Wednesday’s Olympic action will crown a host of new combat sports champions and push the Games one step closer to a gold medal winner on the soccer pitch. Eighteen new medalists will be crowned in boxing, wrestling, and taekwondo as the XXXI Olympiad draws nearer to its close.
Rio 2016 live stream: How to watch Wednesday online through NBC Sports
Women sprinters will take top billing on Wednesday night, but not until after wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo crown some new Olympic champions.
But while that action takes place on the mats, some of the world’s best footballers will take to the pitch to set up the finals match to determine an Olympic champion. Brazil and Germany are the only two undefeated teams remaining in a tournament that has already cast off international powers like Colombia, Argentina, and Portugal. On Wednesday, Brazil will take on Honduras and the Germans face Nigeria to cap off a bracket custom-made for a cross-Atlantic showdown for the gold.
The first day of the Olympics without swimming races will have to settle for a combination of track and field finals instead. August 17 will start with American Ashton Eaton working to defend his 2012 decathlon gold medal against an always-stacked field of competitors. As the shadows grow longer across the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange the coverage will shift to crowning female champions in the long jump, 200-meter, and 100-meter hurdles.
But if you prefer a touch of grace and sophistication to accompany your speed and power, Wednesday’s Olympic schedule has got something for you, as well. Equestrian medals will be awarded after the morning’s team jumping finals. Americans took gold in the event in 2004 and 2008 but were left off the podium in 2016. With two bronze medals in the sport so far, Team USA will be looking to reclaim its spot atop the equine jumping world with a big performance.
All times Eastern
Key events for Wednesday, Aug. 17
Track and field: Men’s decathlon gets underway, men’s 3000-meter steeplechase final (8:30 a.m., live stream), women’s long jump, women’s 200-meter final, women’s 100-meter hurdles final (7:20 p.m., live stream)
Equestrian: Jumping team finals (9 a.m., live stream)
Men’s soccer: Semifinal, Brazil vs. Honduras (noon, live stream), semifinal, Nigeria vs. Germany (3 p.m., live stream)
Boxing: Men’s welterweight gold medal match (1 p.m., live stream)
Wrestling: Women’s repechage and medal matches, 48kg, 58kg, and 69kg (3 p.m., live stream)
Taekwondo: Women’s 49kg repechage and medal matches, men’s 58kg repechage and medal matches (7 p.m., live stream)
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