Surprising as it may seem, this year’s Summer Olympics are already half over. Fortunately, some of the most exciting events–like tonight’s 100 meter men’s final in track and field–are still to come; but with only a week left in the Games, it’s time we took a look at the participants who have seen their stocks rise–and fall–the most.
The Risers
1 Katie Ledecky
Ledecky was expected to be one of the US’s brightest stars in Rio. But did anyone know she was this good? I’ll put it to you this way. Michael Phelps, who I’ll discuss shortly, is the most dominant swimmer of all-time. Obviously, right? Yet did he ever dominate individual races like Ledecky has? The other night, in the 800 meter freestyle, Ledecky was literally lapping people. And let’s not forget how she broke another world record in the 400 meter freestyle by finishing five seconds ahead of the swimmer who got the silver. Her dominance in both short and long distance events has been compared to a gold-medal winning sprinter being able to win marathons! Ledecky’s only 19! She’s not only the Olympic athlete of the present, but the future as well.
2a Simone Biles
2b USA Women’s Gymnastics Team
I’ll start with Biles. Look, she had a high IPO–that’s what happens when you’re the three-time defending world champion in the all-around. Yet even though she wasn’t quite at her best in the individual meet (apparently it was shocking that she didn’t lead the competition wire-to-wire), the fact that she managed to meet those high expectations while also leading the US to a gold in the team event is extremely impressive.
Speaking of Team USA…most dominant championship performance of the past ten, maybe twenty, years? Their eight point victory over Russia was the largest margin of victory at any major gymnastics event since the latest scoring system was implemented (I’m no gymnastics aficionado, but from what I’ve read, they overhauled the scoring in the late ’90’s.). And this came after they blew away the field in London by a whopping five point margin! Even though they will likely lose two key veterans in Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas, I’m already trying to place a futures bet on the Simone Biles-led squad three-peating in 2020.
3 Michael Phelps
How has Phelps stock somehow risen? What we’ve seen from the five-time Olympian would be like if Apple–years after releasing the iPod, the iPad, the works–suddenly started growing like Snapchat. Yet even though he’s in his thirties (most of his competitors are in their early 20’s), you still get the sense when watching Phelps that you are witnessing greatness–not just someone that was great. I mean, even when he falls short, like he did in the 100 meter butterfly, he does so in impressive fashion: He finished in the first-ever three-way tie for the silver. What a final send-off for one of the world’s greatest Olympians.
4 Gisele
Was Gisele stock ever down? Nope. It’s still up. Like my…ok, moving on.
5 Carmelo Anthony
On a team full of All-NBA players, the thirty-two year old Anthony has been USA’s most reliable superstar. For instance, he came through with 31 points in a closer-than-expected win over Australia. Would it be more noteworthy if these performances took place in late May for the Knicks? Of course. But Anthony’s stock, which had been declining for the last couple of years, is trending upward now.
6 The Hungarian Swimmer’s Husband
7 The Tonga Flagbearer
The Fallers
1 Missy Franklin
Franklin’s been the most disappointing US Olympian. After becoming only the second women to win four gold medals in one Olympics (Ledecky became the third this year), she didn’t even make it out of the semifinals in either of her individual events in Rio. Franklin will always be known as a world-champion. Nonetheless, she has underachieved in these Games.
2 US Women’s Soccer
Better to lose in the Olympics than in the World Cup, right? Even so, the US women’s loss to Sweden in the quarterfinals might be the biggest upset of the Games so far. Deductions for Hope Solo’s frustratingly naive comments about Sweden’s strategy as well.
3 Chad Les Clos
The South African swimmer poked the bear. Then Phelps did this to him in the 200 meter butterfly:
4 US Men’s Basketball
I don’t want to hear about how many of the US’s best players aren’t participating. The United States should never be in pissing contests against Patty Mills and Australia or Nikola Jokic and Serbia. Never! (For the record, no disrespect to Mills or Jokic- it’s just that they are pretty much the only NBA players playing for their respective countries.)
5 Ryan Lochte
It is not easy being the Cal Naughton Jr. to swimming’s Ricky Bobby:
Lochte: You know Michael, it’d be really awesome if you could sling-shot me…for once.
Phelps: Yeah but…ok, but, if you won, then how am I gonna win?
Lochte: Yeah…
Phelps: Think about it?
Lochte: No, I was thinking about it.
Phelps: I mean, it’s not like you’re finishing 18th!
Lochte: Nothing wrong with
silverfifth!
6 Yulia Efimova
Considering how much heat she has taken from her competitors, the Russian swimmer has actually performed pretty well under pressure–she has two silver medals to her credit. But I really don’t understand her criticism of Phelps. I thought at first she was inferring that he was on steroids, but it seems like she was actually trying to remind everyone that Phelps was caught smoking pot once. News flash Efirmova: Pot is not a performance-enhancing drug! She should’ve just let her swimming do the talking.
7 The Green Diving Pool
I’m sure there are parts of the Everglades that are cleaner than that swamp. Yikes!
And last, but certainly not least…
Brazil
Stock: Up
Amid all the turmoil leading up to these Summer Olympics–the political chaos, the social unrest, the god damn Zika Virus–the Games have gone smoothly. NBC really has showcased the best Rio de Janeiro has to offer and, knock on wood, all participants and spectators have been safe. As fans watching back home, those two things–along with spectacular competition featuring the world’s finest athletes, which is typically a guarantee–are all we can ask for.
Here’s hoping Week 2 is just as sensational.
Ledecky photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated; Gisele photo courtesy of Getty Images; Solo photo courtesy of Getty Images; Green-diving pool courtesy of Brian Capella/Chicago Tribune
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