Topline
The U.S. failed to medal on the first day of Olympic competition, the first time that has happened in the Summer Games since 1972, while China came away with three golds and host country Japan took a gold and a silver.
American fencer Eli Dershowitz, ranked No. 2 in the world in the men's saber event, did not medal.
Key Facts
The last Summer Games where the U.S. went medal-less on the first day was Munich in 1972, according to Olympic historian Bill Mallon.
The U.S. had been expected to medal in fencing, air rifle and archery, according to predictions from the Associated Press.
The first gold medal of the Games was won in air rifle by Qian Yang of China; American Mary Tucker had been a favorite to win but finished in sixth place.
At the end of the first day, China led the medals count with three golds and one bronze, followed by South Korea’s two bronzes and one gold.
Key Background
Oddsmakers still favor the U.S. to take home the most gold medals by the end of the Games on Aug. 8—with an average of just under a 90% chance of winning—and China the second most likely.
What To Watch For
American Olympians are favorites to take home bronze and silver medals in six events on Sunday: women’s fencing with a foil sword (bronze), men’s 10-meter air rifle shooting (silver), men’s street skateboarding (bronze) and several events in swimming, including men’s and women’s 400-meter individual medley (silver, bronze) and the women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay (silver).
Big Number
339. That’s the total number of medals that will be awarded at the 2021 Tokyo Games, according to CBS Sports.
Further Reading
The First Two Gold Medals Of The Tokyo Olympics Go To China (Forbes)
Women's Beach Volleyball Match Is The First Covid-19 Cancellation Of The Olympics (Forbes)
