Paris Olympics 2024 — Day 11
The 200m women’s final did not disappoint on another busy day of track and field on Day 11 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Gabby Thomas of the United States took the gold medal with 21.83 in a dominant run, with Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, the winner of the 100m final three days ago in silver and Thomas' compatriot Brittany Brown grabbing bronze narrowly ahead of British pair Dina Asher-Smith and Darryl Neita.
Elsewhere in track and field, American Cole Hocker took a stunning win in the men's 1500m final.
In the team events, the USWNT beat Germany 1-0 after extra time to advance to the gold medal final for the first time since 2012, where they will face Brazil, while the star-studded USA basketball team beat Brazil in the men's quarterfinal.
Medal table | How to follow | USA vs Brazil
Algeria’s Imane Khelif advances to gold medal round with win
When it was over, when her arm had been raised and the gloves had been touched, Imane Khelif soaked up the roars of the crowd and ran in giddy little steps around the ring inside the tennis cathedral turned boxing ring.
The Algerian fighter’s jubilant celebration to mark her achievement of reaching the Olympic final stood in contrast to her reaction three days ago, when her quarterfinal win reduced her to tears on the mat, overcome with emotion from a week that has seen her gender questioned amid the still-unclear circ*mstances that led to her disqualification from a major fight last year.
But Tuesday, she had assured herself at least a silver medal, beating Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in a unanimous decision inside Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland Garros tennis facility, converted to host boxing for the remainder of the Games.
She will face China’s Yang Liu in the 66-kilogram final Friday night.
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Inside Cole Hocker's stunning Olympic gold
Cole Hocker of the United States scored one of the biggest upsets in Olympic running Tuesday night, outrunning Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr and everyone else down the stretch to turn what was supposed to be a two-man battle into the surprise of the meet.
With a massive kick in the final 30 meters, Hocker, born in Indianapolis, and reared at the University of Oregon, the heart and guts of American distance running, finished in an Olympic record 3:27.65, just under a quarter of a second ahead of Josh Kerr of Britain, the reigning world champion.
Yared Nuguse, Hocker’s American teammate, outkicked Ingebrigtsen for the bronze medal as the defending Olympic champion faded to fourth after setting the pace for the first 1,300 meters.
Neil Gourley, Kerr’s British teammate, said he wasn’t surprised at all by the result. “If Cole is there and he has anything left in the last 150 meters, he’s dangerous. Anyone who saw what he did in the U.S, nationals wouldn’t be surprised.”
And yet how could you not be? Read more below.
Boxing: Kellie Harrington takes gold for Ireland!
She's done it! Kellie Harrington of Team Ireland, from St Mary's Boxing Club in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland, has won gold!
Harrington has beaten China's Yang Wenlu at Court Philippe-Chatrier in the women's 60kg boxing, and retains her Olympic title from three years ago in Tokyo after a 4-1 split decision here in Paris.
Brazilian Beatriz Iasmin Soares Ferreira (bit of a mouthful, that) and Chinese Taipei's Wu Shih-yi take bronze jointly.
Elsewhere in the women's boxing, Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng and Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin have taken bronze in the 66kg competition, with Janjaem going down 5-0 (unanimous decision) and Chen 4-1 (split decision) in the semifinals.
Basketball: Americans trounce Brazil as Kevin Durant breaks points record
Most of the Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinals were stressful for the favorites, with the top seeds in the first three games falling behind by double digits and one (Canada) going down in an upset. Team USA? Not so much.
The Americans routed Brazil on Tuesday night at Bercy Arena, 122-87, to advance to a semifinal on Thursday against Serbia. Devin Booker was the United States’ leading scorer with 18 points and five 3s on a night when contributions were coming from all corners.
Joel Embiid, clearly no longer bothered by whatever the French fans have to say to him, or about him, played his best game for Team USA this summer with 14 points and seven rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting, all in the first half.
Kevin Durant passed Lisa Leslie (488 points) for the most points at the Olympics by any USA Basketball player, male or female. The record-breaking dunk for Durant, who is trying to become the first men’s player to win four Olympic golds in basketball, came with 2:36 left in the third quarter and the Americans up 29.
Durant finished with 11 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes. Read more below.
Soccer: Brazil thrash favourites Spain to move into final
A massive result in the second semifinal of the women's soccer, with Brazil, shorn of suspended star Marta, beating Spain 4-2.
They will play USWNT in the final with gold on the line, while Spain will face Germany for bronze.
Boxing: Kazakhstan and Philippines take bronze
In the boxing ring, the semifinals of the women's 50kg are over, with Kazakhstan's Nazym Kyzaibay and Aira Villegas of the Philippines taking bronze after 4-1 split decision and 5-0 unanimous decision losses respectively.
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Joy for record breaker Mijain Lopez
Mijain Lopez, the 41-year-old wrestler from Cuba, became the first athlete to win five consecutive Olympic golds in the same individual event Tuesday when he ended his career with a 6-0 win against Chile’s Yasmani Acosta in the men’s 130-kilogram Greco-Roman final at Champ de Mars Arena.
Lopez, participating in his first international competition since winning Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago, upset the reigning world champion from Iran, Amin Mirzazadeh, in the quarterfinals en route to the gold medal bout.
“It’s a moment to demonstrate that someone has retired officially from the sport of wrestling and that also leaves a path wide open for the younger generation to continue inspiring others,” he said.
In Tokyo, he was the eighth athlete to win four Olympic golds in the same individual event, joining Japanese wrestler Kaori Icho, Denmark sailor Paul Elvstrom, American discus thrower Al Oerter, sprinter Carl Lewis and swimming icons Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.
Lopez served as Cuba’s flag bearer in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Asked about his future, he said he would like to “educate the younger generations.” Asked to describe his five gold medals in one word, Lopez said, “Beijing — youth. London — transcendence. Rio — effort. Tokyo — sacrifice. Paris — joy.”
