It’s Summer Time In Paris – Canada’s McIntosh swims away with 400 IM at the Olympics

• July 30, 2024

PARIS – For decades Olympic swimming venues have been a reflection of the long held notion that the sport has two super powers, Australia and the United States, and all the nations are just the supporting cast.

But the Paris La Defense Arena, the swimming venue for these Olympic Games, had a distinctly different feel to it Monday night. Instead Melbourne or Orange County, the arena looked more like Yonge Street or Portage and Main.

Among the sea of Canadian flags and fans face-painted red, white and red – rouge, blanc, et rouge – a spectator held up a sign: “It’s Summer Time In Canada.”

It’s also Summer Time in Paris.

Summer McIntosh, the Toronto 17-year-old filled with patriotism, won the Olympic Games 400-meter individual gold medal Monday night with perhaps the most dominating performance so far in the Paris 2024 swimming competition.

McIntosh touched the wall in 4 minutes, 27.71 seconds, well off the world record of 4:24.38 she set at the Canadian Olympic Trials in May, her nearly six-second margin of victory over American Katie Grimes (4:33.40) was the largest in an Olympic women’s 400 IM final since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

“I’m just trying to make team Canada proud,” McIntosh said “and set the tone.”

McIntosh’s victory in the opening event of Monday’s evening session also set the tone for a big night for teenagers at the Olympic pool.

Romanian 19-year-old David Popovici’s victory in the 200 freestyle was as razor thin as McIntosh’s triumph was lopsided.

“It was a pure dogfight,” Popovici said. We all fought up until the last stroke with every atom in our bodies.”

Just two-hundredths of a second separated Popovici and runner-up Matthew Richards of Great Britain – 1:44.72 to 1:44.74 – with Luke Hobson of the U.S. finishing only another five-hundredths back for the bronze medal.”It’s historic,” Popovici said. “First gold in men’s swimming for our country. I’m very happy. I couldn’t do it without the country standing behind me and with me. But at the end of the day, I managed this because I did it for me.”

McIntosh first emerged three years ago when, at 14, she was the youngest member of the Canadian team in Tokyo, where she finished fourth in the 400 freestyle.

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A year later she won the 200 butterfly and 400 IM at the World Championships.

Then on March 28, 2023, she stunned her nation and the swimming universe by breaking the world record in the 400 freestyle with a 3:56.08 and then came back three days later to lower the 400 IM world record. Saturday she claimed her first Olympic medal, a silver in the 400 freestyle.

“I think just because I have been doing this since I was 14,” McIntosh said. “I mean, obviously it’s very different back in Tokyo two years ago, but every single time I get to race on the world stage I learn more and more about handling it mentally and physically and emotionally. I’m trying not to get too high or too low. So yeah, I mean, obviously I’m super happy.”

​ Orange County Register 

Kitchen remodel: A young couple’s major re-do yields new organizing tips

• July 30, 2024

When most expectant parents would be nesting, my daughter and her husband were mid-remodel. Sawdust swirled and workers buzzed while every dish, glass, pot, pan and appliance sat in the adjacent family room as if someone had tossed in a grenade.

When Baby George arrived four days ahead of schedule, Paige and Adam had just finished hurriedly moving items back in. Grateful for their beautiful new kitchen and new baby, having everything in just the right place was not a priority.

Except to me.

At the risk of being that mother-in-law (who me?), I wait until the second day of my visit to mention that I know a great kitchen organizer in the area whom I’d be happy to call

“I mean, not to meddle,” I whisper to Paige and Adam, so I don’t wake the baby. “And not to suggest you haven’t already set up your kitchen perfectly — logically! But it’s just that this organizer could suggest ways to better arrange your kitchen that could save you time.”

I regretted the presumptuous offer the minute I made it. What made me think this idea would land well? George opens his eyes, makes a small squawk. Paige and Adam look at each other, look at me and then, probably due to their profound sleep deprivation, shrug and say, “Sure!”

I met Mary Rogers, a cooking educator and kitchen organizer from Boulder, Colo., 20 years ago. I was living in Colorado and invited her to my home to get tips for one of my columns. She taught me to observe how I moved in the kitchen.

