Kieran Smith is the first Gator Olympic medalist of the 2020 Summer Games, claiming bronze in the 400-meter freestyle. Later in the competition, Natalie Hinds claimed bronze as part of the U.S.'s 4x100-meter relay.
Complete Coverage of Gators at the Olympics on July 24
YOKOHAMA, Japan – More Gators joined in Olympic competition as Gators from the men's and women's swimming and diving programs competed along with more action from soccer and softball today.
Men's & Women's Swimming
FINALS Kieran Smith earns the first medal for the Gators at the 2020 Olympics in the 400 Free. Smith touched the wall in third with a new personal best time of 3:43.94.
In the 4x100 Free Relay, Natalie Hinds splits 53.15 to help team USA to a third place finish with a time of 3:32.81. Hinds was the only swimmer to be carried over to the finals from the prelims in the relay for team USA.
Natalie Hinds Bronze Medal Reaction story by Jessica Brown and Cheryl Preheim Natalie Hinds (second from left) celebrates with the other members of the U.S. 4x100-meter freestyle relay team which claimed Olympic bronze. Manuel Simone, Erika Brown and Abbey Weitzel joined Hinds on the relay. [Photo: Rob Schumacher - USA Today]
Smith was the top finisher on day one as he qualifies for the finals on Saturday night at 10:50p.m ET., in the 400 Free with a third-place finish in the fifth heat and sixth overall.
In heat two, Mestre finished first with a personal best in the 400 Free with a time of 3:47.14 and 16th overall, which is two second faster than his entire time.
Amro Al-Wir finished second in heat two of seven and 41st overall in the 100 Breast with a time of 1:02.17.
To cap off the prelims section of day one, Natalie Hinds was the anchor for the 4x100 that finished second in heat one of two and fifth overall to qualify for the finals Saturday night at 10:45p.m. EST.
Softball (USA) Michelle Moultrie and Kelsey Stewart received starts for the third consecutive game, while Aubree Munro entered in the bottom of the 7th inning to catch reliever Monica Abbott to close out the United States 2-0 win over Mexico to improve to 3-0 in pool play.
Stewart picked up her first hit as an Olympian with a one-out single to left field in the 4th inning.
Team USA took the lead 2-0 with a two-RBI single by Ali Aguilar in the 3rd frame of play. Cat Osterman (2-0) picked up the win and Monica Abbott secured the save.
The Americans returned to competition against Australia Saturday evening and came away with a 2-1 (8) victory in extra innings to move to 4-0.
Stewart and Munro picked up starts in the effort against the Australians, while Moultrie earned a pinch-hit at-bat in the game.
Abbott secured the complete-game victory in the circle, while Amanda Chidester produced the walk-off two-RBI double
Team USA wraps up their opening round competition against Japan Sunday, July 25, at 9 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Soccer (Canada)
In the first match of the day, Canada claimed a 2-1 win over Chile in the second match of Olympic Group E play. Gator Deanne Rose made her second appearance in as many matches, entering in the 61st minute.
Canada's J Beckie scored Canada's opening two goals. She had two opportunities in the opening half, with her penalty kick in the 20th minute finding the post. Beckie's right-footed goal from 16-yards in the 39th minute gave Canada a 1-0 halftime lead.
Her perfectly timed run through the center drew Christiane Endler off her line. Beckie took a touch to move around a sliding Endler at the penalty spot to score easily on an open goal in the 47th minute.
Shelina Zadorsky fouled Chile's Daniela Zamora just inside the top of the box, giving Chile a penalty kick . Karen Araya successfully converted the penalty kick to score Chile's first goal in Olympic action.
Florida Soccer | New Head Coach Nick Zimmerman "Will Work Day and Night" To Win Championships 🏆Florida Soccer | New Head Coach Nick Zimmerman "Will Work Day and Night" To Win Championships 🏆
