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Paris Rewind, August 6: Americans win 2 more track and field golds

The United States women's soccer team advanced to the gold-medal game, and U.S. athletes won two gold medals — five overall — in track and field on Day 11.

PARIS, France — The United States had a big night in track and field at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, winning two gold medals and five overall.

Here's a look at big finishes from Day 11.

Track and field

Gabby Thomas blazed her way to an easy win in the 200 meters — and beat 100-meter winner Julien Alfred, who earned silver and now owns the only two medals in her country's history. American sprinter Brittany Brown was third.

Thomas finished in 21.83 seconds to add a gold to the bronze she took home in the event from Tokyo three years ago. The 27-year-old Harvard graduate, who has a Masters in public health, took the lead for good at the curve and was never challenged in the final stretch. She grabbed her head with both hands after winning.

Cole Hocker, meanwhile, pulled the upset of the track meet with a stunning victory in the 1,500 meters.

Hocker outraced favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr to the finish line in an Olympic record 3 minutes 27.65 seconds. He pulled from fifth to first over the final 300 meters to beat his personal best by more than 3 seconds.

Credit: AP

He beat Kerr by .14 seconds, while Ingebrigtsen, who set the pace through the first 1200 meters, ended up in fourth behind American Yared Nuguse.

Annette Nneka Echikunwoke won a silver in the women's hammer throw.

US women's soccer team to play for gold

The United States women's soccer team advanced to the gold-medal game and will make its sixth appearance in the Olympic final following a 1-0 win over Germany.

Sophia Smith broke a scoreless game in extra time by outmaneuvering defender Felicitas Rauch and German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. It was Smith's third goal of the tournament.

The Americans are undefeated in France under new coach Emma Hayes and are vying for their fifth Olympic gold medal. They will play Brazil for the gold.

They U.S. Women’s National Team missed out on the finals at the last two Olympic tournaments. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and relegated to the bronze-medal match at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

US women's volleyball team advances

The reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s volleyball team posted a straight-set victory against Poland to advance to the semifinals in Paris.

The Americans next play powerhouse Brazil on Thursday.

The Americans made a lineup change after the team’s five-set defeat to China on July 29 to open group stage play, moving veterans Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson Cook to reserve roles and bringing in Avery Skinner and Kathryn Plummer. The Americans bounced back to beat Serbia two days later.

In beach volleyball, Switzerland ousted Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, a day after the other U.S. women's team of Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth and American men Chase Budinger and Miles Evans were defeated at Eiffel Tower Stadium.

Credit: AP
United State's Amit Elor celebrates after defeating Kyrgyzstan's Meerim Zhumanazarova during their women's freestyle 68kg wrestling final match.

Youngest U.S. wrestler to win Olympic gold

Amit Elor, just 20 years old, defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova 3-0 in the women's 68-kilogram final to become the youngest Olympic wrestling gold medalist in U.S. history, male or female. 

Elor outscored her opponents 31-2 in four matches. 

She became the third American woman to win gold, following Helen Maroulis in 2016 and Tamyra Mensah-Stock in 2021. Elor already was a two-time world champion, first winning at age 18. Now, the Northern California native looks forward to possibly winning Olympic gold in her home state at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

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