DENVER — The U.S. women's soccer team got off to a strong start with a win over Zambia in their opener of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris on Thursday.
It was one of six women's soccer games in group play, in which reigning Olympic champion Canada also scored a win over New Zealand.
Here are some of the biggest moments from Olympic competition on Thursday, July 25.
Women's soccer
Mallory Swanson scored a pair of goals just moments apart in the first half, and the United States opened the Olympics with a 3-0 victory over Zambia on Thursday night, giving new coach Emma Hayes a win in her first major tournament with the team.
Trinity Rodman also scored for the United States, which is looking to add a record fifth gold medal to its Olympic collection.
In other group play games on Thursday:
Reigning Olympic champion Canada scored a 2-1 victory over New Zealand. Evelyne Viens came into the match as a substitute in the 67th minute, took a long pass from Jessie Fleming and tucked it into the goal at the opposite post 12 minutes after entering. Mackenzie Barry gave New Zealand the early lead with a goal in the 13th minute, but Cloe Lacasse equalized for Canada in first-half stoppage time.
World champion Spain came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in Group C.
After its humbling group-stage exit from the Women’s World Cup last year, Germany got off to a flying start at the Olympics by beating Australia 3-1 in Marseille.
Brazil defeated Nigeria 1-0 in Group C in Bordeaux, and France held off Colombia with a 3-2 win in Lyon.
Below, watch all the goals from women's soccer on Thursday.
Gymnastics
Simone Biles, Suni Lee and the U.S. women's gymnastics team practiced their routines on Thursday, ahead of qualifying this weekend. They will look to reclaim gold with Russia ineligible to take part in team sports.
Biles is looking to complete her comeback after withdrawing from competition during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The Olympic all-around gold medalist from 2016 performed several training routines Thursday including the Yurchenko double pike vault, a difficult skill that has never been done in Olympic competition.
Lee, the all-around Olympic gold medalist from the Tokyo Games in 2021, had a strong showing during podium training in Paris on Thursday.
She is competing in her second Olympics after multiple kidney-related issues that limited training and initially made her doubt whether she could return to Olympic competition. She had strong second-place all-around finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month.
