A graduate of Harvard University, and working on her Master’s degree in epidemiology (I won’t even pretend to know what that is but I’m sure it’s more complicated than, say, a degree in English and American Literature), Gabby Thomas also just won an Olympic medal at the Tokyo Olympics. For all of those accomplishments, and the promise of so much more, Thomas easily earns this Dazzler of the Day. 
The highest I’ve ever likely jumped has been over one of those parking lot dividers. A far cry from the stunning heights that pole vaulters achieve, such as Olympic medalist Chris Nilson, who earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to his high-jumping prowess. (As for me, these days making it over a curb is the extent of my high-jumping.)
With a winning smile, and a winning track record, and double-entendres abounding, Noah Lyles swiftly earns another honor as Dazzler of the Day. He’s racing again tonight at the Olympics, where he currently reigns as the World Champion. Speed, agility, and affability, Lyles and his many attributes make for the ultimate Renaissance man.
The Olympic caliber wrestling on display in Tokyo this past week is nothing like the WWF nonsense that I knew as wrestling from my youth. There is a place for that frivolous piece of entertainment and fakery, and I’m all for it, but on this day we are celebrating the genuine athletic skill and refinement of Kyle Dake, who’s doing the real thing in Tokyo as we speak.
If I was still crowning Hunks of the Day, Karsten Warholm would likely be a top contender. For now, he and his Track & Field prowess will have to make do with the Dazzler of the Day, as he speeds over hurdles in search of a gold medal for his home country of Norway.
Born in America, Lamont Marcell Jacobs moved to Italy at a young age, and so it is that red, white and green country that gets the distinction of earning a gold medal in the men’s 100 meter dash. The only dashing I’m seriously considering at this point in my life is that Door Dash thing. Congrats to Jacobs on this dream come true.
The Summer Olympics in Tokyo are in full bloom, as evidenced by the plethora of Olympic posts here, and the Speedo shots of some favorite Olympians. The links alone are enough for this Monday morning recap, so go on and indulge. (Special kudos to Tom Daley and Matty Lee on their gold medal, and for sprucing up this post with their Speedo poses.) See more below…
The week kicked off with this Speedo-licious post of the aforementioned (and pictured) Tom Daley and Matty Lee.
Sandwich of the summer, in any variation you like.
A flower needing a new common name.
The lily that lasts but a day.
The Olympic Spotlight shone on Artur Dalaloyan, Shane Wiskus, Tyler Downs, Andrew Capobianco, Jordan Chiles, Daiki Hashimoto, Bobby Finke, and MyKayla Skinner.
Dazzlers of the Day included Tommy Dorfman, Oksana Chusovitina, Hidilyn Diaz, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Trayvon Bromell.
Widely billed as the world’s fastest man, Trayvon Bromell is, as of this writing, set to burn his way across the tracks of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He specializes in the sprint, so keep an eye on him, if your eyes are that fast. For this post he gets crowned Dazzler of the Day, which is the very least I can give to anyone – but also the very most.
Having to unexpectedly step up into an Olympic competition must come with a crazy kind of pressure, but the US Women’s Gymnastic team has managed to do so upon the withdrawal of their anchor Simone Biles. We’ve already seen the great Sunisa Lee earn a medal, and now the stage is set for MyKayla Skinner to do similar work. Best of luck to this amazing team.
Trailing right up until the last leg of his race, Bobby Finke made a spectacular comeback from behind to win one of the gold medals in swimming for the American team. Everyone loves a good comeback.
Officially the world’s fastest woman at the moment, Elaine Thompson-Herah is taking the Olympics by storm, bolting to a medal-winning start and setting the track on fire. Representing Jamaica, she has also broken the previous Olympic record in the 100-meter dash. I can’t imagine running 100 meters at a snail’s pace, so this is obviously impressive to me, and should be to everyone. Congrats to Thompson-Herah on adding to her collection of Olympic medals and glory, as well as being crowned Dazzler of the Day.
Not quite out of his teens, Daiki Hashimoto has already earned a gold medal at the Olympic Games in mens gymnastics, and to reach such a goal at such a young age is pretty spectacular. My main accomplishment at his age was… let me think… surviving mono? His is better.
We love the Olympics here, and we love a ginger here, so this post brings you the best of both worlds. Andrew Capobianco is currently in the running for an Olympic medal with his diving partner Michael Hixon (seen as Hunk of the Day here, and a previous Olympic Spotlight here). Capobianco brings his ginger flair to his team, lighting up the Olympic pool.
Joining the Olympic hot bunch (see Brody Malone, Yul Moldauer, and Shane Wiskus), this is U.S. diver Tyler Downs, making his debut beneath the Olympic Spotlight. We’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
The Philippines hasn’t won a single gold medal in any Olympic Games… until now. Busting through that streak is Hidilyn Diaz who won the country its first gold medal, and in weightlifting no less. Through such sheer determination, grit, and literal strength, Diaz also earns her first Dazzler of the Day for putting my Dad’s home country on the Olympic gold medal map at last.
