By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
SwimSwam will be providing a weekly rundown of the top stories in Olympic sports (outside of swimming) in the lead-up to the 2024 Games in Paris.
McLaughlin-Levrone Sets World Record To Close U.S. Track Trials
Defending Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reaffirmed her status as a massive favorite to win a second consecutive 400-meter hurdles Olympic gold in Paris, establishing a new world record on the final night of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.
McLaughlin-Levrone, 24, put up a time of 50.65 to take down her previous record of 50.68 set in 2022.
Other highlights from the final night included Tokyo silver medalist Rai Benjamin establishing a world-leadsing time of 46.46 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, the #5 performance in history.
Overall, the Trials had nine world-leading times produced.
Courtesy: The Sports Examiner
- Men/200 m: 19.53, Noah Lyles
- Men/110 m hurdles: 12.92, Grant Holloway (heats)
- Men/110 m hurdles: 12.86, Grant Holloway
- Men/400 m hurdles: 46.46, Rai Benjamin
- Women/100 m: 10.71, Sha’Carri Richardson
- Women/200 m: 21.78, Gabby Thomas (semis)
- Women/100 m hurdles: 12.25, Masai Russell
- Women/400 m hurdles: 52.48, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
- Women/400 m hurdles: 50.65, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – World Record
Read more on McLaughlin-Levrone’s world record here.
Simone Biles Qualifies For Third Olympics At Gymnastic Trials
Simone Biles was, as expected, the star of the U.S. Gymnastics Trials, becoming the fourth American female gymnast to qualify for three Olympic Games after winning the all-around competition on Sunday night.
Biles finished with a final score of 117.225, leading Suni Lee (111.675) and Jordan Chiles (111.425).
Some key members of the U.S. team in recent years, Skye Blakely (right Achilles), Kayla DiCello (left Achilles) and Shilese Jones (left knee), all suffered injuries during the Trials and ended up withdrawing from the all-around event.
Biles, 27, was shaky on Beam on Friday (5th), but won on Vault and Floor, and placed 2nd on the Uneven Bars.
The U.S. Olympic team will feature Biles, Lee, Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera.
U.S. Track, Gymnastic Trials Show Strong Viewership Numbers On NBC
After the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials did big numbers earlier in June, the Track & Field and Gymnastics Trials followed suit.
The final night of both the Track and Gymnastic Trials took place on Sunday, and the combined broadcast resulted in the most-watched Trials telecast in eight years, according to NBC Sports.
The night featured the world record from McLaughlin-Levrone at the Track Trials and the all-around victory for Biles at the Gymnastics Trials.
Viewership peaked at 8.2 million as Biles and co. completed their final rotations.
Full trials viewership, including swimming, diving, track & field and gymnastics, combined to be up 58% on NBC, Peacock and USA Network from June 15-30.
France In “Crisis” As Tourists Avoid Paris
The hospitality industry in Paris is taking a severe financial hit as tourists are steering clear of the French capital in the lead up to the Olympic Games.
Hotels and businesses in Paris are concerned that tourists are assuming the cost of a holiday will skyrocket during the Olympics, resulting in them heading elsewhere for their summer vacation.
As a result of the tourism shortfall, Air France announced Monday it expects to lose up to €180 million ($193 million USD) during the current financial quarter.
“International markets show a significant avoidance of Paris,” Air France said in a statement. “Travel between the city and other destinations is also below the usual June-August average as residents in France seem to be postponing their holidays until after the Olympic Games or considering alternative travel plans.”
Paris 2024 Village To Include 2,500 Air Conditioners
Paris 2024 organizers have relented from their initial ambition to have an air-conditioning-free Olympic Village.
After numerous countries decided they would just bring their own air conditioning units to the Games, the organizers opted to compromise by enabling teams to order portable AC units at their own expense in Paris.
“The aim was to provide a very specific solution for athletes who are facing the match or competition of their lives.. and who might have requirements for their comfort and recovery which are higher than in a normal summer,” the deputy director of the village, Augustin Tran Van Chau, said, according to Barrons.
“Around 2,500 ACs have been ordered.”
Paralympic Symbol Unveiled In Paris
The Paralympic symbol was unveiled at the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris with less than two months to go until the Games commence on July 28.
The installation marks the first time in history a giant Paralympic Agitos (the symbol) has been displayed in a host city before the start of the Olympic Games.
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In previous editions of the Games, such as London 2012 (Tower Bridge), Rio 2016 (Copacabana Beach) and Tokyo 2020 (Tokyo Bay), the symbol was only installed after the conclusion of the Olympics.
SwimSwam: 2024 Olympic Digest: Tourists Avoiding Paris, Big Viewership For US Track & Gymnastic Trials
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