horse. And Isabella Onyshko of Brandon, Man. is also competing in the finals.
Tennis: Canada’s Nestor, Pospisil in men’s doubles semifinals
After all matches were rained out on Wednesday, Canada’s doubles pair of Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil take on Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez in the semis on Thursday afternoon. Nestor won Olympic gold 16 years ago with partner Sebastien Lareau, and is guaranteed to play for at least a bronze in Rio.
Golf: Men’s golf returns to Olympics
Fun fact: Canada is the defending champ in men’s golf. The only catch is that the last time golf was played in the Olympics, it was 1904 and 46-year-old George Lyon won the gold medal.
Golf is making its first appearance at the Olympics since then, and Canadian PGA pros Graham DeLaet and David Hearn will be gunning to keep Canada’s 112-year streak alive.
Need another reason to watch? DeLaet’s caddie is none other than former NHL player Ray Whitney, whom he met playing golf on his local course in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Volleyball: Canadian men continue tourney
After a huge upset against the powerhouse U.S. team and hanging tough with the Brazilian medal favourites in their second game, Canada’s men’s volleyball team takes to the court again in a tough match against France.
Canada will be looking to keep pace in their pool and maintain a shot at the quarter-finals with a win against a French team that comes into the game with the same record of 1-1.
Canada’s making its first appearance in men’s volleyball at the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
Article written by CBC
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