• Also: UAE's Sergiu Toma wins nation's second Olympics medal – in pictures
The National’s sports team is helping you keep up to date with what is happening in Rio while most of us in the UAE were sleeping. Here is today’s Daily 5.
1 Bronze for Toma
It took 12 years, but the UAE finally earned another medal at the Olympic Games on Tuesday. Sergiu Toma went out in the semi-finals of the men’s judo 81kg division tournament in heartbreaking fashion, losing on a “golden score” takedown after going the distance with eventual gold-medal winner Khasan Khalmurzaev.
He returned to the mat shortly after for his bronze medal match against Italy’s Matteo Marconcini, however, and showed he had put his disappointment behind him. The judoka scored a quick takedown of his own for the Emirates’ first medal since Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher’s gold in shooting at Athens 2004.
“I’m very proud to represent the UAE and win the medal for them. I want to thank all the people in Moldova and the Emirates for helping me with my career. I dedicate this to them and to my mentor,” Moldovan-born Toma said.
[ Read the full report by John McAuley ]
2 US’ best shine brightest
It was a golden day for the United States’ biggest stars.
Michael Phelps claimed his 20th and 21st career Olympic Games golds, with victory in his signature 200m butterfly – avenging his London 2012 defeat to South Africa’s Chad le Clos – and anchoring the US men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Meanwhile Simone Biles spearheaded the US women’s gymnasts to a dominant victory to retain their London 2012 gold in the team event by eight-plus points over silver-winning Russia. Biles was the all-conquering star of the show, competing in every event with 15.933 on the vault, 14.800 on the uneven bars, 15.300 on the balance beam and 15.800 on the floor. Her vault, balance beam and floor scores were all best of the competition.
Her teammate Madison Kocian, meanwhile, in her only event was equal best of the uneven bars, with a 15.933 score level with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina.
Aly Raisman had at least a score of 15.000 on each of the vault, balance beam and floor, with Hernandez posting strong scores in those events as well. Gabby Douglas came through with the second-best uneven bars score of the competition in her only event at 15.766.
“It’s everything and more than I’d hoped it to be,” said Biles, who has dominated the gymnastics scene with 10 world titles in the past three years.
Another American, Katie Ledecky, scored her second gold of the Rio Games with a 200m freestyle triumph. And Katinka Hosszu of Hungary continued her dominant stretch in the pool, adding the 200m individual medley for her third gold of the week.
[ Read the full recap of Day 4’s biggest moments ]
3 Other highlights from Day 4
• Spain were shocked for their second successive basketball defeat. The medal favourites were beaten by ecstatic hosts Brazil 66-65 on a last-seconds tap-in by Marquinhos.
• Japan reprised their stunning rugby ways by beating New Zealand 14-12 in sevens. The Japanese memorably beat South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and Japan's even less-fancied sevens side pulled off the upset on the first day of men's rugby play.
• The United States leads in the medal count with 26 (nine gold), followed by China with 17 (eight gold) and Russia with 12 (three gold). Australia with four golds (nine overall) and Hungary with four golds (six overall) round out the leaders. We're keeping track of all the gold medal winners.
4 Tweet of the day
A view of the UAE flag raised at the Olympic Games, following Sergiu Toma’s bronze medal.
5 Video of the day
The USA’s treasured women’s gymnastics team brought home gold for the second successive Olympics. The “Fierce Five” of Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman exceeded their opponents in every event for a dominant victory over second-best Russia.
