Time to bid you adieu; I’ll leave you with our wrap from Team GB’s “Magic Monday”. Thanks for reading and commenting, and join us again tomorrow for much more Olympic action.
Andy Bull was at La Défense Arena to watch Matt Richards miss out on gold by 0.02 seconds, on another frustrating night for Team GB.
Here is Tumaini Carayol on a day of high drama in the men’s team gymnastics final, where Japan pipped China to gold:
The British Olympic Association [BOA] says it is investigating an alleged racist message sent by Team GB rugby sevens player Amy Wilson-Hardy.
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And here’s Nick Ames on a historic moment for Ukraine as Olha Kharlan won their first medal of the Paris Games.
Here’s Ewan Murray on Adam Peaty’s Covid positive, and the implications for Team GB.
Elina Svitolina has advanced to the last 16 of the women’s tennis tournament, after beating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Svitolina, who won bronze for Ukraine at the Tokyo Games, faces Wimbledon champion Barbora Krecijkova next.
Team GB boxer Delicious Orie has seen his Olympic dream ended in the last 16, after losing by split decision to Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan.
“I do think I was a little bit hard done by, it was very close and I felt like I just did enough,” said Orie, the fourth Briton to lose their opening bout in Paris. “For the past eight years I’ve always dreamed about that gold medal and it’s been taken away from me.”
The live action in Paris is winding down; the only Olympic sport that goes on into the night is surfing, which is being held in Tahiti (where it’s 11.15am). If you’re in the UK and have got Eurosport/Discovery+, I highly recommend it for some relaxing late-night viewing.
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In basketball, the USA women’s team have begun their search for an eighth straight gold medal in style:
Tuesday’s live action is supposed to start with the men’s triathlon at 8am local time, but that hangs in the balance. According to Eurosport, water samples will be tested overnight and the event will either go ahead, or be put back to Thursday or Friday. More from Sean Ingle:
Australia have seen off Ireland 40-7 to complete the women’s rugby sevens semi-final line-up, with these matches and the final on Tuesday.
New Zealand v USA
Canada v Australia
Hong Kong's Cheung wins foil gold
More drama in the fencing arena as Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long retains his men’s foil title event. Cheung was 14-11 down to Italy’s Filippo Macchi but rallied to win 15-14 after a series of close calls, with the Italian coach absolutely going off at the officials after the result.
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In the fourth women’s quarter-final, Australia are cruising home with a 33-0 lead over Ireland …
Bryan Graham was on the Place de la Concorde earlier to see Japan’s Yuto Horigome retain his street skateboard title in a thrilling contest.
Canada stun France in women's rugby sevens
France’s women were hoping to follow the men by delivering gold at the Stade de France – but their dream is over after losing to Canada in the quarter-finals.
The hosts took a 14-7 lead early in the second half through Yolaine Yengo, but Canada hit back through Piper Logan and Chloe Daniels – and France could not find a way back, losing 19-14.
Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez has revealed she competed at the Paris Olympics on Monday while seven months pregnant.
Hafez caused an upset in the opening round to reach the last 16 of the women’s sabre before losing to 10th seed Jeon Ha-young.
But her remarkable revelation came later on Instagram in a post titled “Seven months pregnant Olympian!’, when she announced she had been competing while carrying her “little Olympian”.
“The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it,” she added.
“I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16! I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband and that of my family to be able to come this far. PA Media
And here is Kieran Pender on what was an epic battle in the Olympic pool:
Here’s Mollie O’Callaghan on her gold medal, and victory over compatriot Ariarne Titmus: “It’s such an honour to be with everyone, and compete against Arnie. She is an absolute gun. She
races like an absolute beast. And it’s an honour to train alongside her and have such a great team around us.”
“I’m always striving for more and I always put a lot of pressure on myself. My expectations are very high. That was an amazing race. I’m always wanting that little bit more. To be honest, I did it for the country, I didn’t do it for myself. I’m racing for all these people. I just had to put it behind me. Less pressure now, I get to swim freely.”
France have moved up to second in the medal table; only Japan (six) have won more golds, while only the USA have more medals overall (20 to France’s 16); only three golds for the Americans so far, though.
France's Apithy-Brunet wins sabre gold
High tension in the Grand Palais as two French women battled for gold. In the end it was the third seed, Manon Apithy-Brunet, who took gold, beating top seed Sara Balzer 15-12.
O'Callaghan beats Titmus with Olympic record
Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey makes the early pace with Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan on her tail … and down the final straight, Mollie O’Callaghan has too much pace for Titmus. She wins gold, and sets an Olympic record! Outrageous.
The final gold medal in the pool today is the women’s 200m freestyle – likely to be a battle between Aussies Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan …
USA beat Team GB in women’s rugby sevens: It ends 17-7 to the Americans, who advance to face New Zealand in the semi-finals and end British hopes of a medal. It’s revenge for Tokyo, when GB knocked the US out in the quarter-finals.
“Am I the only one who thought that the persistent questioning of Noel Williams about the death of his coach after Tokyo was bordering on intrusive?” writes Simon McMahon. “And we’ve just had an interview with a clearly devastated Duncan Scott.
“I’m all for emotion in sport, but it’s hard enough for competitors who have spent years preparing for a Games to then be asked about extremely sensitive and personal issues in the immediate aftermath. I blame social media.”
Women’s rugby sevens: Team GB got the first score on the board through Ellie Boatman and led 7-5 at half time, but the US have hit back with tries from Kristi Kirshe and Sammy Sullivan to lead 17-7 …
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Mona McSharry took bronze by 0.01 seconds from Italy’s Benedetta Pilato and the USA’s Lilly King. As for Angharad Evans, she finished sixth, but was only 0.4s behind silver.
McSharry says: “This isn’t something that little me, dreaming of just going to the Olympics, really thought was possible. Quite a number of people are here supporting me which is amazing. It’s great to have them here, I missed that in Tokyo.”
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South Africa's Smith wins 100m breaststroke gold
China’s Tang Qianting is off fastest, and she turns fastest in front of McSharry and Evans. Tatjana Smith is coming back as Tang starts to tire … and she takes the gold, Tang silver and Sligo’s Mona McSharry wins bronze!
Next up: the women’s 100m breaststroke final, and a chance for Ireland gold with Mona McSharry in lane five. South Africa’s Tatjana Smith and USA’s Lilly King are some high-calibre opponents, though. Angharad Evans goes in lane seven for Team GB.
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I thought for a moment that Ryan Murphy was going to take that from lane two, but Ceccon finally found top gear in the final 25m – and in the end, Xu pips the American to silver. Ollie Morgan finished eighth, but his time is surely yet to come.
Italy's Ceccon wins 100m backstroke gold
Xu makes a fast start and turns first, in front of Murray and Ceccon. The American takes the lead, but Thomas Ceccon is coming back, with Xu on his tail … and the Italian takes gold!
Men’s 100m backstroke final: British 21-year-old Ollie Morgan is in Lane 1, and hoping to take inspiration from Matt Richards. He’s next to Rio 2016 champion Ryan Murphy; French hopeful Yohann Ndoye-Brouard is in lane three, while Italy’s Thomas Ceccon and China’s Xu Jiayu were the fastest qualifiers.
New Zealand have shown no mercy in their rugby sevens quarter-final, thumping China 55-5. Next up, it’s Great Britain v USA, for the right to play the Black Ferns in the semis.
Next up in the pool, it’s the men’s 100m backstroke final …
Only five sports have featured at every Summer Games since 1896 – athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling … and fencing.
It’s a big night of swordsmithery in the Grand Palais, and France have guaranteed gold in the women’s sabre event after Sara Balzer and Manon Apithy-Brunet won their semi-finals earlier.
That’s coming up in about 40 minutes, while Olga Kharlan has just won bronze for Ukraine in the playoff match against South Korea’s Choi Sebin. That is (I think) Ukraine’s first medal of these Games.
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As Summer McIntosh collects her gold medal, let’s have a quick catch up on what else is happening. Carlos Alcaraz has finished the job against Griekspoor, winning 6-1, 7-6 (3). He plays Roman Safiullin next.
