An athlete at the Olympics stands atop the podium with a medal draped around their neck and their face beaming with pride as their country’s national anthem plays over the venue’s loudspeakers. It’s often in that moment when the accomplishment becomes real, when a lifelong dream has been realized, the years of tireless work have been rewarded and an athlete can definitively say that they’re the best in the world at what they do.

Sometimes, there’s another act that’s a part of that ritual.

It’s common for athletes from the United States or elsewhere to grip on to their medal and bring it to their mouth before gently biting on it, creating a shot that’s frequently immortalized in celebratory pictures that are used to commemorate gold-medal-winning athletes in the years and decades after their feats.

For those who have never seen it before, and even for some who have, it’s likely confusing (and, for dentists, worrisome.) Why do athletes bite on their medals? How did it get started?

Here’s what you need to know about why athletes bite their medals as the 2024 Paris Olympics wind down:

Why do Olympic athletes bite their medals?

There are a few explanations as to why athletes at the Olympics bite their medals, some of which are more relevant now than they were, say, a century ago.

Historically, biting gold was a way to test the metal’s authenticity. If a trader bit into a piece of gold like a coin and their gnawing left some kind of visible dent in the soft metal, then it was real. If not, it was likely some other kind of metal being fraudulently passed off as gold.

Olympic champions, however, don’t have that concern. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stopped awarding pure gold medals in 1912. Today, gold medals are mostly the metal famously associated with second place, silver, as the IOC requires that gold and silver medals be at least 92.5% pure silver. To offer at least some visual evidence of its namesake, gold medals contain six grams of gold.

We just want to officially confirm that the #Tokyo2020 medals are not edible!

Our 🥇🥈🥉 medals are made from material recycled from electronic devices donated by the Japanese public.

So, you don't have to bite them… but we know you still will 😛 #UnitedByEmotion

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) July 25, 2021

So if athletes aren’t double-checking the metallurgic integrity of their hard-earned prize, why do they go through the effort of biting into their medals? Mostly, it’s for the sake of appearances.

Modern Olympians bite into medals primarily to satisfy the requests of photographers capturing their post-event celebration.

“It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” David Wallechinsky, the president of the International Society of Olympic Historians and co-author of “The Complete Book of the Olympics,” said to CNN in 2012. “I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell. I don’t think it’s something the athletes would probably do on their own.”

The phenomenon isn’t limited to the Olympics. Tennis star Rafael Nadal became famous for biting into the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the trophy given to the French Open men’s singles champion. It’s something he did quite often, too, winning the famed tournament at Roland Garros 14 times over his illustrious career.

It’s a staged shot that can occasionally backfire, though.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, German luger David Möller broke his tooth while biting into a silver medal he had just been awarded.

“The photographers wanted a picture of me holding the medal just with my teeth,” Möller told the German newspaper Bild. “Later at dinner, I noticed a bit of one of my teeth was missing.”

2024 Paris Olympics medal count

What country has seen its athletes biting into medals the most during the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Here’s a look at the medal count heading into the final day of competition:

1. United States: 122
2. China: 90
3. Great Britain: 63
4. France: 62
5. Australia: 50
6. Japan: 43
7. Italy: 39
8. Netherlands: 32
9. Germany: 31
10. Republic of Korea: 30

Despite competing in the Olympics, Ghana failed to secure any medals.

Swimmer, Harry Stacey was eliminated after placing seventh in the Men’s 100m Freestyle, and Joselle Alice Mensah narrowly missed advancing to the semi-finals in the Women’s 50m Freestyle, finishing fourth with a time of 26.81 seconds.

High jumper Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah showed promise by clearing heights of 1.83m and 1.88m but fell short at 1.92m, a height below her personal best of 1.97m, leading to her elimination.

Ghana’s hopes for a medal were further dashed when the 4×100 relay team was disqualified.

Reacting to these disappointing outcomes, Osei-Agyemang, who hosts “Fire for Fire” on Adom TV and Asempa FM urged authorities to release the report.

Video below:

The anticipated title showdown with Dutch star Femke Bol never seriously materialised as McLaughlin-Levrone left her rivals far behind to defend the title in 50.37 seconds.

Bol, the second-fastest woman of all-time in the event, faded to finish third in 52.15, behind US silver medallist Anna Cockrell, who ran a personal best 51.87.

McLaughlin-Levrone improved her world record to 50.65 in June, but she saved her best for the sport’s biggest stage to claim her sixth global title.

Together, McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol have run 17 of the 20 fastest times in history.

As defending champion and world record holder, it was McLaughlin-Levrone who entered their latest meeting as favourite, hinting at this form by improving her best time two months ago.

However, Bol had shown progress of her own, setting an indoor 400m flat world record this year and a new European 400m hurdles record of 50.95 in July to become only the second woman to run under 51 seconds over the barriers.

Bol produced a sensational sprint finish to take the Netherlands from fourth place to gold in the mixed 4x400m relay earlier in the Games, but on this occasion the 24-year-old did not have the legs to trouble a jubilant McLaughlin-Levrone.

“My whole family’s here. We’re going to celebrate, we’re going to enjoy this time and get ready for the relay too,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Wednesday.

“It’s amazing to see our sport continue to grow, for people to want to watch the 400m hurdles, it’s amazing.”

She spoke of what it had taken to achieve her gold mission, saying: “Just a lot of hard work put in this year. I knew it was going to be a tough race. An amazing competition all the way round.”

Elsewhere, Arshad Nadeem made history by winning Pakistan’s first Olympic gold in athletics – throwing a Games record of 92.97m in the men’s javelin.

USA’s Grant Holloway beat compatriot Daniel Roberts to take the men’s 110m hurdles title and upgrade his silver from Tokyo, while another American – Tara Davis-Woodhall – won the women’s long jump.

Ghana’s hopes for a medal were dashed when the 4×100 relay team was disqualified.

The relay team, consisting of Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Ibrahim Fuseini, Benjamin Azamati, and Joe Paul Amoah, competed in Heat 2 alongside teams from Jamaica, Canada, Germany, China, Liberia, Brazil, and France. They failed to advance to the semifinals.

Osei Agyemang criticized the current approach to athlete development in the country.

“What happened is due to the lack of exposure for our athletes. Instead of focusing on and investing in these athletes, our leaders are neglecting their needs.