Basketball: American Kevin Durant breaks Olympic record
Let's go KD!
35-year-old basketball star Kevin Durant, pictured, playing for Team USA in the men's quarterfinal against Brazil right now, has now passed Lisa Leslie's 488 points (489) to become American basketball's all-time leading Olympic points scorer of all time across both men and women's.
Can he reach 500? Or even more?
Meet the Olympic handballer who couldn’t stay awake: ‘I can sleep everywhere’
Jim Gottfridsson may not be a household name, but search his name online and you’ll discover his distinguished handball career.
The Swedish center back is a five-time club champion, which includes the EHF Champions League, the premier European handball competition. On the Swedish national team, Gottfridsson won a European championship in 2022 and is a two-time MVP of that event.
Gottfridsson is a passionate player on the court — coming into the offensive zone with blazing speed to fire off shots or make no-look passes to teammates. But off the court, he’s prone to dangerous fatigue, reaching an extreme level of tiredness where he falls asleep unexpectedly.
“I can sleep everywhere,” Gottfridsson said. Read more about his amazing story here.
Reminder: Follow USA men's basketball live here
As well as this live blog, The Athletic is also running a live blog covering the quarterfinal of the men's basketball between the all-star United States men's team, and Brazil.
It's being run by the brilliant Michael Dominski, and you can follow it here.
Diving: Spendolini-Sirieix opens up on mental health
British diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix opened up about her mental health after finishing sixth in the women's 10m platform final. The 19-year-old spoke honestly in an emotional interview, saying she was not upset with her performance.
"Three years ago I didn't even want to be alive, so today I'm just happy that I am alive, I'm breathing and I've got my family to support me," she said.
"I'm so happy to be here, it's been a really long year and doesn't take away from my accomplishments this year. Missing out on one medal doesn't change who I am."
She won bronze with Lois Toulson in the synchronised event last week but couldn't repeat the success in the individual event.
It was a powerful moment to be so candid about her mental health, which will hopefully help others who have similar feelings to have those honest conversations around their emotions.
It was also an important reminder that athletes are far from immune when it comes to mental health issues, and that the burden of expectation, among many other things, can sometimes weigh heavy on them.
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Boxing: Bronze for Britain's Lewis Richardson
Tough luck for Britain's Lewis Richardson, left. Richardson was already guaranteed a bronze but lost to a controversial 2-3 split decision against Mexican Marco Alonso Verde Alvarez.
Alvarez raises his hand in delight. He moves into Friday's final. Richardson and United States' Omari Jones take bronze.
USA's Cole Hocker: 'Gold was my goal this entire year'
Team USA's Cole Hocker, who took a shock gold in the men's 1500m, said after his victory: “Winning gold was my goal this entire year. I wrote that down and I repeated it to myself even if I didn’t believe it.
"My performances showed me that I was capable of running 3:27, whatever it took. I knew I was a medal contender, and I knew that if I got it right, it would be a gold medal. I’ve been saying that.”
When asked about all the attention being on the two big favourites, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, he added: “I kind of told myself that I’m in this race too. If they let me fly under the radar, then so be it. I think that might’ve just been the best.”
Wrestling: American Amit Elor takes gold!
And another gold medal for the United States!
The first gold medal in women's wrestling in Paris goes to American Amit Elor, who beat Kyrgyzstan's Meerim Zhumanazarova, who in taking silver is the first ever athlete from her nation to win two Olympic medals, in any sport.
Bronze to Turkey's Buse Cavusoglu and Japan's Ozaki Nonoka.
Soccer: Brazil beating favourites Spain
Wow.
After the USWNT beat Germany 1-0 after extra time in the first women's soccer semifinal to move into the gold medal match, the second semi, to decide their opponents, is well under way.
And, perhaps surprisingly, Brazil lead favourites Spain 2-0 on the cusp of half-time, after a goal from Gabi Portilho.
Wrestling: All over for Mijain Lopez
That Mijain Lopez feat of five successive Olympic gold medals in the same event has never been done before in an individual event, men's or women's, summer or winter.
He leaves his shoes on the mat to signal his retirement.
And what a way to bow out, a fortnight before his 42nd birthday.
Heroic.
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Wrestling: Cuban legend Mijaín López wins fifth straight gold medal
Absolutely incredible! The iconic Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez has won his FIFTH successive Olympic gold medal. Yes, fifth. He is the first Olympian in history to win the same event at five successive Games.
He's got to be up there as one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and now Paris 2024, in the Greco-Roman wrestling. Nicknamed 'El Terrible' because of how frightening he is to face in the heaviest weight class, he beat friend Yasmani Acosta of Chile 6-0.
Bronze to Iranian Amin Mirzazadeh and China's Meng Lingzhe.
Wrestling: Japan's Fumita Kenichiro wins gold
In the 60kg weight class of the men's Greco-Roman wrestling, the first medallists have been confirmed.
Japan's Fumita Kenichiro takes his nation's first gold in Greco-Roman wrestling for 40 years after he beats China's Cao Liguo 4-1, with Cao taking silver.
Wearing bronze, jointly, will be Kyrgyzstan's Zholaman Sharshenbekov and South Korea's Ri Se-ung.
What a battle for bronze
Gabby Thomas a worthy winner in the women’s 200m, but what a battle for third.
Four hundredths separating Brown in third and Ofili in sixth. Asher-Smith ran a great bend but got out-ran at the end, the opposite for Neita, who ran a much better second 200 but didn’t do enough on the bend.
They’ve both got the relays to come.
“I needed to run faster” Neita just told Eurosport, but rightly points out this is her sixth race of the games (having come fourth in the 100m).