The women’s rugby sevens quarter-finals are about to kick off, with New Zealand taking on China, before GB v USA, France v Canada and Australia v Ireland.
Matt Richards: “I can’t be too disappointed, my first ever individual [final] at an Olympic games, to walk away with a silver medal. To miss gold by 0.02 seconds is excruciatingly frustrating …”
“If anything it’s added more fire to my belly. I’ve got more chances this week … I’m also gutted for Duncan, but it fuels us for the 4x200m [relay]. I thought I’d got it, even if it wasn’t my best finish – but the time says differently.”
So, it’s 200m freestyle gold for Romania’s David Popovici, an agonising silver medal for Matt Richards, and bronze for the USA’s Luke Hobson – who beat Duncan Scott by 0.08 seconds. Margins!
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Matt Richards wins silver, Popovici takes gold
Märtens tires before the final turn but the US’s Hobson takes up the charge and Popovici looks tired … but he finds a second wind, as does Richards in the outside lane. Popovici just gets there first, denying Matt Richards by 0.02 secs!
Richards makes a fast start to keep pace with Popovici, while Märtens leads the way after 100m – Duncan Scott not out of it yet though …
Next up, the men’s 200m freestyle final, where Britain’s Duncan Scott is going for gold. He’s in lane five, next to the favourite, Romania’s David Popovici. Matt Richards is another British hopeful, out in lane one, while 400m gold winner Lukas Märtens is in lane six.
McIntosh wins 400m medley gold for Canada
There’s absolutely no catching Summer McIntosh, who cruises to her first Olympic gold! An outstanding swim, almost six seconds clear of Grimes, with Emma Weyant pipping Freya Colbert to the bronze.
At the halfway mark it’s a two-woman race, McIntosh just about being kept in range by Grimes with Colbert in the fight for bronze …
Here come the competitors for the women’s 400m medley final, with Britain’s Freya Colbert and Katie Shanahan in lanes 6 and 8, and Ireland’s Ellen Walshe in lane 1.
The battle for gold is likely to be between Canada’s teenage superstar, Summer McIntosh, and the USA’s Katie Grimes.
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Fun fact: Billie Jean King and Snoop Dogg went to the same high school.
Met the incomparable @SnoopDogg. ✅
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 29, 2024
Both of us were born and raised in Long Beach, California, and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
LBC forever in our hearts.#Olympics #paris2024 pic.twitter.com/GlQ9DxzRvi
Coming up very soon: medals to be won in the pool, starting with the women’s 400m individual medley…
Canada have won their first gold of these Olympic Games … in judo. Christa Deguchi won the women’s under 57kg gold, beating South Korea’s Huh Mi-mi in a final between two athletes who were born in Japan. It’s Canada’s first ever gold medal in judo.
Elsewhere, Azerbaijan won their first gold in Paris as Hidayet Heydarov defeated surprise French finalist Joan-Benjamin Gaba in the men’s 73kg category.
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Here’s a quick take on the USA taking a team medal for the first time since 2008.
All the more impressive from Hashimoto to deliver under pressure, having slipped on the pommel horse earlier and failed to qualify for the horizontal bar individual final, missing the chance to defend his Tokyo gold medal.
Japan pip China to men's team gymnastics gold
China’s final high bar routine is much better, but the gap to Japan is too big, and they miss out on gold by half a point! Ridiculous. The USA take bronze by two points from Team GB, who couldn’t have done much more on the floor but have to settle for fourth place.
Daiki Hashimoto is next up for Japan, and absolutely nails his high bar routine, including a nerveless dismount. He punches the air, his teammates roar their approval – that may have just secured the gold.
As for Team GB, Jake Jarman has scored an excellent 14.966 on the floor, but they may just be edged off the podium by the USA…
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Is the pressure getting to China? Su Weide is next on the horizontal bar – but he slips off twice, to gasps from the crowd. He finishes the routine, but his score is just 11.6 and it may be Japan’s gold to lose now.
Over on the floor, Luke Whitehouse has delivered a 14.5 score on the floor as Team GB stay in the hunt for a medal. But the USA aren’t letting up, with Stephen Nedoroscik shining on the pommel horse.
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Carlos Alcaraz is back in singles tennis action at Roland Garros – and he’s making light work of the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor in their second-round match, winning the first set 6-1.
Team GB are strong on the floor, and will be hoping to overtake the USA and clinch bronze. Harry Hepworth has got them off to a good start, scoring 14.700 – but on the pommel horse, Paul Juda was very solid for the Americans.
China’s Routeng Xiao is next up on the high bar, with a buffer despite Japan making a strong start. But he stumbles on the dismount, his knees touching the mat – will that cost them? He scores 13.033, and the door is ajar for Japan to take the gold.
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In the final round, China and Japan are on the horizontal bar and the USA on the pommel horse, with Team GB and Ukraine on the floor.
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Here’s Jonathan Liew on Tom Pidcock’s remarkable gold medal win earlier today:
This is a sport where the odds can swivel in an instant, where nothing is ever won and so no cause is ever truly lost. Pidcock, a rider who has made a career out of doing the undoable, knows that better than most. Here he was dealt the most unpromising of hands, and against a hostile home crowd and a flat tyre, he cleaned out the house.
Heading into the final rotation of six in the men’s team final – this is where the medals will be won. China lead Japan and the USA, with Great Britain fifth…
China 219.296
Japan 216.029
United States 215.327
Ukraine 213.529
Great Britain 211.361
Some Team GB news from the track: Charlie Carvell has withdrawn from the men’s 4x400m relay squad due to a hamstring injury.
Shropshire’s Carvell, who had missed warm-up events with injuries, is replaced by fellow 20-year-old Sam Reardon.
Japan are keeping in the medal race on the parallel bars, while the USA continue to outperform their qualifying scores. Asher Hong’s floor routine lifts them back into bronze medal position, to rapturous applause.
Rafael Nadal’s hopes of a singles gold came to an end against Novak Djokovic today, and the 14-times French Open champion says he will be “at peace” if this is his last singles match here.
Nadal, who is still in doubles contention with Carlos Alcaraz, lost 6-1, 6-4 to his old rival. Afterwards, he hit back at questions over when he might announce his retirement.
“You want me to retire every day guys, you ask me for that,” he said. “I am trying to do my best. I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it’s going to be or not going to be my last match.
“I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. So, if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going, or physically I’m not ready, I will stop and I will let you know.”
“If that’s the last [singles] match here, I’ll be in peace,” the 38-year-old added. “I did my best and I can’t complain anymore.”
Treat your eyes to a look at the best pictures from day three in Paris:
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Team GB move onto the high bar, with Max Whitlock first up and scoring an even 13.000. Elsewhere, China’s Zhang Bohang has helped push his team closer to gold with a near-flawless routine on the parallel bars.
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Fraser completes the parallel bars section of Team GB’s final campaign, but his score is only enough to put Britain in fifth after four of the six rotations. But just look how close it is between the top five …
China 173.463
Ukraine 173.030
United States 172.528
Japan 171.664
Great Britain 171.328
Canada 167.596
Things are heating up in this men’s team final, with Ukraine pushing up to silver position. Meanwhile, the USA’s Brody Malone, throwing up chalk clouds and looking like a recently unearthed superhero, draws big applause for his display on the rings.
Who is the fastest man in the world? For Noah Lyles, the answer’s easy – it’s him. But it’s not quite that simple, and his use of the moniker on social media has ruffled a few feathers.
Thanks John and bonsoir, tout le monde. We’re keeping eyes on the gymnastics, where Jake Jarman has just delivered an impressive routine on the parallel bars. He’s improved on his qualifying score, but GB are fifth behind the US and Ukraine. Joe Fraser, a former world champion on the parallel bars, is still to come.
Right, my leg is over. Time to pass the baton to Niall McVeigh.
Jeremy Boyce gets in touch: ““I have just watched the Mountain Bike race on French TV (that’s where I live), what a privilege to have witnessed it. Regarding Pidcock’s “controversial” overtaking manoeuvre just before the finish, to their credit (they’re usually 100% patriotic) the French commentators saw it as a good move, 6 of one, half a dozen..., mostly they were in awe, as should we all be, by Pidcock’s amazing will to win, and the prowess to achieve it. Helmets off to the lad.”
