2016 Rio Olympics daily viewer's guide - Day 15 (Aug. 20)
On tap today:
The U.S. women’s basketball team looks to continue its Olympic dynasty, the host nation’s road redemption is nearing the end and Allyson Felix may be racing for the last time in an Olympics. That and more on the penultimate day of the Rio Games.
Morning slots:
The final round of women’s golf starts on the Golf Channel bright(ish) and early at 6 a.m. ET. South Korea’s Inbee Park held off a charge from Australia’s Lydia Ko to keep hold of first place, but Ko and Gerina Piller of the United States are lurking in second and third at two shots back.
Switch over to the USA Network at 9 a.m. ET where rhythmic gymnastics is in the qualifying round of the group competition. If that doesn’t appeal to you, change the channel to NBC at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) where women’s triathletes will be racing for a gold medal.
Also in action will be our favorite oiled-up Tongan. Pita Nikolas Taufatofua will be competing in the preliminary rounds of taekwondo.
[Slideshow: Meet the Tonga flag bearer Pita Taufatofua]
If the basketball court is where you want to be, don’t miss the bronze-medal game of women’s basketball between Serbia and France to end the morning session at 10:30 a.m. ET on the USA Network.
Afternoon slots:
There are plenty of options at noon ET to choose from. Nigeria takes on Honduras for the the bronze medal in men’s soccer, while the United States women’s volleyball team will look to recover from its emotion loss to win a bronze against the Netherlands.
The United States women’s basketball team will be looking for its sixth consecutive gold medal against Spain at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT on NBC. The women have been dominant the entire tournament, and shouldn’t have any trouble with the Spanish.
[Related: Aussie athletes held for alleged credential altering to watch men’s hoops semifinal]
If that game is getting out of hand, switch over to MSNBC where women’s handball will be in the gold-medal game featuring France and Russia or USA for the individual finals in rhythmic gymnastics.
Must-see Olympics is happening at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN when the host nation will be looking for revenge against Germany in men’s soccer. The last time Germany played Brazil, the Germans hung seven goals on Brazil at the Maracana in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.
Men’s water polo will feature the gold-medal game with Serbia battling Croatia on NBC at 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT. These fierce rivals will be locked in a physical match in the pool if soccer isn’t your sport.
Primetime slots:
On the last night of track and field, Allyson Felix will run in Rio for the final time as the U.S. women attempt to win the 4×400-meter relay. On the men’s side, LaShawn Merritt leads a group of Americans who are looking to take back the 4×400-meter crown from the Bahamas.
In women’s high jump, Vashti Cunningham, daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, is a contender for gold. Joining her from Team USA is Chaunte Lowe, who is a mother of three and will also figure into the medal battle.
[Slideshow: Meet U.S. Olympian Vashti Cunningham, daughter of ex-QB Randall Cunningham]
You also can catch the women’s volleyball gold-medal match between China and Serbia live on USA network at 9:15 p.m. ET.
Ending the night on NBC is men’s platform diving, where David Boudia will most likely be diving for a medal. Steele Johnson may also in the field but will have to navigate through a strong group of competitors in the semifinal round earlier in the day.
Full TV Schedule:
NBC
10 a.m. ET
Women’s Triathlon – Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
12:15 p.m. ET
Canoe/Kayak – Sprint Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Volleyball – USA vs. Netherlands (Bronze Medal LIVE)
2:30 p.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – USA vs. Spain (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
4:45 p.m. ET
Men’s Water Polo – Croatia vs. Serbia (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
8 p.m. PT/ET
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)
Women’s High Jump
Men’s Javelin
Men’s 1500m
Women’s 800m
Men’s 5000m
Women 4x400m Relay
Men 4x400m Relay
Men’s Diving – 10m Platform Gold Medal Final
12:30 a.m. PT/ET
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Individual All-Around Gold Medal Final
1:30 a.m. PT/ET
Primetime Encore
NBCSN
2 a.m. ET
Primetime Encore
6 a.m. ET
NBC Late Night Encore
Noon ET
Men’s Soccer – Nigeria vs. Honduras (Bronze Medal LIVE)
2 p.m. ET
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Group Qualifying (LIVE)
Women’s Cycling – Mountain Bike Gold Medal Final
4:30 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Brazil vs. Germany (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
MSNBC
Noon ET
Men’s Water Polo – Montenegro vs. Italy (Bronze Medal LIVE)
Men’s Taekwondo – Qualifying Round
Men’s Badminton – Singles Bronze Medal
2:30 p.m. ET
Women’s Handball – France vs. Russia (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
USA
9 a.m. ET
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Group Qualifying (LIVE)
10:30 a.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – France vs. Serbia (Bronze Medal LIVE)
12:15 p.m. ET
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Group Qualifying (LIVE)
Women’s Handball – Netherlands vs. Norway (Bronze Medal)
2:15 p.m. ET
Rhythmic Gymnastics – Individual All-Around Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Men’s Badminton – Singles Gold Medal Final
8 p.m. ET
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Wrestling – Freestyle Gold Medal Finals
9:15 p.m. ET
Women’s Volleyball – Serbia vs. China (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
Men’s Modern Pentathlon
Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals
GOLF CHANNEL
5 a.m. ET
Golf Central Live From the Olympics
6 a.m. ET
Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE)
9 a.m. ET
Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE)
Noon ET
Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE)
1 p.m. ET
Golf Central Live From the Olympics
11 p.m. ET
Women’s Golf – Final Round Encore
BASKETBALL SPECIALTY CHANNEL
10:30 a.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – France vs. Serbia (Bronze Medal LIVE)
12:30 p.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – France vs. Serbia Encore
2:30 p.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – USA vs. Spain (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
5 p.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – USA vs. Spain Encore
7:30 p.m. ET
Women’s Basketball – USA vs. Spain Encore
SOCCER SPECIALTY CHANNEL
Noon ET
Men’s Soccer – Nigeria vs. Honduras (Bronze Medal LIVE)
2 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Nigeria vs. Honduras Encore
4:30 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Brazil vs. Germany (Gold Medal Final LIVE)
Men’s Soccer – Medal Ceremony (LIVE)
7 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Brazil vs. Germany Encore
Men’s Soccer – Medal Ceremony Encore
9:30 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Brazil vs. Germany Encore
Men’s Soccer – Medal Ceremony Encore
TELEMUNDO
3 a.m. ET
Late Night Encore
11 a.m. ET
News Recap
Noon ET
Men’s Soccer – Bronze Medal (LIVE)
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals
3:30 p.m. ET
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Medal Ceremony
Midnight ET
TBA
NBC UNIVERSO
6 a.m. ET
Late Night Encore
