OLYMPICS

4 to Watch: Ledecky Settles for Silver, Women's Skateboarding Debuts

When and where to watch the most anticipated live events

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

In big highlights for the D.C. area, Maryland’s Katie Ledecky got her first chance at a medal in Tokyo in the women’s 400m freestyle and took silver. And the men’s basketball team, including Maryland’s own Kevin Durant, lost its opener to France, falling 83-76. It was Team USA’s first loss in the Olympics since 2004.

For a complete rundown of the day's events in Tokyo, visit the streaming schedule page for NBCOlympics.com. Watch every event live there or on the NBC Sports App, and catch the highlights in primetime on NBC.

Here's how four big events closed Day 3 in Tokyo.

Team USA adds to medal count, including gold, after another busy night in the pool

The United States men brought home gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Team USA has now won back-to-back golds after winning the 4x100m freestyle relay in the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Americans had a narrow .20-second lead going into the final leg, but Zach Apple pulled away from the field to help secure the gold.

Italy won silver - closely behind the U.S - as they finished with a time of 3:10.11. Australia finished third posting a time of 3:10.22 to claim bronze.

In the 400m freestyle, U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky won silver, losing to her Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in a much anticipated show down.

Titmus, who won the event in the 2019 world championships, took the gold medal with a time of 3:56.69. Ledecky came in at 3:57.36.

"I fought tooth and nail and just gave it my all," Ledecky said immediately after the race. "I can't be disappointed with that."

The night did not come without some disappointment. Eighteen-year-old Torri Huske finished fourth in the 100m butterfly, just one-hundredth of a second out of bronze medal position, the smallest possible margin in swimming. Huske was a favorite to medal, but ultimately failed to reach the podium. Canada’s Maggie MacNeil took home gold.

American Michael Andrew also just missed the podium in the men’s 100m breaststroke, finishing fourth . While it is a disappointing result, Andrew will have a chance to redeem himself in the 200m individual medley and 50m freestyle.

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty won the event for the second straight Games. The silver went to Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands, while Italy’s Nico Martinenghi took bronze.

Momiji Nishiya wins women's skateboarding street; USA's Alexis Sablone finishes fourth

At just 13 years old, Japan's Momiji Nishiya skated into history Sunday night by winning the first-ever women’s Olympic street skateboarding event in Tokyo. Nishiya helped the host nation sweep both the street competitions after Yuto Horigome won gold in the men's event the previous day. Nishiya made more history in addition to winning the events Olympic debut; she also became one of the youngest Olympic gold medalists ever. 

American Alexis Sablone finished fourth after scoring 13.57 points, just missing the podium. Sablone, a seven-time X Games medalist (winning in 2015, 2012 and 2010), grew up in Connecticut and started skateboarding at the age of 10.

Alexis Sablone of Team United States practices on the skateboard street course ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 21, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Skateboarding is one of new sports at 2021 Olympics Summer Games.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Alexis Sablone of Team United States practices on the skateboard street course ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 21, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Skateboarding is one of new sports at 2021 Olympics Summer Games.

Watch qualification here and the finals here. You can also catch it in NBC’s Primetime Plus coverage at 12:05 a.m. ET. 

U.S. softball walks it off to finish preliminary round undefeated

In its last match of the preliminary round, the U.S. softball team earned a walk-off win when Kelsey Stewart hit a solo home run. Japan nabbed the early 1-0 lead in the first inning before the Americans equalized in the sixth.

The U.S. had already advanced to the gold medal round before the match began and has now finished the preliminary round a perfect 5-0.

United States' Ali Aguilar (2) reaches first base for a single past Mexico's Victoria Vidales during the sixth inning a softball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
United States' Ali Aguilar (2) reaches first base for a single past Mexico's Victoria Vidales during the sixth inning a softball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan.

The offense has only posted sevenruns so far in Tokyo, but it has been backed up by tremendous pitching. Monica Abbott gave up the first run of the Games to Australia on Saturday night.

Stream Sunday’s game live at 9 p.m. ET here or at 3 a.m. ET Monday on NBC Sports Network.

Kevin McDowell Has best American finish in men's triathlon

Kevin McDowell finished sixth in the men’s triathlon, marking the best finish by an American since the event was added to the Olympics in 2000. He finished 50 seconds behind Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway, who won gold with a time of 1:45:04. Alex Yee of Great Britain and Hayden Wilde of New Zealand claimed the silver and bronze, respectively.

Two-time defending world champion Vincent Luis once again finished off the podium in his third Olympics.

Morgan Pearson (bronze medal) of USA competes during the Elite Men event of the ITU World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama on May 15, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Nobuo Yano/Getty Images
Morgan Pearson (bronze medal) of USA competes during the Elite Men event of the ITU World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama on May 15, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Contact Us