>>> TONIGHT, TEAM USA'S SUPERSTAR SWIMMER KATIE LEDECKY WINNING GOLD HERE AT THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS. THE AMAZING FEAT DOMINATING IN THE POOL AFTER SETTING A NEW OLYMPIC RECORD. SHE'S TALKING TO US TONIGHT. ALSO THE TRIATHLON HELD TODAY AFTER CONCERNS ABOUT POLLUTION IN THE SEINE. THE SWIMMERS BATTLING THE RIVER'S CURRENT. >>> AND IN TENNIS THE AMERICANS KNOCKING OUT SPAIN'S DREAM TEAM AS RAFAEL NADAL PLAYED HIS FINAL MATCH. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS BY DONALD TRUMP ATTACKING KAMALA HARRIS' RACE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYING HARRIS, QUOTE, HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK. HOW SHE IS RESPONDING TO THAT TONIGHT. >>> JUST IN, ACCUSED 9/11 MASTERMIND KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED AND TWO OTHER ALLEGED PLOTTERS REACHING A PLEA DEAL. >>> THE ASSASSINATION ROCKING THE MIDDLE EAST, ONE OF HAMAS' TOP LEADERS KILLED IN A STRIKE IN IRAN. THE MILITANT GROUP BLAMING ISRAEL. WILL IT LEAD TO A WIDER WAR? >>> THE DEADLY WILDFIRES BURNING NEAR DENVER. NEARLY 600 HOMES EVACUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. >>> PLUS, THE VICTORY 100 YEARS IN THE MAKING. MEET THE WOMEN OF THE U.S. RUGBY TEAM AFTER THEIR MUST-SEE LAST-SECOND UPSET. >>> AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE HERE IN PARIS, T-SHIRTS, CAPS AND KEY RINGS, BUT THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE OLYMPICS' MASCOT? >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS." REPORTING TONIGHT FROM THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS, HERE IS LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME. AMERICAN SWIMMER KATIE LEDECKY DOING WHAT SHE CAME HERE TO DO IN PARIS, WIN MEDALS. HER BLISTERING FINISH IN THE WOMEN'S 1500-METER FREESTYLE RACE EARNED LEDECKY HER EIGHTH CAREER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL TYING THE RECORD FOR MOST GOLD WON BY AN AMERICAN WOMAN. THE SWIMMING PHENOM COULD ADD TO HER HARDWARE COLLECTION WITH TWO MORE BIG RACES THIS WEEK. OTHER BIG HEADLINES FROM HERE TONIGHT, OFFICIALS SAY THE BACTERIAL READINGS IN THE SEINE DROPPED TO WITHIN SAFE LIMITS ALLOWING THE GRUELING WOMEN'S TRIATHLON TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY THIS MORNING. AFTER THE MEN'S RACE WAS POSTPONED BY A DAY BECAUSE OF POOR WATER QUALITY. HERE'S WHERE THINGS STAND ON DAY FIVE OF THE PARIS GAMES. THE U.S. LEADS THE MEDAL COUNT WITH 30. CHINA AND FRANCE HAVE EARNED THE MOST GOLD. AND TOM LLAMAS WAS AT THE POOL TONIGHT. TOM, WHAT DID KATIE LEDECKY TELL YOU ABOUT HER RACE? >> I WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN KATIE LEDECKY WON. THE ENTIRE ARENA WAS SHAKING. AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR, SHE TELLS ME EVERY MEDAL IS SPECIAL BUT SHE STILL HAS MORE WORK TO DO HERE IN PARIS. HER MEDAL RUN COULD JUST BE GETTING STARTED. >> THE GREATEST SWIMMING MACHINE WE'VE EVER SEEN. >> Reporter: MAKE IT GOLD MEDAL NUMBER EIGHT FOR KATIE LEDECKY SETTING AN OLYMPIC RECORD IN HER SIGNATURE RACE, THE 1500-METER FREESTYLE. >> WHAT MORE CAN AMERICA EXPECT FROM YOU AT THESE GAMES? >> I'LL GIVE MY BEST EFFORT EACH RACE AND REPRESENT TEAM USA TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND HOPEFULLY BRING HOME SOME MORE HARDWARE. >> THE CROWD IS ROARING. >> Reporter: AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY OLYMPIC RECORD. FRENCH SUPERSTAR LEON MARCHAND SMASHING ANOTHER ON HIS WAY TO A SECOND GOLD. >> HANGING TOUGH IN LANE ONE. >> Reporter: WHILE AMERICAN TORII HUSKE PICKED UP HER THIRD OF THESE GAMES. >> IT'S SO EXCITING TO BE ON THE PODIUM AGAIN. >> THE RACERS ARE SET TO DIVE INTO THE SEINE. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS MORE SWIMMING ACTION OUTSIDE THE POOL. IN THE TRIATHLON POLLUTION NEARLY LED TO THE SWIMMING PORTION BEING CALLED OFF, BUT TODAY ORGANIZERS FELT IT WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO JUMP IN. ATHLETES SAY THE TOUGHEST PART WAS THE CURRENT, WHICH SOME ATHLETES SAID CAUSED THEM TO SWALLOW MOUTHFULS OF WATER. >> THIS LOOKS LIKE A BETTER RUN IN THE FINAL. >> Reporter: TEAM USA PICKED UP MEDALS IN CANOE SLALOM AND BMX FREESTYLE. >> THERE IT IS. >> Reporter: AND THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM KEPT CRUISING THROUGH THEIR TOURNAMENT EASILY HANDLING SOUTH SUDAN. IN TENNIS RAFAEL NADAL AND CARLOS ALCARAZ FELL TO THE AMERICANS IN DOUBLES ENDING THEIR RUN TOGETHER AND KNOCKING NADAL OUT OF THE OLYMPICS. RUMORS SWIRLING ABOUT HIS RETIREMENT. >> THIS COURT HAS BEEN GOOD TO HIM AND HE HAS BEEN SO GOOD FOR TENNIS. >> Reporter: AFTER WINNING BRONZE IN THE TEAM EVENT EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE AMERICAN MEN WERE SHUT OUT OF MEDALS IN THE ALL-AROUND. >> ONE, TWO, THREE, GO. >> Reporter: AND EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T MEDAL TODAY, SYNCHRONIZED DIVER JESSICA PERALTA STAYING TRUE TO THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT. >> IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER. JUST I'M SO PROUD OF US. >> Reporter: TOM LLAMAS, NBC NEWS, PARIS. >>> AND TONIGHT ON PRIMETIME IN PARIS, YOU CAN SEE KATIE LEDECKY IN ACTION ALONG WITH THE MEN AND THE GYMNASTICS ALL-AROUND FINAL ALL STARTING AT 8:00 EASTERN. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS FACING HARSH CRITICISM TONIGHT FOR QUESTIONING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' BLACK IDENTITY DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH BLACK JOURNALISTS. HERE'S GARRETT HAAKE. >> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FACING FIERCE BACKLASH AFTER FALSELY CLAIMING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WHO WENT TO A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND IS A MEMBER OF A BLACK SORORITY DID NOT IDENTIFY AS BLACK. >> I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS BLACK UNTIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK, AND NOW SHE WANTS TO BE KNOWN AS BLACK, SO I DON'T KNOW. IS SHE INDIAN OR IS SHE BLACK? I RESPECT EITHER ONE BUT SHE OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T BECAUSE SHE WAS INDIAN ALL THE WAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE MADE A TURN AND SHE WENT -- SHE BECAME A BLACK PERSON. >> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDING IN REALTIME. >> WHAT YOU JUST READ OUT TO ME IS REPULSIVE AND INSULTING. >> Reporter: HARRIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF INDIAN AND JAMAICAN IMMIGRANTS. TODAY'S TIRADE IS A CASE OF THE DIVISION THAT'S BEEN A HALLMARK OF TRUMP'S RALLIES THE CAMPAIGN AND CALLED ON HIM TO DEBATE UNFOLDED AT A BLACK JOURNALISM