“It’s math,” Rogers said. “Taking five more seconds to get an ingredient, a bowl or utensil may not seem like much, but soon those five seconds add up to 20, then a minute; over a week it becomes 10 minutes, and in a month, an hour.” She set up my coffee station, so I could make coffee without moving my feet.

“If your kitchen isn’t efficient, you’re not going to want to cook,” she said. “If cooking is a pain, you’re not going to make healthy meals.”

After looking Paige and Adam’s kitchen over, Rogers noted how much they had gotten right on the fly. They had edited cooking supplies down to only what they used. “In most homes, decluttering is the first step,” she said. They knew what critical appliances and foods they wanted close and had put silverware, glasses and dishes near the dishwasher.

She then made the following moves to better streamline the couple’s new kitchen:

Put food where you cook. Cooking ingredients, such as oils, spices, vinegars and canned goods belong close to the stove. Paige and Adam had their spices in a drawer near the stove, but when you opened the drawer, you looked down on their lids. You had to pull each spice out to see what it was. Rogers suggested either labeling the lids or getting angled spice racks made for drawers. Paige and Adam got the racks.Arrange spices alphabetically.

Eliminate pantry treks. Seeing cooks walk back and forth to their pantry is one of Roger’s top peeves. Reserve the pantry for storing backups of condiments, canned goods, paper towels, etc., and for lesser-used serving pieces. Snacks aren’t needed for cooking, so Rogers relocated them there.

Thin the caddy. Many kitchens have a caddy to hold cooking utensils, which get crammed with gadgets cooks rarely use, Rogers said, “so when you pull out one, three more come with it.” Thin the canister so it holds only the six to 10 utensils you reach for most.

Keep dishes, glasses and flatware by the dishwasher. The second-best place is near the kitchen table, so table setting is more convenient. If you can achieve both, even better. Similarly, store dishtowels near the sink, potholders by the stove.

Clear the counters. Unless an appliance is heavily used, keep appliances off counters, especially in the cooking triangle, that busy area between sink, refrigerator and stove. The kitchen will look better, and you’ll have more room to chop and mix ingredients.

Weave in prettiness. Rogers applauds any move that makes the kitchen a place you want to be, including adding functional décor like handsome salt and pepper grinders, a beautiful fruit bowl and pretty linen dish towels.

Use bins strategically. Paige and Adam had labeled bins for flour, sugar, dog treats and nuts, but Rogers saw opportunities for more, including one under the sink for cleaning supplies. “Products are easier to access, when they live in a bin you can pull out.”

Afterward, Paige said, “I loved my new kitchen before but now it’s even better.”

Marni Jameson has written seven books, including the newly released “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Reach her at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Paris Olympics Day 3: Nadal loses in what is likely his final singles match of storied career

• July 30, 2024

By JENNA FRYER, AP National Writer

PARIS (AP) — On the clay court where he won 14 French Open titles, Rafael Nadal likely bid adieu to Roland Garros on Day 3 of the Paris Olympics.

Nadal was feted Monday by a rowdy crowd as he met Novak Djokovic in the second round of the men’s tennis tournament for a record 60th — and probably final — time.

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The Spaniard wouldn’t say if he plans to retire after the Olympics, but his 6-1, 6-4 loss to Djokovic showed just how diminished his game has become at age 38. The chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” began as soon as Nadal walked on the court and even helped him win four consecutive games in the second set, including a forehand winner to break to make it 4-all.

After the defeat, the two-time Olympic champion was weary of being asked about his future. He’s still playing at the Olympics, pairing with Carlos Alcaraz in doubles for Spain, and what comes next he does not know.

“I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it’s going to be, or not going to be, my last match. I come here, I try my best, I play. And when I decide to stop playing, or when I decide to keep going, I will let you know. I don’t know,” Nadal said. “If I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I am not … ready to keep going, I will stop, and I will let you know.”

Coco cruises

Coco Gauff is making it look easy at the Paris Olympics so far, adding a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina in the second round of singles to her growing collection of lopsided results.

Gauff had more than twice as many unforced errors, 26, as winners, 11. She only put 55% of her first serves in play and wound up with six double-faults and zero aces. And even though it took nearly 1 1/2 hours for the reigning U.S. Open champion and No. 2-ranked Gauff to finish off an opponent who is ranked 85th, has never won a tour-level singles title and owns an 0-2 career record at Grand Slam tournaments, she was satisfied.

