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= PARIS 2024 =
From Lane One
by Karen Rosen
The U.S. figure skating team never expected the Eiffel Tower to loom behind them when they received their Olympic medals from the 2022 Beijing Games.
“We’re all like, ‘What are we doing here?” Nathan Chen said with a laugh. “But it’s amazing.”
Two and a half years after skating in the team event in Beijing, the eight Americans finally had gold medals draped around their necks at Champions Park in Paris. Japan received silver medals while Russia, the original Olympic champs who were downgraded to bronze after Russian Kamila Valieva‘s doping positive, did not attend. The Russian Olympic Committee is under suspension and the IOC said the Russian bronze medals “will be awarded in due course.“
The Japanese skaters, minus Shoma Uno, punched the air with joy while the pairs skaters and ice dancers performed lifts on the stage. The U.S. team beamed and showed off their medals, mostly staying in a line.
“It was liberating, it was exciting, it was invigorating, it was loud,” said pairs skater Alexa Knierim.
This was Chen’s second gold from the 2022 Beijing Games. His first, for the men’s event, came at the Olympic Medals Plaza in the Chinese capital adjacent to the Bird’s Nest Stadium. He also has a bronze medal in the team event from PyeongChang from 2018.
“The other (award ceremonies) were always freezing,” Chen said. “We’d have hand warmers in our pockets. Here we’re like sweating, so it’s very different.”
Since February 2022, they’d been sweating out the Valieva case, lobbying for medals … any medals.
While they waited, not knowing if they would receive silver from the original results or gold, the skaters went on with their lives. Some retired, ice dancers Evan Bates and Madison Chock got married, and Madison Hubbell had a baby. Vincent Zhou went to college while Chen graduated.
A decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 25 July cleared the way for the ceremony, and officials scrambled to bring the skaters and their friends and family to Paris, 5,000 miles and seemingly a lifetime away from Beijing.
Champions Park is a celebration space at the Trocadero where different athletes are feted daily by a crowd of up to 13,000. Long lines of people try to enter the free zone each day, where giant mascots roam the grounds to take photos with fans.
Some spectators were perhaps surprised to see figure skaters on the Wednesday program, which opened promptly at 5 p.m. with their awards ceremony.
“This is about the Olympic spirit,” the announcer intoned. “This is their moment.”
The announcer explained that the doping positive had delayed their medals, and that Paris was delighted they would receive them there. Video from the ice in Beijing played on the giant screens.
“Life is unexpected,” said Bates, a team captain, “but the best part of all is the parents, coaches and all the Olympic fans. I feel like the Olympics has been revived here in Paris after the two pandemic Games and I’m so grateful to see it thriving.”
International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim (KOR) and IOC member Martin Fourcade (FRA) presented the medals, alongside Maria Theresa Samaranch (ESP), an ISU Council member and daughter of former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
“I might be throwing Evan under the bus, but he had a couple of tears running down his face,” Chen said.
Bates has competed in four Olympic Games and this was his first medal. “I’m super proud of our team, for not just the performances in Beijing, but for the way that we’ve stuck together, supported one another over the last two and a half years,” he said.
Bates said they hadn’t been together as a team in two years until that morning. “The day has just been an absolute dream,” he said.
Tim Koleto, an ice dancer from Japan, said that since there was no podium, the absence of the Russian team was less obvious. “It’s been a long wait,” he said, “but it’s absolutely worth it.”
American team member Zhou, who came down with Covid and was in isolation for most of his stay in Beijing, would have missed the ceremony had it been held as scheduled during the 2022 Olympics.
Zhou said the reallocation of medals was a win for clean sport. “I feel almost privileged in a way because there’s many people who deserve the same thing and won’t get it,” he said.
But the American and Japanese skaters will always have Paris.
Chen has enjoyed the Games, watching track and field and heading to basketball. Was he recognized at the Stade de France? “Oh no,” he said, “not at all.”
But he and his teammates are now recognized in the history books.
¶
If you noticed what was essentially an LVMH commercial during the Opening Ceremony, or the ubiquitous availability of Samsung phones for selfies on the victory stand, get ready for more.
That’s from Anne-Sophie Voumard (SUI), Managing Director, IOC Television and Marketing Services, who explained on Wednesday that the ban on field-of-play advertising for Olympic TOP sponsors will continue, but product placement will be on the rise:
“That is the direction we want to go into, we want to be unique in our actions. We don’t have any visibility on the field of play. We want to keep that position, but we want to work with our partners is that we can integrate their products in a way which is more organic in the Games. …
“So this is the path that we are taking deliberately and you will see things evolve during the next editions of the Games in this sector.”
¶
The worldwide attention to the Paris Games has been spectacular, with billions of engagements on all levels of media. One of the engines behind the flood of highlights and videos has been the Olympic Broadcasting Services, led by Yiannis Exarchos (GRE). He explained on Wednesday:
“When we started designing the coverage of the Games for Paris, one of the main objectives that we had in mind is to achieve, to do justice in the Olympics as one of the few audience aggregators that are left in the media world.
“You know very, very well that one of the major issues today is the ultimate disaggregation of audience. People consume content everywhere in many different parts, in many different ways. How do you make sense of all that? How do you manage to get the Olympics out there?
