Mahtomedi’s Omot scores 24 against U.S.

2024 OLYMPICS >> LOCAL ATHLETES

Regan Smith competes in the 200-meter butterfly semifinal Wednesday in Nanterre, France. Smith, of Lakeville, had the second-fastest qualifying time. The final is today. DAVID J. PHILLIP — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nuni Omot of South Sudan scores on a dunk against the United States in a pool game Wednesday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. MARK J. TERRILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Jace Frederick

jfrederick@pioneerpress.com

Nuni Omot has been told by many people that he has NBA talent.

He believes he has an NBA game, as well, with his 6-foot-9 frame and versatility to shoot, create and defend multiple positions.

That’s never been more true, he believes, than now. But there are only so much chances to strut your stuff in front of important observers. One of those opportunties, the Mahtomedi grad knew, was in these Olympics. Specifically, in Wednesday’s group play game against Team USA — the greatest collection of men’s basketball talent a competitor can lace their shoes up against.

Omot met the challenge. The 29-year-old forward scored 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting — including 3 for 5 from 3-point range — in South Sudan’s 103-86 loss in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France.

Omot was the game’s leading scorer and one of the most impactful players on the floor. South Sudan outscored the U.S. in Omot’s 28 minutes of play. The contest was justification for the way he feels about his game.

“A lot of guys that they’ve given so much credit and who they hype up so much, I’ve always found myself to either be at the same level or play even better than,” Omot said. “I don’t want to compare myself to other people, and I just continue to try to dominate every time I can and just show the reason why I should be playing at a level.”

South Sudan will meet Serbia — which is led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic — in its final group play game on Saturday. If the Bright Stars win that game, they’ll move onto the quarterfinals in their first Olympic Games.

Smith qualifies 2nd in 200 butterfly

One day after notching her fourth Olympic medal with a silver in the 100-meter backstroke, Lakeville’s Regan Smith was once again flying through the pool, this time in the 200 butterfly qualifying races.

Smith sailed through the prelims and the semifinals Wednesday at La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France. She recorded the second-best time in the latter, clocking a time of 2 minutes, 5.39 seconds. That was 0.52 seconds behind Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who won the 400-meter individual medley earlier in these Paris Games.

McIntosh won the gold in the 200 fly at the World Championships last year, while Smith captured bronze. Smith earned a silver in this event in Tokyo in 2021.

Smith’s semifinal time was more than three-tenths of a second faster than she went in the finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and it was seventh-tenths of a second faster than the next closest competitor.

At this point, it looks like a two-woman race for gold in Thursday’s final — which is slated for 1:30 p.m. Central — between Smith and McIntosh. That won’t be Smith’s only race of the day, as the 200 backstroke also gets underway. She will have prelims for that in the morning, and the semifinal takes place roughly 40 minutes after the 200 butterfly final.

Smith is in search of her first Olympic gold medal.