“On the other hand, the crowd at the finish, having had double-gold snatched from them, welcomes Pidcock with resounding boos and whistles. As I said, they are 100% patriotic.”
“What was brilliant about Pidcock’s move was that he got half a wheel in front and nicked THE line, Koretzky had to virtually stop and switch line between a rock and tree (hard place), at that point, so close to the finish line, he was never going to recover. Pidcock had already beaten him mentally with that incredible recovery, then did it physically and tactically. I can see some extra 000s creeping into his sponsorship deals.”
More gymnastics. Sadly, Luke Whitehouse takes a tumble in the vault for Team GB. Jake Jarman and Harry Hepworth produce big showings to claw a bit back. It’s China, the USA and Team GB in the podium positions at the halfway stage.
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A rather under-amped battle between two sporting greats.
Barney Ronay reports as Tom Daley speaks.
And that great canoeing performance from Adam Burgess, too.
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The men’s gymnastics has been taking place and Team GB, with Harry Hepworth as anchor on the rings, are in with a shout. According to the BBC, “a terrible pommel showing for Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto” has opened up the competition.
Dan Evans was made short work of by Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Dan Evans 6-1, 6-2 to reach the last 16 at the #Olympics. Easy match up considering Dan's form, but still a very good scoreline!
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 29, 2024
Stef back later to play Mixed with Sakkari.
Great Britain’s women’s hockey team have just been beaten 4-0 by Australia, and that’s a second defeat of the games for Team GB.
Bring the noise
Flavor Flav and Spike Lee had a blast at the U.S. Women's water polo game! 🤩 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/xL8vU8EiX5
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 29, 2024
According to NBC: “The U.S. women’s water polo team allowed more goals on Monday than it has allowed in any single game over the last three Olympics, falling 13-11 to Spain.”
Gold goes to Japan's Horigome in the skateboarding, beating two US skaters
Now, who can move like Jagger Eaton? Huston in silver, Sora in bronze, with just one trick to go. Cordano Russell signs off with a flourish, and so does Hoefler. Dell Olio needs to land a trick, and lands one, the rail slide after the kick flip, and that’s a decent score. Right, Yuto tries to defend his title. And spins on to the rail, with a 270, and lands it. The score will be huge, as he nailed it. He will move up from seventh – and gets a 97.08 – and that puts him in gold. That was timely, that was beautiful. Over to you, Sora and the two Americans. Sora falls short. Nyjah Huston needs a big one, but will have to settle for bronze. So here goes Jagger Easton, he attempts to wax the ledge, and is pulled back. It all comes down to this. And he missed it. Gold goes to Horigome. Huston takes bronze. The three medallists hug. Great show from all concerned.
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Ok, back to the skating; Nyjah Huston and Jagger Easton, the two Americans, are in front and are trying to land their biggest tricks to land the gold and silver. Tury of Slovakia is in bronze. Nobody has anything to lose at this point. Canada’s Cordano Russell, out of the running, lands 94.93 when landing a ludicrous 360. Hoefler then wipes out. As does fellow South American Dell Ollio. Yuto – needs a big one – but clanks off the rail. He has one left, the defending champion. The back 180 – with nosegrind, is a beauty from Sora Shirai. He’s in bronze. Here goes Huston, who wipes out. Jagger Eaton, with his penultimate attempt, might have landed gold…ollie, 270 degrees and then landed it. 95.25 puts him in gold.
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Gestin is said to know the Olympic course with his eyes closed, having used it so often. That was a brilliant performance, and never in doubt.
Gestin wins the slalom canoe, Britain's Burgess takes silver
France’s Nicolas Gestin goes for gold, from Brittany. He sets off at a rate, and this is an expert run. He’s almost two seconds up, on a course he knows, and is making short work of this. He wins by 5.48 seconds, a demolition job. Burgess is still absolutely delighted.
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Now comes Spain’s Miquel Trave. He’s up on Burgess at the first check, and by a second on the next. Then comes a touch, a penalty. Trave’s gone…oh no. He’s all over the place. 97.92, and that means Burgess has a chance of gold with one more to go. He’s guaranteed silver already.
In the slalom canoeing, Ireland’s Liam Jegou set a time of 98.52 seconds that could have been even shorter had he not hit a gate. Adam Burgess of Britain has gone quickest, and now leads. His lead might have been greater, had he not needed to haul himself round. There was a stewards’ enquiry on the run but he’s held on to it. Just two more canoeists to go. Germany’s Tasiadis is chasing him but slower, only to go quicker then slower. Burgess has a medal. But what colour will it be?
Escape – the final US No 1 record of the 1970s – what does that say about the 1970s?
In the skateboarding, we’re into the best tricks section. They get five each. Richard Tury of Slovakia just pulled off what looks a decent rail slide. Canada’s Cordano Russell wipes out. Brazil’s Kelvin Hoefler pulls a fakie, nose blunt – he gets marked down for his truck dragging. Argentina’s Matias Dell Olio tried to kick flip and land a slide – to the tune of Vampire Weekend. Ollie, back 180, nose grind from Japan’s Horigome Yuto – who now leads, with Tury in silver.
I did a story before the Games in which I projected medals for the USA and China, the only country with a reasonable chance of having more gold (if not more total medals) than the red, white and blue.
China has been successful so far, but generally in events in which they were all but guaranteed gold. A gold medal for China in diving isn’t exactly unexpected.
So the updated projections are:
Gold: USA 47.56 (down from 48.28), China 39.89 (up from 39.78)
Total: USA 127.70 (up from 126.10), China 91.64 (down from 93.38)
On a more general note -- I watched the USA-France rugby game, and while I’m sure Team USA would’ve loved some payback after a French boxing judge inexplicably ruled 30-26 in favor of Italy’s Diego Lenzi over the USA’s Joshua Edwards, the US women had no answer for the brilliant Seraphine Okema, who scored four tries. The bright side for those of us related to a University of North Carolina rugby alumna is that the retirement-bound Naya Tapper scored.
More surprising was that Spain beat the US women in water polo. I didn’t watch that game; therefore, I’m not convinced it actually happened.
And finally, can I offer a plea to the folks at the skateboarding venue not to play Rupert Holmes’ ode to narcissistic infidelity, Escape (the Piña Colada Song)?
It’s baking hot in the men’s street skating, where the skaters are having a few practice tricks before they resume. The medals are some way off being decided.
Sean Ingle reports.
Thanks, Martin. Heroic shift as ever. There’s tennis on, with Dan Evans, perhaps not so fresh from last night’s great escape in the doubles with Andy Murray, he’s being given the runaround by Stefanos Tsitsipas, 5-1 in the first set.
That is it from me, Martin Belam today. After that bike race, I feel absolutely exhausted myself, and I was only typing during it! I will be back with you for the early Paris sessions tomorrow. John Brewin is your man now. Allons-y!
Men’s archery team: Turkey have their first medal of the Games! They have beaten China and taken bronze in the men’s team archery.
Men’s street skateboarding: the final has started in this, with eight people competing for the medals. Yuto Horigome and Sora Shirai of Japan, and Nyjah Huston and Jagger Eaton of the US will be the final four to start, and will all fancy their chances of a medal.
Women’s tennis singles: USA’s Coco Gauff is through to the third round after a 6-1, 6-1 win over Argentina’s María Lourdes Carlé. But the match wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline suggests: Gauff took 46 minutes to win the first set and her opponent gave plenty back. The world No 2 now faces Croatia’s Donna Vekić, who made the semi-finals at this year’s Wimbledon, in the next round.
Women’s water polo: Spain have beaten the USA 13-11 in Group B of the water polo. Bea Ortiz was the MVP for Spain with five goals in the game.
It shouldn’t dent US hopes of making progress too much, as the women’s competition rather oddly has two groups of five, with the top four progressing from each group. I say oddly, because that means you play twenty preliminary matches just to eliminate two teams from the intial ten competing, but what do I know?