“This has been one of our fundamental objectives. The way to go about doing it was obviously to try and produce in ways that would fit all these audiences, that would help all these audiences reach the Games. This is what has been behind our effort to produce so much and so diverse content here.
“By the end of the Games, we will have produced more than 11,000 hours of content. This is more than a year and three months worth of content, in 17 days. The competition itself is something less than 4,000 hours, so we produce three times that.
“Why? Because audiences and different audiences want to see and want to experience the Games in different ways. They want to see things behind the scenes, they want to see features on athletes, they want to have fun moments. They want things that excite them.
“So this has been the effort to design this production in a way that there is a way of experiencing the Olymoic Games regardless of whether you belong to the generation that was born before the Second World War or whether you belong to the A Generation, which is coming now, which are very different ways.”
New technologies have played an important role in this. Exarchos noted the now-crucial role that the delivery of broadcast signals – in real time – worldwide via the “OBS Cloud” – a project with TOP sponsor Alibaba from China – has changed everything:
“Cloud in these Games became the prominent means of distribution of content to broadcasters. It has surpassed satellite, it has surpassed fiber. And, of course, this creates huge flexibilities and capacities to broadcasters to handle content, and volumes of content that they do not regularly deal with.”
One of the things that this has done is to reduce the space and infrastructure required for the International Broadcasting Center and broadcast space at the venues. It has also allowed, for example, for NBC to have 1,800 of its Olympic broadcast team at its Stamford, Connecticut broadcast center and only 1,200 on-site in France.
~ Rich Perelman
● Les Temps ● The updated forecast shows sun for the last couple of days of the Games:
● 08 Aug. (Thu.): High of 83 ~ low of 65, cloudy
● 09 Aug. (Fri.): 82 ~ 62, cloudy
● 10 Aug. (Sat.): 87 ~ 64, sunny
● 11 Aug. (Sun.): 94 ~ 71, sunny
There is rain in the forecast for Wednesday the 14th, but hopefully will not speed up to land on Sunday.
● Medals & Teams ● Eight more medals for the U.S. on Wednesday and now a large gap with everyone else on total medals, although the gold-medal chase is very tight:
● 1. 94, United States (27-35-32)
● 2. 65, China (25-23-17)
● 3. 51, France (13-17-21)
● 4. 49, Great Britain (12-17-20)
● 5. 41, Australia (18-12-11)
● 6. 31, Japan (12-6-13)
● 7. 27, South Korea (12-8-7)
● 7. 27, Italy (9-10-8)
● 9. 20, Netherlands (9-5-6)
● 10. 19, Canada (6-4-9)
● 11. 18, Germany (8-5-5)
● 12. 14, Brazil (2-4-7)
In our TSX team rankings, using a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system and a much diverse, inclusive and equitable representation of team achievement, the U.S. continues to lead:
● 1. 927 1/2, United States
● 2. 688 1/2, China
● 3. 565, France
● 4. 540, Great Britain
● 5. 456, Australia
● 6. 421, Italy
● 7. 360, Japan
● 8. 308 1/2, Germany
● 9. 285 1/2, Korea
● 10. 270 1/2, Canada
● 11. 258, Netherlands
● 12. 173 1/2, Brazil
● 13. 157, Spain
● 14. 151, New Zealand
● 15. 142 1/2, Switzerland
Now, a total of 101 countries (out of 206) – plus the Refugee Team (102), and Belarus and Russia, as “neutrals” – have scored points so far.
● Television ● No Tuesday figures, but NBC reported the 12-day Olympic viewing average for 2024 at 32.2 million in 2024, compared to 18.2 million for Tokyo (a lot better) and the 10-day average of 28.6 million for Rio (better).
The measurement of “Total Audience Delivery” is based upon live-plus-same day custom fast national figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics. This is not a true “apples-to-apples” with prior Games, however, as the audiences prior to 2024 were for the NBC primetime show only and the Paris totals are for the daytime show (live) and the primetime show together. No out-of-home audiences were in the figures for Rio 2016; Nielsen added those in 2020.
● Errata ● Apologies for misspelling the name of Germany’s winner in the equestrian jumping final in yesterday’s post, which was actually Christian Kukuk, now corrected. However, the horse’s name – Chester 47 – was presented correctly.
● Artistic Swimming: Team
This is a combination of the Technical Routine, Free Routine and Acrobatic Routine, with China leading through all three phases and winning at 996.1389. The U.S. was a surprise second, fourth in the Tech routine, then second in the Free and the Acrobatic on Wednesday, scoring 914.3421, the first medal in this discipline since 2004; the last time the U.S. did better than bronze was in 1996, when the U.S. team won.
Spain was a clear third in 900.7318, well ahead of France at 886.6487.
● Athletics: Men’s 400 m-Steeple-Discus;
Women’s Vault; Mixed Walk Relay
Spain’s 2023 World 20 km Champion Alvaro Martin moved from sixth to first on the third leg of the Marathon Walk Mixed Relay and then saw Maria Perez, the women’s 2023 20 km Worlds winner, extend their lead from two seconds to 51 seconds and win in 2:50:31. They walked away from Ecuador’s Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon (2:51:22) and Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag (AUS: 2:51:38).