“You can’t argue with the scoreline, to be honest,” the 20-year-old American said.

Super swim

Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh claimed her first gold medal with a dominating victory in the 400-meter individual medley. The 17-year-old McIntosh collected her first medal of any color on the opening night of swimming, taking a silver in the 400 freestyle behind Ariarne Titmus — and ahead of Katie Ledecky.

She pushed the pace hard through the first half of the grueling race — the butterfly and backstroke legs — to leave everyone in her wake except American Katie Grimes.

Grimes, who is also swimming the open water event in Paris, held on to claim the silver and the Americans also grabbed the bronze when Emma Weyant touched third.

Another teen rules

David Popovici made the teenagers 2 for 2 on the night when he pulled off a thrilling victory in the men’s 200 freestyle.

The 19-year-old Romanian was among three swimmers who swapped the lead back and forth on the final lap. Popovici mustered everything he had to get to the wall a mere two-hundredths of a second ahead of Britain’s Matthew Richards, with American Luke Hobson just 0.07 back to earn the bronze.

The top four were separated by a mere 0.15 seconds.

Australia wins again

Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus made it a 1-2 finish for Australia in the women’s 200-meter freestyle.

O’Callaghan’s victory denied Titmus her second consecutive gold of these Games. Titmus won the gold on Saturday in the 400-meter freestyle.

Men’s team all-around final

The Japanese men’s gymnastics team claimed Olympic gold with an epic comeback over its top rival.

With China looking poised to claim its first Olympic title in 12 years with one rotation to go, Japan surged ahead to win the men’s team competition after an intense and nail-biting duel.

Daiki Hashimoto, of Japan, gets hugged by teammates after performing on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Japanese overtook their rivals on the final rotation, after China’s Su Weide fell twice off the horizontal bar. Japan won with a small margin of 0.532 points.

The Americans, meanwhile, earned bronze for their first medal since 2008.

After qualifying in fifth place, the U.S. men ended a 16-year drought to the delight of the dozens of fans waving American flags who chanted “USA! USA!” throughout the evening.

The Americans posted a total of 257.793 points to edge Britain for the bronze.

U.S. women’s water polo loses

The U.S. women’s water polo team was handed a rare loss at the Olympics, falling 13-11 to Bea Ortiz and Spain in a rematch of the final at the Tokyo Games.

The U.S. is going for its fourth consecutive gold medal. No team — men or women — has won four straight water polo titles at the Olympics. It was the program’s second loss at the Olympics since it dropped the 2008 final. It went 5-0-1 in London, 6-0 in Rio de Janeiro and 6-1 in Tokyo.

After its 10-9 loss to Hungary in group play in 2021, the U.S. ripped off four straight wins by a combined score of 63-26. That included a dominant 14-5 victory over Spain in the final.

China dominates diving

China passed the one-time powerhouse United States for the top spot in gold medals in diving when Lian Junjie and Yang Hao breezed to victory in synchronized 10-meter platform. It was the 49th gold medal in China’s history.

China came into the Paris Games favored in all eight events and essentially a sure thing to take down the American record for most golds. The Big Red Machine is now 2 for 2 at these Olympics as it looks to become the first country to sweep all eight events since the program was doubled at the 2000 Sydney Games.

China’s Lian Junjie and Yang Hao celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal in the men’s synchronised 10m platform diving final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Since that expansion, China has won 40 of 50 golds, including seven of eight at each of the last two Summer Games.

There hasn’t been a diving sweep since the U.S. claimed gold in all four events at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

Canada Soccer appeals penalty

Canada appealed being docked six points by FIFA in a drone-spying scandal at the women’s soccer tournament, and a verdict is expected hours before the team plays its last group-stage game Wednesday.

FIFA punished Olympic defending champion Canada on Saturday — and banned coach Bev Priestman and two assistant coaches for one year — for allegations of using a drone to spy on New Zealand’s practices.

The expected legal move by the Canadian soccer federation and Olympic body was formally registered Monday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a fast-track case.

