TOKYO, Japan — There was so much to do yesterday and so little time to get to it all during day four of the Pralympics in Japan. So without further ado, lets recap how team USA did yesterday:\
We start with Ian Seidenfield, who did something 25 years in the making, winning gold for Team USA in table tennis. The last time that happened? 1996. Who placed Gold then? His teammate Tahl Leibovitz and placing sixlver? his father and team coach Mitchell Seidenfield. Sidenfield played a perfect 3-0 sweep against Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier in Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium. Overall Seidenfield during Tokyo 2020 posted a 12-3records against four opponents. Congrats to Ian!
You’ve heard of the Triathlon? Well, the United States tr-medaled the triathlon. On the Women’s side of the PTS2 event, The women Allysa Seely and Hailey Danz placed one and two respectfully. Said Danz of what she predicted for the day’s events all the way in Rio:
\“I said, the day of Rio, that the goal here was the gold. There’s been so many ups and downs, and to be able actually to pull off that goal has been incredible.”
On the Men’s side, former Swimmer turned full-time triathlete Brad Snyder won the Gold for Team USA in the PTVI category with a time of 1:01:16.
In Equestrian Dressage, Roxanne Trunell and her horse Bolton took home Gold for Team USA in Dressage Class I. They achieved a total score of 81.464.
Today in archery – men’s individual compound: Matt Stutzman, also known as The Armless Archer, won against India’s Shyam Sundar Swami 142-139. Rio 2016 gold medalist Andre Shelby beat Australian opponent Jonathan Milne 143-141. and Kevin Polish lost to Finnish competitor Jere Forsberg 143-145.
On the track, Susannah Scaroni propelled her way to the top of the podium in the 5000-meters t54 race.Paralympic legend and training partner of Scaroni Tatiyana McFadden placed bronze in the event. It marks the first double podium in track and field for the United States of America
In the pool, Jessica Long dominated the competition in the 200m Individual Medley SM8 Final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, finishing in 2:41:49. Winning this event is no stranger to Long, who holds the Paralympic record set in 2012. it’s her 25th Paralympic medal.
Team USA Wheelchair Rugby team is on their way to the final Gold Medal match for the second straight International play after beating Canada in Lima 2019 to secure Gold. Last night they punched their ticked to the final competition after defeating Australia 49-42. Three-time Paralympian Chuck Aoki led with 27 tries Standing in their way of the tournament win? Great Britain. Thje match is set for August 29th at 18:00 Local Time.
It was not a good day on the court for the both the Team USA Men’s and Women’s basketball teams:
The Men’s team lost 64-63 against Great Britain. Both teams did not perform at the best of their abilities on the court. GB dominated most of the game and although in the last quarter team USA tried to come back, it was too late and there was not enough time. It will we crucial to win the next match against Australia to boost their confidence.
On the women’s side, Team USA fell to China 41-42 in a defensive nailbiter.
On the Goalball court, it was a defeat that no one predicted. The Men of the United States were rocked by Japan 11-1. With the win, the surprising Japan stays undefeated in play.
The United States women continued their unbeaten start in Tokyo with a 10-0 win over Egypt, whose women are competing in goalball at the Paralympic Games for the first time.
The game was concluded shortly after half-time under the 10-goal margin rule, but could have ended even earlier had USA not declined two separate penalties that would have allowed them a throw at goal with only one Egyptian defender instead of three.
There were mixed results for Team USA as events got underway on the courts at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, during the first round of wheelchair tennis.
Two-time Paralympian Dana Mathewson moved onto the second round after defeating Charlotte Fairbank of France. The 30-year-old showed her strength against Fairbank, shutting out her opponent 6-0 in the first set. Fairbank fought back, but Mathewson was able to come out on top in the second set 6-3.
And over on the men’s side, eight-time Paralympic medalist David Wagner took on Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva in the quad division. While Silva took the lead after winning the first set 6-3, 47-year-old Wagner persisted and came back strong, ultimately winning the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.
But it was another story in the doubles competition for Wagner, who teamed up with Bryan Barten on Center Court, against dutch duo Niels Vink and Sam Schroder. Netherland came out on top 6-2, 6-1 moving onto the semi-finals.
As for some of the other members on Team USA, newcomer Casey Ratzlaff advanced to the men’s singles. During his first appearance at the Paralympics, the 22-year-old competed against France’s Frédéric Cattanéo, winning 6-2, 7-5.
Meanwhile, three-time Paralympian Emmy Kaiser, two-time Paralympian Shelby Baron and 21-year-old Conner Stroud did not advance to the next round in the singles.
Several of the matches were initially delayed due to extreme heat conditions, and players were given extended breaks.
The Photo of the Day
Thank you for reading, we’ll see you tomorrow. Have a great day!
Wheelchair Sports Federation Media 