The men’s 400 m had London 2012 winner Kirani James facing 2022 World Champion Michael Norman of the U.S. and U.S. Trials winner Quincy Hall and European champ Matthew Hudson-Smith. Off the gun, Jareem Richards (TTO) in lane nine was off hot and was in the lead, with Hudson-Smith coming up in lane six onto the turn. Onto the straight, Richards was strong, but Hudson-Smith was moving into the lead. Hall was straining, chugging and gritting his teeth while passing James, passing Richards and setting off after Hudson-Smith, getting to the lead with 20 m to go and winning in a sensational 43.40, moving to no. 4 all-time with the no. 5 performance all-time.
Hudson-Smith moved to no. 5 all-time in silver position at 43.44, a national record, with Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga following Hall into third at 43.74, another national record. Richards held on to fourth (43.78, national record) and James was fifth in 43.87. Chris Bailey of the U.S. was sixth in 44.58 and Norman was a distant eighth in 45.62.
The Ethiopians ran 1-2-3 to start the men’s Steeple to try and take the sting out of defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR). But El Bakkali stayed in contact, with Samuel Firewu leading; with three laps left, El Bakkali was eighth as the field bunched up with the pace slowing.
A dozen were together with two laps left and El Bakkali moved from inside to outside to get running room, but he was eighth at the bell. But the slowing pace gave American Kenneth Rooks an opportunity and he sprinted into the lead into the backstraight and tried to steal the race.
Four tore after him, but on the backstraight, approaching the turn, Ethiopia’s world-record holder, Lamecha Girma, tumbled over the barrier and lay on the track. Off the water jump, Rooks stayed in front briefly, but El Bakkali took the lead on the straight and had the speed to win comfortably in 8:06.05, defending his Olympic gold. Rooks and Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot were in a struggle all the way to the line, with Rooks coming back at the line to get a stunning silver in 8:06.41 and Kibiwot third in 8:06.47.
Rooks’ best was 8:15.08 coming in, no. 24 on the 2024 world list. He’s now the second-fastest steepler in U.S. history. It’s the third U.S. medal in this event in 40 years.
Lithuania’s world-record-holder in the discus, Mykolas Alekna, made history by smashing the Olympic Record – held by his father, Virgilijus Alekna, from Athens 2004. That came in the second round, as the son got out to 69.97 m (229-6), further than Dad’s 69.89 m (229-3). Australian Matthew Denny, fourth in Tokyo, reached 69.31 m (227-4) in round two and 2022 World Champion Kristjian Ceh (SLO: 68.41 m/224-5) was third.
Then came a lightning strike, as Jamaica’s Roje Stona, 19th in the qualifying round at the 2023 Worlds, came up with a three-foot lifetime best – and an Olympic Record – of 70.00 m (229-8) in round four. Denny finished third, Alekna fouled and Stona – the 2023 NCAA runner-up – became one of the most unlikely Olympic champs in memory.
The women’s vault got serious at 4.80 m (15-9), with five over and then at 4.85 m (15-11), co-World Champion Nina Kennedy got over on her first try to take the lead. Everyone else missed their first tries, but Moon and Canada’s Alysha Newman cleared on their second. European champion Angelica Moser missed twice and passed to 4.90 m (16-0 3/4).
Kennedy cleared again and maintained the lead, as Moser missed and was out and now the medalists were decided. Newman missed all three and finished third; Moon missed once and passed to 4.95 m (16-2 3/4). But she missed twice and Kennedy became Olympic champion. It’s Australia’s first win in this event.
● Boxing: Men’s 63.5 kg-80 kg
Erislandy Alvarez won Cuba’s second straight gold in this weight class, defeating France’s three-time World Champion Soufiane Oumiha by decision by 3:2. Ouhima wins his second silver in this class, also in 2016.
Canada’s Wyatt Sanford and Georgia’s Lasha Guruli were the semifinal losers and share the bronze.
In the 80 kg final, Ukraine’s 2017 World Champion and the Tokyo 2020 runner-up Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated 2023 World Champion Nurbek Oralbay (KAZ) by 3:2, after an impressive semifinal win over two-time Olympic gold medalist Arlen Lopez of Cuba, 3-2. Lopez and Dominican Cristian Pinales have the bronzes.
● Cycling/track: Men’s Team Pursuit; Women’s Team Pursuit
Australia’s men finished silver-silver-bronze in the last three Games but finally got its gold in Paris, as Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Kelland O’Brien won the final from Great Britain, 3:42.067 to 3:44.394.
Italy won the bronze over defending champion Denmark, 3:44.197 to 3:46.138.
The U.S. women had gone silver-silver-bronze in the last three Games in the women’s Pursuit, this time it was all-stars Jennifer Valente (Tokyo Omnium gold), Lily Williams, Chloe Dygert (Paris Time Trial bronze) and Kristen Faulkner (Paris Road Race gold) winning in 4:04.306 a tight battle over New Zealand (4:04.937). It’s the U.S.’s first gold in the event.
Great Britain won the bronze, after a silver in Tokyo and wins in London and Rio, timing 4:06.382 to 4:08.961.
● Sailing ● Men’s Laser; Women’s Laser Radial
Australia’s Matthew Wearn is now a three-time Olympic champion, winning again in Marseille with five top-two finishes and a win in the medal race to finish with 40 net points. That was well ahead of Cypriot star Pavlos Kontides, the London 2012 runner-up and a two-time World Champion, with 56 net points. Peru’s Stefano Peschiera was only ninth in the medal race, but held on to the bronze at 84 net points, just ahead of Jonatan Vadnai (HUN: 84).