“It’s unacceptable to suggest that an athlete’s performance suffered due to noise at the stadium. The reality is that these athletes lack the exposure needed for success. Our federation leaders must step up and take necessary actions. We need a robust Sports Minister to ensure these federations are prioritizing the country’s interests.”

Earlier in the Games, swimmer Harry Stacey was eliminated after placing seventh in the Men’s 100m Freestyle.

Joselle Alice Mensah narrowly missed the semi-finals in the Women’s 50m Freestyle, finishing fourth with a time of 26.81 seconds.

High jumper Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah had a promising start by clearing heights of 1.83m and 1.88m but was unable to clear the 1.92m bar on three attempts, leading to her elimination despite it being below her personal best of 1.97m.

In the 100m, both Azamati and Saminu made it to the semi-finals but did not progress to the final round.

READ ALSO

• 2024 Paris Olympics: Saminu explains baton mishap after 4x100m disqualification
• Ghana ends 2024 Olympics in Paris with zero medals

The team failed to advance to the semifinals after a baton exchange error led to their disqualification.

Finishing sixth in their heat, Ghana’s relay team was penalized for a changeover violation that occurred during the final leg of the race.

Saminu, who also competed in the 100m alongside Benjamin Azamati, acknowledged a mistake in the initial baton handoff.

“I think with the first call, I missed the hand, so I had to bring it back again to make the legal contact,” Saminu explained in an interview with JoySports.

“Next time we just make sure we correct the mistakes and come back again,” he added.

This disqualification is a disappointing repeat of Ghana’s experience at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where a similar baton exchange mistake also hindered their performance.

The team’s time of 38.62 seconds in Paris was their slowest in recent years, trailing behind their previous times of 38.07s, 38.08s, and 38.29s.

With no remaining athletes in the competition, Ghana’s track and field events at Paris 2024 have come to an unfortunate end.

Additionally, the team did not secure medals in swimming or high jump, resulting in a complete absence of medals for Ghana at these Games.

READ ALSO

• Ghana ends 2024 Olympics in Paris with zero medals
• 2024 Paris Olympics: Ghana’s 4×100m relay team disqualified

The team, consisting of Abdul Rasheed Saminu, Benjamin Azamati, Ibrahim Fuseini, and Joseph Paul Amoah, finished Heat 2 with a time of 38.62 seconds.

However, their efforts were overshadowed by a disqualification due to a baton exchange violation.

This outcome is reminiscent of the disappointment from the previous Olympics, where the team was also disqualified in the final for a similar baton exchange error.

Their time of 38.62 seconds marks their slowest performance in recent years, in contrast to previous times of 38.07, 38.08, and 38.29 seconds.

China won the heat with a time of 38.24 seconds, followed by France at 38.34 seconds, and Canada at 38.39 seconds, all of whom advanced to the final.

READ ALSO

• 2024 Paris Olympics: Countryman Songo urges Relay Team to make Ghana proud [VIDEO]
• How Nigeria missed out on a potential Olympic silver

But for those watching in Nigeria, it was a case of what might have been.

Africa’s most populous country is still waiting for its first medal at these Olympic Games, and Echikunwoke could have been competing in green and white but for an administrative oversight by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Instead, the 28-year-old became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the hammer.

“I am so glad to be able to have what I experienced here in Paris and to be able to come away with a medal,” she said.

“Being with the US, feeling cared for as an athlete, I really performed on top of my game.”

So how did Nigeria miss out on her place on the podium?

• Sliding doors in Tokyo

Echikunwoke, who was born in Ohio and holds dual American-Nigerian citizenship, was set to represent the country of her parents at Tokyo 2020.

She had broken the African record in qualification – on what was her first trip to Nigeria – but was ruled ineligible to compete after arriving in the Japanese capital.

She was not alone, as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ruled that 10 Nigerian athletes were unable to take part because of non-compliance with out-of-competition drug testing requirements in the run-up to the Games.

For Echikunwoke the sense of shock was akin to a “fever dream”.

“On my 25th birthday, I was officially informed that I cannot compete at the Tokyo Olympics due to the negligence of the federation I was set to compete for,” she said in a message posted on Instagram.

“I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am.

“This has been the most mentally and emotionally exhausting time of my life.”

The AFN had failed to comply with a rule which requires athletes to undergo three out-of-competition tests within a 10-month period before a major event.

Echikunwoke said she had provided her whereabouts to the AFN six times in that timeframe, but no-one came to test her in the USA.

“The AFN bears responsibility for any lapses that may have occurred during the process,” a statement by the organisation said.

“A few athletes in the American collegiate system were tested, but those tests were deemed not to have complied with World Anti-Doping Agency sample collection and analysis standards.”

But, for Echikunwoke, the possibility of representing Nigeria was over.

• Chasing the American dream

Instead, she decided that her future was with the country of her birth.

Echikunwoke made her debut at the World Championships in Eugene in 2022, finishing 12th in the final.

She was a surprise winner of the 2024 US Olympic trials, throwing a season’s best of 74.86m.

She bettered that in the Stade de France on Tuesday evening as her mark of 75.48m placed her behind Canada’s Camryn Rogers.

“I felt pretty secure coming into the competition. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” Echikunwoke said.

“It’s electric – just being on the US team, being in the final, coming into the stadium and hearing everyone [be] so loud.

“[To be] the first woman to medal (in hammer throw) for the US, it’s really an honour.

“It’s really a vindication. I wanted the experience.”

Today, Echikunwoke stands proud, having moved on from the chapter of her career where she could have competed under the flag of Nigeria.

“I knew there was always more, even from that time,” she said.

“I’ve forgiven the past and we just move forward.”

A representative of Nigeria’s sports minister would not be drawn on her success.

“We are focusing on our own athletes now, not the one that has gone to represent [an]other country,” the spokesperson told BBC Sport Africa.

The AFN did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on Echikunwoke’s silver medal.

• The reaction in Nigeria

While Echikunwoke targets further major honours and more celebrations with the Stars and Stripes, Nigeria is still waiting to get onto the medal table in Paris.

There were congratulations for Echikunwoke from Nigerians on social media – but plenty also voiced criticism towards the country’s sporting authorities.

“Disqualified from Tokyo due to senseless clerical error of the AFN,” one user posted on X.

