Athletics

Paris 2024 Olympics day 11: athletics, skateboarding, speed climbing, cycling and more – live | Paris Olympic Games 2024

August 6, 2024

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Skateboarding: The athletes from Heat 2 get an introduction. Two Britons in Sky Brown and Lola Tambling, two Americans in Minna Stess and Ruby Lilley and an Aussie in Arisa Trew. The five athletes have a lot of fun cheering in front of the camera and it is clear that they are all friends as they laugh and make fun faces at each other.

Thanks Dom, sterling shift as always. Not long until Sky Brown now. But before that, we earlier brought you update that the marathon familiarisation session was cancelled but there was no reason given as to why. Here’s the news that we all already knew: it is because of the water quality in the Seine.

Water quality assessments found that levels of Enterococci – an indicator of faecal pollution – were too high in the river.

A statement from World Aquatics said: “The water quality review showed E. coli levels ranged from 326 to 517 (considered “very good” to “good”) at the four collection points taken on 5 August between 5 and 6.00 am.

“However, Enterococci levels exceeded World Aquatics maximum thresholds during the morning review. The latest Enterococci samples (taken between 12.30 and 13.20 on 4 August) showed levels exceeding the maximum acceptable World Aquatics thresholds.”

Another familiarisation session is scheduled for Wednesday morning. The statement added: “With a favourable weather forecast and forward-looking analysis, World Aquatics and Paris 2024 remain confident that the Marathon Swimming competitions on 8 and 9 August will proceed as planned.”

The tests on 4 August cited by World Aquatics were taken before the Seine was used for Monday’s mixed relay triathlon, but at Tuesday’s IOC briefing, Paris 2024 executive director of communications Anne Descamps said the relevant test had been taken in a part of the river not used for the triathlon.

Descamps added that the decision to cancel Tuesday’s session was “taken with an abundance of caution” as there is another session scheduled on Wednesday.

“We have to have familiarisation but there’s another familiarisation event which is planned tomorrow and for Paris 2024, we’re pretty confident in our ability to see what is happening in the weather forecasts will allow us to carry this out in good conditions.”

Updated at 14.13 CEST

And with that, I’ll hand back to Yara El-Shaboury who shall steer you through the next few hours.

The shots of the long jump sandpit are among my absolute favourite Olympic images.

China’s Xiong Shiqi competes in the women’s long jump qualification Photograph: Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

Skateboarding: Hiraki Cocana and Bryce Wettstein from the first heat still lead the preliminary standings in this women’s park event, after what was an error-strewn second heat, in all truth. Lots of falls, lots of mistakes, with 10 skaters to come. We’ll soon see if Sky Brown and Lola Tambling can put themselves towards the top of that leaderboard.

Skateboarding: Taboulet is surely out. The 15-year-old falls for a third successive time and she hangs her head, salutes the crowd and that should be that. Heartbreak for the French home favourite. Zheng Haohao, the 11-year-old from China, also looks to be heading out.

We’re almost at the end of this second of four heats now and we’re getting a clearer picture of the qualification shakeup.

Athletics: India’s javelin hero Neeraj Chopra underlined his claim as the favourite with a single throw today, launching his Olympic title defence with 89.34m in qualification.

He delivered India’s first ever athletics gold three years ago and could be set to bring home another medal with the biggest throw of the day – and his best of the season.

“It was a good throw. Maybe the biggest ever in qualifying for me. All the throwers look in good shape,” he said. “I know I have not reached my peak. I am not yet as good as I would like to be technically or in distance, so I want to improve and throw further. And I want to set an example for other Indian athletes so that we can compete here with the best.”

Grenadian Anderson Peters was second in their Group B with 88.63 on one attempt and hopes to unseat Chopra to add Olympic gold to his 2022 and 2019 world championship titles.

Pakistan’s world silver medallist Arshad Nadeem (86.59) was also among the 12 best performers to move on to Thursday’s final.

German Julian Weber endured fourth-place heartbreak in Tokyo and again at the two most recent worlds, but he’s ready to fight again for the podium as he reached 87.76 on his lone attempt to finish at the top of Group A. Reuters

Neeraj Chopra of India sets the standard in the Olympic javelin. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/ReutersShare

Updated at 13.45 CEST

Skateboarding: Taboulet goes down again and she looks furious with herself. That’s twice in her two runs so far … so all the pressure will be on her third and final run in this heat. The home crowd are still well behind her.

For Michael Phelps, now read Léon Marchand. And here’s how Phelps’ old coach Bob Bowman helped fire the French sensation to Olympic immortality at these Games.

Men’s speed climbing: Right, Indonesia’s Veddriq Leanardo qualifies as the top seed, ahead of Amir Maimuratov of Kazakhstan and the USA’s Sam Watson. World No 1 Wu Pen qualifies as the fifth seed. The next round is the elimination round, where we’ll start to lose athletes.