CAS said it aims to have an appeal hearing Tuesday with its panel of three judges giving a verdict by midday Wednesday. The coaches’ bans are not part of this case.

Canada plays Colombia in Nice on Wednesday night and needs to know where it stands before the game starts.

Triathlon swimming canceled, again

Concerns about the water quality in the Seine River led officials to call off the swimming portion of an Olympic triathlon training session for a second straight day.

Organizers overseeing the event at the Paris Games are optimistic that triathletes will be able to swim in the city’s famed waterway when the competition starts Tuesday.

The sport’s governing body, World Triathlon, its medical team and city officials are banking on sunny weather and higher temperatures to bring levels of E. coli and other bacteria below the necessary limits to stage the swim portion of the race, which also includes biking and running.

World Triathlon made the decision to cancel the swim workout early Monday following a meeting over water quality in the Seine, which is closely linked to the weather. Rain deluged Friday’s opening ceremony and showers persisted Saturday.

​ Orange County Register 

Gardeners share their favorite tools to use while gardening

• July 30, 2024

Most gardeners would cite their pruners as their favorite tool, probably because pruners are one of our most utilized tools. I never go into my garden without my pruners. Interestingly, my informal survey of master gardeners, members of the Marin Garden Club and friends yielded four different brands.

Not surprisingly, several people liked a couple of brands of Japanese pruners. The Japanese are known for their long-lasting tools. If you haven’t been there, check out the Japanese tool shop Hida Tool & Hardware Co. in Berkeley. I bought a pole pruner there a couple of decades ago, and someone dropped it and somehow broke a part, which they promptly fixed for $15. There’s also a wonderful Japanese hardware store Soko Hardware in Japantown.

Many gardeners use Swiss pruners, which are pretty much the industry standard because of their wide range of sizes and replaceable parts. One friend told me that she uses a little pink pruner she paid $1 dollar for. She lives in a condo but has a large deck with huge pots of succulents, which certainly need occasional pruning, along with indoor plants.

I keep an extra pruner in my car along with a bucket and a large bottle of water in case I happen to buy flowers and have other errands to run. You never know when you might find nice flowers.

A collection of hand tools that can be used in the garden. (Diane Lynch/Marin Master Gardeners)

A keen gardener I know swears by cardboard to wipe out small patches of weeds. She cuts weeds to the ground, covers them with several cardboard layers, wetting them down to conform to the terrain, and covers them with mulch. She also loves a little hand rake that acts like an extension of her arm to reach under plants for cleanup and to spread mulch.

Another avid gardener always carries her pruners and hori hori knife, which are handy for cutting errant roots, scraping, digging and planting bulbs and other plants. The Dutch are known for their wonderful array of small garden tools, including trowels with specific purposes and hori hori knives.

I’ve talked to a couple of people recently who have small battery-powered chain saws. One friend, whom I didn’t imagine using a chain saw, said she loves it because it’s quiet, lightweight and will cut branches up to about 3 inches.

Another friend told me that he uses a post-hole digger for planting small plants. Genius! I wish I’d asked him earlier, but this is a great way to plant tomato plants after removing the lower leaves. Tomatoes are one of the few plants that will sprout roots along the stem, so you should cut the lowest leaves and plant them deep, which allows them to conserve water and develop a large root system.

The three-legged orchard ladder is much more stable than the four-legged variety. (Diane Lynch/Marin Master Gardeners)

Here’s another great idea. As we age, our skin sometimes gets thin and fragile. A garden club friend with a huge garden in Ross loves her shin guards from any sports store, which protect her legs from nasty bruises and cuts.

I have a small tool with a double-sided head: a chopping blade on one side and a short little rake/cultivator on the other. It’s great for mixing compost into pots and other small chores.

A couple of other gardeners mentioned Grampa’s Weeder, a device that grabs the weed as you step on the little pedal that wrenches it out.

“Very satisfying,” one commented.

Loppers are a favorite tool of many gardeners and several favor the lightweight bypass ones. Older loppers are great for strong people, but the wood handles make them quite heavy. One person told me she loves to prune with her loppers and finds it “almost therapeutic.”

