What to watch on Day 12 of the 2021 Olympics: Track and field time

It’s track and field’s time to shine at the 2021 Olympics.

Gymnastics and swimming are officially in the rearview, leaving track as the headlining event of the Tokyo games. And there will be several American stars on display in the Olympics’ 12th day.

Elsewhere, there is baseball, skateboarding and much more on the docket for Wednesday.

Here are the major Olympic events that will take place on Wednesday, August 4:

Track and field: 10:30 PM (Tuesday) and 7:00 AM (Wednesday), NBC/Peacock

America gets a taste of what’s to come on Tuesday night with the women’s 400m hurdles (10:30 PM), which will feature Sydney McLaughlin (arguably the country’s most famous track athlete behind Allyson Felix), Dalilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell (sister of NFLer Ross Cockrell). Then Wednesday morning, it’s an onslaught of track finals.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase (7:00 AM) and men’s hammer throw (7:15) will kick off the morning, followed by the men’s 800m final (8:05). But the morning’s main event will surely be the men’s 200m (8:55), which features a trio of American stars: Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion; Kenny Bednarek, who had the fastest time in the quarterfinals; and 17-year-old sensation Erriyon Knighton, who has been receiving Usain Bolt comparisons and could make history as the youngest-ever winner of this event.

Erriyon Knighton of Team United States competes in round one of the Men's 200m.
Erriyon Knighton of Team United States competes in round one of the Men’s 200m.
Getty Images

Baseball: 11:00 PM (Tuesday), CNBC

Team USA had a 6-3 lead in their Monday game against Japan – and then they blew it, coughing up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning and the winning run in the tenth. In the double-elimination format, they were not sent home, but their backs are now against the wall for their matchup with the Dominican Republic.

The DR has as many recognizable stars as the U.S., if not more: Jose Bautista (who hit a walk-off against Israel) and Melky Cabrera (of Yankees fame) are among the stars. If the Americans win, their chance for gold remains alive – but if not, the best they can do is bronze.


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Women’s basketball: 12:40 AM, USA Network

The Americans hope to keep their 52-game Olympic winning streak alive against Australia early Wednesday morning. And no, that’s not a typo – Team USA women have won 52 straight Olympic games in a row.

Australia did manage to upset the American squad in a July exhibition, but it’d still be a shocking result if the Aussies can do it again.

Skateboarding: 8:00 PM, CNBC

The new Olympic event returns on Tuesday night with the women’s park event, the qualifiers are at 8:00 PM and the finals later at 11:00. Great Britain’s Sky Brown, who is 13 years old, will be a major storyline, and has a real shot at a medal.

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