Women’s park skateboarding: Over at Place de la Concorde, the French home favourite Nana Taboulet has just fallen! She’s currently in action in the second of four qualification heats.

Nana Taboulet of France in action during prelims. Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPAShare

Updated at 13.35 CEST

Men’s speed climbing: World records continue to tumble! Bear in mind this is a fairly new sport, but the athletes continue to push the levels up and up – quite literally. I’ll run through a summary of the seeding heats when they’re finished.

Let’s get to some of your emails:

Krishna Moorthy says: When they make a montage of Paris 2024 the 100m photo finish and the 6.25 WR of Duplantis are bound to lead from the front. Neeraj may easily be part of the opening footage with his certain gold two days from now.

Robert Speed has a theory: So they cancel another familiarisation swim, even though there’s been no rain since yesterday’s mixed triathlon? I think we can all see what’s going on. The Seine is not actually fit for swimming, but they’re having the races in it anyway.

Tristan Bruemmer has a nice message: Hi Dom. This just to say: I love you guys. I live in France, but I’ve followed all the Games on your live blog so far. Nowhere I’d rather get the latest updates, thrills, fun facts, typos and jokes from. Thanks for everything!

Thanks all, especially Tristan. We’ll try and keep the typos to a minimum though!

Men’s speed climbing: Yep, another Olympic record, this time set by the USA’s Sam Watson in 4.91. Just to make sure you’re aware, these are the qualification heats, which will set the seeding for later on in the competition.

Men’s speed climbing: Another race, another breaking of the Olympic record, as French hero and climbing great Bassa Mawem is beaten by Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo. This really is super quick; blink and you’ll miss an entire race.

Men’s speed climbing: This really is a superb sport to watch. It’s all over in a matter of seconds. China’s Wu Peng has just rattled up the wall in 5.07 seconds – equalling the Olympic record – against Julian David of New Zealand.

Wu Peng of China (right) races past New Zealand’s Julian David. Photograph: Daniel Irungu/EPAShare

Updated at 13.37 CEST

Women’s park skateboarding: In this opening heat, Bryce Wettstein of the USA has just embarked on her third and final run in qualifying, hitting a score in the mid 80s, which ought to be enough to reach the final. Sakura Yosozumi, one of the favourites, faces an anxious wait after a fall in her final run, with fellow Japanese skater Kokona Hiraki notching the highest score in this heat.

Sky Brown and GB compatriot Lola Tambling both go in the third of the four heats; we’ll update you on that later.

Updated at 13.04 CEST

And here’s some more on that horrifying reveal from Adam Peaty re the Olympic village catering. Yuck.

Our very own David Squires’ latest take is Olympics-themed. Enjoy.

Skateboarding: Team GB’s Sky Brown is among those competing in the women’s park qualifying today, despite suffering a dislocated shoulder in training. She described the incident as “really scary” and how her dad put her shoulder back into place. After clinching a bronze medal at the age of just 13 in Tokyo, hopes are high for the 16-year-old at these Games. At the other end of the age spectrum for Great Britain in skateboarding in Paris is 51-year-old Andy Macdonald. It takes all sorts.

Elsewhere in Paris: A luxury hotel has apologised to tennis great Serena Williams after she complained, in a social media post seen by millions, that she and her family were turned away from its restaurant on Monday.

“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams said on X.

Williams, a four-times Olympic gold medallist, was one of the Olympic flame’s torchbearers during the Paris Games’ opening ceremony. She is also among celebrities who have come out to see USA gymnast Simone Biles compete in the Games. Her post was seen by more than 4 million people.

The Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel whose gourmet restaurant offers a view of the Eiffel Tower, swiftly responded: “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.” A second message followed, saying: “We have always been honuored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again.” PA Media

Updated at 12.45 CEST

Men’s basketball: Germany lead Greece 65-56 going into the final four minutes of the fourth quarter in their quarter-final clash.

This is a terrific video visualisation of Noah Lyles’ 100m Olympic triumph.

How Noah Lyles won gold: the closest 100m dash in history explained – videoShare

Diving: It’s job done for Team GB athletes Jack Laugher and Jordan Houlden, who have negotiated their way through to the individual 3m springboard final. They have qualified in third and fourth place respectively, with Chinese pair Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi setting the standard. The final takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

Speaking of (Queen) Keely, Sean Ingle has the latest on the 800m champion’s immediate plans for the future. It would be a well deserved holiday, for sure.

Some wholesome content for you this morning – Ella Toone watching her old classmate Keely Hodgkinson win gold.

Athletics: Muir and Bell reflect on getting through their heats …

“Ultimately it was all about trying to qualify for the semi-finals without any hiccups. I did that and it felt really smooth,” said Muir.