Team GB announce that silver medallist Adam Peaty has Covid
Team GB have announced that Adam Peaty has Covid. In a statement the team said:
Adam Peaty began feeling unwell on Sunday, ahead of his Men’s 100m breaststroke final. In the hours after the final, his symptoms became worse and he was tested for Covid early on Monday morning. He tested positive at that point.
He is hopeful to be back in competition for the relay events later in the swimming programme. As in any case of illness, the situation is being managed appropriately, with all usual precautions being taken to keep the wider delegation healthy.
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Men’s team archery: France are through to the final after a dramatic shootout with Turkey. That guarantees them at least a silver medal. They will face South Korea at 17.11 local time. Turkey will face China for the bronze medal at 16.48 local time.
There haven’t been that many fashion faux pas during the Olympics so far but I confess I have raised an eyebrow at these US golf bags …
Four major champions teeing it up this week for the U-S-of-A. 🇺🇸🫡 #ParisOlympics
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 29, 2024
📸 @USAGolf pic.twitter.com/DidgRmMLCJ
Men’s team archery: Turkey and France are currently locked in battle for a spot in the final. Turkey are 4 sets to 2 in front, despite the best efforts of France’s wonderkid 17-year-old Baptiste Addis.
Don’t forget that you can plan the rest of your day with our full schedule and you can find all of the results in this interactive …
There is also the small matter of the medal table, being lead at the moment by China with five golds, while Australia, Japan and South Korea all have four apiece. The USA and France are in fifth and sixth places with three gold medals each, and Team GB is sitting seventh with two golds, three silvers and three bronzes.
Laura Collett, who earlier won team gold and then added individual bronze in the eventing while riding London 52 for Team GB, has spoken to the BBC. She told viewers:
I never thought this day would come. I owe absolutely everything to that horse. I am so lucky that I get to be the one to go out there in an arena like that and come out with a team gold and individual bronze at an Olympics, but there are so many people involved and I just want to thank every single one of them.
It is so many years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears. ‘Emotional rollercoaster’ doesn’t even do it justice. In moments like this every single bad day is worth it. You can’t ever give up. And you can never dream too big.
Jeremy Whittle was at that incredible mountain biking race, and here is his initial report:
Tom Pidcock powered to a spectacular comeback to claim back-to-back gold medals in the men’s mountain biking after overcoming a mid-race puncture that looked to have ended his chances. In an epic performance, Pidcock, gold medallist in Tokyo three years ago, closed a 40-second gap to the race leader, Victor Koretzky, on the penultimate lap before accelerating hard on the final moments to drop the Frenchman.
The 24-year-old’s hopes of victory seemed to have been ended by apuncture and a sloppy wheel change on the fourth of seven laps, just as he was moving ahead of the rest of the field, with Koretzky.
The lost momentum was compounded by confusion in the pit lane as Pidcock rode in pointing at his front wheel, only to find his support team unprepared. In contrast with his team helpers, there was no panic from Pidcock as he stood waiting in the pits for a fresh front tyre, although the delay left him well behind Koretzky.
The mishap came just before a key drop-off on lap four of seven. As he approached a high drop, he was forced to unclip gingerly as Koretzky flew through the jump and accelerated clear. Pidcock’s grit, though, took him to gold, just as Koretzky faded.
Here is a report, via Australian Associated Press, on some disappointment in the women’s basketball for Australia:
The Opals were turned over by Nigeria in a Olympic basketball upset that leaves Australia’s medal campaign on the brink. The No 3-ranked Australians were beaten 75-62 by the African champions in Lille, with Sandy Brondello’s side turning the ball over 26 times and making just eight of 18 free throws in a nightmarish opening to their Games tilt.
World No 12 Nigeria made the most of it, firing away from long range and rushing Australia’s shaky offence to earn their greatest Olympic basketball win. It’s a major dent in Lauren Jackson’s (six points, two rebounds in 12 minutes) plans for a fifth medal in as many Games, the 43-year-old back on the Olympic stage for the first time since London’s 2012 edition.
They will play world No 5 Canada on Thursday and No 7 France on Sunday, with only the pool’s top two sides guaranteed a berth in Paris’s quarter-final stage.
I worry that while all that exciting medalling was going on, I’ve lost track of what has happened elsewhere. France beat the USA 31-14 in the women’s rugby sevens, I know that much. Both sides progress.
Canada v China has just started in Pool A. The winner of this will go through. The loser might as well. It is 7-7 approaching half-time. The quarter-finals are later tonight.
Michael Jung wins individual eventing gold for Germany, Australia take silver, GB take bronze 🥇🐴
Michael Jung has won gold with Chipmunk in the individual eventing. It is Jung’s historic third individual title.
Australia’s Christopher Burton and Shadow Man took silver, and Team GB’s Laura Collett, riding London 52 took bronze.
More details soon …
Updated
Eventing individual jumping: Michael Jung and Chipmunk from Germany are now riding for gold …
I need to quickly turn my attention to the equestrian sports quickly. Laura Collett, riding London 52, has just guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal. Australia’s Christopher Burton and Shadow Man has just earned at least a silver.
Updated
Men’s and women’s tennis singles: just to confirm that both number one seeds, Iga Świątek in the women’s and Novak Djokovic in the men’s, have cruised through their second round matches.
The co-comms on Eurosport has just said “I’ve been sat in a chair for an hour-and-a-half and I feel like I need a break after watching that”, and I concur. What a thrilling race to watch. Incredible stuff.
An astonishing epic race, with the lead changing hands a couple of times on the last lap. How Tom Pidcock – who had Covid the other week – had the effort to recover from that puncture and being sent back into the pack halfway through the race I will never know.
Poor Victor Koretzky though, in front of his home crowd, he just didn’t have the legs right at the end. He will no doubt look back fondly on the medal in the end, but he must be disappointed having come so, so, so close to making it a French double gold in the cross-country races.
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Tom Pidcock wins gold for Team GB! 🥇🥇🥇🥇
After an astonishingly tight race, including a thirty second time loss by Team GB’s Tom Pidcock due to a puncture that he recovered from, he takes gold at the death.
France’s Victor Koretzky has a heroic silver after an epic battle between the two on the last couple of laps. Alan Hatherly of South Africa takes bronze.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Pidcock gets back in front as the pair nearly clash!
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Pidcock got back in front of Koretzky momentarily, and then the Frenchman breezes back past him.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) goes. Can Pidcock respond? It doesn’t look like it.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Pidcock attacks. Koretzky stays with him. Hatherly is hanging on in here to this group. They are on a long steep climb now.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: the leading group all decline to use the feeding station, and have reached the first split on the last lap. Pidcock leads Koretzky but there’s nothing in it. It will all come down to who has the legs at the last.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Luca Baridot of Italy is in fourth, poised to take advantage of any mistakes among the first three riders.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: can you live blog something from behind the sofa with your hands-over-your-eyes because you are too nervous to watch? I’m going to find out. Tom Pidcock (GBr), Victor Koretzky (Fra) and Alan Hatherly (RSA) make up the leading group who will almost certainly take the medals but it is impossible to call right now.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: the bell sounds. It is Pidcock then Koretzky together, and Hatherly has also regrouped with them. These three have a 15 second gap on Braidot, and will fancy they have the monopoly on the medals. But who? What a race this is. I love cycling.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Koretzky has kept up with Pidcock on those attacks, and they have settled back to a group of two, with Pidcock in front.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: what will this have done to Koretzky mentally to lose the lead at this stage? Pidcock attacks again! The pair have pulled out a five second gap on third-placed Hatherly!
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra), Tom Pidcock (GBr) and Alan Hatherly (RSA) have now formed a leading group of three. Pidcock attacks!
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) has had his lead whittled down to just five seconds as we reach the first split on lap seven. This is going to be tense. Pidcock is second. Hatherly is third.
