Team Croatia ran out of gas in the end against team U.S.A.
Women’s Basketball: One of the biggest upsets in Olympic history was almost recorded at the basketball arena in London as 31st ranked Croatia challenged the world’s best USA. The spread was set at 38.5 and the US had defeated Croatia by 54 just one week prior. It started off predictably enough as Croatia missed their first 14 shots and failed to score in the first 7 minutes. They were down 11-4 after the 1st quarter. They started landing shots and their confidence increased the longer they were able to stick with the Americans. The deficit was just five going into the 4th quarter but the U.S turned it on right as Croatia began to run out of gas and pulled away, winning 81-56. Jelena Ivecić and Maria Vrsaljko led Croatia with 22 and 19 points respectively. Croatia plays China on Monday at 4:00 EST and should come in full of confidence.
Maja Zebić(right) of Croatia attacks the goal in women’s handball preliminaries
Women’s Handball: Croatia’s women’s handball team suffered a disappointing loss to Brazil on Saturday by a score of 23-24. They managed to keep it close throughout until Brazil went on a run late in the game and Croatia couldn’t respond. Croatia takes on Angola on July 30th at 4:30 EST.
Snježana Pejcić
Shooting: Snježana Pejcić, bronze medalist from Beijing failed to qualify for the final in her best event, the 10m air rifle, and finished tied for 13th.
Men’s Gymnastics: Croatia’s other returning medalist, Filip Ude, also was knocked out his only event, the pommel horse, in the qualifying rounds. Filip was expected to contend for a medal but he lost his grip and slipped of the apparatus, crushing his chances of making the final. He finished in 32nd out of 69 despite the fall.
Croatia’s Carolina Molnar in action on opening day
Table Tennis: Tian Yuan and Carolina Molnar both won their first round matches in straight sets. Molnar lost later in the day in her second round match to Kim Jong of North Korea.
Mario Vekić qualified for the quarterfinals on opening day
Rowing: The Young Guns (Croatia’s 4 man rowing team) won their qualifying heat against the reigning world and Olympic champions Poland and Australia. Their semifinal heat is at 5:40 EST on August 1st. Mario Vekić qualified for the quarterfinals of the single sculls competition with a 2nd place finish in his heat.
Tennis: Ivan Dodig bowed out of the first round of the men’s singles tournament, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro in 2 sets. Ivo Karlović and Petra Martić were forced to withdraw from the competition with injuries.
LOL seems like Female B-ball players are now getting sleeves. I am sorry but it is very unattractive on black people. The US womans basketball crowd is known to be full of Lesbians. No chance our pretty girls stood any real chance against those pigs.
@Anonymous
Those replays are great and you can fast forward, rewind, and choose the video quality. I wish there was commentary though…
For those of you who enjoy handball. Here’s a saved stream from the game today
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/handball/mens-preliminary-pool-b-croatia-v-korea.html
Compared to the men, I was pleasantly suprised at the women’s dribbling skills against the USA. It was only a 6 point game at the end of 3 quarters.
I also tried doing a Google search on Yuan to see when she came to Croatia, if she can actually speak the language, if she can actually find it on a map, etc, but came up with nothing. Maybe this is CSR’s next interview? 🙂
Not sure what her connection is. She was born in China and has competed for Croatia since 2005. Cant find anything else
Congrats to Croatian bball squad. I enjoyed getting nervous texts from non-Cro friends for the first three quarters.
What is Tian Yuan’s connection to Croatia?
@Denis – I’d be interested to see a poll of CSR fans. What medals do people want to win most?
I’d vote to win men’s handball. We need revenge after that loss in the euros.
Congrats to our women basketball players. Nice effort against the USA. I hope when they get back to Cro their dads, husbands or boyfriends give them a day or two of rest so they don’t have to worry about cleaning and cooking.