Rio 2016 winner and four-time World Champion Marit Bouwmeester (NED) dominated the women’s Laser Radial class, with six top-three placings an a net total of 38 points. Equally secure in second was Denmark’s four-time World Champion and Tokyo 2020 winner Anne-Marie Rindom at 61 net, followed by Line Hoest (NOR: 75). Maud Jayet (SUI: 90) was fourth and American Erika Reineke finished ninth (110 net).
● Skateboarding: Men’s Park
Australia’s Keegan Palmer, the Tokyo Olympic winner, shut down the event in the first round, scoring 93.10 and becoming a two-time Olympic champion, His biggest rival turned out to be American Tom Schaar, who scored 90.11 in the first round for second place, then moved up to 92.23 in round two, but no further. Brazil’s Agusto Akio scored only 2.66 on his first run, but came through in the third round at 91.85 for the bronze medal.
American Tate Carew, the 2023 Worlds bronzer, finished fifth at 91.17, as the top five riders managed six scores above 90 points.
● Sport Climbing: Women’s Speed
Poland’s two-time World Champion Aleksandra Miroslaw set a world record of 6.06 in the qualifying on the 15 m wall and was almost as good in the final, clocking 6.10 to defeat China’s Lijuan Deng (6.18). Fellow Pole Aleksandra Kalucka, the 2021 World Champion, won the bronze, beating Rajiah Sallsabillah (INA), 6.53 to 8.24. American Emma Hunt, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, was fifth.
● Taekwondo: Men’s 58 kg; Women’s 49 kg
Korea’s Tae-joon Park, the 2023 Worlds 54 kg champ, won the men’s 58 kg gold after Gashim Magomedov (AZE) withdraw after being down by 13-1 in the second period. France’s Cyrian Ravet won one bronze after defending champ Vito Dell’Acqua (ITA) withdrew, and Tunisia’s Mohamed Jendoubi defeated Adrian Vicente (ESP) for the other, two rounds to none.
Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit was the Tokyo gold medalist in the women’s 49 kg class and defended her title with a gold-medal victory against Qing Guo of China by two round to one, 6-3, 2-3, 6-2. Iran’s Mobina Nematzadeh and Croatia’s Lena Stojkovic won the bronzes.
● Weightlifting: Men’s 61 kg; Women’s 49 kg
China’s Fabin Li was the favorite, set an Olympic Record of 143 kg in the Snatch and won at 310 kg combined, ahead of Thai Theerapong Silachai (303 kg). American Hampton Morris, 20, won the 2023 Worlds Clean & Jerk segment, but failed in the Snatch and got no placing. In Paris, he won the first Olympic medal by an American man in 40 years – since 1984 – placing fifth in the Snatch and winning the Clean & Jerk at 172 kg for a total of 298 kg and the bronze medal!
Morris was one kilo up on Mohamad bin Kasdan (MAS) at 297 kg, in fourth. Morris said afterwards about his C&J tries at 172 kg:
“That first attempt up on stage, I’m mad. The white paint on the platform is slick, it’s not safe. On the next two attempts I moved the barbell away from it and I was able to make my second attempt.
“I approached the bar knowing I would make it. I didn’t have any doubt in my mind I would do it. It’s something I’ve done in training plenty of times. There’s no room for doubt in this sport. Just know you can make it and execute.”
China’s defending champion Zhihui Hou won her second straight Olympic gold, lifting a combined total of 206 kg, including an Olympic Record of 117 kg in the Clean & Jerk. That was just enough to get by Mihaela Cambei (ROU: 205 kg) and Thailand’s 2021 World Champion Surodchana Khambao (200 kg). American Jourdan Delacruz made three of her six lifts and finished fifth at 195 kg.
● Wrestling: Men’s Greco 77 kg-97 kg; Women’s 50 kg Freestyle
Another crazy day on the mats, especially in the women’s 50 kg Freestyle, where India’s Vinesh Phogat was supposed to face American Sarah Hildebrandt.
But Phogat was disqualified after failing Wednesday’s weigh-in, apparently just 100 g over, but still overweight. Team physician Dr. Dinshaw Paudiwala explained:
“Vinesh’s nutritionist felt that the usual amount she takes is 1.5 kg totally over the day gives enough energy for the bouts. However, after three intense matches, there was a concern of rebound weight gain following the competition. To prevent dehydration, some water was administered.
“Her post-participation weight at the end of the semi-finals in the evening was found to be 2.7 kg more than the allowed weight. The team and the coach started their usual process, which includes limitation of water and food intake, along with intense sweating methods.”
“We had only 12 hours to reduce her weight, which led us to employ extreme measures like steam, sauna, and exercise. We even had to resort to cutting her hair. If we had a few more hours, we might have managed to shed that 100 grams.”
She was admitted to the polyclinic in the Olympic Village for dehydration and is expected to recover.
Meanwhile, Cuba’s Yuseneylys Guzman, who lost to Phogat in the semis, was advanced to the final instead. Hildebrandt, who won bronze in Tokyo and is a four-time Worlds medal winner, took care of business and won by 3-0 for the second U.S. gold in as many days. It’s the first American gold in this weight class.
Behind them, four-time World Champion Yui Sasaki, who lost to Phogat in the round of 16, was advanced to the bronze-medal match and defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, 10-0. The other bronze went to China’s Ziqi Feng.
