Good morning! The past few days of Olympic competition have been fierce, and the Americans have been stepping up their game. However, special shout out to Katie Ledecky, who broke her own world record and won gold yesterday:

QUIPS FOR THIS WEEK

Rio Olympics

The United States’ first gold medal went to Virginia Thrasher on Saturday morning. The 19-year-old won the women’s 10-meter air rifle event.

In women’s soccer, Hope Solo dominated in the goal during her 200th international appearance, and Carli Lloyd scored to help the United States win their Group G match 1-0 over France. Keep in mind the US women won last year’s World Cup and are fighting for their fourth gold medal in Rio. They’ll play their final group match against Colombia on Tuesday.

The Williams sisters aren’t having the best Olympics. On Saturday night, Venus Williams lost in women’s singles, and the duo (who started their doubles match with a 15-0 career record at the Olympics after wins in 2000, 2008 and 2012), lost on Sunday to the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova. Serena Williams had already won her first round women’s singles match earlier in the day.

In the first round of men’s tennis, Andy Murray won his men’s singles match against Viktor Troicki, and Novak Djokovic was defeated by Juan Martin del Potro.

The U.S. men’s basketball team scored a dominant 119-62 victory over China to start out the Games this past weekend, but the real story is with the women’s team. The U.S. women’s basketball team set three Olympic records with their opening game against Senegal on Sunday. The women won 121-56, and will take on Spain today. The men’s team will play against Venezuela today. Important to note – the men have always kept an eye on the Spanish team. But, Spain fell to Croatia in a shocking upset on Sunday!

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat Australia’s Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Nicole Laird to win their first match of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament a little after midnight local time on Sunday.

After qualifying on Sunday, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman will advance to the gymnastics all-around final, which will be held on Thursday.

Sunday night, Katie Ledecky bested her own world record in the 400-meter freestyle and won her second medal (her first gold).

And, the U.S. relay team of Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held and Nathan Adrian won the the 4x100m freestyle relay. This is Michael Phelp’s 23rd career Olympic medal.

As the games heat up, wondering where you can find the schedule? It’s here. And, if you’re looking for the television schedule, it’s here.

JUST FOR FUN

I’m on a boat
The USA men’s and women’s basketball teams are avoiding the Olympic village. Instead, they’re staying on a cruise ship

STORIES FOR INSIGHTS, COOL FACTOR + DEBATE

Game time decision
Russia will not participate in the Paralympic Games
Despite the IOC ruling against a total ban for the 2016 Rio Games, the International Paralympic Committee instated a total ban for next month’s Paralympic Games. Russia has until August 28th to appeal the decision. Stay tuned!

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