With the opening ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro taking place Friday night, take a look at when the Spartan Athletes will be in action:
Emily Regan, Team USA, Women’s Eight, Rowing
The women’s eight rowing crew beings competition on Aug. 8, with heats set to start at 9:30 a.m. Depending upon results of the heats, the women’s eight might compete at the Women’s Repechages at 8:50 a.m. on Aug. 10, or head straight to the Women’s Eight Finals on Aug.13 which is set to begin at 10:04 a.m. The women’s eight crew has captured 10 consecutive gold medals in international competitions. All rowing events will take place at Lagoa Stadium, a lagoon in Rio de Janeiro at the base of the Corcovado Mountain which is home to Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer Statue.
Draymond Green, Team USA, Men’s Basketball
Despite off-the-field antics which have garnered Green multiple headlines over the last few weeks, he retained his position with the basketball team. Team USA will look to secure its 15th gold medal and third consecutive Olympic title beginning on Aug. 6 when it takes on China at 6 p.m. Competing in Group A, Team USA faces preliminary round match ups with Venezuela (Aug. 8 at 6 p.m.), Australia (Aug. 10 at 6 p.m.), Serbia (Aug. 12 at 6 p.m.) and France (Aug. 14 at 1:15 p.m.)
If Team USA finishes in the top four of its grouping, it will play again on Aug. 17 in the quarterfinals. If the Americans win in the quarterfinals they’ll compete in the semi-finals on Aug. 19. Times have yet to be announced for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
A win or loss in the semi-finals clinches a spot in the medal round with the bronze medal game taking place at 10:30 a.m. and the gold medal game tipping off at 2:45 p.m. on Aug. 21. All games will be played at Barra Carioca Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Franklin Gomez, Puerto Rico, 65kg Freestyle, Wrestling
Franklin Gomez competed for the Spartans from 2005-2010 winning a national title in 2009 in the 133-pound division, two-time Big Ten Championships in 2008 and 2009 and was a three-time All-American from 2008-2010. He competed in the London Olympics in 2012. He recently competed in the 2015 Pan American games in Toronto, securing a bronze medal in the 65kg weight class.
65kg weight class events begin on the final day of the Olympics with qualifying beginning at 7:30 a.m., round of 16 events at 9:30 a.m., quarterfinals at 10 a.m., semifinals at 10:40 and 11 a.m. and lastly the finals at 12:35 p.m.
Mohamed Hrezi, Libya, Marathon
Hrezi, while not a former MSU athlete, will be attending MSU for graduate school after the Olympics according to the Detroit Free Press. The men’s marathon event takes place on Aug. 21 at 8:30 a.m.
