A metal horse appears in the ceremony (2024)

Golf: France's Boutier leads after first round

Céline Boutier was the pick of the women's golfers today at Le Golf National, starring with a seven-under 65 on a day when only 12 women of 60 went under par.

The Frenchwoman, with the support of the home fans, sits three clear of South Africa'sAshleigh Buhai.

Weightlifting: Li Fabin retains men's 61kg title

All over in the first weightlifting event of Paris 2024, and People's Republic of China weightlifterLi Fabin has retained his men's 61kg Olympic title!

After his Olympic record 142kg snatch, Li added a 167kg clean and jerk, missing out on tying his own Olympic record of 172kg with a failure at that weight.

That gave him a total of 310kg, enough for gold.

Thailand'sTheerapong Silachai took silver on 303kg, while USA'sHampton Morris claimed bronze on 298kg.

Table tennis: Semi-finals set in team event

The last four quarter-finals in themen's and women's team table tennis events were held this morning and this afternoon.

In the women's event,Germany beatIndia 3-1 andPeople's Republic of China defeatedChinese Taipei 3-0, meaning Germany play Japan while China will face off against Republic of Korea in the last four tomorrow.

Meanwhile on the men's side, hostsFrance set up a tough test against hot favouritesChina in the semis after beatingBrazil 3-0. China took downRepublic of Korea by the same score.

Japan play Sweden in the other men's semi-final this evening.

Weightlifting: Li Fabin (CHN) sets new men's 61kg snatch Olympic record

We have a new Olympic record in themen's 61kg weightlifting snatch category!

Reigning championLi Fabin of People's Republic of China lifts 143kg on his third attempt (having successfully cleared 137kg and 140kg) to remove the Olympic record standard of 142kg.

In Tokyo three years ago, Li only managed a snatch lift of 141kg, meaning the Olympic record standard for the then-new event was not broken.

Basketball: Belgium beat Spain to secure semi-final berth

Belgium pressed home their advantage in the third quarter, building an 18-point lead that effectively won them the game. Spain mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, bringing the score within 11, but a timely three-pointer from Julie Vanloo brought the crowd and Belgium bench to its feet, and Spain would get no closer. Final score 79-66 in favour of Belgium.

Belgium reach the semi-finals of an Olympic tournament in only their second appearance at the Games.

"It's been a difficuilt week for us," Vanloo (13 points, 7 assists) said after the game. "After starting so badly, I think everyone counted us out. But against all odds we've fought back, and it's amazing [to make the semi-finals]."

Sailing: Matt Wearn retains men's dinghy Olympic title

On the resail of the men's dinghy medal race, Australia's overall fleet leaderMatt Wearn only goes and puts the cherry on top by winning the medal race too!

Wearn becomes the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in this Laser (ILCA7) class, successfully defending his title from Tokyo with a total net score of 40 points.

Behind him, Cyprus'sPavlos Kontides, a silver medallist from 12 years ago in London, crosses in second place to confirm overall silver, too, on 56 points.

And the battle for bronze between Peru'sStefano Peschiera and Great Britain'sMichael Beckett went to the wire as first the Peruvian, then the Briton, picked up course penalties.

That dropped them to ninth and 10th respectively in the race, enough for Peschiera to hold on to third overall on 80 points.

It's just Cyprus's second Olympic medal in any sport in history, with Kontides having won the other in 2012; Peschiera has won Peru's first Olympic medal in any sport since 1992.

Golf: Home hope Boutier leads as women's first round reaches back nine

It's perhaps safe to say the women's golfers are not having as enjoyable a time getting around Le Golf National as some of the men did last week – some 39 of the 60 golfers, nearly two-thirds of the field, are over par.

But at the top sits France'sCéline Boutier, who is being cheered on every hole with every shot. Through 14 holes today she sits on a 5-under 51, two shots clear of world number two Lilia Vu of USA and South Africa'sAshleigh Buhai.

Selected golfers:

• 1. Céline Boutier (FRA) -5, through 14
• T2. Lilia Vu (USA) -3, through 14
• T6. Lydia Ko (NZL) -1, through 13
• T12. Nelly Korda (USA) 0, 72
• T12. Yin Ruoning (CHN) 0, 72
• T22. Minjee Lee (AUS) +1, through 15
• T41. Georgia Hall (GBR), +4, through 13
• 58. Charley Hull (GBR) +9, 81

Skateboarding: Keegan Palmer (AUS) leads top 8 qualifiers from men's prelims into finals

Just as we thought, no skater could surpass Palmer's big score of 93.78in prelims. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist looks in fine form, and that must be a scary proposition for his competitors.

