The Tokyo Games are almost here. We individually revisit an amazing Olympic memory, per diem, over the 25-day leadup.
This countdown began on Monday, June 28. Here are parts one and two.
NBC will have comprehensive coverage of the Tokyo Olympics' Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 23, beginning live at 6:55 a.m. ET. The ceremony will be re-aired at 7:30 p.m. ET for U.S. viewers who tune in for primetime, then replayed again overnight.
For more thrilling Olympic memories, stream the Great Moments channel on Peacock.
11 | Helen Maroulis, 2016 Rio Games
Gold - Freestyle 53 kg/116 lbs.
SEE MORE: Rio 2016: Maroulis wins historic wrestling gold for Team USA
At the 2016 Rio Games, Helen Maroulis became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. And she did it by defeating three-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time world champion Yoshida Saori at 53 kg.
Maroulis won the 2015 world 55 kg title before Rio and the 2017 world 58 kg title after her gold, going 78-1 overall among three different weight classes over the period. She's faced injuries since, and because of some even briefly retired.
In April, she beat Jenna Burkert in the deciding match of the freestyle 57 kg final at U.S. trials, competing with a torn MCL. The two embraced afterward; Burkert had lost her mother the week before.
Women's freestyle wrestling made its Olympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games. In addition to Maroulis' gold the U.S. has won four others – one sliver and three bronze. If Maroulis can make the podium in Tokyo she'll become the first woman to win multiple.
SEE MORE: Wrestling 101: Olympic history
12 | Katie Ledecky, U.S. Track & Field Trials in 2021
1st - 1500m Freestyle Final
SEE MORE: Trials: Katie Ledecky wins 1500m free, completes double
Less than an hour and a half after winning the 200m final at U.S. trials, Katie Ledecky returned to the pool and smashed the competition in the 1500m freestyle, lowering a meet record she'd set during the prelims down from 15:43.10 to 15:40.50.
Her 1500m win qualified her for a third individual event in Tokyo — earlier she secured berths in the 400m and 200m freestyles, two events in which she won gold at the 2016 Rio Games. Later, she won the 800m freestyle, making it four individual events.
The victory was also a first for the U.S. trials, as the women's 1500m free makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo. But it surely isn't new for Ledecky, who's a three-time world champion in the event, having won the title in 2017, 2015 and 2013.
SEE MORE: Swimming 101: Olympic History
13 | Sydney McLaughlin, U.S. Track & Field Trials in 2021
1st - 400m Hurdles Final
SEE MORE: U.S. Trials: McLaughlin breaks Muhammad's 400mH world record
Sydney McLaughlin was twice runner-up to separate world record-breaking performances in 2019 – U.S. and world championship title wins – by reigning Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad. But the tables would turn two years later at U.S. trials.
After posting the fastest overall times in both the first (54.07) and semifinal (53.03) rounds, McLaughlin entered the final as the slight favorite despite lining up against the best to ever run the event. It was finally her time to shine, and she capitalized triumphantly.
From lane six she shadowed in stagger Muhammad – in lane seven, who had a fast start – through 80% of the race until taking off with one set of hurdles to go, finishing in 51.90 to become the first women's 400m hurdler to ever break 52 seconds.
McLaughlin's win and world record further electrifies the upcoming, to-be-determined Tokyo showdown between the two Americans in what was already expected to be an incredible matchup. The pair owns each of the top four times run in history.
SEE MORE: Track & Field 101: Olympic history
