Allyson Felix made Olympic history Saturday as part of the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s 4×400-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The win gave her seven gold, three silver and a bronze medal in five Olympics, and Felix surpassed the legendary Carl Lewis to become the most decorated American in Olympic track and field. Lewis had 10 total medals.
Felix, 35, ran the second leg of the relay, joining teammates Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Athing Mu to win the gold in 3:16.85, nearly four seconds ahead of Poland. Jamaica won the bronze medal.
With just one day of competition remaining, the U.S. is assured of winning the most medals in Tokyo. The Americans have 108, followed by China (87), Russia Olympic Committee (69) Great Britain (63) and Japan (56). China has won the most gold medals with 38, leading the U.S. by two. Japan (27) and ROC and Great Britain (tied at 20), round out the top five.
In other action Saturday:
–The American men capped off a disappointing showing in the track and field events with a gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay. The team — Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin posted a season-best of 2:55.70 to win the event. They joined Ryan Crouser as the only American men to win track and field gold. Netherlands and Botswana won the silver and bronze, respectively.
— Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir overtook teammate Brigid Kosgei to win the women’s marathon in 2:27:20. Running just her third marathon ever, American Molly Seidel was the surprise bronze medalist. The race was moved to Sapporo, 500 miles north of Tokyo, to try to escape brutal heat and humidity in the host city, but the temperature still was 78 with 82 percent humidity as the race started at 6 a.m. local time.
–Japan won its first-ever baseball gold medal with a 2-0 shutout of Team USA. The Americans managed just six hits against five Japanese pitchers and had only one runner reach third base. Starter Masato Morishita, who plays professionally for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan, pitched five scoreless innings. The Dominican Republic defeated South Korea 10-6 in the bronze-medal game.
–The U.S. women’s water polo team won its third straight Olympic gold medal by defeating Spain 14-5. The Americans have lost just once in the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Hungary defeated ROC 11-9 for the bronze medal.
— Kevin Durant recorded 29 points and six rebounds as the U.S. men’s basketball team claimed its fourth straight gold medal with an 87-82 victory over. Jayson Tatum added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench as the United States avenged a loss to France in pool play. The U.S. has won 16 gold medals in its 19 Olympic appearances. Australia beat Slovenia 107-93 for bronze.
–Nelly Korda of the United States survived a double bogey and a bogey in her final round, shooting a 2-under-par 69 to win gold. After her bogey on No. 11 at Kasumigaseki Country Club, she made a birdie on the 13th and all pars from there. Her 17-under 267 was just enough to fend off Mone Inami of Japan and Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who each fired 6-under 65s and to finish tied for second at 268.
— The United States won a silver medal in the team equestrian jumping final, with Sweden winning the gold and Belgium the bronze. The team gained attention in Japan because of its members: Jessica Springsteen, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward. Springsteen is the daughter of rocker Bruce Springsteen and his wife, singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa.
–Field Level Media