Key events
Here are the thoughts of Beth Shriever after missing out on a BMX racing medal earlier. “I had the perfect run-in pretty much. I won everything going in and I think maybe I might have got a little bit excited, my thoughts got away from me but I can’t complain.
“I’ve had the best time, the absolute best time and that’s what it’s all about,” the Tokyo gold medallist added. “The pressure is high, everyone’s feeling it, literally one little mistake cost me so, it is what it is.” Teammate Kye White crashed out in the semi-finals, with Team GB reporting he suffered “no significant injuries”.
Shriever added that she spoke to White before he was taken to hospital. “I know he was gutted, so I gave him a hug and then had to try and get my job done, so he’s good. I just said it doesn’t matter, you’ve got your friends and family, they love you no matter what, literally nothing changes, so that’s it.”
The France players came back out on to the pitch in Bordeaux to celebrate with fans, suggesting the skirmish with Argentina players has settled down. France midfielder Enzo Millot was shown a red card, though – leaving Thierry Henry unimpressed. “That’s unnecessary, useless. He was on the bench. I’m really not happy about it.”
Here’s Sean Ingle on the first day of athletics, with the purple track delivering the pace many expected and records tumbling:
Nick Ames was in Bordeaux to see France edge out Argentina in a stormy contest.
The men’s hockey quarter-finals are set after the final pool games took place today – all matches will take place on Sunday.
India v Great Britain
Belgium v Spain
Netherlands v Australia
Germany v Argentina
There are still preliminary matches in the women’s event to come tomorrow, with Team GB looking to secure their quarter-final place against Argentina.
Novak Djokovic is guaranteed at least a silver medal in Paris, having won bronze in Beijing and finished fourth in London and Tokyo. In what is likely to be his last chance to complete the “golden slam”, Djokovic overcame Lorenzo Musetti to set up a final against Carlos Alcaraz.
“It’s a huge relief because I never got to the Olympics final, even though I played really well I thought at Olympic Games,” Djokovic said. “Just to secure a higher medal for the first time for my country, whatever happens on Sunday, it’s huge pride and happiness, and that’s why I celebrated the way I did.
“Of course I’m going to go for gold on Sunday, there’s no doubt about it, but this is a big deal,” he added. “I don’t consider myself the favourite [in the final] because Alcaraz has proven himself the best player in the world at the moment – but I feel like I’m a different player than I was in Wimbledon. I feel more confident about myself and my chances in the final.”
France 1-0 Argentina (FT): It’s all over in Bordeaux and France are into the semi-finals – but that may only be half the story. At the final whistle, things got ugly very fast, with scuffles breaking out all over the place. The players have now headed down the tunnel with hostilities still very much ongoing, while the referee and his assistants wait on the pitch.
My esteemed colleague Beau Dure writes in about US BMX rider Alise Willoughby who, like Beth Shreiver, was a long way off the medals in the racing final earlier.
“Crashed in Tokyo. Missed podium here. Just destined to be one of those people who wins the world championship every other year but is cursed at the Olympics?”
It may be the nature of the event, where your chance is gone in a split-second – but she may get another shot at LA 2028. Cam McEvoy, who got his gold tonight in the pool, may inspire her.
Sticking with the romantic theme – this is the city of love, after all – with a nice story from earlier today. China’s Huang Yaqiong won badminton mixed doubles gold with Zheng Siwei – and then received a proposal from her off-court partner, Liu Yuchen. Gold medal, diamond ring: a good day at the office.
Mixed doubles gold for Czechia!
Czechia, the Czech Republic, whatever you prefer: they’ve won their first gold of the Games. Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac fought back to deny China’s Wang and Zhang 10-8 in the final tie-break. The Czech pair have also been partners off the court since 2020.
No goal for France! VAR has intervened and disallowed Olise’s goal for a foul in the buildup. France still lead by just the one goal.
Goal for France! The hosts are heading to the semi-finals as Michael Olise’s shot on the turn is deflected into the net. They lead Argentina 2-0, and coach Thierry Henry runs down the touchline to join in the celebrations.
In the mixed doubles tennis final, China’s Wang and Zhang have won the second set – so we’re going to a 10-point tie-break for the gold.
In the women’s 200m medley semi-finals, American Alex Walsh qualified fastest, ahead of Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh and US compatriot Kate Douglass. Britain’s Abbie Wood is into the final with the fourth fastest time, with Aussie duo Kaylee McKeown and Ella Ramsay also in a star-studded field. The final will take place on Saturday evening.
