Tokyo Olympics while you were sleeping: Beach volleyball breakthrough; US women's basketball team dominant
April Ross won a silver medal in women's beach volleyball at the 2012 London Olympics.
She captured a bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.
Friday in Tokyo, the 39-year-old American star finally claimed the gold that had alluded her. The American team of Ross and Alix Klineman defeated the Australians in straight sets to win the beach volleyball tournament.
"I can’t fathom that it worked out the way it did," Ross said. "It’s kind of a fairytale story. Like, oh, I’m going at 39 to try and get my gold medal and the fact that it actually happened feels so special and surreal."
It was a good day for the indoor volleyball squad, too, as the Americans defeated Serbia in straight sets to advance to the gold medal game.
Here are some of the other notable moments you missed Friday in Tokyo while you were sleeping:
U.S. women's basketball team continues Olympic dominance
Friday's game against Serbia wasn't the most exciting contest and the U.S. women's basketball team wasn't exactly at its best. But the result was never in doubt as the Americans secured a 79-59 victory that advances them to the gold medal game for the seventh consecutive Olympics.
This is just how it goes for Team USA: The American women have not lost a game at the Olympics since 1992.
"This is exactly where we want to be," star forward Breanna Stewart said. "So now everything is on the line and we’re going to do what we can to make sure we come home with a gold."
Team USA will play the winner of the game between France and Japan. Kevin Durant — who watched Friday's game from the stands — and the men's basketball team will face France in their gold medal game after their own semifinal victory.
Can Nelly Korda close deal on gold?
American golfer Nelly Korda enters the final round of the women's golf tournament with a three-shot lead after posting a 2-under-par 69 on Friday that followed up her Olympic record-tying 62 on Thursday.
Behind India's Aditi Ashok (12-under), lurking in the group of four locked at 10-under, is 2016 silver medalist Lydia Ko, who posted one of the best rounds Friday.
Can Korda hold off the field? If she does, she'll ensure the United States sweeps gold in golf after Xander Schauffele won the men's tournament.
Confident Keyshawn Davis could end U.S. men's boxing gold drought
Keyshawn Davis defeated Armenia's Hovhannes Bachkov in the lightweight semifinals Friday, securing himself a medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
He's confident he won't be settling for silver.
"I feel like that’s going to be an easy fight," Davis said of his gold medal matchup with Cuba’s Andy Cruz.
An American man has not won a boxing gold medal since the 2004 Athens Games. Davis could break that streak if his bout with Cruz goes his way, as he predicts. American super heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. will also be fighting for gold Sunday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2021 Olympics update: USA wins beach volleyball gold; hoops advances
