Olympic Updates (July 27): Softball Silver, Swim Finalists, Soccer, Triathlon
7/27/2021 11:35:00 AM | Olympics
• Tokyo Olympics Site | U-M Olympics Coverage
Softball
Japan 2, USA 0 (Gold-medal game)
Michigan softball alumna Amanda Chidester became the first player in program history to claim an Olympic medal, earning silver today (Tuesday, July 27) as the United States fell to Japan, 2-0, in the gold-medal game at Yokohama Stadium. It was Team USA's first loss of the 2020 Tokyo Games -- softball's first appearance in the Olympics in 13 years.
Chidester, who produced a pair of game-winning hits in opening-round play, went 0-for-3 in the gold-medal contest but was robbed in the sixth inning when, with runners on first and second, her hot shot to third ricocheted off the Japanese third baseman and right into the glove of the shortstop, who completed the double play to second base to end the inning -- and Team USA's last great chance to score.
Japan outhit Team USA, 8-3, and manufactured its runs on two-out singles in the fourth and fifth innings. Japanese ace Yukiko Ueno struck out five while allowing two hits and two walks through six innings. Ally Carda took the loss for the United States, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 2.2 innings.
The United States has now claimed three gold medals and two silver in five appearances in the Olympic Games, dating back to 1996. Michigan assistant coach Jennifer Brundage captured gold with Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Games.
• Amanda Chidester: 0 for 3
• Stats and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
• Chidester Earns Olympic Silver Medal with Team USA
Men's Swimming
Rising senior Patrick Callan (United States) made his Olympic debut and joined two former Wolverines competing in Tuesday's (July 27) evening session at Tokyo Aquatics Center. Swimming the third leg in the 4x200-meter relay, Callan turned in a 1:47.12 split to help the Americans qualify for the final with a time of 7:05.62. The United States will be the No. 5 seed in the final at 11:26 p.m. EDT tonight (12:26 p.m. Wednesday in Japan).
Alumnus Felix Auböck (Austria) turned in another strong performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning his 800-meter freestyle heat and qualifying for the final as the No. 4 seed with a 7:45.73. Auböck was never lower than second place during the race, taking control of first by the 500-meter mark and never looking back. The Austrian will compete in the 800-meter final at 9:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 28 (10:30 a.m. Thursday in Japan).
Former Wolverine Mokhtar Al-Yamani (Yemen) competed in the 100-meter freestyle and won his heat in 50.52. His time ended up 47th overall and was not fast enough to qualify for the 100-meter semifinals.
• 100-meter Freestyle (Heats): 47. Mokhtar Al-Yamani (50.52)
• 4x200-meter Freestyle Relay (Heats): 5. United States (7:05.62)
• 800-meter Freestyle (Heats): 4. Felix Auböck (7:45.73)
• Results and Video: 100 Free | 4x200 Free Relay | 800 Free (NBCOlympics.com)
Women's Swimming
Former Wolverine Siobhán Haughey (Hong Kong) turned in a stellar performance in the women's 200-meter freestyle semifinals Tuesday morning (July 27) at Tokyo Aquatics Center, finishing with the second-best time at 1:55.16. She was second to 400-meter freestyle gold medalist Ariarne Titmus of Australia (1:54.82) in the first semifinal with a time that was just ahead of the defending gold medalist in the event, American Katie Ledecky (1:55.34), who was first in the second semifinal. Haughey will compete in a star-studded final at 9:41 p.m. EDT Tuesday, July 27 (10:41 a.m. Wednesday in Japan).
200-meter Freestyle (Heats): 2. Siobhán Haughey (1:55.16)
• Results and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
Val Barthelemy (Getty Images)
Women's Triathlon
Former Wolverine women's swimmer Val Barthelemy made her Olympic debut competing for Belgium in the women's triathlon Tuesday morning at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. The 2013 U-M alumna finished 10th with a time of 1:58:49, three minutes and 13 seconds behind gold medalist Flora Duffy of Bermuda (1:55:36) and 1:46 off a spot on the podium.
Barthelemy completed the 1,500-meter swim in 19:59 and in 17th place but was able to make up ground in the second leg of the race. After turning in the top transition time from water to bike, she was completed the 40-kilometer bike portion of the event in 1:03:48 to move into seventh place entering the final leg of the competition. Barthelemy had another great transition from bike to run but fell back to 10th place by the five-kilometer mark and never quite made up ground, finishing the run in 35:12.
Barthelemy will get a second chance to compete with the mixed relay scheduled for Saturday (July 31) morning at 7:30 in Japan (6:30 p.m. EDT Friday).
Women's Triathlon: 10. Val Barthelemy (1:58:49)
• Results and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
Women's Soccer
Canada 1, Great Britain 1
Canada was the first to strike against Great Britain in its final game of pool play Tuesday night (July 27) at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium. Ashley Lawrence brought the ball up the field and pushed it across the box to Adriana Leon, who buried the ball in the back of the net in the 55th minute of the match. Canada held off Great Britain until the 85th minute, when it found the equalizer. Canada had one final opportunity in the 90th minute with a cross in the box, but the ball would not find an offensive player and turned into a Great Britain goal kick. Current Michigan junior Jayde Riviere made vital plays on the defensive end of the field, coming up with a huge stop in the 22nd minute of the match, while alumna Shelina Zadorsky did not see action. Canada (1-0-2, 5 points) finished second in Group E behind Great Britain (2-0-1, 7 points) and will move on to the quarterfinals to face Group F runner-up Brazil on Friday (July 30) at 5 p.m. Japan time (4 a.m. EDT) at Miyagi Stadium in Rifu.
• Jayde Riviere: 90 minutes
• Shelina Zadorsky: Did not play
• Stats and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