CONFERENCE. THE PRESIDENT THERE TO COURT BLACK VOTERS. >> I'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR THE BLACK POPULATION OF THIS COUNTRY INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING OPPORTUNITY ZONES. >> Reporter: BUT LATER WAS PRESSED ABOUT HIS COMMENTS THAT THE RECORD NUMBER OF MIGRANTS HAVE HIT THE BLACK POPULATION HARD TAKING WHAT HE TERMED BLACK JOBS. >> COMING FROM THE BORDER ARE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAPPEN TO BE TAKING BLACK JOBS. YOU HAD THE BEST -- >> WHAT EXACTLY IS A BLACK JOB, SIR? >> A BLACK JOB IS ANYBODY THAT HAS A JOB. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. ANYBODY THAT HAS A JOB. >> ALL RIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT -- >> THEY'RE TAKING THE EMPLOYMENT AWAY FROM BLACK PEOPLE. >> Reporter: THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING AFTER HARRIS ON IMMIGRATION. >> SHE HAD THE WORST BORDER CRISIS IN AMERICAN HISTORY ON HER WATCH. >> Reporter: BUT HARRIS FLIPPING THE SCRIPT OVERNIGHT POINTING TO TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO SCUTTLE A BIPARTISAN BORDER BILL HE SAID WASN'T TOUGH ENOUGH. >> HE TANKED, TANKED THE BIPARTISAN BILL BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP HIM WIN AN ELECTION, WHICH GOES TO SHOW DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BORDER SECURITY. HE ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF. >> Reporter: TRUMP DEFIANT TONIGHT BLASTING THE QUESTIONS AT THAT EVENT AS RUDE AND NASTY WHILE A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES THEM AS PAINFUL AND COMPLETELY UNHINGED. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> JUST IN TONIGHT WORD THAT THE ACCUSED MASTERMIND OF THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACK KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED AND TWO ACCOMPLICES HAVE REACHED PLEA AGREEMENTS. COURTNEY KUBE IS TRACKING THIS AT THE PENTAGON. COURTNEY, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, THE PENTAGON JUST ANNOUNCED THE THREE MEN, KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED AND THE OTHER TWO WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO SOME CHARGES AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK AS PART OF PLEA AGREEMENTS. THEY'VE BEEN HELD AT GITMO FOR YEARS WITH THE U.S. ACCUSING THE AL QAEDA TERROR SUSPECTS OF PLOTTING THE 9/11 ATTACKS THAT KILLED NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE. NOW, THE DETAILS OF THE PLEA AGREEMENTS ARE STILL UNKNOWN, BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO LESSER CHARGES THAT COULD SPARE THEM THE DEATH PENALTY. SENTENCING MAY NOT COME FOR MONTHS, BUT THEY'LL LIKELY APPEAR AT A HEARING IN GUANTANAMO IN THE COMING DAYS, LESTER. >> COURTNEY KUBE TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> IN THE MIDDLE EAST THIS EVENING THERE IS GROWING FEAR OF A BROADER WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRANIAN-BACKED MILITANTS AFTER THE KILLING OF TOP LEADERS OF BOTH HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH. RAF SANCHEZ IS IN TEL AVIV TONIGHT. RAF. >> Reporter: LESTER, ISRAEL IS BRACING FOR RETALIATION ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TONIGHT, AND NOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUING A STARK NEW WARNING TO U.S. CITIZENS, GET OUT OF SOUTH LEBANON BECAUSE NEW FIGHTING MAY BE ABOUT TO ERUPT. TONIGHT, CRIES FOR REVENGE AGAINST ISRAEL ECHOING ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER THE BRAZEN ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS' POLITICAL CHIEF IN THE HEART OF THE IRANIAN CAPITAL. ISMAIL HANIYEH KILLED IN AN ISRAELI MISSILE JUST HOURS AFTER MEETING IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER ACCORDING TO STATE MEDIA. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TONIGHT REFUSING TO SAY IF HIS COUNTRY WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT WARNING ISRAEL WILL EXACT A HEAVY PRICE FOR ANY AGGRESSION AGAINST US. NOW FEARS GROWING THAT HANIYEH'S VIOLENT DEATH COULD DERAIL FRAGILE CEASE-FIRE TALKS AND SPARK A WIDER WAR. THE WHITE HOUSE RACING TO KEEP DIPLOMACY ALIVE. >> I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO KNOW WHAT ANY OF THESE REPORTED EVENTS COULD MEAN FOR THE CEASE-FIRE DEAL. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO STOP WORKING ON IT. >> Reporter: 84-YEAR-OLD ODED LIFSHITZ KIDNAPPED ON OCTOBER 7th HAS BEEN HELD HOSTAGE IN GAZA FOR 299 DAYS. WE MET HIS GRANDSON DANIEL. >> DO YOU THINK BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING A DEAL TO BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME? >> I THINK THAT IF HE'S NOT SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING THE HOSTAGES HOME, THE AMERICANS NEED TO MAKE ALL THE NECESSARY PRESSURE THAT HE WILL DO SO. >> Reporter: A THOUSAND MILES AWAY FROM IRAN IN BEIRUT, THE CAPITAL OF LEBANON, HEZBOLLAH CONFIRMING ONE OF ITS TOP COMMANDERS WAS KILLED BY AN ISRAELI STRIKE. ISRAEL SAYS FUAD SHUKR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF 12 CHILDREN IN A ROCKET ATTACK, BUT LEBANON SAYS THIS BROTHER AND SISTER WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE ISRAELI BOMBING. A CYCLE OF REVENGE THAT'S TAKING THE REGION TO THE BRINK OF WAR. RAF SANCHEZ, NBC NEWS, TEL AVIV. >>> THE NEWEST WILDFIRE EMERGENCY IS IN COLORADO WHERE ONE PERSON HAS BEEN KILLED AND HUNDREDS OF HOMES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AS LIZ KREUTZ REPORTS, THE FIRES THERE ARE AMONG ALMOST 100 BURNING IN THE WEST RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: A SUMMER OF WILDFIRES NOT LETTING UP WITH MULTIPLE INFERNOS NOW RAGING IN COLORADO. >> IF THE WIND SWITCHES DIRECTION, I THINK THAT WE COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE. >> Reporter: THE STONE CANYON FIRE NORTHWEST OF DENVER NOW DEADLY, ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AFTER FLAMES TORE THROUGH HOMES IN THE TOWN OF LYONS. FIVE STRUCTURES UP IN SMOKE, AND LATE TODAY A NEW FIRE BURNING HOMES IN THE HILLS OF BOULDER. FURTHER SOUTH THE QUARRY FIRE IGNITING OVERNIGHT, ALMOST 600 HOMES EVACUATED. >> THERE WAS A FLASHLIGHT SHINING IN THE WINDOW, AND IT WAS THE SHERIFF TELLING US WE HAD TO EVACUATE. >> Reporter: THE FIRE SMALL BUT CHALLENGING WITH CREWS AND RESOURCES STRETCHED THIN. JO LORENZ HAS BEEN WATCHING THE FIRE GROW. >> WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW? >> I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY HOME. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY NEIGHBORS. >> EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS FACILITY IS AT RISK. THIS FIRE IS NOT AN EASY FIGHT. THE TERRAIN IS TREACHEROUS. >> Reporter: AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, THIS STEEP TERRAIN. ON TOP OF THAT, ANOTHER BIG CONCERN OF RATTLESNAKES. THERE ARE A LOT HERE MAKING IT MORE DANGEROUS AND CHALLENGING FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO DO THEIR JOB AND GET THAT UNDER CONTROL. THIS FIRE AMONG 95 BURNING ACROSS THE WEST INCLUDING IN OREGON, WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA. CREWS ARE GETTING A HANDLE ON THE MASSIVE PARK FIRE AFTER IT CHEWED THROUGH MORE THAN 300 STRUCTURES. AS EVACUEES RETURN HOME SOME FINDING NOTHING LEFT BEHIND. >> YOU JUST FEEL THAT MAYBE YOU'LL FLIP SOMETHING OVER AND IT WON'T BE ASHES. >> Reporter: AND, LESTER, THE COLORADO GOVERNOR HAS CALLED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP MANAGE THESE FIRES. >> ALL RIGHT, LIZ KREUTZ, THANK YOU. >>> IN THE NORTHEAST TONIGHT STORMS ON THE MOVE AND FLOOD WATCHES IN EFFECT AFTER HEAVY RAIN IN NORTHERN VERMONT TRIGGERED THE SECOND FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY IN THE STATE THIS MONTH. ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS LEFT UNDERWATER, HOMES RIPPED FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS, CARS AND TREES TOSSED ABOUT, AND ROADS WASHED AWAY. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, I SPEAK WITH THE AMERICAN WOMEN WHO PULLED OFF THAT LAST-SECOND DASH INTO HISTORY ON THE RUGBY PITCH. ONE OF THE GREAT THIS. ♪♪ >>> UPSETS AND THRILLING FINISHES ARE THE STUFF OLYMPICS ARE FAMOUS FOR, BUT IT WOULD BE HARD TO TOP WHAT HAPPENED ON THE RUGBY PITCH HERE YESTERDAY WHEN THE AMERICAN WOMEN PULLED OFF A WIN FOR THE AGES. A MOMENT THEY RELIVED WITH ME TODAY. >> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THE DISTANCE HERE. >> Reporter: TEAM USA WAS LOSING TO AUSTRALIA WITH EIGHT SECONDS TO GO WHEN ALEX "SPIFF" CEDRIC SOMEHOW BROKE A TACKLE AND THEN SPRINTED DOWN THE FIELD. >> SPIFF CEDRIC'S AWAY. >> THE LAST FEW MOMENTS OF THE MATCH FELT LIKE A SPORTS MOVIE WHERE IT'S IN SLOW MOTION, THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN, THE SWEAT IS FLOWING. DID IT FEEL THAT WAY TO YOU? >> I MEAN IT PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE TURNED OUT ANY BETTER. WE ALL WOULD HAVE LIKED IT NOT TO BE DOWN TO THE LAST SECOND. BUT THERE WAS NO TIME LEFT AND I WAS LIKE, RUN, SOMETHING WILL WORK OUT FOR ME. >> SHE WILL TAKE IT ALL THE WAY. CEDRIC FOR THE USA. >> SO, THAT BRINGS YOU TO THE TIE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE CONVERSION KICK. >> WHICH I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT, YEAH. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN FORGOT ABOUT IT. >> I WAS JUST, LIKE, OH, MY GOD, WE WON AND THEN -- >> YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER? >> I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER, YEAH. >> NOT QUITE. WHILE SHE'S NOT TYPICALLY A KICKER, SHE PRACTICED THAT MORNING JUST IN CASE, AND IT PAID OFF. >> THERE IT IS! CEDRIC WITH THE CONVERSION AND TEAM USA MAKE HISTORY. >> I CAN'T STOP WATCHING THAT VIDEO OF HER. LIKE, BEFORE I GO TO BED I WATCH IT AND I WOKE UP, I WATCHED IT AGAIN. I MEAN BEING IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS BEHIND AND I WAS LIKE, NO WAY. NO WAY, SHE'S GOING TO DO IT. WE'RE ALL GOING TO NAME OUR KIDS SPIFF. >> WE