“I’m not thinking about the final yet, it is all about the semi-final. It is so easy to get carried away. I’ve been here many times before and always made the final but I never took it for granted. All the focus is on reaching that final.”

Bell said: “I got no sleep last night between [watching] Keely’s gold medal and trying to prepare myself for today. She was absolutely amazing and she is so inspiring. It was all about staying out of trouble and making sure I’d qualified. It was nice smooth running so I am happy with that.

“The track felt great but it’s more about the atmosphere, the crowd roared me on. I hope I get to race with the French girl soon, then you get extra shouts.

“I came as a spectator the other night and it was amazing, so I am so happy I could get out there and race.”

Equestrianism: Sven Guerdat incurs a penalty after hitting a jump and that wraps up the individual gold medal for Germany’s Christian Kukuk. The silver goes to Guerdat while Maikel Van der Vleuten seals bronze for the Netherlands. Two GB riders come in the top 10 but it’s not to be in terms of medals today for the Brits.

Athletics: Team GB’s Victoria Ohuruogu, youngster sister of 2008 Olympic champion Christine, won her 400m repechage heat, with a season’s best time of 50.59 to go through to the semi-finals.

“It’s taken me a while to get my racing feet but I’m really happy with a season’s best at the Olympics,” she said. “It was my gameplan to be very aggressive, I really like running on the outside.”

There were also men’s 110m hurdles repechage heats, while the women’s long jump qualifying got under way. In the women’s 1500m, Laura Muir and Georgia Bell both qualified for the semi-finals.

Laura Muir of Team GB in 1500m action. Photograph: Ed Alcock/The GuardianShare

Updated at 12.28 CEST

Thanks Yara. I’ll start with a summary of this morning’s track and field action, before returning to Versailles …

That’s all from me for now. I will hand you over to Dominic Booth to take you through the showjumping final. Be back in a bit!

Peaty says athletes have found worms in their food from Olympic village

Adam Peaty has claimed athletes at Paris 2024 have found worms in their food as he criticised inadequate catering at the Olympic village.

The six-time Olympic medallist complained about the quantity and quality of food on offer as he said it would affect the performances of athletes.

“The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform,” Peaty told the i. “We need to give the best we possibly can.

“Tokyo the food was incredible. Rio was incredible. But this time around? There wasn’t enough protein options, long queues, waiting 30 minutes for food because there’s no queueing system.”

As part of the Games’ sustainability pledges organisers have aimed to make 60% of all meals served meatless and a third plant-based, but Peaty said that did not work for him.

“The narrative of sustainability has just been pushed on the athletes,” he added. “I want meat, I need meat to perform and that’s what I eat at home, so why should I change? I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough.

“The standard, we’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re not feeding them the best.” PA Media

Surfing: And here is Kieran Pender on Jack Robinson’s’s adjustment to life as a competitor on his path to silver.

Few sporting journeys are linear. And while winning silver at Teahupo’o – beaten only by local charger Kauli Vaast in the final – was the natural evolution of Robinson’s surfing success, it is a triumph that seemed distant when the Australian walked away from the sport six years ago.

For natural surfing ability is not enough to win gold medals and world titles. Some of the best surfers in the world falter in the heat of competition. And after a childhood anointed as the prodigy, the next big thing, competitive life was an adjustment for Robinson. Almost an adjustment too far.

So long, Tahiti. You’ve been good to us.

Surfing: I know those whale photos from earlier left you wanting more. Lucky for you, our picture desk is all over it. Held at Teahupo’o, AKA the ‘wall of skulls’, the Olympic surfing competition saw some epic waves and here are the best snapshots.

Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica ducks a wave. Photograph: Ben Thouard/ReutersShare

Men’s basketball: It is all tied in the quarter-final between Germany and Greece after the first-half. The defending champions have struggled against the underdogs and Giannis Antetokounmpo is as impactful as ever.

Equestrianism: France’s Julien Epaillard gets four faults as the final rider but still gets loud cheers as he finishes in fourth. That means the top three, the only ones that did not fault, will go through a shorter course to determine who gets gold, silver and bronze.

Women’s volleyball: Turkey come from behind to win their quarter-final against China in five sets. An astonishing 42 points of Turkey’s 110 were won by Melissa Vargas.

Team GB end equestrian events in Paris on a low

Ewan Murray

A grim denouement for Great Britain at the equestrian in Versailles.

Harry Charles did not make it as far as the start line after reporting an ailment with his horse, Romeo 88. “After a small overreach yesterday he is not quite the 110% that he has been the whole games so we are not taking any risks,” said Charles.

Charles’s teammates, Scott Brash and Ben Maher, both produced four faults on a tough course to edge themselves out of the medal positions. From the first 20 riders, only two delivered clear rounds. From 26, it was three.

Team GB’s equestrian medal haul sticks at five.

