Image via Complex Original
Day 13 features the highly anticipated rematch of the FIFA World Cup finals with Japan taking on Olympic champion America in the gold medal match, Usain Bolt defends his 200m crown against training partner Yohan Blake, and Team USA's women's basketball squad take on Beijing's runner-up Australia in the semis. With so many major events happening today it was tough to cut it down today (sorry women's volleyball), but we were able to do it. So here's the 5 Best Olympic Events to Watch Today.
Track & Field: Women's 4x100 Relay Round 1
Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: Jamaica and USA
Time: 3:20 p.m.
Why You Should Watch: After facing off against each other in several individual events, the Americans and the Jamaicans now continue their rivalry in team play. Each side can boast individual accomplishments with American Sanya Richard-Ross taking home the gold in the 400m on Sunday, and Jamaican Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce winning back-to-back gold in the 100m on Saturday. The winner of bragging rights for their country for the next four years will be determined here.
Women's Basketball: USA vs Australia
Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: USA
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Why You Should Watch: The Americans and their suffocating defense now take on Beijing's silver medalist Australia. The US uses their defense to pressure opponents into turnovers and turn them into fastbreaks, and meet an Australian team who uses their towering front line to dominate inside. Powered by all-time Olympic leading scorer Lauren Jackson, the Aussies are looking for a little payback against the team that defeated them for the gold in 2008.
Women's Boxing: Lightweight (60kg/132 lbs) Final
Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: Katie Taylor
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Why You Should Watch: Irishwoman Katie Taylor puts her winning streak of six years on the line against Russian Sofya Ochigava in a rematch of May's World Championships in the London Lightweight finals. Ochigava, who is 0-2 against Taylor, also losing to her in the 2011 European Championships, is looking to get her first win against the Irish tactician on the biggest stage.
Men's 200m-Finals
Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake
Time: 3:55 p.m.
Why You Should Watch: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake meet up again in the 200m finals. After beating the younger Blake on Sunday in the 100m finals, Bolt is on the verge of going two for two against his training partner. The "World's fastest man" successfully defended his 100m gold medal, can he do it in the 200m?
Women's Soccer: USA vs Japan-Finals
Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: USA and Japan
Time: 2:45 p.m.
Why You Should Watch: The match that everyone has been waiting for since last year is finally here. Japan, the reigning FIFA champs, take on the current Olympic champs in the Americans, in the rematch of last summer's World Cup finals. Both teams have been tested: the Americans, who just made it past Canada and Christine Sinclair's three goals on Monday thanks to the heroics of Alex Morgan, and Japan, pushing past Marta and the fierce Brazilians in the previous round. The history between these two teams pushes the intensity of this match to another level, making this the best way for women's soccer to end in London.