A thoughtful read from Barney Ronay on the boxing controversy that has swept far beyond the Olympic Games…
Gold for Hungary in men’s epee team final: Hungary did just enough to dethrone Tokyo champions Japan, winning 26-25 to snatch gold.
Having cruised through the early rounds, Hungary took an early lead but could not build a clear advantage, eventually winning in sudden death as Gergely Siklosi defeated individual gold medallist Koki Kano.
It is Hungary’s fourth gold in the event, but their first since 1972. The Czech Republic claimed the bronze medal, beating France 43-21.
Those BMX golds keep France and Australia in the medal table top three, behind leaders China.
In the mixed doubles tennis gold medal match, Czech duo Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac have won the first set against China’s Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen.
Here’s Jack Snape’s trackside report from the BMX women’s final:
Egypt are into the men’s football semi-finals after beating Paraguay 5-4 on penalties. They’ll face either France or Argentina in the semi-finals; the second half is just kicking off in that game, with France a goal up.
So, it’s 10,000m gold for Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, silver for Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi and bronze for USA’s Grant Fisher, who made a late surge to deny Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed a medal. That was a seriously quick race.
Uganda’s Cheptegei wins 10,000m gold in Olympic record
Joshua Cheptegei waited patiently behind the Ethiopian trio but with 600m to go, he makes his move. Plenty of movement behind him but he holds his lead into the final turn and nobody is going to catch him from here. He coasts home in 26:43.14, easily a new Olympic record.
No Tokyo repeat for Beth Shriever, who was squeezed out early on and couldn’t recover, finishing eighth. It’s a thrilling gold for Australia’s Saya Sakakibara, silver for the Netherlands’ Manon Veenstra, and bronze for Zoe Claessens of Switzerland.
Gold for Australia’s Sakakibara as Shriever misses medals
Shriever in gate six for the final, and she doesn’t get the cleanest start as Australia’s Sakakibara leads. Her medal chances seem to disappear in a handful of seconds.
Switzerland’s Zoe Claessens and Dutch rider Manon Veenstra are chasing but nobody is catching Saya Sakakibara. Gold for the Australian!
Women’s BMX racing final: Can Beth Shriever defend her Tokyo gold? We’re about to find out …
In the men’s hockey, Team GB have suffered their first defeat in the pool stage. Christopher Rühr scored twice for Germany, who held on to win 2-1 despite Gareth Furlong’s goal and a late run of penalty corners.
The men’s 10,000m has passed the halfway mark, with Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega setting the pace and compatriots Berihu Aregawi and Yomif Kejelcha trying to help him control the race.
France seal 1-2-3 in men’s BMX racing final
Joris Daudet wins gold, while Sylvian André (silver) and Romain Mahieu (bronze) hold on as Butti and Wood push for the podium down the home straight. All over in about 30 seconds, but one of the best moments of the Games for the host nation!
Here comes the men’s BMX racing final… and the French trio get away fastest, with Joris Daudet pulling away. Only a mistake will stop him taking gold, but can his compatriots fill the podium?
Back to the track, where the men’s 10,000m final is under way. Approaching the 2,500m mark, they’re at an Olympic record pace. Uganda’s world record holder, Joshua Cheptegei, is bidding to go one better than his silver medal in Tokyo.
The men’s final is led by three French contenders: Romain Mahieu, Joris Daudet and Sylvian Andre. Swiss duo Simon Marquart and Cedric Butti, Colombia’s Mateo Carmona, American Cameron Wood and Australian Izaac Kennedy complete the line-up.
Drama in the final BMX qualifying run, as Dutch rider Merel Smulders and Australia’s Lauren Reynolds both run off course, while Colombian contender Mariana Pajon just misses out. Pajon took silver in Tokyo, Smulders bronze.
The qualifiers for the final are: Saya Sakakibara (Aus), Beth Shriever (GB), Manon Veenstra (Neth), Laura Smulders (Neth – and Merel’s older sister), Alise Willoughby (US), Zoe Claessens (Sui), Molly Simpson (Can), Axelle Etienne (Fr).
White went over soon after the start of a run; he’d been struggling with back problems so far in Paris. Hopefully the hospital trip is a precaution given the injuries he was carrying.
In the women’s semi-finals, Beth Shriever currently leads the standings and is firmly on course for the final before the final qualifying run.
GB’s Kye White taken to hospital after BMX crash
The BMX semi-finals are concluding before the finals take place later on – but worrying news on Kye White. The Tokyo silver medallist has left the course on a stretcher after a nasty crash, and has been taken to hospital. We hope he’s alright, and will update with further news when we get it.