“Representing America in 2024. Talent nurtured to the fullest. Silver medallist.”

Another added: “Don’t let Nigeria kill your dream if you have the opportunity to make it elsewhere. Annette Nneka Echikunwoke fought for her destiny.”

Her case of being unable to compete for Nigeria is not an isolated one.

Sprinter Favour Ofili – another of those who missed out in Tokyo because of the AFN’s oversight on testing – was denied the chance to run in the women’s 100m in the French capital because she was not registered for the event.

Both Nigerian officials and governing body World Athletics denied responsibility for the oversight.

Ofili then finished 6th in the final of the 200m on Tuesday, and the emotions of missing out on a place on the podium was such that she was unable to speak to reporters after her race.

But Nigeria’s women do still offer potential medals before the end of the Games.

Ese Brume, a bronze medallist in Tokyo, finished fourth in long jump qualification, while compatriots Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor will also bid for glory in the final on Thursday

Meanwhile, Tobi Amusan qualified fastest for the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles on Friday morning.

Echikunwoke said she may celebrate her Olympic silver by eating sour candy, a treat she rarely enjoys while training.

Nigeria’s athletes now have just four full days of competition to avoid being left with a sour taste of their own, as they look on enviously at someone who could have been a team-mate but for an administrative oversight.

Lyles won 100m gold by five-thousandths of a second from Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a dramatic photo finish on Sunday.

The 27-year-old, winner of three golds at last year’s World Championships, finished second in his 200m semi-final in 20.08 seconds to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.

World 100m silver and 200m bronze medallist Tebogo set the fastest time of the round at Stade de France on Wednesday evening, clocking 19.96secs.

The Olympic men’s 200m final takes place on Thursday at 19:30 BST.

Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States, also set a faster time than Lyles, in 20.00, while compatriot Erriyon Knighton, who upgraded to world 200m silver last year, also safely progressed.

But Canada’s Andre de Grasse will not defend his title in the final after finishing third in his race (20.41).

The Olympic 200m bronze winner three years ago, Lyles claimed world 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold in Budapest last year.

Following that achievement, when he became the first man since Bolt in 2015 to complete a 100m and 200m world double, he claimed he could look to add the 4x400m relay title to that treble haul in Paris.

Jamaican sprint legend Bolt completed individual sprint doubles at three successive Olympic Games among his eight titles, adding relay gold in 2012 and 2016.

Only nine men have achieved that double in the history of the Games.

Lyles became the first American to win an Olympic 100m title for 20 years, since Justin Gatlin in 2004, with his narrow triumph.

A three-time reigning world 200m champion, he will line up as favourite as he looks to further assert himself as the dominant male sprinter of the current generation.

Elsewhere during Wednesday’s evening session, Great Britain’s Amber Anning reached the final of the women’s 400m.

Olympic debutant Anning, 23, finished second in her semi-final in a personal best of 49.47.

However, team-mates Laviai Nielsen (50.69) and Victoria Ohuruogu (51.14) missed out.

Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke was among the other qualifiers for that final, which takes place on Friday at 19:00.

Team GB’s Alastair Chalmers exited the men’s 400m hurdles after suffering a fall in his semi-final.

Norway’s world record holder Karsten Warholm qualified fastest for the final in 47.67.

Tade Ojora was unable to reach the men’s 110m hurdles final, finishing seventh in his heat.

American three-time world champion Grant Holloway recorded the fastest time in 12.98 as he seeks to upgrade his Tokyo silver.

His remark comes after all the athletes representing the West African country at the ongoing Olympics in France have failed to a win medal.

Rose Yeboah exited early in the high jump, while swimmers Harry Stacey and Joselle Alice Mensah did not advance.

Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu reached the semi-finals of the men’s 100m sprints but did not progress to the finals.

With the Relay Team now carrying the hopes of Ghana, Osei Agyemang, also known as Countryman Songo has called on them to lift the flag of Ghana high.

“All the athletes that went to Paris to represent Ghana at the Olympics have failed to win a medal,” he said on Fire for Fire on Adom TV.

“Our leaders have failed to invest in our sports. They have failed us and it is about time we wake up and do the needful. Our only hope is with the Relay Team and I am calling on them to make the country proud.

“These athletes cannot go to Paris and not return home with a medal and that is why I am calling on them to ensure they win a medal for Ghana on Thursday” Songo added.

Meanwhile, Joseph Paul Amoah, Ibrahim Fuseini, Isaac Botsio and Benjamin Azamati will represent Ghana in the men’s 4x100m starting on Thursday, August 8.

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Sophia Smith’s strike was decisive for the US as the 23-year-old forward raced on to Mallory Swanson’s pass in the 95th minute to slide the ball past advancing Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Until then Emma Hayes’ side had struggled to break down a resolute Germany side, who they thrashed 4-1 in the group stage.

Germany, who won the competition at Rio 2016, nearly took the contest to penalties but Laura Freigang’s header was superbly saved by US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the 119th minute.

Former Chelsea manager Hayes’ side will now face Brazil or Spain in Saturday’s final at the Parc des Princes (16:00 BST), while Germany will play for the bronze medal in Lyon on Friday (14:00).

The two athletes were locked together going into the home straight and remained neck-and-neck as they went over the final barrier with 50 metres to go.

It was only in the last 20 metres that Kenyan-born Yavi, the gold medallist at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, was able to kick on ahead of her opponent as Chemutai’s resistance finally broke.

Yavi’s winning time of eight minutes 52.76 seconds set a new Olympic record, while Chemutai also set a new Ugandan national record, finishing in eight minutes 53.34 seconds.

Kenya’s Faith Cherotich finished third to take the bronze medal.

Yavi wins tightest of sprints

Chemutai came into the race looking to earn her nation a second athletics gold at the Games, following on from Joshua Cheptegei’s victory in the men’s 10,000m.

However, it was Kenyan world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech who led for much of the race until Chemutai decided to wind up the pace.

The 25-year old held the advantage at the bell, positioned at the head of a group of five athletes which included Chepkoech, Cherotich and Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, as well as the more diminutive Yavi, who was happy to bide her time while the others jockeyed for position.

As the crowd in the Stade de France raised the noise, Chemutai and Yavi, 24, pulled ahead of the pack to begin their head-to-head battle over the last 100 metres.

