Tokyo 2020, North America Day 3: Jacoby Defeats King, USA Earns 3 Bronzes

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Day 3 Finals Recap

It was a rather quiet night for the American squad, except for 17-year-old Lydia Jacoby, who had the swim of her life to nab Olympic gold in the women’s 100 breast final. Jacoby utilized her signature closing speed to not only hold off South African Tatjana Schoenmaker, but to also de-throne Olympic champion and American/World record-holder Lilly King.

The teenager, based in the tightly-knit secluded town of Seward, Alaska, had a massive support system watching her Olympic triumph back home. King, an Evansville, Indiana native who won two golds in Rio 2016, now adds Olympic bronze to her medal collection.

Way before Jacoby and King’s turn in the pool, American Kieran Smith participated in his second Olympic final following his 400 free bronze finish. Smith placed 6th in the men’s 200 free final at 1:45.12, just off his semifinals lifetime best. Then into the men’s 100 back final, American Ryan Murphy settled for the bronze medal after winning the Olympic title in Rio 2016, another bronze medal for Team USA.

Then in the women’s 100 back final, Canadian Kylie Masse earned Olympic silver after picking up Olympic bronze in Rio 2016. A few tenths later, American 19-year-old Regan Smith picked up her first Olympic medal, bronze, while teammate Rhyan White placed 4th. White will also participate in the women’s 200 back, where Smith holds the world record at 2:03.35.

Jacoby’s gold medal and the three Olympic bronzes earned by King, Murphy, and Smith now bring the USA’s medal count to 12, now totaling 3 gold and 6 bronze. Masse’s silver medal marks Canada’s third swimming medal

Semifinals Highlights

Quick Hits

  • Jacoby’s lifetime best of 1:04.95, becoming the fourth American woman seventh woman in history to break 1:05 in the 100 BR LCM. Her swim also obliterated her own U.S. 17-18 NAG record of 1:05.28, becoming the first U.S. 18&U female to break 1:05 in the 100 BR LCM.
  • The last time the US men did not win gold in this event was Barcelona 1992. Other occasions the US did not earn gold or silver in this event were Moscow 1980 (boycotted), Melbourne 1956, Los Angeles 1932, and London 1908.

NORTH AMERICAN MEDAL TABLE AFTER DAY 3

NATION TOTAL MEDALS GOLD SILVER BRONZE
USA 12 3 3 6
Canada 3 1 2

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About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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