Simone Biles pushed through calf pain in the gymnastics qualifying round at the Olympics in Paris, ultimately qualifying for the floor, vault, and beam finals. Despite suffering an injury during floor warmups, she continued to compete, with her coach confirming she felt pain in her calf but never considered withdrawing. The U.S. team faced challenges, with Jade Carey falling out of contention after a rough landing.
French swimmer Léon Marchand set an Olympic record in the 400-meter individual medley, captivating fans with his performance. Team USA also had successes, with Nic Fink and Torri Huske winning medals in swimming events. The U.S. diving duo, dubbed Cook N’ Bacon, secured America’s first medal of the Paris Games in the synchronized springboard event. Team USA ended the weekend leading with 12 medals, including three golds.
The U.S. men’s basketball team, led by LeBron James and Kevin Durant, started their gold medal defense with a win against Serbia in group play. Durant, who missed exhibition games leading up to the Olympics, made a strong return, scoring 23 points. Other highlights from the Olympics included a Speedo-clad mystery man saving a swimming heat, emotional performances at the opening ceremony, and American fencers earning medals in sword fighting events.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign began to take shape following Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race. Kamala Harris was setting up her campaign and considering potential running mates, with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz among the top contenders. Donald Trump launched attacks against Harris, while references to her family members generated attention.
Israel retaliated after a rocket strike killed civilians in Majdal Shams, blaming the attack on the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict raised fears of escalation, with ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. In Nevada’s Washoe County, rising home prices were putting pressure on residents, including those with comfortable incomes, impacting their ability to afford homes and influencing their views on the economy and voting decisions.
In other news, Donald Trump promised to make America a leader in bitcoin at a cryptocurrency conference. The number of women running for Congress was down compared to previous years, despite a surge in female voter registration. The FBI clarified details about the attempt on Trump’s life, and Elon Musk faced criticism for retweeting a parody Kamala Harris campaign ad without proper labeling. Airlines were adapting to extreme heat conditions during the summer travel season, adjusting operations to ensure safety and efficiency.