Ultimately, it was Yavi who had the greater stamina to cross the line first, arms outstretched to embrace victory.

Having switched allegiance from Kenya to Bahrain at the age of 15, she becomes the third competitor to win athletics gold for her country at the Olympics.

And she celebrated her achievement by dancing and screaming her delight, with Chemutai and the rest of her opponents strewn, exhausted and dejected, across the track.

The Algerian welterweight is one of two boxers competing in Paris despite being disqualified from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after she was reported to have failed gender eligibility tests.

Amid wild support under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier – the French tennis venue repurposed for the boxing finals – Khelif dominated her Thai opponent to win by unanimous decision.

The win secured progression to her first Olympic final, having been knocked out in the quarter-finals in Tokyo three years ago.

She will fight Liu Yang of China in the gold-medal bout, bidding to become Algerian’s first boxing gold medallist.

“I am focused,” the 25-year-old said.

“I am here for a good performance and my dream. I will give everything I have for the final.”​​​​​​​

Khelif beat Suwannapheng by unanimous decision at last year’s World Championships, before being disqualified by the IBA.

Here, the crowd chanted her name as she entered the ring – and the Algerian looked more confident than she had at any point this week.

After the result was confirmed she dropped her guard and danced on the canvas, and a bout fought in good spirits ended with an embrace between the two fighters.

“I had heard about the news regarding her, but I wasn’t following it closely,” Suwannapheng said.

“She is a woman, but she is very strong. I tried to use my speed, but my opponent was just too strong.”

Khelif added: “I am very happy. I am happy for all the support here in Paris.

“I want to thank all of the people of Algeria who came here.”

Khelif’s Games began with a win against Angela Carini last week – a fight that lasted just 46 seconds before the Italian abandoned saying she “had to preserve” her life.

That sparked widespread debate over the eligibility of Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who was also disqualified by the IBA last year.

The IBA said Khelif had “failed to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out” in its regulations, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the pair had been “suddenly disqualified without any due process”.

The IOC, which suspended the IBA in 2019 because of concerns over its finances, governance, ethics, refereeing and judging, has allowed the pair to compete and strongly backed them.

President Thomas Bach said on Saturday there was “never any doubt” they are women.

A chaotic news conference held by the IBA on Monday did little to lessen the confusion, with key IBA figures giving conflicting statements on why they were banned.

The IOC said competitors were eligible for the women’s division if their passports said they were female.

It will now see Khelif, already guaranteed bronze by reaching this semi-final, in the final of its biggest stage in three days’ time.

Lin fights in her semi-final in the 57kg category on Wednesday.

American Thomas, installed as favourite following the pre-competition withdrawal of Jamaica’s world champion Shericka Jackson, dominated the final to win in 21.83 seconds.

Neita, who also missed out on a 100m bronze by four-hundredths of a second on Saturday, and Asher-Smith were each hoping to become the first British woman to make an Olympic sprint podium for 64 years.

But Asher-Smith finished fourth in 22.22 and Neita crossed the line fifth in 22.23, behind runner-up Julien Alfred (22.08) and American bronze medallist Brittany Brown (22.20).

Thomas had to settle for world silver behind Jackson last year, having taken Olympic bronze in Tokyo.

But coming in as the fastest woman this year, and in the absence of her main rival, the 27-year-old unleashed a triumphant roar across the line and held her hands on her head in disbelief after seizing her moment.

“I’ve envisioned this race over and over in my head so many times, as I do with every race, and that’s how I win races,” said Thomas. “But I did not expect to feel how I felt when I crossed that line.

“I couldn’t believe it. I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would become an Olympic gold medallist. It was the happiest moment of my life.”

It was a second Games medal for runner-up Alfred after the 23-year-old had dominated the 100m final to make history as St Lucia’s first Olympic medallist.

Behind her was Brown, 29, as she clinched her second global medal – and first since winning world 200m silver behind Asher-Smith in 2019.

‘My time is coming’ – agony for Neita and Asher-Smith

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Neita and Asher-Smith are just edged out in the 200m final

Neita, 27, had made no secret of her determination to end her wait for an individual global medal in Paris – and she could not have gone much closer to achieving that.

Such are the fine margins in global sprint finals, she has finished a combined 0.07 seconds away from medals in the Olympic 100m and 200m.

Having made five global podiums as part of the women’s 4x100m relay squad, Neita has made impressive progress since reaching – but finishing last – in the Olympic 100m final in Tokyo three years ago.

“All in all it has been a fantastic Olympic Games for me,” Neita told BBC Sport. “I am a double finalist. Fourth place in the 100m by a couple of hundredths and [almost] the same here. I know my time is coming, I have to be a little bit more patient.

“I gave it my all tonight. I’m proud of myself but I really wanted to leave here with an individual medal and I am just hungry.”

It is to the relay where Neita’s attention now turns, alongside team-mate Asher-Smith.

Five years have passed since Asher-Smith, at the age of 23, realised her dazzling potential by becoming the first British woman to win a major global sprint title in this event at the 2019 World Championships.

In pursuit of a first Olympic medal, three years after being left in tears when she missed out on the 100m final in Tokyo, the 28-year-old was bitterly disappointed to fall short once again over that distance in Paris.

But Asher-Smith ensured a positive end to her individual campaign as she brushed off that setback to produce a strong 200m showing.

“I feel good. It has been a long week and I am proud of that performance,” she said.

“It was a really strong field, all the girls between them had so many strengths. So many good bend runners, so many amazing finishers and I was really proud that I held my own.”

Hudson-Smith eyes gold after cruising into final

Team GB’s Matthew Hudson-Smith set up his opportunity to race for Olympic 400m gold by cruising to victory in a high-quality semi-final.

With three of the six fastest men in the world this year in the same line-up, world silver medallist Hudson-Smith obliterated his competition and eased down before crossing the line in 44.07.

However, team-mate Charlie Dobson, making his Olympic debut, missed out on the qualifying positions as he clocked 44.48 for fourth in his race.

Grenada’s Kirani James, a three-time Olympic medallist in the event, posted the fastest time of the round in 43.78.

The men’s 400m final takes place at 20.20 BST on Wednesday.

Jacob Fincham-Dukes finished fifth in the men’s long jump final on his Olympic debut.