¶
In the men’s Greco 77 kg class, Japan’s Nao Kusaka, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner and 2024 Asian champ, won decisively over Demeu Zhadrayev (KAZ), by 5-2, with Kusaka overcoming a 2-0 deficit after the first period.
Armenia’s Malkhas Amoyan and Akzhol Makhmudov (KGZ) won the bronze-medal matches.
Iran’s Mohammad Hadi Saravi, the 2021 World Champion and Tokyo bronzer, won the men’s Greco 97 kg gold with a tight, 4-1 win over Artur Aleksanyan of Armenia.
Aleksanyan won his fourth Olympic medal: 2012 bronze, then gold-silver-silver. Cuban Gabriel Rosillo and Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (KGZ) took the bronze medals.
Elsewhere:
● Athletics ● In the morning heats, Kenya’s Tokyo 2020 runner-up, Emmanuel Wanyonyi led all men’s 800 m qualifiers at 1:44.64, with favorite Djamel Sedjati (ALG) winning heat five in 1:45.84. American Bryce Hoppel qualified second in heat six at 1:45.24, and Hobbs Kessler – a day after his fifth-place finish in the 1,500 m – qualified third in heat four at 1:46.15. Brandon Miller was eighth in heat three (1:46.34) and is in the repechage.
There was drama in the men’s 5,000 m heats, as Britain’s George Mills was stepped on by France’s Hugo Hay, starting a crash which impacted multiple runners. Norway’s Narve Nordas won the heat in 14:08.16, but Mills, Dominic Lobalu (SUI-Refugee) and three more were advanced to the final by the referee and the jury after review. Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen won heat two in 13:51.59. Americans Graham Blanks and Grant Fisher both advanced, but Abdi Nur was 19th in heat two in 14:15.00 and was eliminated.
Defending champ Joshua Cheptegei (UGA), winner of the 10,000 m, withdrew from the 5.
In the men’s high jump qualifying, American Shelby McEwen was among five who cleared 2.27 m (7-5 1/4) to lead the parade, along with co-Olympic champ Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and 2024 World Indoor winner Hamish Kerr (NZL). Despite a possible kidney stone that had him in the hospital over the weekend, co-Tokyo winner Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) also qualified, at 2.24 m (7-4 1/4). Americans JuVaughn Harrison (2.20 m/7-2 1/2) and Vernon Turner (2.15 m/7-0 1/2) did not qualify.
No big surprises in the women’s 100 m hurdles heats, led by defending champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn at 12.42, then world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR: 12.49) and U.S. Olympic Trials winner Masai Russell (12.53). Two-time World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM: 12.59), Americans Alaysha Johnson (12.61) and Grace Stark (12.72) and World Indoor winner Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.71) all advanced.
Poland’s Tokyo runner-up, Maria Andrejczyk got a seasonal best of 65.52 m (214-11) to lead the women’s javelin qualifying; Japan’s World Champion Haruka Kitaguchi qualified seventh at 62.58 m (205-4). The lone American, Maggie Malone Hardin, did not qualify, finishing 24th at 58.76 m (192-9).
In the evening session, Paris runner-up Kenny Bednarek won the first men’s 200 m semi in 20.00 (wind: -0.1 m/s), running easily ahead of Alexander Ogando (DOM: 20.09). Three-time World Champion Noah Lyles was in semi two, but Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was in front into the straight and won in 19.96 (-0.2) to 20.08, both eased up over the last 10 m.
Erriyon Knighton ran a good turn in semi three, but came off second into the straight. He had to work hard, but got to the front and held off ex-Florida star Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBA), 20.09 to 20.12 (-0.6).
Three-time World Champion Grant Holloway kept flying in the men’s 110 m hurdles, winning semifinal one in 12.98 (+0.1), way ahead of Spain’s Enrique Llopis (13.17). Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell won semi two in 13.21 (-0.1), just ahead of American Freddie Crittenden (13.23) and Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett edged Daniel Roberts of the U.S. in semi three, 13.09-13.10 (+0.6).
Olympic champ Karsten Warholm (NOR) got out hard in the 400 m hurdles semis and passed 2022 World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA) on his outside. In the straight, Warholm was challenged by France’s Clement Ducos, but won, 47.67 to 47.85. Dos Santos was third in 47.95 and Trevor Bassitt of the U.S. fourth in 48.29.
Kyron McMaster, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, held his form together in the straight to win semi two in 48.15, with Rasmus Magi (EST: 48.16) coming late for second and American CJ Allen fading to fourth in 48.44. Olympic silver winner Rai Benjamin of the U.S. ran hard for 200 m, then jogged the remainder and won semi three in 47.85. Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke was second in 48.34. Awesome.
In the men’s triple jump qualifying, Spain’s European champ Jordan Diaz took one jump – 17.24 m (56-5 3/4) and was in – and was in, as was 2023 World Champion Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) at 17.16 m (56-3 3/4) in Group A.
Defending Olympic champ Pedro Pichardo (POR) led Group B at 17.44 m (57-2 3/4), the best of the day, with U.S. Trials winner Salif Mane next at 17.16 m (56-3 3/4). Americans Donald Scott had a best of 16.77 m (55-0 1/4: 14th) and Russell Robinson managed 16.47 m (54-0 1/2: 22 nd) and did not advance.