No one mentioned the orchard ladder, so I’ll put in a pitch for this essential tool if you prune above your head. Three legs make it sit level even on uneven or slightly sloped terrain. Mine are old wood ones, but there are newer aluminum ones that look pretty nifty. The ladder is probably the most dangerous tool we use in the garden. Years ago, I heard about someone’s mother who fell off a ladder and spent an entire year in the hospital after tearing her heart. A friend recently spent several weeks in the hospital and rehab after a nasty fall.

Remember to keep your tools clean, sharp and oiled. They’ll last a long time and serve you well.

Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, the University of California Marin Master Gardeners provides science- and research-based information for Marin home gardeners. Email questions to [email protected]. Attach photos for inquiries about plant pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to see when a master gardener will be at the office or drop off samples 24/7 in the sample box outside the office. To attend a gardening workshop or subscribe to Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu.

​ Orange County Register 

In an arena full of Oscar and Grammy winners, Simone Biles will be Olympic final’s star attraction

• July 30, 2024

PARIS – It was a familiar site: Anna Wintour, the longtime Vogue editor-in-chief, sitting in a place of prominence amid a constellation of stars from the entertainment industry next to a Parisian runway.

Only this wasn’t Paris Fashion Week but the opening day of the Olympic Games women’s gymnastics competition.

“It is important always to have really original talent,” Wintour once said. She was talking about designers, but she could have just as easily been speaking of Simone Biles, the most original and transformative talent the sport of gymnastics has ever seen.

Wintour is expected to be among the who’s who of Oscar winners and nominees, Grammy winners, super models and heads of state at the Bercy Arena Tuesday on a night the sport has waited three years to watch Biles and the U.S. attempt to reclaim the Olympic team gold medal.

And an audience that is expected to include Tom Cruise, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, will see Biles in all four acts of Tuesday’s epic.

While there was speculation that Team USA might hold Biles, the 27-year-old four-time Olympic and 23-time World champion, out of one of the four rotations Tuesday after she limped through parts of Saturday’s opening round after straining a calf muscle in training, USA Gymnastics confirmed that she will compete in all four events in the team final.

Jordan Chiles, Biles’ training partner and one of four returning members of Team USA’s silver medal squad at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, will start the Americans off on the vault, followed by Jade Carey, the Olympic floor exercise champion three years ago, and Biles. Chiles and Biles will set up reigning Olympic champion Suni Lee on the uneven bars. Biles will anchor the U.S. on the final two rotations, the balance beam and floor exercise. Chiles is scheduled to lead off on the beam followed by Lee with the pair switching the order on the floor.

“She’s bringing the sport to a whole new level,” Sanne Wevers, the 2016 Olympic beam gold medalist for Netherlands, said of the 2016 Olympic all-around champion. “It’s not just the level (of skills) she shows, but also the awareness she brings about things like mental health. That makes the sport even better.”

Despite the sore calf, Biles became the first female gymnast to successfully land–or even attempt – a Yurchenko double pike vault also known as the Biles 2.0. Her 59.566 all-around score was the highest among all of Saturday’s qualifying sub-divisions.

“It was pretty amazing – 59.5(66), four for four, not perfect,” said Team USA coach Cecile Landi, who also coaches Biles at World Champion Centre in Spring, Texas. “So she can improve even.”

Improvement has been a recurring theme within a Team USA determined to erase the bitter memory of a controversial silver medal finish in Tokyo.

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On the opening rotation of the team final, Biles suffered “the Twisties,” a psychologically induced gymnastics form of vertigo, on the vault and had to cut her routine a rotation short. She touched down but still found no direction of home. How could she with so many pointing her in so many different directions?

Biles withdrew from the remainder of a team competition in which the U.S. finished second to Russia as well as the individual all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise finals.

“This is definitely our redemption tour,” Biles said. “We all have more to give and our Tokyo performance wasn’t the best. We weren’t under the best circumstances either, but I feel like we have a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and prove we’re better athletes, we’re more mature. We’re smarter, more consistent.”

​ Orange County Register 

RHOBH alum Teddi Mellencamp’s family nabs $5M for their Dana Point home

• July 30, 2024

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave’s former home in Capistrano Beach, center with the red roof, recently sold for $4.95 million. (Google Earth)

A two-story Dana Point home on the sand linked to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave recently sold for $4.95 million.

