RIO DE JANEIRO — Claressa Shields had an Olympic gold medal around her neck and a secret keepsake in her warmup jacket pocket. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her first gold medal from London and slipped the medal over her head.
Two Olympics, two gold medals.
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She beamed as she held the medals in her hands for the fans to see – a sparkling reminder that she stood atop the medal stand not only as the best in the world in her class, but as the only American two-time boxing gold medalist.
“I’m going to let the world know and they’ll never forget that I have two Olympic gold medals,” she said. “Just in case anybody had any questions.”
Shields had all the answers as she breezed through three unanimous decision victories. The 21-year-old from Flint, Michigan, thumped Dutch fighter Nouchka Fontijn in convincing fashion to wrap up the middleweight division.
With the title a formality, she gestured toward a passive Fontijn in the fourth round as if to say, “Come fight!” Fontijn offered no resistance and the round served as little more than a coronation for the American face of women’s boxing.
WRESTLING: Kyle Snyder’s run to the world title in 2015 was so surprising that some wondered if it was something of a fluke.
Snyder showed he’s for real, adding an Olympic title to his burgeoning resume.
Snyder, 20, is now the sport’s youngest Olympic champion in U.S. history. Snyder beat Khetag Goziumov of Azerbaijan 2-1 in the 97-kilogram final.
After Jordan Burroughs lost in stunning fashion Friday, Snyder was the last real chance the Americans had at a gold medal.
He came through with a brilliant run, knocking off the world’s best just a week before he heads back to class at Ohio State.
MEN’S MARATHON: Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya grabbed the lead around the 21-mile mark and finished off his first Olympic victory in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 44 seconds.
Silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa took his opportunity to support protests back in his native Ethiopia. He crossed his wrists at the finish line in the symbol being used by protestors calling for more freedom and an end of government brutality.
Having relatives in prison meant Lilesa could not stay quiet on the Olympic stage, no matter the consequences.
“If I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me,” Lilesa said. “If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country.”
American Galen Rupp, running only his second marathon, won the bronze in 2:10:05 – 11 seconds behind Lilesa.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Brazil, playing in its fourth straight Olympic title match, beat Italy 25-22, 28-26, 26-24 to win the gold medal.
In the bronze medal match, the U.S. rallied from two sets to beat 2012 champion Russia, 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-13.
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