In the women’s 400 m semis, Bahrain’s 2019 World Champion Salwa Eid Naser was strong in semi one and impressed at 49.08 over Ireland’s European runner-up (and 2023 NCAA champ for Texas) Rhasidat Adeleke (49.95). American Aaliyah Butler was sixth in 51.18.
World leader Nickisha Pryce (JAM) and 2023 World Champion Marileidy Paulino (DOM) were in semi two, with Paulino dominating in 49.21, with American Alexis Holmes coming from fourth to second on the straight in 50.00. Pryce was fourth in 50.77. Semi three was the slowest, with Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek leaning at the tape to win in 49.45 over Amber Anning (GBR and Arkansas) in a lifetime best of 49.47. Kendall Ellis, the U.S. Trials winner, was fourth in 50.40 and did not advance.
● Basketball ● In the women’s quarterfinals, France handled Germany, 84-71 and Belgium got by Spain, 79-66, in the upper bracket to meet in the semifinals on Friday. Australia hammered Serbia, 85-67 in the lower bracket and will plat the U.S., which skated past Nigeria,
The U.S. had a 52-33 lead at the half and 76-48 after three. The final was 88-74, with A’ja Wilson scoring 20 and grabbing 11 rebounds, plus 15 from Jackie Young and 13 from Breanna Stewart.
The U.S., overwhelming favorites for gold, won its fourth straight game in this tournament and 59th in a row in Olympic competition. Their last loss was in 1992, with seven straight gold-medal performances since.
● Beach Volleyball ● The American men’s pair of Miles Partian and Andrew Evans were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Tokyo bronze winners Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, 21-14, 21-16. They will meet co-favorites David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig (SWE) in one semifinal. Defending Olympic champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) face Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler (GER) in the other.
● Volleyball ● The U.S. men lost a heartbreaker to Poland in the quarterfinals, up by two sets to one and then losing 25-23 and 15-13 in the final two sets; Poland – the 2014 and 2018 World Champions and runner-up in 2022 – will play France in the final.
The French swept 2022 Worlds winner Italy, by 25-20, 25-21 and 25-21, to defend their Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold. The U.S. and Italy will play for the bronze.
The U.S. women, the defending champions, are in the semis tomorrow against Brazil, with Turkey and Italy in the other semi.
● Water Polo ● The U.S. men escaped with a penalty shoot-out win in their quarterfinal against Australia on Wednesday. The Aussies had a 5-3 lead at half, and got the lead, but the game was 7-7 at the end of regulation. Finally, Marko Vavic scored the winner in the fourth round of the penalty shoot-out for the 4-3 win (officially, 11-10)
The U.S. will now play Serbia, a 12-11 winner over Greece, in one semi on the 9th, with Hungary and Croatia in the other. Hungary had to defeat Italy in a penalty shoot-out as well, and Croatia beat Spain, 10-8.
The defending champion U.S. won are in their semis tomorrow against Australia also, while Spain plays the Netherlands in the other.
= PREVIEWS: THURSDAY, 8 AUGUST =
(25 finals across 12 sports)
● Athletics: Men’s 200 m-110 m hurdles-Javelin
Women’s 400 m hurdles-Long Jump
Noah Lyles barely won the 100 m and will have to be sharper to win the 200 m. He finished second in his semi to Letsile Tebogo, the 2023 Worlds bronze medalist and the other semi winners, Tokyo runner-up Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. and teammate Erriyon Knighton, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, now think they can win.
In the men’s 110 m hurdles, three-time World Champion Grant Holloway, no. 2 all-time at 12.81 and the world leader at 12.86 in 2024, wants the Olympic gold that eluded him in Tokyo, when he was passed late by Hansle Parchment (JAM). Holloway will face good competition from teammates Freddie Crittenden and Daniel Roberts, plus Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell Orlando Bennett, the other semifinal winners.
Holloway is one of the best starters in the world; it’s how he finishes – sometimes – that lets others back into the race.
Then there is the much-anticipated clash of titans in the women’s 400 m hurdles, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S., the defending Olympic champ and world-record holder at 50.65 the clear favorite. But Dutch star Femke Bol is only a half-step back at 50.95 and is also the 2024 European champion. Who has the strength over hurdle 10 and the run-in?
Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and Americans Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones are the expected contenders for the bronze.
The most popular track & field athlete in the world is probably India’s javelin ace and defending Olympic champ, Neeraj Chopra, the 2023 World Champion, with millions of social-media followers. The whole country will be cheering him on against Tokyo runner-up Jakub Vadlejch (CZE), Pakistan’s Worlds silver winner Arshad Nadeem and Grenada’s 2022 Worlds winner Anderson Peters.
German Malaika Mihambo is the defending Olympic champion and the world leader in the women’s long jump at 7.22 m (23-8 1/4). But she will have to deal with the effervescent and energetic Tara Davis-Woodhall, who has reached 7.14 m (23-5 1/4) and was the 2023 Worlds runner-up. This should be quite a battle, with Italy’s Larissa Iapichino, Americans Jasmine Moore and Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith ready to pounce if either falters.
● Boxing: Men’s 51 kg-Women’s 54 kg
This is the lightest weight for men – Flyweight – with top-seeded Billal Bennama (FRA) making it to the final against no. 2 seed. Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB). Bennama won the Worlds silver last year and won the European Games. Dusmatov, 31, won a gold at Rio 2016 in the 49 kg class (Light Flyweight) and won the 2023 Worlds over Bennama. Dusmantov has the experience, but not the home crowd, which might make the difference.