An early goal in Bordeaux … and France lead Argentina! Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta heads home from former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise’s corner.
Elsewhere, it’s Egypt 1-1 Paraguay in extra time, the inevitable penalty shootout looming ever larger.
Cam McEvoy on breaking his Olympic gold medal duck: “Literally pure joy, like, it’s amazing to win, but that entire 21.25 seconds was just … it was bliss. Like the way the stroke moved in the water. I never thought I’d be able to experience it like that. It was very hard to contain myself. I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated that much after a race either, that’s a first for me also … it’s just unreal.
Djokovic to face Alcaraz in gold medal match
Novak Djokovic has prevailed 6-4, 6-2 against Lorenzo Musetti, setting up the gold medal match we all wanted to see, against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
Musetti made it tougher than the scoreline suggests, Djokovic’s flop to the floor after match point showing the toll it took on him, particularly while playing below full fitness.
50m freestyle silver for Ben Proud. How’s he feeling? “Super happy I got the medal. Not gold, but I’m still super happy. To be on the podium in that field is fantastic.”
Before these Games began, France’s swimmers had a total of eight gold medals in Olympic history. That tally is now 12, and Léon Marchand has won a third of their all-time collection.
He’s surely the star of these Games, even when considering Simone Biles’ brilliant comeback. Over in the Stade de France, the athletics events had to pause because everyone was watching his swim on their phones.
Here’s more on a golden double for Australia, taking their tally in the Paris pool to seven:
200m medley gold for France’s Marchand, silver for GB’s Scott
Léon Marchand is pulling further and further away, only missing the world record by 0.06 seconds – and taking his fourth gold of the Games. It’s an Olympic record, faster than Michael Phelps. Absolutely sensational. Emmanuel Macron, up in the stands, is absolutely loving it.
Duncan Scott takes silver for Team GB, his eighth Olympic medal. Bronze to China’s Wang Shun, with Carson Foster fourth and Tom Dean in fifth.
Marchand’s underwater turns are just ridiculous, and he emerges from the first turn clear of the pack, with China’s Wang second and Scott in third. Now the breaststroke leg, the crowd cheering every time his head bobs above the water …
Straight on to the men’s 200m individual medley final, with French hero Leon Marchand the man to beat. British pair Tom Dean (in lane seven) and Duncan Scott (in lane three) are among those trying to deny him a fourth gold medal of these Games…
Australia’s Kaylee McKeown wins 200m backstroke gold
McKeown powers home to win gold, and set an Olympic record into the bargain. That’s the 13th Games record set in this pool, and completes a double-double of 100m and 200m backstroke golds in Tokyo and Paris.
Regan Smith is second, with Kylie Masse in third for Canada. Britain’s Katie Shanahan and Honey Osrin finish fifth and seventh respectively.
Next up, it’s the women’s 200m backstroke final. Regan Smith makes a strong start for the USA, but Australia’s Kaylee McKeown is lurking with intent …
A redemption story for the leading pair, both winning their first individual Olympic medals in that race. McEvoy’s winning time was 21.25; the slowest in the field, Cayman Islander Jordan Crooks, finished in 21.64.
50m free gold for Australia’s McEvoy, silver for GB’s Proud
Ben Proud and Cam McEvoy get away quickest, with the Australian getting an edge after the halfway mark. Gold for McEvoy, Proud holds on for silver, and France’s Florent Manadou takes a popular bronze from lane one!
France’s Florent Manaudou, the USA’s Caleb Dressel and Australia’s Cameron McEvoy are just three of the threats in an all-star field. Here we go…
Time for the first swimming medal of the night: the men’s 50m freestyle. Just one length of the pool, it’s going to be a free-for-all, with Britain’s Ben Proud very much in the mix in lane four.
Trampoline gold for Ivan Litvinovich
Close, but no medal for Zac Perzamanos in the men’s trampoline final. His final mark of 59.840 is only enough for fourth place. Ivan Litvinovich, who won gold at Tokyo representing Belarus, defends his title as a neutral athlete. China’s Wang and Yan take silver and bronze.
Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia pips medal contender Kenya’s Mary Moraa in the fifth 800m heat, but both are heading through to the semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic has taken the first set from Musetti in their semi-final, but the Italian has hit back to break in the first game of the second set.
You can join Rob Smyth for minute-by-minute coverage of France v Argentina in the men’s football quarter-finals. Should be spicy, that one.
إرسال تعليق