The 1954 bungalow spans 2,738 square feet and sits on an extra-deep lot on Beach Road in guard-gated Capistrano Beach. Under its beamed ceilings are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and dual Nano accordion glass doors that open to a beach-level patio covered by a pergola with a fire pit.

A low wall separates it from the sand and surf beyond.

Records viewed at PropertyShark.com show that on the day the house sold for $3.25 million in December 2014, the reality personality transferred ownership to her second husband, Edwin, the CEO and founder of Skyline Security Management. He then placed ownership into a living trust in February 2016.

In April 2024, the house hit the market for $5.295 million.

The buyers are a Riverside couple working in the medical field. On July 19, records show they bought the beachfront property through an LLC for 7% less than the listed price.

Inside, the open-concept design has been updated. There’s a stone fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling black marble surround and raised hearth, an open dining area and a solarium-style bonus room. The all-white kitchen includes stainless steel GE Monogram appliances, a built-in refrigerator and a waterfall-edge peninsula with seating.

Glass doors open from the primary suite onto a large sun deck.

A two-car garage with driveway parking for three more vehicles adds to the offering.

Doug Echelberger of Inhabit Estate was the listing agent. Vinod Desar of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Realty represented the buyers.

Arroyave, 43, is a reality TV personality best known for her run as a primary cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” from 2017 to 2020. She is the founder of All In by Teddi, a weight-loss accountability coaching program.

In addition, she co-hosts the weekly Bravo-centric podcast “Two Ts in a Pod” with fellow ex-“housewife” Tamra Judge. She is the daughter of heartland rocker John Mellencamp, whose catalog of hits includes “Jack and Diane,” “Hurts So Good,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town”  and “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”

Arroyave shares three children with her husband and is stepmother to his daughter from a previous relationship.

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​ Orange County Register 

Jim Harbaugh gets up-close look at Chargers’ O-line vs. D-line battles

• July 30, 2024

EL SEGUNDO — Jim Harbaugh played quarterback at the University of Michigan and then with the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Ravens and the Chargers during a stellar 14-year career in the NFL. So, maybe it wasn’t all that strange to see him assuming the position for a drill Monday.

Actually, given what we’ve seen from him since training camp began last week and, in fact, during spring practices, perhaps it was to be expected. After all, he has joined his players in the weight room and participated in other drills over the days, weeks and months since he was hired last winter.

This time, Harbaugh took snaps from center Bradley Bozeman with the offensive lineman engaging in one-on-one battles with the defensive linemen during the Chargers’ first day in pads. Harbaugh didn’t get hit once. So, did the offensive linemen win the competition against the defensive linemen?

Harbaugh couldn’t say definitely without reviewing the video.

Rookie right tackle Joe Alt was matched against veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa in one of the more intriguing battles. Harbaugh cautioned Bosa for getting a little too aggressive with Alt with a bull-rush on their first matchup. Left tackle Rashawn Slater was paired with edge rusher Khalil Mack in another key battle.

It was the most physical period in camp to date.

“It was really good,” Harbaugh said of the competition. “Somebody asked me who won. We’re going to have to go to the tape to figure that one out. It was a good give and take. Both sides. Just kind of what you want to see. You don’t want to see the offense dominate the defense at this stage, for sure. You could have the defense dominate the offense in these early stages of camp. That would be OK.”

Asked for his impressions of Alt, the fifth pick in the draft in April, Harbaugh said, “Acquitted himself well.” Harbaugh later said Bosa was guilty of a “tempo violation,” going a little too aggressively in a bull-rush attempt against Alt. Harbaugh reminded Bosa to throttle back a little bit.

After only five days of training camp, it would appear that Alt has won the starter’s job at right tackle, supplanting Trey Pipkins III. In fact, the entire offensive line appears set with Pipkins shifting to right guard, Bozeman at center, Slater at left tackle and Zion Johnson at left guard.

“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been fortunate to have really good players on the offensive line,” Harbaugh said. “It goes to show you there are no good coaches without good players, and that goes for the team overall. Really been blessed to have good offensive linemen. That is a group that has to play five players as one.”