Junior Alcanatara (DOM) and Daniel Varela de Pina (CPV) won the bronzes.
In the women’s 54 kg class, only eighth-seed Yuan Chang (CHN) got through to the final and will face unseeded Hatice Akbas (TUR). Chang won an Asian Games silver in 2022, but Akbas comes in as the 2022 World Champion at 54 kg and won a European Games bronze in 2023. And she wasn’t seeded?
The bronzes went to Chol-mi Pang (PRK) and Ae-ji Im (KOR).
● Canoeing: Men’s C-2 500 m-K-4 500 m; Women’s K-4 500 m
The men’s C-2 500 m has not been on the Olympic program since 2008. Germany’s Tim Kretschmer and Tim Hecker won the 2023 Worlds, and are in the semis along with runners-up Hao Liu and Bowen Ji of China, who had the fastest time in the heats.
This could be a medal possibility for Belarusians Zakhar Petrov and Alexey Korovashkov, competing as neutrals. They won the first heat and had the third-fastest time on the day.
This is only the second time in the Games for the men’s K-4 500 m, with Germany the defending champion and current World Champion … with three of the four back from Tokyo. Spain beat the Germans in the 2022 Worlds and were close behind in their heat. Serbia and Hungary (2023 Worlds silver) looked good in the heats and Australia posted the fastest time so far in the quarterfinal. But the Germans are the ones to beat.
Hungary has won the women’s K-4 500 m three times in a row, but New Zealand, Poland and Spain won the medals at the 2023 Worlds. And they went 1-3-2 in the first heat, advancing to the final. Germany, Hungary and China were the top three in heat two and all the times were close. The Kiwis have the brilliant Lisa Carrington, 35, aboard, winner of five Olympic golds, three in Tokyo. Her leadership might be the difference.
● Cycling: Men’s Omnium; Women’s Keirin
Britain has 2022 World Champion Ethan Hayter ready to go, dueling with two-time Worlds silver winner Benjamin Thomas, New Zealand’s 2022 bronzer Aaron Gate and 2023 World Champion Iuri Leitao.
Not to be overlooked: Shunsuke Imamura, who won the 2023 Worlds bronze, or returning Tokyo medal winner Elia Viviani, 35, who won this event in Rio in 2016.
This is the fourth time in the Games for the women’s Keirin, with Tokyo runner-up Ellesse Andrews (NZL) the current World Champion. This is a race for the sprinters, and Martha Bayona (COL: 2023 Worlds silver) and Lea Fredrich (GER: 2022 Worlds gold, 2023 Worlds bronze) clear contenders.
Look out for Japan’s Mina Sato the 2022 Worlds runner-up on this track (!), as well as Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Lauriane Genest (CAN).
● Diving: Men’s 3 m Springboard
China continues its push for an Olympic sweep, with Tokyo winner Siyi Xie back again, as well as silver winner Zongyuan Wang. Wang has won three straight Worlds golds, in 2022-23-24, with Xie (a two-time Worlds winner) second in 2024. They’re favorites to go 1-2.
Britain’s Jack Laugher won bronze in Tokyo and ranked third after the preliminary round. He’s won two Worlds bronzes as well, but will be challenged by Mexico’s two-time Worlds medal winner Osmar Olvera.
● Hockey: Men’s final
Germany came in as the reigning World Cup champion from 2023, with the Netherlands third, winning a medal for the fourth straight edition. These two powerhouses will go for the gold medal at the historic Stade Yves-du-Manoior, the featured venue of the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
The Germans were 4-1 in group play and then won 3-2 over Argentina in the quarters and 3-2 over India in the semis. The Dutch were 3-1-1, but have rolled over Australia, 2-0, and stomped Spain, 4-0. Germany won the group match by 1-0 on a third-minute goal by Niklas Wellen, it figures to be just as close again.
India will play Spain in the bronze-medal game; India won the Tokyo bronze, but the Spanish have not won a medal since 2008.
● Sailing: Men’s Kite; Women’s Kite
This is the first appearance of kiteboarding at the Games. So far in Paris, 2022 Worlds runner-up Toni Vodisek (SLO) led after seven races and Singapore’s Max Maeder, who won the 2023 and 2024 Worlds for men, was second.
Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) stands third and Valentin Bontus (AUT) was fourth and are in the semifinals and trying to advance.
In the women’s Kite, Lauriane Nolot of France is the leader with 12 net points; she won both the 2023 and 2024 Worlds, beating Ellie Aldridge (GBR) in 2024. Aldridge is second, also with 12 and they are both in the finals.
Next is American Daniela Moroz (17 points net), a six-time World Champion, with Annelous Lammerts (NED: 23) fourth; both are in the semifinals.
● Sport Climbing: Men’s Speed
In the men’s Speed event in Sport Climbing, 2023 Worlds gold and silver winners Matteo Zurloni (ITA) and Jinbao Long (CHN) will be challenged by Indonesia’s World Cup winner Veddriq Leonardo. Former World Cup winner Bassa Mawem (FRA) is a serious contender, as is American Samuel Watson, who stole the show in qualifying with a world record of 4.75 seconds for the 15 m wall!