Tom Schaar (USA) was next best with a score of 92.05, while 2023 world champion Gavin Bottger (USA)stunningly failed to make the cut, such was the quality of the competition.

A special shout-out must go toAndy MacDonald (GBR), who, at 51, was the oldest competitor in the field. Though he failed to progress, his runs drew applause from skateboard legendTony Hawk, and MacDonald was all smiles as he finished his final run, telling his kids through the camera: "Your dad's on the Olympics!".

The final of the competition is scheduled to start at 17:30 CET.

Handball: France eliminated in overtime, ending Nikola Karabatic's career

A shocker in the handball as hosts and defending championsFrance are dumped out in the men's quarter-finals by Germany in overtime.

Despite having led 29-27, France conceded two goals in the span of 13 seconds at the end of regular time.

With time expiring in the 10-minute extra period and Germany ahead, France scored to level the game at 34-34 with just 15 seconds left.

ButRenars Uscins scored with just four seconds left on the clock to send the Germans through to the last four.

It also marked the last international match for the legendaryNikola Karabatic, who receives a standing ovation from the crowd and both teams.

France will not be in the men's handball semi-finals for the first time in 20 years. Germany progress to face Spain, who beat Egypt 29-28 earlier.

Hockey: Netherlands beat Argentina to reach women's final

The Netherlands have beaten Argentina 3-0 in the first of the day's semi-finals to reach theirsixth successiveOlympic women's hockey final - an incredible achievement!

This particular game was a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 final (which the Dutch also won 3-1), with goals coming from
Luna Noa Fokke, Laura Nunnink and Yibbi Jansen.

The other semi-final between Belgium and the People's Rep. of China will start at 19:00 CET.

The final is on Friday 9 August at 20:00 CET.

Sailing: Men's dinghy medal race abandoned

Drama in the medal race of the men's one-person dinghy!

The field is heading to the third mark when race control flies the blue and white checkered flag.

The race has been abandoned and will be resailed.

We have an update from the course – the resailing has been delayed due to weather.

Basketball: Belgium lead Spain at the half of women's quarter-final

After a close first quarter that was one for the offensive purists (26-26), Belgium pulled away in the second to take a 48-37 lead into the half.

There's a big Belgian contingent in the crowd here at Bercy who are roaring the Cats on, and Belgium will look to ride that wave to a first-ever semi-final apperance at the Games.

Spain, meanwhile, will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the EuroBasket final last year, where they lost to Belgium in a very tight contest.

Megan Gustafson (ESP) leads all players with 17 points; Emma Meesseman has 14 points and 2 blocks for Belgium.

Second half to come.

Sailing: Marit Bouwmeester (NED) wins women's dinghy gold!

Three-time Olympic medallist Bouwmeester has just become the most successful woman in Olympic sailing with her fourth medal - and it's gold!

The 36-year-old finished 4th in the medal race, but that's all she needed to keep her place at the top of the podium and sail her way into the history books.

Silver goes to Anne-Marie Rindom of Denmark, while Line Flem Hoest (NOR) earns bronze.

🥇Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
🥈Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN)
🥉Line Flem Hoest (NOR)

Diving: Rep. of China athletes top qualifiers from men's 3m springboard semi-finals

China has won gold in every diving event at Paris 2024 thus far, and will be looking to add to that tally on Thursday afternoon following today's semi-finals which were dominated by Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi.

The pair won gold in the synchronised version of this event back at Tokyo 2020, with Xie also winning gold in the individual event. Wang is also the current defending world champion.

So it should come as no surprise that they finished 1 and 2 in the semi-finals, with Wang tallying a huge score of 537.85 through is six dives. Xie scored 505.85.

The next closer competitor was Jack Laugher of Great Britain, who won bronze in the men's synchronised 3m springboard event last week. Laugher received a total score of 467.05.

Skateboarding: Men's park prelims ongoing

Over at La Concorde, the crowd are being entertained by some of the world's best skateboarders - and not just in competition.

Vincent Matheron (FRA) has been in the mixed zone to sign flags and other items for fans, while Augusto Akio (BRA) is juggling with clubs in Brazilian colours.

In terms of who leads the event as things stand, look no further than defending Olympic champion Keegan Palmer. The Australian laid down a massive 93.78 score on his third run that is yet to be beaten.

