Sports

Texans In Tokyo: It's A Wrap! Volleyball & Basketball Bring Home Gold.

KERA | By KERA News

Published August 9, 2021 at 10:01 AM CDT

Team USA indoor volleyball team poses with their gold medals. — United States players pose with their gold medals during the medal ceremony for women's basketball at the Tokyo Olympics.

It was an Olympics like none other before, but Texans continued to shine through to the end. Catch up on how the Lone Star State performed in the final weekend in Tokyo.

The total Team USA medal count stands at 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze.

Women's Basketball

U.S. women's basketball team brought home the gold medal after defeating Japan 90-75.

Texan Britney Griner scored 30 points — a record for an American in a gold-medal game.

Britney Griner's hair flies around her shoulder as she drives down the court. — United States' Brittney Griner (15), center, drives Japan's Maki Takada (8) during women's basketball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.

“It means a lot to me,” Griner said of her second Olympic gold medal. “A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work and dedication to get here, to get us to seven. And just to be a part of that, I'm honored.”

Men's Basketball

Former UT Longhorn Kevin Durant closed out the gold-medal game against France on Friday night by sinking two free throws for a final 87-82 victory.

Kevin Durant wears an American flag draped over his head and shoulders. — United States' Kevin Durant celebrates after their win in the men's basketball gold medal game against France at the Tokyo Olympics.

Durant finished with 29 points, just off the 30 he scored in the last two Olympic gold-medal games.

Durant, who passed Carmelo Anthony earlier in the Olympics to become the leading scorer in U.S. men’s history, joined Anthony as the only three-time gold medalists in men’s basketball.

Volleyball

The United States, which had won three silver medals and two bronze since first getting on the medal stand in 1984, got to the top step by beating the team that denied it a chance at gold in the final match of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

The U.S. Women swept longtime rival Brazil for their first Olympic gold medal, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Texan Chiaka Ogbogu tweeted about the support from her alma mater, the University of Texas.

Thank you so much! And BIG thanks to Longhorn Nation for the continuous love and supported I’ve received since graduating from Texas!🤘🏾🧡 https://t.co/60GyII6YPU
— Chiaka (@ChiakaOgbogu) August 9, 2021

Diving

Texas Longhorn Jordan Windle ended the final rounds of the 10-meter platform competition in ninth place.

“Overall I’m really happy,” Windle said. “I was happy just to make it to the final. My body wasn’t 100% but I was trying to just push through it and just try to stay healthy with the foods I was eating so overall, I was just really happy.”

Jordan Windle is seen mid-dive, upside down with water droplets falling from the top of his head. — Jordan Windle of United States competes in men's diving 10m platform final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

The Associated Press and Team USA provided information for this report.

KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gifttoday. Thank you.