TOKYO, Japan – Former Auburn swimmer Zach Apple pulled away on the final leg of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay Monday morning to secure the gold medal for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
It's the first Olympic gold medal won by a current or former Auburn swimmer since the London Games in 2012 when Tyler McGill and Eric Shanteau both swam on Team USA's 4x100m medley relay team that won gold.
Apple, who is second-fastest in Auburn history in the 100 freestyle, swam the anchor leg for the United States in both the heat and the final. At 46.69, he was the fastest among his teammates in the final and helped the U.S. finish with a time of 3:08.97, ahead of Italy (3:10.11) and Australia (3:10.22) who placed second and third.
Former Tiger Marcelo Chierighini also swam in Tuesday's final, anchoring the Brazil relay team that took eighth, finishing in 3:13.41. It was the third Olympics for Chierighini, a 22-time All-American at Auburn from 2010-2014.
GYMNASTICS
Sunisa Lee, incoming freshman for Auburn gymnastics, put together solid performances throughout the women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the Tokyo Olympics. The St. Paul, Minn., product not only helped Team USA reach the team final, but she put herself into three individual event finals as well.
Lee finished third in all-around qualifying, finishing with a 57.166. She put together the second best score on the day in uneven bars (15.200) and the third best score on beam (14.200) to advance to both individual finals.
Team USA will compete for gold Tuesday, July 27 at 5:45 a.m. CT after qualifying second behind the Russian Olympic Committee. Lee and teammate Simone Biles will go in the all-around competition Thursday, July 29. The pair will also battle for medals in uneven bars (August 1) and balance beam (August 3).
SOFTBALL
Auburn softball assistant coach Emily Carosone and Team Italy continued round robin play at against Mexico at Yokohama Stadium.
Mexico knocked a pair of doubles in the second inning to plate a run before knocking a solo home run in the third inning. Mexico plated three more insurance runs in the fifth to win the game, 5-0.
Carosone, the first Olympian in Auburn softball program history, made her fourth straight start for Team Italy at designated player. The former three-time All-American for the Tigers went 0-for-2 at the plate.
After four days of competition, Italy (0-4) stands sixth in the standings. Italy's final game of the preliminary round against Canada is set for Monday at 12:30 a.m. CT. on NBC Sports Network.
UP NEXT: MONDAY, JULY 26
Softball
Emily Carosone – Italy vs. Canada, 12:30 a.m. CT
Tennis
Tim Puetz – Men's Doubles, Germany vs. Great Britain, 9 p.m. CT