Team USA was on fire on Day 7 with two upsets to clinch Gold upsetting the favorites.

Starting the night off to inspire the American squad was team captain and first-time Olympian Maya DiRaydo in the women’s 200 backstroke. Going into finals as the third seed, Maya hit the gas pedal on the last 50 and accelerated her stroke rate to catch the field on the final leg. With a huge lunge and dive underwater to drive her finish, Maya got her hand on the wall first to stop the clock at 2:05.99, .06 seconds ahead of Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu who had to settle for silver. Maya was overwhelmed once she realized she had secured the gold.

The second surprise finish for the U.S. Team came in the men’s 50 freestyle with Anthony Ervin earning his second career Olympic gold medal in the event. What is so unusual is that this win comes 16 years after his first championship in 2000, where he tied for the gold with Gary Hall, Jr. After taking almost a decade off from the sport and returning to Olympic competition in 2012, Ervin, 35, is now the oldest …read more

Source:: WRAL