As a reminder, the first 8 skaters from the combined ranking of the heats qualify to the final - and we've got plenty of athletes still to come.

Athletics: Updates from javelin and more as morning session concludes

The morning athletics session at the Stade de France has just finished, so in addition to the updates from the men's high jump and women's 100m hurdles we brought you earlier, here's a brief rundown of the other events that took place:

Women's javelin qualification
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Maria Andrejczyk (POL) posted a season-best as she threw for 65.52m in qualifying - the top distance of any competitor.

Men's 5000m round 1
Tokyo 2020 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) eases through to Saturday's final with the quickest time in qualifying (13:51.59).

Women's 1500m repechage
Birke Haylom (ETH) leads six women from repechage heats into semi-finals.

Men's 800m round 1
2023 world silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) records fastest mark at 1:44.64 to advance to semi-finals.

Sport Climbing: Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL) wins women's Speed gold!

It's a neck-and-neck race between Miroslaw and Deng Lijuan (CHN) as they fly up the 15m wall, but it is the 2023 world bronze medallist who gets to the target first in a time of 6.10 seconds to win the first ever Olympic Speed medal!

Bronze goes to Miroslaw's compatriot Aleksandra Kalucka (POL), who triumphed in the small final moments before Miroslaw's race.

🥇Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL)
🥈Deng Lijuan (CHN)
🥉Aleksandra Kalucka (POL)

Basketball: Australia beat Serbia to progress to semi-finals

The Opals built on their brilliant second quarter to ease into the semi-finals of the women's competition with a 85-67 win.

Serbia never really came close to troubling their opponents, whose ball movement (22 assists) and ability to get to the free-throw line (22/25) proved to be the difference.

Alanna Smith (AUS) had a monster game 22 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.

Wrestling: Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (CUB) to face Sarah Ann Hildebrandt (USA) in woman's freestyle 50kg final

Earlier today we shared the news that Vinesh Phogat (IND) failed her weigh-in and was disqualified from the competition. Wrestling's international governing body - United World Wrestling - have now elevated Guzman Lopez to face Hildebrandt in the final.

Sport Climbing: Anraku Sorato (JPN) leads eight qualifiers into Lead final

Earlier this morning we had the semi-finals of the men's Lead event in the men's Boulder & Lead competition, with Spain's Alberto Gines Lopez (the Tokyo 2020 Combined champion) receiving the top points of the day (72.0).

However it's 2023 world Lead silver medallist Anraku who leads all qualifiers thanks to the combination of his earlier Boulder points (69.0) with today's Lead points (68.0) to give him a toal of 137.0.

The Boulder final is scheduled for 10:15 on Friday, with the Lead final (where medals are won) following at 12:35.

Athletics: Men's high jump qualification complete

12 men have progressed to Saturday's final in the men's high jump competition, with five athletes - including Tokyo 2020 gold medallistMutaz Barshim (QAT) - clearing 2.27m.

Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA), who famously won gold alongside Barshim, is also through.

Basketball: Australia lead Serbia at the half

After a somewhat tight first quarter, the Opals really asserted their authority in the second, winning the quarter 22-13 to take a 48-32 lead into the half.

Jade Melbourne has been unstoppable for Australia, scoring 14 points on 6/7 shooting from the field.

Rowing: Irish gold medallists get a helping hand at Dublin arrivals

Men's lightweight double sculls Paris 2024 champions Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan had planned to take public transportation back to Cork after arriving in Dublin yesterday, but were instead offered a lift home by a passenger they met on the flight home from France!

Handball: Spain beat Egypt in men's quarter-final thriller

What a match we've just had at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.

Spain were trailing Egypt by one with 30 seconds left and looked destined to be heading out of the competition, but up stepped Ian Tarrafeta to fire home a shot that sent the contest into overtime.

Both teams exchanged goals in the extra period of play, but it was Aleix Gomez's (ESP) penalty goal with 25 seconds left that ultimately gave the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists a 29-28 win.

Elation for Spain, anguish for Egypt in a great battle.

Basketball: Serbia - Australia tips-off women's quarter-finals

We had the men's quarter-finals yesterday, today it's the women's turn.

Five-time Olympic medallists and 2022 world bronze medallists Australia have an early 10-6 lead against Serbia midway through the first quarter.

We'll then see a rematch of the 2023 EuroBasket final between Spain and Belgium (won by Belgium) before hosts and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists take on Olympic debutants Germany at 18:00.

The day's late game will pit Nigeria against defending Olympic and world champions USA.