Equestrianism: Steve Guerdat slots into first with a time of 80.99. He is only the third to clear the course. Keep in mind 26 riders have competed. Are we looking at our gold medallist?

Equestrianism: Here comes the world No 1 Henrik von Eckermann atop of King Edward. They get over the double OK – unlike most of their opponents. But a bit nervy as the horse fights a stride and oooh rider goes one way and horse goes another at the wall and Von Eckermann falls off as King Edward, who seems really spooked, runs away.

Updated at 11.16 CEST

Women’s handball: Denmark has beat the Netherlands 29-25 in the first quarter-final of the day. Anne Mette Hansen with six goals from six shots.

Surfing: In case you missed it, horses are not the only non-humans competing at the Paris Games.

Last night was the final day of the surfing at the French Polynesian island of Tahiti and a surprise guest made an appearance: a whale.

A safe distance from the semi-final match between Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb and Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, the whale breached and gave spectators (and photographers) the Olympic moment of a lifetime.

Tahiti has several maritime protected zones. In April, Pacific Indigenous leaders – including some from Tahiti – signed a treaty recognising whales as “legal persons,” although such a declaration is not reflected in the laws of participating nations.

Can I compete in the Olympics surfing event? Photograph: Jérôme Brouillet/AFP/Getty ImagesNo? OK, how about in the high jump? Photograph: Jérôme Brouillet/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

Equestrianism: Up comes Scott Brash and Jefferson. And an early four point penalty. It is the back legs on the second part of the double. Multiple riders have struggled on that exact one. The rest of the course goes off without a hitch and Brash slots into fourth.

So no medal for Team GB in the individual showjumping today.

Equestrianism: Yikes! Mexico’s Andres Azcarraga is the first to be eliminated after his horse, Contendros 2, seemed to be wary of the water that is placed after one of the bars. Azcarraga falls off the back of the horse but both rider and horse seem to be OK.

Geoff sends in a timely email: “Surely the showjumping has 30 athletes and their riders competing?”

You’re likely right, Geoff. Seems that no matter how composed the rider is, it all comes down to the horse.

Athletics: The morning session is under way at the Stade de France with the first round of the women’s 1500m.

The defending champion and world record-holder Faith Kipyegon of Kenya is through to the semi-final after finishing fourth in her heat.

Team GB’s Laura Muir and Georgia Bell came second in their respective heats and will continue on while Revée Walcott-Nolan was forced to retire.

Updated at 10.46 CEST

Equestrianism: Huge fist pump from the Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten after he clears the course without a single penalty atop his French-bred Beauville.

Maikel van der Vleuten of Netherlands riding Beauville. Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/ReutersShare

Updated at 11.12 CEST

Equestrianism: The United States’s Laura Kraut, and one of the favourites for this event, almost had a perfect run before falling short at the final hurdle. This is clearly a tough course. Germany’s Christian Kukuk currently leads.

Marathon: The marathon swimming familiarisation session scheduled for Tuesday in the River Seine has been cancelled, Paris Olympics organisers said.

“After the daily situation meeting this morning between Ville de Paris, Paris 2024 and World Aquatics, it has been decided that the familiarisation session to take place today, 6 August 2024, is cancelled,” World Aquatics said in a statement.

It did not provide a reason for the cancellation but said further information would be made available later on Tuesday. A team leaders meeting and a coaches briefing would still go ahead as planned.

Training sessions for the swim leg of the triathlon were also cancelled and the men’s race was postponed at the last minute because bacteria levels in the river were too high.

The triathlon mixed relay went ahead as scheduled on Monday after organisers gave the all clear the day before, acknowledging athletes’ demands for more certainty.
French authorities have spent €1.4bn on upgrading the capital’s sewage systems, promising the river will be clean enough for residents to swim in by next summer.

The women’s and men’s marathon swim races are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Reuters

Before the Games, swimming in the Seine had been banned since 1923. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShare

Equestrianism: The world No 2 and defending champion Ben Maher is up with Dallas Vegas Batilly. He clears the first few but then hits a rail. The height is there but the momentum is not. They go through the rest of the course without trouble but that one will likely cost him gold. Maher finishes with a time of 81.70 with four faults.

Gymnastics: There is a credible argument that Simone Biles has been America’s best athlete for more than ten years and she now wields incredible influence.

Bryan Armen Graham writes from the Bercy Arena:

Even on the oldest US women’s gymnastics team since 1952 – the hook behind their Golden Girls nickname – Biles is the den mother of a group that grew up worshipping her and still does. Throughout the week-long competition Biles was front and center offering vocal support and encouragement to teammates and rivals both, embodying the unique camaraderie that sets gymnastics apart from all other sports.

Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2024/aug/06/paris-2024-olympics-day-11-live-updates-today-schedule-events-athletics-cycling-boxing

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Publish date : 2024-08-06 11:06:59

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