The 27-year-old produced a best leap of 8.14m as Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou retained his Olympic title by jumping 8.48m.

Fellow Briton Elizabeth Bird was seventh in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final, which saw gold go to Winfred Yavi, of Bahrain.

Laviai Nielsen suffered heartbreak in the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals as she fell after clipping the final barrier.

Team-mate Jessie Knight also failed to qualify, finishing fifth in her semi-final.

But American defending champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (52.13) and world champion Femke Bol (52.57), of the Netherlands, won their races to qualify as the two fastest athletes for Thursday’s gold-medal showdown.

It’s been an eventful Paris Olympics for Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso.

The 20-year-old athlete — who retired from the sport after she failed to advance out of her heat and into the women’s 100m butterfly semifinals on July 27 — was asked to leave the Olympic Village for creating an inappropriate environment, the Sun reported Monday.

“Her presence is creating an inappropriate atmosphere within Team Paraguay,” Larissa Schaerer, head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, said in a statement published by the outlet.

“We thank her for proceeding as instructed, as it was of her own free will that she did not spend the night in the Athletes’ Village.”

Alonso had reportedly been staying in the Olympic Village despite announcing her retirement from the sport.

Paraguayan media outlets reported that Alonso had spent time in Disneyland instead of supporting her teammates, upsetting the country’s Olympic leadership.

A separate report by The Daily Mail said Alonso became a distraction to other competitors with her “skimpy clothing and socializing with other athletes.”

She finished sixth in her heat with a time of 1:03.09, which was higher than her 1:00.37 from her heat in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

US swimmers Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh finished first and second, respectively.

it’s official! I’m retiring from swimming, thank you all so much for your support!” Alonso wrote on Instagram after the event. “Sorry Paraguay ♥️ I just have to say thank you!”

Alonso shared an emotional message, which she addressed to the sport, in a follow-up post.

“Swimming: thank you for allowing me to dream, you taught me to fight, to try, perseverance, sacrifice, discipline and many more things,” she wrote, including a bunch of photos of her competing at the Paris Olympics.“I gave you part of my life and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world because I lived the best experiences of my life, you gave me thousands of joys, friends from other countries that I will always carry in my heart, unique opportunities. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”

Before that, the former collegiate swimmer hinted that the Paris Games would be her last Olympics in a post on Instagram last month.

Alonso, who spent a season at Virginia Tech before transferring to SMU, went viral before the Paris Games for a tattoo of the Olympics rings on her hip.

She’s coming off a strong 2023, in which she set career bests in the 100m and 200m events in butterfly and competed in the NCAA championships.

Alonso has yet to address leaving the Olympic Village.

The 24-year-old has won every global men’s pole vault title since claiming his first Olympic crown in Tokyo three years ago. With this latest victory, he becomes only the second man to secure two pole vault golds at the Games, following the double achieved by USA’s Bob Richards in 1952 and 1956.

Duplantis had the competition won at 6.00m before he had the bar raised to 6.10m – a height that added 7cm to the Olympic record.

He cleared that on his first try but he wasn’t done there, and the bar went up to 6.25m – one centimetre higher than the world record of 6.24m he set in Xiamen in April.

After failing his first two attempts, he flew over the bar on his third and final try to make history yet again. Silver was claimed by USA’s Sam Kendricks with 5.95m, while an emotional Emmanouil Karalis of Greece got bronze with 5.90m.

I haven’t processed how fantastic that moment was,” Duplantis said later. “It’s one of those things that don’t really feel real, such an out-of-body experience.

“What can I say? I just broke a world record at the Olympics – the biggest possible stage for a pole vaulter. The biggest dream since I was a kid was to break the world record at the Olympics, and I’ve been able to do that in front of the most ridiculous crowd I’ve ever competed in front of.”

After the rest of the field started at 5.50m, Duplantis opened his campaign at 5.70m and soared way clear. He passed at 5.80m and was back in action at 5.85m, which he managed with more than 20cm to spare.

His first-time clearance at that height was a feat matched by world indoor bronze medallist Karalis, Philippines’ world silver medallist Ernest John Obiena, Australia’s world bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall and Ersu Sasma of Turkiye. Two-time world gold medallist Kendricks had one failed attempt at 5.85m and then decided to skip straight to 5.90m. It paid off as he made that on his first try and celebrated wildly.

Karalis, who was fourth at the Olympics in Tokyo, maintained his perfect record by clearing 5.90m on his first attempt and Obiena made it first time, too, but Sasma and Marschall knocked the bar and spent their remaining attempts trying to make it over 5.95m.

Kendricks then set a season’s best when he cleared 5.95m, on his first go. Taking just his third vault of the competition, Duplantis soared clear, too.

That height marked the end of the contest for Marschall, Sasma, Obiena and Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen, the latter taking one attempt each at 5.85m, 5.90m and 5.95m.

After his one try at 5.95m, Karalis attempted 6.00m twice. Although he wasn’t successful, he had done enough to secure the bronze on countback ahead of Obiena.

Duplantis was confirmed the winner when Kendricks failed the last of his three attempts at the six-metre bar and he continued to put on a show for fans in the Stade de France and around the world.

“I tried to clear my thoughts as much as I could,” said Duplantis, reflecting on the lead-up to his world record-breaking vault. “The crowd was going crazy. It was so loud in there, it sounded like an American football game. I have a little bit of experience of being in a 100,000-capacity stadium, but I was never the centre of attention. I was just trying to channel the energy everybody was giving me, and they were giving me a lot of it. It worked out.”

The two-time Olympic, two-time world indoor and two-time world outdoor champion has now cleared six metres or higher a total of 86 times.

In Paris, he topped a contest in which 11 men cleared 5.70m and it is only the second time at the Olympic Games in which that depth has been achieved.

It is also the second Olympics where eight men cleared 5.80m or higher, and the second Games where four men managed 5.90m or more.

USA’s Chris Nilsen claimed silver behind Duplantis in Tokyo but missed out on the final in Paris after failing to clear 5.60m in qualification. Home athletes Thibaut Collet and Anthony Ammirati were also among those who did not progress.

Djokovic, who has won a men’s record 24 majors and swept up every title there is in tennis, finally clinched Olympic gold at his fifth Games.

The Serb, 37, put in his best performance of the year to beat French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in front of a packed crowd in Paris.