CLICKING TOGETHER

Bozeman signed with the Chargers as a free agent after spending two seasons with the Carolina Panthers and four with the Ravens. His job isn’t an easy one, having been given the role as protector of standout quarterback Justin Herbert and assisting in the Chargers’ attempts to bolster their ground game.

“Justin has been playing at a super-high level,” Bozeman said. “You have to go in and earn those kinds of guys’ respect. I’ve got to come in here and earn my respect and show what I can do. It’s all great in shorts and shirt, but when you put on the pads, that’s when you start to figure out who guys are.”

Herbert spent two-plus seasons working with Corey Linsley before Linsley suffered a heart ailment that forced him to retire. Herbert and Linsley developed a relationship that enabled both to excel at their positions, with Herbert throwing for a Chargers record 5,014 yards in the 2021 season.

Herbert and Bozeman are still developing their connection.

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“He’s telling me more than I’m telling him, but there’s a big line of communication there,” Bozeman said. “We’re sitting there making sure we’re all on the same page. When I have a recommendation I’ll throw it out there, but he’s running the show. Our relationship is really good. It’ll continue to grow as we work together.”

GILMAN SIDELINED

Safety Alohi Gilman was absent from practice, and he had a good reason.

“The team got bigger and stronger,” Harbaugh bellowed when asked about Gilman’s absence. “Alohi and his wife had a baby (girl). The measurables are good. Close to nine pounds. Got some length. Twenty-one inches. Haven’t got the wingspan yet. Hopefully, we’ll get that (later) today.”

​ Orange County Register 

What to watch at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30

• July 29, 2024

Simone Biles leads the U.S. women into the gymnastics team final as part of an action-packed slate Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Here is a guide of what to look out for:

Biles in gymnastics team final despite injury

The 27-year-old Biles is in the lineup to compete in all four events of the team final despite a calf injury. Biles tweaked her left calf while warming up for floor exercise during qualifying on Sunday. She still topped the all-around with the highest scores on floor and vault.

Simone Biles of United States, has her ankle taped after competing on the uneven bars during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Competition begins at 6:15 p.m. CEST (12:15 p.m. EST) at Bercy Arena. The Americans are favored to win gold after finishing runner-up to Russia in 2021.

Biles’ teammate Jordan Chiles also will compete in all four events. Chiles finished fourth in the all-around during qualifying behind Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee.

U.S. women start defense of 3×3 basketball title

The U.S. women begin defense of their 2021 Olympic title in 3×3 basketball when the competition begins Tuesday. Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard of the WNBA join Hailey Van Lith, a college basketball player at Texas Christian University, and former WNBA player Cierra Burdick on the team. They will face Germany at 5:30 p.m. CEST (11 a.m. EST) at La Concorde.

Later, the U.S. 3×3 men’s team will take on Serbia. The U.S. men did not qualify for the Olympics in 2021.

Katie Ledecky back in pool, swimming finals continue

Ledecky is back in the pool to compete in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle, one of her signature events. The qualifying heats start at 11:44 a.m. CEST (5:44 a.m. EST) at Paris La Defense Arena. Ledecky is the world and Olympic record holder in the event and is a favorite to defend her 2021 title.

Gold medalist Ariarne Titmus, of Australia, middle, stands with silver medalist Summer McIntosh, of Canada, right, and bronze medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, after winning the women’s 400-meters freestyle final the at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

The women’s 100 backstroke final will take place at 8:56 p.m. CEST (2:56 p.m. EST). That’ll be followed by the men’s 800 free final. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen qualified in first place in the heats at 7:41.53.

The last swimming final Tuesday is the men’s 4×200 free relay at 10:01 p.m. CEST (4 p.m. EST).

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Gold in women’s rugby sevens

The gold and bronze medal matches for women’s rugby sevens add to the excitement of Tuesday’s slate. The bronze match at Stade de France will start at 7 p.m. CEST (1 p.m. EST), followed by the gold medal match at 7:45 p.m.

New Zealand, the defending champion, was set to take on China in a quarterfinal Monday night. Britain and the United States were to begin their quarterfinal match Monday at 9:30 p.m. CEST (3:30 p.m. EST). And Tokyo runner-up France was scheduled to face Canada at 10 p.m.

​ Orange County Register