Women’s rugby sevens: Japan have just run in a free-scoring victory over Brazil by 39 to 12. I *think* this result confirms that Ireland have qualified as a best third-placed side. I’ll figure all that out for sure when the cycling has finished.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) is 17 seconds in front of Tom Pidcock (GBr) and Alan Hatherly (RSA), Incredible to think Pidcock earlier lost more than 30 seconds with a puncture.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Nino Schurter (Sui) has had an awkward moment in the rocks where he kept the bike upright but ended up off the saddle, and let’s just say I hope his suit had good padding in the nethers. At the front Pidcock has got on the back of Hatherly in second and third place.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) remains out front, but the bronze medal chasing group of Pidcock, Flueckiger and Braidot have got South Africa’s Alan Hatherly in their sights. They are approaching the end of lap six. There is going to be some finish here, plenty of racing – and risk – ahead.
Women’s tennis singles: Coco Gauff was serving for the match against María Lourdes Carlé, but the Argentine broke her serve. Gauff leads 5-1 in the second set, having taken the first.
Updated
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: it is the end of the fifth lap of eight. Victor Koretzky (Fra) leads Alan Hatherly (RSA) by 13 seconds. 21 seconds behind him is a “bronze” medal chasing group which features Team GB’s Tom Pidcock and Charlie Aldridge. Sam Gaze of New Zealand is in the mix there, as is Mathias Flueckiger (Sui). Luca Braidot is also in there.
Liam Pitchford for Team GB has won his opening singles game in the table tennis.
A fourth Olympics for Liam Pitchford.
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 29, 2024
And he's off to a successful start in the men's singles. He beats Fiji's Vicky Wu 4-0 to progress to the round of 32 👊#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/d9m9IdZqua
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: “Ten seconds Alan, you’re doing great!” his pit team yell at Alan Hatherly (RSA) in second place as he goes through to take a drink in the pits.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) retains a ten second lead over Alan Hatherly (RSA) and Mathias Flueckiger (Sui). Team GB’s Charlie Aldridge is a little furtherback with New Zealand’s Sam Gaze. Pidcock has hauled himself back to sixth after that puncture nad botched wheel change. They’ve been going 45 minutes so are around the halfway mark.
Women’s rugby sevens: Australia beat Ireland 19-14. Australia top Pool B, and Great Britain progress too. Ireland sweat on being one of the two third-placed teams that also go through.
Men’s tennis singles: Rafael Nadal needed something special, and he has instead had his serve broken by Novak Djokovic, who leads 6-1 3-0.
Updated
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Victor Koretzky (Fra) is now out in front on his own, with nine seconds on Alan Hatherly (RSA). Pidcock’s flat was at least close to the techzone, but he is now over 30 seconds off the lead. Koretzky must be dreaming of a French double gold in this discipline.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: flat tire for Tom Pidcock. DISASTER! The team weren’t ready in the pit area either!
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: we are half-hour in and Tom Pidcock (GBr) and Victor Koretzky (Fra) are out in front as a group of two at the end of lap three. The chasing group is 13 seconds back and consists of Mathias Flueckiger (Sui), Alan Hatherly (RSA) and Charlie Aldridge (Gbr). Koretzky made sure that Pidcock could not establish a solo lead. Which of them will attack next?
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: Tom Pidcock has made a three second gap at the front over Victor Koretzky (Fra) now, and the pair have got away from the group.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: at the first split in lap three it is obvious that nobody has really got away yet in this race. 13 riders are separated by about ten seconds, and then there is a small gap back to the rest of the field. But now there is a move by Tom Pidcock who hits the front …
Women’s tennis singles: second seed Coco Gauff is in action. The young US star has taken the first set 6-1 against María Lourdes Carlé of Argentina.
Women’s rugby sevens: we established yesterday that I don’t know the nickname for the Australia team here, but they are 7-0 up against Ireland. This is in the same pool as Great Britain, and an Australian victory would see both Australia and Team GB progress.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: lap two has finished with the same four at the front:
Mathias Flueckiger (Sui)
Tom Pidcock (GBr)
Victor Koretzky (Fra)
Nino Schurter (Sui)
Men’s tennis singles: Novak Djokovic has rather convincingly won the first set against Rafael Nadal, 6-1.
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: the first lap has finished, but the timing data hasn’t come up on the Olympic website, which is, to be honest, sub-optimal from a live blogging point of view. We are fifteen minutes in. At split one in lap two the front group of five are Mathias Flueckiger and Nino Schurter of Switzerland, Victor Koretzky of France, Tom Pidcock of Great Britain and Alan Hatherly of South Africa.
Women’s rugby sevens: Great Britain have done it. A superb comeback win against South Africa. It has finished 26-17. According to my abacus that means they reach the quarter-finals.
Women’s rugby sevens: Great Britain have staged a comeback here, despite receiving a yellow card. They are 19-17 up with a minute to go against South Africa!
Men’s mountain bike cross-country: this has started. There are 36 riders from 28 nations. South Africa’s Alan Hatherly is setting the early pace.
Here is the image Team GB’s social media team have picked to celebrate that gold medal …
🥇 That winning feeling 🥇 pic.twitter.com/gTPy3N7axd
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 29, 2024
Women’s rugby sevens: South Africa are taking a 12-7 lead into half-time against Great Britain. It is the last pool match and Team GB really need a win here to progress.
Thanks Barry! I disappear for two hours and miss the first Team GB gold. Typical. I did have a cheeky croque monsieur for lunch though, so it wasn’t all wasted time. I’m very excited about the cycling coming up here – the women’s race yesterday was brilliant with Pauline Ferrand Prévot running away with it.
Men’s mountain biking: What promises to be a cracking race despite defending champion Tom Pidcock’s description of the course as “bland” is due to start in a few minutes. Martin Belam is here to take up the cudgels …
Equestrianism: The 25 leading riders after the team competition will now progress to the individual jump-off, where Team GB’s Laura Collett and Tom McEwen will both fancy their chances of bagging individual medals, with just one fence separating the top four riders.
Great Britain win team gold in eventing!
Equestrianism: With four fences in hand, Laura Collett and her mount London 52 only needed to avoid total disaster in the final round of the showjumping to win gold for Great Britain in the eventing and they duly do so, punching the air in celebration. They finish in first place with a score of 91.30, ahead of France on 103.60 and Japan on 115.80.
Updated
Boxing: Tokyo bronze medallist Harry Garside broke down in tears after losing his first-round bout in the men’s 63.5kg boxing at the North Paris Arena.
The 27-year-old Australian - who put on hold professional boxing plans to return to the Olympic stage - narrowly won the first round against Hungarian Richard Kovacs, but his counterpunching opponent proved too wily and took rounds two and three.
Garside said afterwards he felt “very numb” and “a failure”. His emotions meant he was unable to continue his media conference and he momentarily went down on his haunches, before composing himself and walking away.
Swimming: And in the last heats of the morning at the pool, the punishing 16-lap men’s 800m freestyle, Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen was fastest to qualify for tomorrow night’s final, with Tunisian Ahmed Jaouadi in second. Italian long-distance swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri was next, followed by Australia’s Elijah Winnington in fourth.
But it was agony for young Australian Sam Short, who placed ninth fastest and will miss the final. The 20-year-old won silver in the discipline at last year’s world championships, but has been under pace at the Olympic meet - possibly still affected by an illness that hit during last month’s Australian trials. Short finished just off the podium in fourth in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.
Rowing: British duo Chloe Brew and Rebecca Edwards have finished third in their repechages to make it through to the women’s pair semi-finals. In the eights, Britain’s men and women have both qualified for the finals of their events.
Men’s mountain bike: We’re less than an hour away from the start of the men’s mountain bike race at Elancourt Hill, a gruelling ordeal in extreme heat for the riders which promises to be very exciting and features Great Britain’s defending champion Tom Pidcock among the favourites. Charlie Aldridge also goes for Team GB in that event which is scheduled to start at 1.10pm (BST).
Equestrianism: Great Britain are this close to a team gold medal in the eventing after Tom McEwen jumped a clear round on his horse JL Dublin in the showjumping.
The British team have three fences in hand over France with just one of their riders, Laura Collett, left to go. Collett is also lying in the individual silver medal position behind the German double Olympic gold medallist Michael Jung.
Updated
Noah Williams: "From third last to second means a lot"
“It means a lot to me,” says Tom Daley’s dive partner, who must have felt under the most intense pressure to perform today, following his disappointing performance at Tokyo. “From third last to second. My coach passed away after the last Olympics in Tokyo and he’d probably feel pretty proud today.”