He sealed the title with a forehand winner, then turned towards his box – arms outstretched in disbelief – before throwing his racquet to the floor after a draining match which lasted just under three hours.

After hugging Spain’s Alcaraz, Djokovic immediately burst into tears and fell to his knees in the middle of the court.

He then unfurled a Serbian flag and clambered into the stands to celebrate with his family and support team.

Djokovic is just the fifth player to win the ‘Golden Slam’ in singles – all four majors and the Olympic title – after Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

“Everything I felt in that moment when I won surpassed everything I thought or hoped that it would,” said Djokovic.

“Being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport.

“It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I have had.”

Alcaraz, 21, was also in tears after the match, but will leave with a silver medal on his Olympic debut.

Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti is the singles bronze medallist, having beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Friday.

Djokovic completes tennis with stunning win

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Novak Djokovic was swept aside by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final but turned the tables at Roland Garros

This moment will mean as much to Djokovic, if not more, than all the Grand Slams, Masters 1,000 titles and ATP tournaments he has won.

He left this same court at Roland Garros two months ago needing knee surgery, which put his Olympic dream at risk, and his reaction after Sunday’s win showed what it meant.

His family watched on from the stands, bearing Serbian flags, with daughter Tara carrying a sign that said “Dad is the best”.

Djokovic has spoken about seeing the Olympics as the pinnacle of sport, and the emotions of representing his country have affected him in his past four Games.

He won singles bronze in Beijing in 2008, finished fourth at London 2012, suffered an emotional early loss in Rio in 2016 and lost the bronze-medal match in Tokyo three years ago.

However, Djokovic did not drop a set in Paris and was focused from the outset, determined to get his hands on the one prize that had eluded him for so long.

The final match itself was a test of his determination – he was on the back foot in the first set but did not give in, saving all eight break points he faced and taking advantage as Alcaraz faltered in both tie-breaks.

Asked if he had ‘completed’ tennis, Djokovic said: “Yes it’s complete because I completed all the achievements with this gold medal, but no because I love this sport. I don’t play only to win the tournaments.

“I don’t know about the future, I really want to be in the present moment to celebrate. It was a long journey, many, many years of dreaming to be holding the gold medal. So now it’s about happiness, joy and celebration.”

It was played in a superb spirit, with both players often left laughing at the quality of the other’s shot-making.

The crowd was equally split between Spanish fans, decked in flags, and Serbia supporters carrying signs with “Nole” – Djokovic’s nickname – written on.

An electric atmosphere added to the tension – Alcaraz looked the more nervous and had to save a break point in his opening game, but he pushed Djokovic to the limit with his mix of touch and power.

However, Djokovic simply would not give in. He played some of his best tennis when down break point and, after taking the first set, was full of confidence.

There was the occasional gesture towards his support box – who responded by telling him to keep his head up and stay positive – but on the whole, Djokovic was as dialled in as he has been all year.

It has been a difficult season for Djokovic. He lost in the Australian Open semi-finals to Italy’s Jannik Sinner, had an indifferent hard-court swing, needed knee surgery after injuring himself at Roland Garros and was completely outplayed in his first final of the season at Wimbledon.

However, that will only make this victory that much sweeter for a man who shows no sign of stopping – and has not ruled out competing at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Italy win women’s doubles gold

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Sara Errani (left) and Jasmine Paolini were seeded third at Paris 2024

Elsewhere, Italy took gold in the women’s doubles as Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani beat Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider – the Russian pair playing under a neutral banner.

Andreeva and Shnaider are the first Russian athletes to medal at Paris 2024.

They were beaten 2-6 6-1 10-7 by Wimbledon finalist Paolini and former doubles world number one Errani.

Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova 6-2 6-2 in the bronze-medal match.

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The action gets going early with the Mixed Relay Final for the Triathlon, before Session 8 of the Athletics sees preliminary heats and qualifiers at Stade de France, while Session 9 in the evening will be headlined by the finals for the Men’s Pole Vault, Women’s Discus Throw, Women’s 5000m and Women’s 800m.

One of the outsiders for glory in the Women’s 800m is South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, who ran a world-leading time of 1:57.26 in a Diamond League meeting in Morocco and could prove a major headache for the favourites, such as Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain.

Sekgodiso’s coach, Samuel Sepeng (the brother of Olympic silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng and former mentor to Caster Semenya) wants his 22-year-old charge to chase after a spot in the final, where “anything can happen”.

“I feel like right now I have that experience whereby I know in the heat they take the top three. And in the semis that’s where you have to push yourself. That’s your final, actually,” Sekgodiso noted. “You have to put yourself in the top two. This year we have the Olympics and now I have a goal. My goal is to be in the final. Like my coach says, anything can happen once you are in the final.”

The Artistic Gymnastics will have finals for the Men’s Parallel Bars, Women’s Balance Beam, Men’s Horizontal Bar and Women’s Floor routine; Synchronised Swimming will feature the otherworldly precision and cohesion of the Team Technical Routine; Men’s Football semifinals will be played in Marseille and Lyon; and the 3×3 Basketball tournament will conclude with Gold Medal matches for both Women and Men late in the evening.

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Olympic Games Paris 2024 selected broadcast highlights

Monday 5 August

07:50: Triathlon, Mixed Relay Final – LIVE on SuperSport 225 and SuperSport Maximo 3

09:55: Athletics, Session 8 – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

11:40: Artistic Gymnastics, Finals – LIVE on SuperSport 225

17:50: Football, Men’s Semifinal 1 – LIVE on SuperSport 229 and SuperSport Maximo 360

18:25: Athletics, Session 9 – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

19:25: Synchronised Swimming, Team Technical Routine – LIVE on SuperSport 224

20:50: Men’s Football, Semifinal 2 – LIVE on SuperSport 229 and SuperSport Maximo 360

22:00: 3×3 Basketball, Women’s Gold Medal match & Men’s Gold Medal match – LIVE on SuperSport 225

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Session 6 of the Athletics programme gets going in the morning, with preliminary heats and qualifiers, while Session 7 in the evening will be headlined by finals for the Women’s High Jump, Men’s Hammer Throw, and the Men’s 100m.

The Men’s 100m sprint is a marquee event at any Olympics and this year’s race is set to be wide open, with no athlete able to dominate in the event since the retirement of the great Usain Bolt in 2016.

