Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball: Medal Round Historical Preview

Mexico - Canada (bronze medal game)

• Either Mexico or Canada will be the fifth different National Olympic Committee (NOC) to win a medal in softball at the Olympic Games.
• Mexico has reached the bronze medal game in its debut appearance at the Olympic Games. Excluding softball's debut at the Olympic Games in 1996, the previous best result by a debut team was fifth by Italy in 2000.
• Mexico has never won a medal in a women's team sport at the Olympic Games. The Mexicans have claimed three medals in men's team sports - gold in football in 2012, bronze in basketball in 1936 and bronze in polo in 1936.
• Canada is one of four NOCs to compete in softball at all five Olympic Games it was on the programme, alongside Australia, Japan and United States. The only one of those four NOCs not to win a medal is Canada.
• Canada's best result at the Olympic Games was fourth in 2008, after finishes of fifth in 1996, eighth in 2000 and fifth in 2004.
• Mexico's first Olympic softball game was a 4-0 defeat against Canada in the opening round of games at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Jenn Salling scored a home run.
• Both of Canada's defeats at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were by a 1-0 scoreline - against United States and Japan (after eight innings). The Canadians won their other three games by an aggregate score of 19-2.
• Mexico beat Canada 2-1 in 2019 during the Americas Olympic qualification tournament.
• Mexico and Canada met six times in world championships and World Cups from 2012 to 2017. Canada won all six games.

Japan - United States (gold medal game)

• The two NOCs to win a gold medal in softball at the Olympic Games are United States (1996, 2000, 2004) and Japan (2008).
• United States is the only country that will have medalled in each of the Olympic softball tournaments, with silver guaranteed at Tokyo 2020.
• Japan's gold medal at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 followed a silver in 2000 and a bronze in 2004. Current head coach Utsuki Reiga was a playing member of the team in 2000 and 2004.
• Mine Yukiyo, Yamada Eri and Ueno Yukiko were part of the Japan team that won gold at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Yamada and Ueno had also claimed bronze in 2004.
• Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman are the two members of the current United States squad who also played at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
• Osterman also won Olympic gold with USA in 2004. She can become the seventh athlete to win at least three Olympic medals in softball (all representing USA).
• The Japanese team won two of their eight Olympic games versus United States. Aside from the gold medal game in 2008, Japan defeated USA 2-1 in the group stage in 2000.
• USA's defeat against Japan in the Olympic gold medal game in 2008 came after they had defeated the Japanese twice earlier in that tournament: 7-0 in the group stage and 4-1 in the qualifying semi-finals (after nine innings).
• United States and Japan secured their place in the gold medal game at this Olympic Games by winning each of their opening four games. USA then defeated the Japanese 2-1 in the final round of group stage games.
• The only Olympic gold medal winners to finish on a 100% winning record was United States in 2004 (nine out of nine).
• United States did not score more than two runs in any of their five games at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
• United States and Japan met in the final of each of the past seven world championships. USA won the title five times (2002, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2018) and Japan came out on top twice (2012, 2014).