On their superb fourth dive this morning: “The fourth dive last year, it was my worst dive but it was Tom’s best so we had to use it. I’ve come a long way in the last year just practicing that and I’m really glad that it paid off here.”
Tom Daley: "It's just so special"
“It’s just so special,” he tells the BBC, following his silver mnedal win alongside Noah Williams. “This time last year deciding to come back, never mind not knowing if I would make the synchro team. Doing it in front of my son, who asked me to come back is so special I now have [a medal] of every colour. I’ve completed the set.”
On Noah Williams: “I’ve never seen Noah cry in my whole life,” he says of his partner, who is alongside him and visibly struggling to contain his tears as he remembers his former coach Dave Jenkins, who passed away in 2021. “I know how much today mean’s him. it’s very sad Dave is not here, but I know Dave and my dad would both be so proud to see us here today.”
On his emergence from retirement: “As an athlete, you know to train smarter. You have to prioritise things in your life, not just diving. I was getting emotional just getting prepared for this. My husband has really been there, he’s taken the kids allowing me to travel when I’ve needed to. A happy athlete is a successful one.
And the future: “I don’t know. We’ll enjoy today and see what the future holds. Right now, I’ll just go and enjoy time with my little ones.”
Swimming: Team GB’s Freya Colbert was third fastest in the first 400m medley heat behind the USA’s Emma Weyant and Katie Grimes and will contest the final. Her teammate Katie Shanahan was fourth in her heat and also makes the final. Ireland’s Ellen Walshe also makes it through after finishing fourth in her heat.
Triathlon swimming training cancelled again
Concerns about the water quality in the Seine River have led officials to call off the swimming portion of an Olympic triathlon training session for a second straight day today.
Organisers overseeing the event at the Paris Games are optimistic that triathletes will be able to swim in the city’s famed waterway when the competition starts tomorrow.
The sport’s governing body, World Triathlon, its medical team and city officials are banking on sunny weather and higher temperatures to bring the bacteria levels below the necessary limits to stage the swim portion of the race, which also includes biking and running.
Speaking to the French news channel CNEWS today, French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said officials are “absolutely serene about all of this.” The recent rain has contributed to the water quality concerns, but she believes conditions will improve. “I am confident in the fact that we will be able to be there tomorrow for the men’s triathlon event,” she said.
Updated
Tom Daley and Noah Williams: The British 10m synchronised diving duo have just been presented with their silvers, with Daley receiving his fifth Olympic medal and his young sidekick getting his first. It’s the Chinese duo of Junjie Lian and Hao Yang who get to hear their country’s national anthem after their masterful display, while Canada’s Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray look delighted to be occupying the third step of the podium.
Swimming: The favourites are all comfortably through the women’s 100m backstroke heats, writes Kieran Pender, who is poolside in Paris.
The heats of the women’s 100m backstroke played out uneventfully this morning, as all the favourites comfortably progressed in what shapes up as one of the blockbuster finals of the Paris swim meet.
America’s Katharine Berkoff was through fastest, followed by compatriot and world record holder Regan Smith. The duo will face tough competition in tonight’s semi-finals and tomorrow night’s finals from the Australian Kaylee McKeown, who won gold in Tokyo three years ago and secured the world title last year. Tokyo silver medallist Kylie Masse, from Canada, was fourth-quickest.”
Jane Figueiredo speaks: “I’m excited, fearless for them … just over the moon for both of them,” says Tom Daley’s coach in an interview with the BBC. “There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes that most people don’t realise in an athlete’s life and a coach’s life. For both of them to achieve a silver medal today was absolutely brilliant and China was just too good for us today. But we hung in there and I’m just so proud.”
Updated
Greetings one and all. Barry Glendenning here to take over from Martin, who is going for a well-earned lie-down after an outstanding men’s synchronised 10m diving competition.
I don’t know a great deal about the discipline but even a know-nothing imbecile like me can tell there is no shame whatsoever in Tom Daley and Noah Williams finishing second to that incredible gold medal-winning Chinese duo, who didn’t put a foot or hand wrong across six rounds of diving. Their performance was astonishing.
An incredible diving contest there – the Chinese pair looking unstoppable but what joy for Tom Daley and Noah Williams to win silver. On that note, I am going to hand over to Barry Glendenning for the next couple of hours. I will see you back here later on.
China win gold in 10m synchro diving as Team GB's Daley and Williams take silver
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: the reigning world champions from China, Junjie Lian and Hao Yang, have taken gold in the men’s synchronised 10m diving in a dominant display in which they lead the contest all the way through.
The British pair of Tom Daley and Noah Williams finished second and took silver. Daley was unable to defend his Tokyo title, but the silver adds to his lifetime Olympic haul of one gold and three bronzes. 24-year-old Williams won gold in the Commonwealth Games in this discipline, but it is his first Olympic medal.
Canada’s Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray took bronze, surviving a late scare when Ukraine and Mexico’s pairings both nearly overtook them on the last round after the Canadian pair picked a pretty conservative last effort of back 2½ somersaults with 1½ twists in pike. The Canadians finished less than four points ahead of Mexico, less than ten ahead of Ukraine.
The final scores were:
🥇 China 490.35
🥈 Great Britain 463.44
🥉 Canada 422.13
Men’s hockey: Australia beat Ireland 2-1 in the end. A slightly disappointing scoreline for the Aussies which doesn’t really reflect how dominant they appeared to be during play. Still, a win is a win at this stage. They join Belgium on two wins out of two at the top of their group.
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: the fifth round is done and dusted. The Mexican pair of Kevin Berlin Reyes and Randal Willars Valdez fell out of synch on their dive, making it much harder to see them sneaking from fourth into the medals. Canada remain third, Daley and Williams of Team GB second after another great dive, and China’s Junjie Lian and Hao Yang are still well out in front, and frankly making 10m diving look like one of the easiest things in the world. Back 3½ Somersaults in pike? No problem.
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: a huge dive from Tom Daley and Noah Williams (GB) – a *checks notes* back 3½ somersaults in the pike position – scores 93.96. But hold on, here come Junjie Lian and Hao Yang (Chn) with 95.88. Nobody can get close to them. The Chinese are 13 points ahead. Canada remain third, Mexico fourth.
Women’s volleyball: an epic battle has come to an end with Turkey coming from two sets behind to beat the Netherlands 3 sets to 2 in Pool C. It was tight all the way through, with Turkey ultimately winning 19-25 19-25 25-22 25-22 15-13. The Netherlands actually scored more points overall but unlike in Play Your Cards Right, points don’t mean prizes in this game. Huge celebrations from the Turkish contingent.
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: the third round of dives is over, and this is the point of the competition where the pairs can start bringing out their own moves. Junjie Lian and Hao Yang (Chn) are looking unstoppable here. They are now ten points clear.
Tom Daley and Noah Williams (GB) are now in second, having pulled slightly clear of Canada’s duo Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray. But probably the significant development was a very strong third dive by Kevin Berlin Reyes and Randal Willars Valdez of Mexico, who are fourth, but clearly look like they could menace those ahead of them in the podium places.
Each pair has six dives, all six dives count. We are halfway through.
Kieran Pender is at the pool in Paris for the Guardian:
Canada’s 400m individual medley world record-holder Summer McIntosh qualified for the final at the pool this morning, finishing first in her heat, but was pushed all the way by emerging Australian star Ella Ramsay. In Paris the 20-year-old joins an elite group of Australian Olympians who have a family connection – Ramsay’s father Heath swam at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Ramsay went out hard and was with McIntosh for most of the race, before fading in the final 25m as Mio Narita swam past. The Australian’s team-mate Jenna Forrester just missed the final, placing ninth across the two heats. In the faster first heat, American duo Emma Weyant and Katie Grimes secured lanes four and five for the final tonight.
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: Junjie Lian and Hao Yang (Chn) have stretched their lead after the second round of dives. It is 57.6 for the dive and now they have 114 points combined. Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray (Can) and Tom Daley and Noah Williams (GB) remain locked in joint second on 105.00. The Australian pair of Domonic Bedggood and Cassiel Rousseau are in fourth with 99.60.