United States’ Noah Lyles, who is the reigning world champion in the 100m and 200m, is the favourite to triumph in Paris, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Fred Kerley, reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.

Tebogo has been a star on the rise in the last two years and believes that 2024 could bring amazing achievements for Africa sprinters: “I strongly believe this is an African year because when you look at Ferdy (Omanyala of Kenya) and Akani (Simbine of South Africa) and myself, we are there to leap over.”

Elsewhere, Egypt face Argentina in Men’s Handball, Tennis will feature matches for the Women’s Doubles Bronze Medal, Men’s Singles Gold Medal, Women’s Doubles Gold Medal, Nigeria’s D’Tigress will battle Canada in Women’s Basketball, and Table Tennis will decide the Gold Medal for Men’s Singles.

The Artistic Gymnastics will feature finals for Men’s Rings, Women’s Uneven Bars and Men’s Vault, while the evening brings Session 17 of the Swimming programme, with finals for the Women’s 50m Freestyle, Men’s 1500m Freestyle, Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay, and Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay.

Don’t miss the best sports action on DStv. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can watch live action on DStv Stream.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 selected broadcast highlights

Sunday 4 August

09:55: Athletics, Session 6 – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

10:50: Men’s Handball, Egypt v Argentina – LIVE on SuperSport 229

11:55: Tennis, Women’s Doubles Bronze Medal, Men’s Singles Gold Medal, Women’s Doubles Gold Medal – LIVE on SuperSport Tennis

13:20: Women’s Basketball, Canada v Nigeria – LIVE on SuperSport 229 and SuperSport Maximo 2

14:30: Table Tennis, Men’s Singles Gold Medal – LIVE on SuperSport 223

14:55: Artistic Gymnastics, Finals – LIVE on SuperSport 225

18:25: Athletics, Session 7 and Finals – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

18:25: Swimming, Session 17 – LIVE on SuperSport 224 and SuperSport Maximo 3

Azamati, Ghana’s record holder in the event, finished second in Heat 1, behind Jamaican Kishane Thompson, with a time of 10.08 seconds.

There was some controversy in that heat, as Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu, was disqualified for a false start.

Saminu, also came through Heat 7 in third place, with a time of 10.06 seconds, behind Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi and reigning Olympic champion, Marcell Jacobs.

This is the first time both Azamati and Saminu have reached an Olympic semifinal.

The men’s 100m semifinals will take place on Sunday evening.

The 22-year-old Ghanaian was unable to clear the bar at 1.92m on her third attempt.

Yeboah, a two-time African champion, successfully cleared 1.83m on her second attempt and 1.88m on her third.

However, she fell short at 1.92m, a height below her personal best of 1.97m.

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The morning’s action opens with  Women’s Single Sculls and Men’s Eights finals in Session 8 of the Rowing programme, followed by preliminary heats in Session 4 of the Athletics.

Tennis and Table Tennis will both be headlined by the Gold Medal matches for the Women’s Singles, Angola’s Women’s Handball team will tackle Brazil, and Artistic Gymnastics will feature finals for the Men’s Floor, Women’s Vault and Men’s Pommel Horse.

The Women’s Football Quarterfinals will be played through the course of the day at the Parc des Princes, Stade de Lyon, Stade de Marseille and Stade de Bordeaux.

The early evening sees the start of Session 5 of the Athletics programme, headlined by finals for the Men’s Shot Put, Women’s Triple Jump, Mixed 4x400m Relay, Women’s 100m and Men’s Decathlon 1500m.

The Women’s 100m final could bring a legendary moment for Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou – dubbed the ‘fastest woman in Africa’ – as she sets her sights on a podium.

“Objective podium! Objective medal, gold medal,” she exclaimed in the lead up to the Olympic Games Paris 2024. “I’m aiming for a place on the podium and a gold medal. Because I don’t want to leave my last Olympic Games without a medal.

“I know that with the individual races, and the Women’s 4x100m Relay, we’re going to give 100 percent to get there.”

Swimming’s Session 16 features finals for the Men’s 100m Fly, Women’s 200m Individual Medley, Women’s 800m Free and Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay, while the Men’s Basketball will see South Sudan battle Serbia.

Don’t miss the best sports action on DStv. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can watch live action on DStv Stream.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 selected broadcast highlights

Saturday 3 August

09:25: Rowing, Session 8, Women’s Single Sculls & Men’s Eight’s finals – LIVE on SuperSport 225 and SuperSport Maximo 1

09:55: Athletics, Session 4 – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

11:55: Tennis, Men’s Singles Bronze Medal, Women’s Singles Gold Medal, Men’s Double Gold Medal – LIVE on SuperSport Tennis

13:50: Women’s Handball, Brazil v Angola – LIVE on SuperSport Action

14:30: Table Tennis, Women’s Singles Gold Medal – LIVE on SuperSport 224

14:50: Women’s Football, Quarterfinal 1 – LIVE on SuperSport 228 and SuperSport Maximo 1

15:25: Artistic Gymnastics, finals – LIVE on SuperSport 225

16:50: Women’s Football, Quarterfinal 2 – LIVE on SuperSport 227 and SuperSport Maximo 360

18:50: Women’s Football, Quarterfinal 3 – LIVE on SuperSport 227and SuperSport Maximo 1

18:55: Athletics, Session 5 – LIVE on SuperSport 223 and SuperSport Maximo 2

20:25: Swimming, Session 16 – LIVE on SuperSport 226

20:50: Women’s Football, Quarterfinal 4 – LIVE on SuperSport 229

20:50: Men’s Basketball, Serbia v South Sudan – LIVE on SuperSport 227

The debutant clocked a time of 51.12s in Heat 4 lane 6 of the round which makes it unlikely to see him qualify for the semis.

This time is below his personal best of 50.57s, achieved at the Africa Aquatics Swimming Championship.

His outing was Ghana’s first at the ongoing Games in Paris.

Next up for Ghana is Joselle Mensah, who will participate in Swimming on August 3.

Before that, Rose Yeboah will compete in the preliminary round of the High Jump.

Serbia’s Djokovic, 37, looked on a different level to Nadal for most of a one-sided contest which he won 6-1 6-4 on the Roland Garros clay.

