Each day during the Olympics, THE DAILY offers our take on the business performances of some of the people, sponsors, broadcasters and other entities around Rio.
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GOLD: USA SWIMMING -- Considering 31 of 47 Team USA members were Olympic rookies, many forecasts had the U.S. winning no more than 23 medals in the pool. Instead, USA Swimming has matched its largest medal totals since the boycotted '84 L.A. Games, winning 16 golds and 33 medals overall. That is a testament to the entire organization, from Exec Dir Chuck Wielgus and stars like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, to the U.S. Olympic coaches all the way down to their grassroot peers.
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SILVER: KELLOGG CO. -- We realize this is not necessarily breaking new ground, but nice job by Kellogg’s in moving quickly and putting USA Gymnastics’ “Final Five” on boxes of Special K Red Berries within days of them winning the team gold. Nimble, tried-and-true marketing sometimes still trumps everything.
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BRONZE: IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD -- Congratulations to the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab in Olympic competition, not just for winning the bronze in the team sabre event during the weekend but also for helping break down stereotypes and conducting herself with such poise and grace during the entire process.
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TIN: CRIME IN RIO -- As high profile as it is that Ryan Lochte and three U.S. teammates were robbed at gunpoint Sunday, sadly it is just the latest example of crime in Rio against Olympic athletes and officials. Members from the contingents of Australia, China and Portugal have been attacked and robbed, a Brazilian security officer has been killed, and stray bullets have twice landed in the equestrian venue and hit a bus carrying journalists last week. Let’s just hope nothing more happens during this final week.
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