Men’s hockey and women’s hockey: It is half-time between China’s women and Japan’s women in that competition and China seem in control, leading 4-0. Both teams lost their opening match, so this is damaging for Japan’s hopes of progressing.
In the men’s, after a lengthy video umpire delay, Australia have been denied a third goal. It remains 2-1 against Ireland with ten minutes left of the final quarter.
Tom Daley and Noah Williams begin competing in 10m synchronised diving
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: Tom Daley and Noah Williams (GB) have scored 53.40 with their first dive, putting them in joint second place with Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray (Can). But China’s three-time and reigning world champions and the favourites Junjie Lian and Hao Yang have set a huge marker here with 56.40 in the opening dive. Each pair has six dives.
Men’s synchronised 10m diving: the final has begun. Eight teams. Six dives each. Three medals to be won. Domonic Bedggood and Cassiel Rousseau have opened the competition for Australia and scored 51.00.
It is coming up to 11 o’clock in Paris, where two events with Team GB medal hopes get under way – the men’s 10m synchronised diving and equestrian eventing team final.
11 o’clock in Paris will also see Nigeria and Australia face each other in the women’s basketball, the women’s 60kg boxing round of 16 start, China face Canada in the women’s beach volleyball, plus a rather tasty looking clash between Slovenia and Croatia in the men’s handball. Oh, and the swimming heats get started for today at 11 o’clock, and there is still tennis and mountain biking to come. It is … a lot. I love it.
Men’s hockey: Australia have gone in at half-time leading Ireland 2-1. Lee Cole scored Ireland’s first goal of the tournament in the 25th minute, but just at the death of the second quarter Australia were awarded a penalty stroke which Blake Govers tucked away with aplomb.
Men’s handball: Germany have ruthlessly dispatched Japan and now top Group A with two wins from two. Today’s match ended up 34-24 with Renars Uscins the standout man – seven goals from seven attempts.
Women’s volleyball: the opening match today is Turkey against the Netherlands. The Dutch have taken the first two sets, but Turkey are fighting hard to save the third, with it tied at 16-16. Italy and the Dominican Republic are the other two teams in Pool C. They played yesterday, with Italy coming out on top.
Men’s hockey: Australia have the lead against Ireland. Corey Weyer with the goal from a penalty corner in the ninth minute.
Gold for South Korea in women's 10m air rifle
Women’s 10m air rifle: in an incredibly tight finish South Korea’s Ban Hyojin has taken gold in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting from China’s Huang Yuting. They both finished on 251.8 points, but the South Korean nicked the shoot-off. Audrey Gogniat took the bronze for Switzerland, her country’s first medal of the Games.
Men’s hockey: in Group B Australia have got under way against Ireland in each side’s second match. Australia beat Argentina in their opener, while Ireland lost to defedning champions Belgium. India will play Argentina in the same group later today. Belgium lead the standing with two victories from two matches. There are six teams in the group and the top four progress.
Men’s handball: Germany are in complete control in this match against Japan. The second half has just started and Germany lead 23-11.
If your focus is on Team GB, then in their preview of the day they have picked out Tom Daley and Noah Williams in the men’s synchronised 10m diving, Tom Pidcock defending his mountain bike cross-country title, and Ros Canter, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen showjumping for gold as their highlights to look out for on day three.
Women’s 10m air rifle: China’s Huang Yuting is leading this competition at the moment. She is 17, and already has one gold medal from the mixed team event. South Korea’s Ban Hyojin is close in second place at the moment.
Rowing: the action is under way at Vaires-sur-Marne nautical stadium again, but today’s schedule is chiefly repecharge rounds and semi-finals for the minor placings, with a rest or practice day for those with more realistic medal ambitions.
Men’s beach volleyball: Italy’s Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai have nicked the first set against Australia’s Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher, 21-19. Both pairs lost their opening game, and so a second defeat would really hamper any chance of progressing from Pool A.
Men’s handball: Germany have opened up a comfortable lead against Japan early on here, 15-6 up after 18 minutes. That match is both nation’s second game in Group A. Germany won their first, Japan lost their operner.
Here is a reminder of where and when we are expecting medals today …
🥇 Shooting – men’s & women’s 10m air rifle (from 9:30)
🥇 Diving – men’s 10m platform synchro (from 11:00)
🥇 Equestrian – eventing team jumping / eventing individual jumping (from 11:00)
🥇 Mountain Bike – men’s cross-country (from 14:10)
🥇 Judo – women’s 57kg / men’s 73kg (from 16:00)
🥇 Skateboarding – men’s street (17:00)
🥇 Archery – men’s team (17:11)
🥇 Canoe Slalom – men’s C-1 (17:20)
🥇 Gymnastics – men’s team (17:30)
🥇 Swimming – men’s 200m freestyle & 100m backstroke / women’s 400m IM & 200m freestyle (20:30)
🥇 Fencing – women’s individual sabre / men’s individual foil (21:45)
*(All times listed are Paris local)
Before I get to the sporting action, Philippe Auclair has just published this piece, arguing that the Paris Olympics is not just sport: it is about presenting a new French identity to the world:
Much of the outside world sees France as a fractured, some even said “ungovernable” country, which only escaped the prospect of the far right in power to find itself with a government placed in suspended animation until the Games are over, when Macron will finally pick a new prime minister. Yet this “ungovernable” country was able to put on a show which, whether you find it sublime or grotesque, very few other nations would have had the temerity to stage in such a fashion. If it is a mess, it is a glorious one. And should Macron wish to find a new prime minister who could federate all of France, he could do worse than choose Antoine Dupont, a piece of advice which flooded the message board of the very serious Le Monde newspaper in the minutes which followed France’s victory over Fiji in the rugby sevens.
Read more from Philippe Auclair here: Paris Olympics is not just sport: it is about presenting a new French identity to the world
Hello, it is Martin Belam here in London. I will be here for the next few hours, but can’t help feeling very jealous of my colleague Will Magee last night getting to live blog the heroics of Andy Murray and Dan Evans. Although to be fair I might have just been typing fssghtssgdgsthppssunhelkandjkba with all the excitement. And that’s before I even think about the chaos of the Matildas.
I can’t promise the next few hours are going to be quite as high-octane as all that was, but we should get some medals again this morning, and I will keep you across everything that is happening. Drop me a line if you want to – martin.belam@theguardian.com.
To lead you through the next portion of the day we travel from Melbourne to London where Martin Belam is waiting patiently. À demain!
With nine o’clock local time fast approaching, the badmintonists will soon be joined by exponents of beach volleyball, handball, fencing, and volleyball, with shooting, archery, and rowing following just half-an-hour afterwards.
The forecast is for a beautiful summer’s day with temperatures tipping into the early 30s.
Hear hear. Andy Murray is on the shortlist for all-time great British sportspeople, and he’s done it displaying extraordinary resilience. Even yesterday, facing five match points against him in what would be his final match he still somehow manages to find a way to keep going. A true inspiration.
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The shuttles are flying at Porte de la Chapelle Arena, which means the action is under way on day three of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Coming up later today we’ll be treated to the most historic early round clash in any sport at these Games when Novak Djokovic takes on Rafael Nadal in the men’s singles tennis. It will be an Open-era record 60th clash between the two most successful male tennis players of all time, with 37-year-old Djokovic leading the head-to-head over 38-year-old Nadal 30-29.
It is fitting that what could be the final match of this extraordinary rivalry will take place on centre court at Roland Garros, the site of their first meeting back in 2006.
The likes of Simone Biles and Lebron James are contributing to a euphoric vibe in Paris during these early days of the Games.
In terms of political capital from sport, the mood has not been this electric since France’s 1998 World Cup win, inspired by Zinedine Zidane, when the diverse team was hailed as able to heal and reconcile a fractured society and end discrimination. But only four years after that football victory the far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, made it to the second round of the presidential election. This time, weeks before the Olympics, his daughter Marine’s far-right National Rally party was prevented from forming a government by a massive surge of tactical voting in a snap parliament election.
Every gesture at the Olympics is now being clung to in France as a means of healing the recent election’s bitter rows over dual-nationals, identity and racism.
