Rio Olympics 2016 Update: List of Biggest Wins and Biggest Upsets During the Opener
Several big wins and upsets happened just a handful of days since the Rio Olympics opener during the weekend. Some delegates managed to get through insurmountable odds and run away a winner while other heavily favored contenders lost in stunning fashion. These are the notable wins and heartbreaking losses over the past days at the Rio Games.
Men's basketball shocker
The biggest shock win came from unheralded Croatia in Men's Basketball Group B by taking down powerhouse Spain by a shot 72-70 on Sunday. Spain is thought to be one of the teams that can pose serious problems with the NBA-studded team USA since it has a depth of NBA players. Spain almost has the whole squad exclusively for NBA talents since it has seven current NBA players, three former NBA and one from the draft pick.
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Croatia is nonetheless not easy to intimidate and it only takes 23 points from Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic and a block shot from 76ers Dario Saric to finish off Pau Gasol's shot that could have won the game for the Spanish team.
Swimmer Katie Ledecky breaks own record
In swimming, it is already a given that Katie Ledecky will one way or another bring home a gold if not all from five events she qualified. The best part though is breaking her own world record in the 400-meter freestyle Sunday at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Ledecky finished almost five seconds faster than second-place Jazz Carlin of UK to easily snatch the gold with 3:56.46 to retain the title of having nine of the ten fastest record in the event.
Now a huge underdog in Judo, ranked 118 Zambian judo fighter Mathews Punza defeated Israel's Golan Pollack who is ranked seventh and considered a serious medal contender. Punza's victory did not go the distance though after losing to Slovenia's Adrian Gomboc in the next round.
Then if we are to talk about upsets, there is nothing more abuzz than the tennis world with Venus William who suffers a double upset loss. Venus owns four gold medals and seven Grand Slam titles but blew her chances away when Belgium's Kristen Flipkens defeats her in a match that dragged for almost quarter of a day. Flipkens, who has never seen any major title, finished the match with 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Williams sisters lose to Czech duo
Venus' lack of luck extends during the tennis doubles match with her sister Serena. The duo is supposed to defend their gold medal for the fourth time but their opponent swept the sets 6-3, 6-4. This is the first time Serena and Venus Williams lost an Olympic match as partners, stunned in the opening round of the Rio Games by the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova.
The Williams sisters is thought to be sure-winners due to a 15-0 career record in the Olympics, taking home the gold medal in women's doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012 installments of the Olympics. Also, the Americans are seeded No. 1 in Rio and fresh from 14th Grand Slam championship together at Wimbledon just a month ago.
In comparison, neither Safarova nor Strycova are seeded players. Fact is, Strycova was only a late replacement for Karolina Pliskova, who withdrew from the tournament.