FIRST INTRODUCE YOU TO ILONA MAHER ON "NIGHTLY NEWS" ON SUNDAY. SHE'S GOT LOTS OF FANS, NEARLY 2 MILLION ON TIKTOK. >> I AM OFFICIALLY A FAN OF WOMEN'S RUGBY. >> WE GOT JASON KELCE. >> Reporter: FOOTBALL PLAYER JASON KELCE WHO WORE A SHIRT WITH HER FACE ON IT, BUT NONE BIGGER THAN HER FAMILY. ECSTATIC AND EMOTIONAL IN THE STANDS. >> WE WENT TO THIS TOURNAMENT KNOWING WE HAD TO GET A MEDAL FOR OUR PROGRAM. OUR PROGRAM DEPENDED ON IT BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO SHOW OUR VALUE AND WORTH. WE HADN'T WON ANY OF THE OLYMPICS, SO WE KNEW THIS WAS KIND OF IT. WE WANT TO DO THAT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. >>> NEXT SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS, NOW NAOMI >>> THE U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM ADVANCING TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND HERE IN PARIS BEATING AUSTRALIA TODAY, 2-1, AND TONIGHT ONE OF THE TEAM'S RISING STARS, NAOMI GIRMA, IS OPENING UP ABOUT LEAVING A NEW GENERATION OF SOCCER STANDOUTS. SHE SPOKE WITH OUR STEVE PATTERSON. >> Reporter: WITH HER DAZZLING DEFENSE -- >> LOOK AT THE SPEED. >> Reporter: -- AND FEARLESS FOCUS. >> MAKES EVERYTHING LOOK SO EASY. >> Reporter: NAOMI GIRMA DOESN'T LET ANYTHING GET PAST HER. >> NAOMI GIRMA HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. >> I'M PRETTY COMPOSED, CALM, AS A DEFENDER, I LIKE TO READ THE PLAY. >> Reporter: DURING LAST YEAR'S WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, GIRMA WAS AT THE HEART OF A DEFENSE THAT ALLOWED JUST ONE GOAL IN FOUR GAMES, BUT IN PARIS, MANY OF SOCCER'S FAMOUS FACES ARE GONE, REPLACED BY A NEW GENERATION. EVEN THOUGH 24-YEAR-OLD GIRMA IS ONE OF EIGHT PLAYERS WITHOUT ANY OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE -- >> THEY'RE CALLING YOU A VETERAN. >> IT'S WEIRD TO BE CALLED A VETERAN. I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE MYSELF AS THAT, BUT, YEAH, I THINK JUST GOING OUT THERE AND MAKING SURE I CAN KIND OF LEAD IN ANY WAY THAT'S HELPFUL. >> Reporter: GIRMA GREW UP IN SAN JOSE. BOTH HER PARENTS IMMIGRATED FROM ETHIOPIA. HER MOM FOR EDUCATION. HER DAD ESCAPING A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR. TO GIVE HIS KIDS AND COMMUNITY A WAY TO CONNECT, GIRMA'S FATHER ESTABLISHED A SOCCER CLUB, A WAY FOR ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES TO FIND A HOME THROUGH FOOTBALL. >> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? >> IT IS JUST BRINGING THE KIDS TOGETHER SO THEY KNOW THEIR HERITAGE, THEIR IDENTITY, THEIR CULTURE. >> IT WAS THE MOST FUN INTRODUCTION TO SOCCER THAT I COULD HAVE AND IT HELPED ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE. >> Reporter: GIRMA'S PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE WORLD OF ELITE SOCCER SO OFTEN LEANED ON FRIENDS AND COACHES. >> I THINK BEING A FIRST GENERATION KID CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NAVIGATING TWO WORLDS. >> Reporter: BOTH WORLDS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO GIRMA. >> MY FAVORITE. >> Reporter: SOMETHING I SAW FIRSTHAND WHEN SHE TOOK ME TO HER FAVORITE ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT. >> THIS IS DELICIOUS. >> YOU LIKE IT? >> IT'S VERY GOOD. >> MY CULTURE IS REALLY SPECIAL, AND IT ISN'T SOMETHING TO HIDE OR BE ASHAMED OF. >> SHE FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. SINCE LOSING HER BEST FRIEND AND FORMER STANFORD TEAMMATE, KATIE MEYER," TO SUICIDE, GIRMA HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO DISPEL ITS STIGMA IN SPORTS. >> IT'S A HARD THING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE. SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LOOK AT PLAYERS AS PEOPLE AND REALIZE THEY'RE HUMAN. >> Reporter: A PURPOSE SHE FEELS IS WORTH FAR MORE THAN ANY MEDAL. >> I JUST WANT TO BE SOMEONE WHO LEFT THEIR MARK AND HELPED PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG. >> Reporter: STEVE PATTERSON, NBC NEWS, SAN DIEGO. >>> COMING UP, JUST WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THAT FUNNY-LOOKING MASCOT HERE AT THE OLYMPICS? IT'S A STORY THAT BEGINS HUNDREDS OF ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> LOOK WHO I RAN INTO AT THE STANDS AT THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION, RAPPER SNOOP DOGG WHO HAS BECOME QUITE THE FIXTURE AT THESE GAMES AND THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE YOU SEE EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, THE OLYMPIC MASCOT BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT? HERE'S STEPHANIE GOSK. ♪♪ >> Reporter: AT THE OLYMPICS THE MASCOT PLAYS A STARRING ROLE. HYPING THE CROWD, TAKING SELFIES, BUT THERE'S A QUESTION A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SUMMER IN PARIS. >> WHAT IS IT? >> WHAT IS IT? WELL, IT'S THE OLYMPIC MASCOT. WHAT DID YOU THINK IT WAS WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> NEITHER DID I. >> ARE THESE THE ARMS? >> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE THE ARMS. THESE ARE CERTAINLY THE LEGS. >> Reporter: TURNS OUT THE MASCOT IS ACTUALLY A HAT. >> THE CHARACTER IS PHRYGE. HOW IS YOUR FRENCH PRONUNCIATION? >> PHRYGE. >> PRETTY GOOD. A LITTLE MORE. >> PHRYGE. >> NOW, THERE YOU GO, PERFECT. >> Reporter: A HAT WITH HUGE SIGNIFICANCE IN FRENCH HISTORY. >> DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION IN THE 1780s THEY WERE WEARING THIS AS A SIGN OF LIBERTY, YOU KNOW, GETTING AWAY FROM THE MONARCHY. >> Reporter: IN FACT, THE PHRYGE WAS WORN AT THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE RIGHT WHERE PODCASTER OLIVER G AND I ARE STANDING. >> IMAGINE IN THE 1780s THERE WAS A BIG PRISON THERE, AND IT WAS STORMED. THIS IS THE START OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, REVOLUTIONARIES WEARING HATS SIMILAR TO THIS. >> Reporter: BECOMING AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM. THEY STORMED THE BASTILLE IN THE PHRYGE. >> IN THE PHRYGE WITH ONE OF THESE MASCOTS UNDER THEIR ARM. >> Reporter: NOT EXACTLY BUT THE POPULARITY OF THE HAT STUCK, IN PAINTINGS AND IN THE CULTURE, SO WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE MASCOT TO THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES, THE FRENCH WERE THRILLED. KIOSKS ARE SET UP LIKE THIS ALL, AND THEY SELL BAGS, MUGS AND OF COURSE MASCOTS, AND THEY ARE FLYING OFF THE SHELVES. AFTER ALL, WHO CAN RESIST A HUMAN SIZE HAT WITH A HISTORY AND A SMILE STROLLING THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS, PARIS. >>> AND THERE THEY GO, OFF TOGETHER. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS WEDNESDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.