While the star power was comparable at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, there were far fewer nerves for the imposing USA men’s basketball team. LeBron James and co swatted aside Serbia, one of their biggest rivals, in an awesome show of strength.
They are not burdened by your expectations. They are not keeping themselves up at night worrying about how they measure up against 1992. They have not been reading your angsty tweets (with the exception of KD, who almost certainly has). The result: three quarters of pure business, one quarter of pure pleasure, a potential medal rival not simply dispatched but shoved disdainfully aside, a game that was basically conceived at its outset as a series of memes.
Broadening our horizons a little now, it’s worth savouring the return to Olympic competition of Simone Biles yesterday.
Of course she nails the floor routine, lands the Yurchenko double pike on the vault, follows it up with the straight somersault with 1½ twists, sails through to the all-around final with another entry on the all-time points list. Sometimes, she wobbles a little. Sometimes, she takes an extra steadying step. Even her stumbles seem graceful. Because if Biles has taught us anything over the last decade, it is to reframe the way we think and talk about star athletes, to refuse the instinctive deification that is really also a form of dehumanisation. To stop demanding perfection and miracles as a condition of our love. Biles is perfect, because she isn’t.
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Also coming up today we have the start of The Opals’ Olympic campaign, a tournament that promises to see the baton passed from the great Lauren Jackson to a new generation of Australian basketballers, like Ezi Magbegor.
The New Zealand-born forward/ centre, moved to Australia with her Nigerian parents at age six. She has long been touted as the woman to claim the mantle of Australia’s next great basketball talent after Lauren Jackson retires for good, and following the false start of Liz Cambage in green and gold.
It’s another massive night in the pool for Australia’s Dolphins with a one-two expected in 200m freestyle, but who out of Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan will take gold?
Titmus will go into the 200m final as the defending champion and world record-holder, having taken that mark from O’Callaghan at the Australian Olympic trials in June. She approaches the 200m with the strength of her 400m-800m training.
O’Callaghan, twice the world 100m freestyle champion, and world 200m champion last year, but competing in an individual event for the first time at the Olympics, will bring her dynamic finishing power and superb underwater skills.
The Matildas, arguably Australia’s most popular team at the Olympics, notched their first win of the Games, a madcap 6-5 victory over Zambia. Qualification to the quarter-finals now looks probable, but not yet assured. Even so, after displaying such poor form in their opening two matches progress deep into the tournament seems unlikely.
For the optimists, this remarkable comeback victory will buoy the Matildas ahead of their crunch match against the United States on Wednesday in Marseille. It is just the sort of win needed to invigorate their Olympic campaign. Next stop - an Olympic medal?
Then there is a less charitable way to assess the group stage clash on Sunday night. Zambia are ranked 64th in the world. They have two of the best attackers in the world, yes, but as a cohesive national team, they are far from the finished product (the untenable position of their coach does not help). This is a game the Matildas, who have finished fourth at consecutive international tournaments, should have controlled and won comfortably.
We’ll stay on Australian topics for a little while, starting with a celebration of Jess Fox, Australia’s flag bearer, after she dominated the K-1 Canoe Slalom to win the first of up to three gold medals at the Paris Games.
The medal is Fox’s fourth in the kayak event stretching back to London 2012, and her second gold after she won in the canoe in Tokyo. She improved her time from the semi-final by a barely believable six seconds, avoiding any penalties. It left her competitors having to take more risks to navigate the tricky course.
And here’s a rundown of the day from an Australian perspective. One that will see the Opals, Kookaburras and Hockeyroos in action early, before swimmers Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan go head-to-head in the women’s 200m freestyle later on.
Here’s today’s full schedule with Badminton again leading things off at 8:30 local time (just under two hours from now).
The boxing image in here is an immediate entry to the Olympic photography hall of fame.
Flava Flav, Water Polo, and the First Lady of the United States sounds like a combination of words that would only come about using Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies, but this has been a celeb-heavy opening to the Games.
I love all the support Women’s Water Polo is getting,,, ya boy is so appreciative that the First Lady came to the First Game . THANK YOU @flotus Dr. Jill Biden for all the support of you and your family 🙏🏾🫶🏾#olympics pic.twitter.com/QHe53NTpsa
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) July 27, 2024
Yesterday also witnessed one of the youngest podiums in Olympic history with Coco Yoshizawa (14), Liz Akama (15), and Rayssa Leal (16) the medallists in the women’s street skateboarding.
Brazilian Leal is actually among the record holders after she made the podium in Tokyo, alongside Momiji Nishiya and Funa Nakayama. Their collective age was just 43 years 208 days (or one Lauren Jackson).
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South Korea have the joint-third most gold medals and joint-fourth most medals overall. This includes yesterday’s gold to the women’s archery team, extending their unbeaten run to an extraordinary 10 consecutive Olympics. South Korea are the only nation to have won that particular medal since it was introduced at Seoul 1988.
By the end of day two Japan had moved alongside early pacesetters Australia on top of the medal table. France’s three memorable golds keep the hosts in the mix, while the USA are getting used to occupying the lower two steps on the podium.
Preamble - Day Three Schedule
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the third official day of competition of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
If the opening day belonged to Australia, day two was all about the hosts with French superstars Léon Marchand and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot securing popular gold medals.
There was also plenty of joy for Japan in judo, fencing, and skateboarding, the continuation of Korea’s dominance in women’s archery, and the return to the Olympic stage for the incomparable Simone Biles.
So what can we look forward to today?
Medal Events
🥇 Shooting – men’s & women’s 10m air rifle (from 9:30)
🥇 Diving – men’s 10m platform synchro (from 11:00)
🥇 Equestrian – eventing team jumping / eventing individual jumping (from 11:00)
🥇 Mountain Bike – men’s cross country (from 14:10)
🥇 Judo – women’s 57kg / men’s 73kg (from 16:00)
🥇 Skateboarding - men’s street (17:00)
🥇 Archery - men’s team (17:11)
🥇 Canoe Slalom - men’s C-1 (17:20)
🥇 Gymnastics - men’s team (17:30)
🥇 Swimming - men’s 200m freestyle & 100m backstroke / women’s 400m IM & 200m freestyle (20:30)
🥇 Fencing - women’s individual sabre / men’s individual foil (21:45)
*(All times listed are Paris local)
Simon Burnton’s day-by-day guide
Diving: men’s synchronised 10m platform final
Tom Daley is back for his fifth Games, and with Matty Lee – with whom he won this event in Tokyo – ruled out with a back injury he has been paired this time with Noah Williams. Williams finished 27th out of 29 entrants in the individual 10m platform in 2021 – “I did awful, so bad,” he says – and the new pair’s preparations have been hampered by the fact that Daley now lives in Los Angeles, but in their first international competition, February’s world championships, they won silver.
Equestrianism: eventing jumping team and individual final
The grounds of the Chateau de Versailles will provide a spectacular backdrop to the equestrian events, with today’s finale of the eventing competition using the temporary arena by the Grand Canal. Tom McEwen won a silver in the individual event in Tokyo, while the British squad took the team gold. McEwen will be back hoping to go one better, having swapped his horse Toledo de Kerser for JL Dublin. “Dubs is the whole package,” says McEwen.
Cycling: men’s cross-country
In 2021 Tom Pidcock won this event on the same day as Daley won diving gold, and the schedule has thrown them together again. The race will be held on the entirely human-made Elancourt Hill, the highest point in the Paris region, which started life as a dumping ground for the area’s sandstone quarries and after their closure graduated to being used for landfill. What certainly isn’t rubbish is the view over the city from the top. Nick Floros, the South African who designed the cross-country courses in Rio and Tokyo, has mapped the route again.
Also, be sure not to miss the final instalment in the greatest rivalry in tennis history: Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic, which is second on Court Philippe-Chatrier from 12:00.
I’m sure I’ve failed to include something notable to you in this short rundown, so feel free to let me know what’s on your agenda by emailing: jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com or, if you still consider post-Twitter relevant, drop me a note @jphowcroft.
I’ll be around for the first few hours of the blog here in Australia, after which I’m handing over to Martin Belam in the UK.
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