● Swimming: Women’s open-water 10 km
In the women’s 10 km open-water event, scheduled to be held in the Seine River if the bacteria count is OK, look for Rio 2016 winner Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED), Tokyo 2020 winner Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) and 2023 Worlds winner Leonie Beck (GER) as the favorites. The U.S. has 2023 Worlds bronze winner Katie Grimes, and Worlds silver medalist Chelsea Gubecka (AUS) is also a contender. These are some of the fittest people on the planet.
● Taekwondo: Men’s 68 kg; Women’s 57 kg
Tokyo Olympic champ Ulugbek Rashitov (UZB) and runner-up Bradly Sinden (GBR) both return, along with bronze winner Hakan Recber (TUR). Sinden has been at or near the top consistently: the 2019 and 2023 Worlds winner and silver in 2021.
Tokyo bronze winners Chia-ling Lo (TPE) and Turkey’s Hatice Ilgun both return, and Lo has been the Worlds runner-up in 2022 and 2023, with Ilgun getting a bronze both times. But China’s 2022 World Champion Zongshi Luo and three-time Worlds medalist Jade Jones (GBR) should not be underestimated.
● Weightlifting: Men’s 73 kg; Women’s 59 kg
China has won the men’s 73 kg class five times in a row, and two-time Olympic champ Zhiyong Shi is back to try for a third. Thailand’s Weeraphon Wichuma is the current World Champion and bronze winner Muhammed Ozbek (TUR) and both will challenge. Indonesia’s Rizki Juniansyah won the 2022 silver and is a contender.
Four-time World Champion Hsing-Chun Kuo (TPE) won the Tokyo 2020 Olympic title at 59 kg and will defend, but will have to deal with China’s Shifang Luo, the 2023 World Champion and silver winner, Ukraine’s Kamila Konotop and 2022 Worlds winner Yenny Alvarez of Colombia and bronze medalist Maude Charron (CAN).
● Wrestling: Men’s Greco 67 kg-87 kg; Women’s 53 kg
Ukraine’s Tokyo Olympic runner-up Parviz Nasibov will face Saeid Esmaelii (IRI) in the men’s Greco 67 kg final and Iran has a second shot at gold in the 87 kg final, as 2023 Worlds 82 kg runner-up Alireza Mohmadi will fight Bulgarian Semen Novikov
Lucia Yepez (ECU), the 2023 Worlds bronze medalist, is in the women’s 53 kg final against Akari Fujinami of Japan, the 2023 World Champion.
= INTEL REPORT =
● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● “Covid-19 is still very much with us. The virus is circulating in all countries.”
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove (USA), the WHO’s Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention said to Agence France Presse that “in recent months, regardless of season, many countries have experienced surges of Covid-19, including at the Olympics, currently, where at least 40 athletes have tested positive.”
That’s for Covid and other respiratory illnesses. She added, “It’s not surprising to see athletes being infected, because as I said before, the virus is circulating quite rampantly in other countries.”
● Israel ● “Yael Arad, president of the Israeli National Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that team members had received ‘centralized’ threats meant to generate ‘psychological terror’ in athletes, without giving further details.”
French prosecutors are already looking into death threats against Israeli athletes, and the release of personal details of some Israeli athletes. A memorial service was held Tuesday to remember the murder of 11 members of the Israeli delegation by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Munich Games.
● Boxing ● As reported by the Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano (“The Daily Fact”)
“After various rumors circulating in recent days, confirmation now comes directly from the president of CONI, Giovanni Malago, who in an interview with La Stampa revealed some messages received by the Italian athlete. ‘Everything is exploited today by politics. From the right to the left. Angela showed me the pressure she was subjected to in the days before the match by the IBA.’ That is, the International Boxing Association.”
“Angela” is Angela Carini, the Italian fighter who retired in her match with Algerian Imane Khelif after 46 seconds in the women’s 66 kg class. The report did not indicate the nature of the messages.
● Cycling ● More world records to keep track of at the famed Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome:
Men’s Team Sprint:
● 41.191 by the Netherlands (Lavreysen-van den Berg-Hoogland) in heats
● 40.949 by the Netherlands in the final
Men’s Team Pursuit:
● 3:42.151 by Australia (Bleddyn-Welsford-Leahy-O’Brien) in heats
Five world marks were set in the women’s Team Sprint, so the total is up to eight (so far).
● Equestrian ● Federation Equestre Internationale chief veterinarian Goran Akerstrom (SWE) told Reuters that photographs of horses after the Dressage competition at Versailles on Tuesday showed blue tongues due to oxygen shortage:
“The concern on those pictures were the blue tongues, likely caused by high rein tension,” noting that the double bridles used played a role in reducing oxygen to the tongue, causing “pain or unnecessary discomfort.”
Horse welfare issues have been raised in the sport, and were the reason riding has been eliminated in the modern pentathlon following Paris.
● Table Tennis ● A 29-year-old woman has been arrested by police in Beijing over social-media comments about Chinese athletes and officials following the women’s Singles final, won by Meng Chen over Yingsha Sun, both from China.
The woman “maliciously fabricated information and blatantly defamed others, resulting in an adverse impact on society,” according to a police statement on Tuesday.
The Chinese commentary site Weibo – similar to X – stated it banned 300 users and deleted more 12,000 posts over “illegal” comments.
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