Djokovic led 4-0 in the second set to quell the partisan support for the Spaniard, before 38-year-old Nadal fought back to wipe out the double break.

But Djokovic, like we have seen him do so many times, stepped on the gas again to break for 5-4 and serve out victory.

“I’m very relieved,” said Djokovic. “Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.”

Nadal, known as the King of Clay, has won 14 French Open titles at the Olympic venue but the aura he carries there was not enough to trouble a man of Djokovic’s quality.

The pair, who have won 46 Grand Slam singles titles between them, shared an embrace at the net before Djokovic sportingly clapped Nadal off the court.

It was the 60th meeting of their enduring rivalry – no two men have ever played each other more.

After first meeting in 2006, Djokovic now leads 31-29 in their head-to-head.

“I never thought back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic steps up in latest chapter of enduring rivalry

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Novak Djokovic inflicted just the fifth defeat in 118 singles matches of Rafael Nadal’s career at Roland Garros

Djokovic has won everything there is to win in men’s singles tennis – including 24 Grand Slam titles across the four majors and every ATP Masters event.

But the Olympic title is the one which he still has not won – and the one he really craves.

The top seed, who had knee surgery eight weeks ago before returning to reach the Wimbledon final, produced arguably his highest level of the season to make the fast start which rocked 2008 gold medallist Nadal.

Nadal had a thigh injury heavily strapped again and was a shadow of the player who has won 22 majors. He could not cope with Djokovic’s quality until the late resistance.

Nadal will return to Roland Garros – where he has a metallic statue paying tribute to his achievements – on Tuesday when he plays for Spain in the men’s doubles alongside reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

What happens after that remains to be seen.

Nadal has barely played over the past two seasons because of injuries and hinted last year he could retire at the end of the 2024 season.

Although the former world number one has since said he wants to keep playing as long as his body lets him, this could have been the final time he played singles on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Whatever happens, there is a strong possibility Djokovic and Nadal will not renew their rivalry ever again on a competitive court.

The 26-year-old won her first match in the women’s individual sabre competition but was then knocked out in the last 16.

“What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come to our world little baby!” Hafez said in a post on Instagram.

Hafez, who is from Cairo and was appearing at her third Olympics, said “pride fills my being” after taking to the piste while expecting.

She beat Elizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States 15-13 before losing 15-7 to Jeon Hayoung of South Korea at the Grand Palais in the French capital.

“My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical and emotional,” she added.

“The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it.

“I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband (Ibrahim Ihab) and that of my family to be able to come this far.”

Smith strikes gold for Africa

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Tatjana Smith added 100m breaststroke gold to her two medals from Tokyo 2020

Hafez’s revelation came just a couple of hours before Tatjana Smith won Africa’s first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games, as the South African triumphed in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

The 27-year-old qualified fastest for the final, and a strong second length saw her win the third Olympic medal of her career in a time of one minute and 5.28 seconds at La Defense Arena.

“It took a village to get me where I am today,” Smith said.

“I swam for everyone that has been there for me, that has believed with me, and for my country as well.”

Smith won 100m breaststroke silver and 200m breaststroke gold in Tokyo three years ago while competing under her maiden name of Schoenmaker.

“There is always something to learn out of every race, and for me with Tokyo the only thing I wanted to change was to really just focus on my own race,” she added.

“I gave it my best and I am so grateful that I am walking away with the gold medal.”

Smith, from Johannesburg, will begin the defence of her 200m breaststroke title on Wednesday morning.

However, there was disappointment in the pool for compatriot Peter Coetze, who finished fifth in the men’s 100m backstroke final despite setting a new African record of 52.58 seconds.

Earlier on Monday South Africa’s Alan Hatherly won bronze in the men’s mountain bike cross-country race.

The 28-year-old, who had finished eighth in Tokyo three years ago, crossed the line 11 seconds behind gold medallist Tom Pidcock of Great Britain, and two seconds behind second-placed Victor Koretzky of France.

South Africa lead Africa’s medal table on Day 3 of the Games, with one gold and two bronzes.

Tunisia have a silver from Fares Ferjani in the men’s individual sabre, while Mohamed Elsayed won bronze for Egypt in the men’s individual epee on Sunday.

The Spanish duo beat the Argentine sixth seeds 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in front of a packed Court Phillipe Chatrier in Paris.

Nadal was Alcaraz’s childhood hero and the two have paired up in what is expected to be Nadal’s final season on tour.

When asked whether he would retire after the Games, Nadal said: “No, I never said that. It has been an unforgettable day, following an unforgettable day yesterday [carrying the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony].

“I’m enjoying every single moment and having the best experience possible.”

Alcaraz has long been described as Nadal’s heir, having won his first French Open title in June before defending his Wimbledon crown just two weeks ago.

And he described playing alongside his fellow countryman as a “beautiful moment”.

“I mean Rafa, what can I say about Rafa?” said Alcaraz.

“He plays an unbelievable game in singles, everybody knows that.

“But he plays really good tennis in doubles as well, and that was wild. So it’s easy playing with him, honestly, but dealing with the nerves was difficult.”

Nadal is the more experienced in doubles, winning Olympic gold in Rio in 2016, and it showed, with Alcaraz taking longer to adjust to the movement needed.

However, ‘Nadalcaraz’, as the superstar pair are being called, came back from a break down in both sets to reach the second round.

A deft touch at the net from Alcaraz secured victory for the pair, who shouted “vamos!” and embraced before sending spare balls flying out to fans in the stands.

They received vocal support from the crowd, which was full of Spanish flags – although even they were held up by the cheer that rang out after news of France’s gold in the rugby sevens filtered through.

Ebden asks for crowd advice against Djokovic

Heavy rain meant there was no play on the outside courts on Saturday.

Earlier on Chatrier – which has a roof – Novak Djokovic’s bid for a much-wanted Olympic gold medal began in style with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of Matt Ebden.

Serbia’s Djokovic has won almost everything there is in tennis but has never bettered his Olympic bronze from Beijing 2008.

He needed just 53 minutes to beat Australia’s Ebden, who was playing his first singles match for two years.

Ebden, primarily a doubles player, knew he was facing one of the toughest tasks in tennis – as his social media post on the day of the draw showed.

And it was exactly as he’d feared: after 30 minutes, he was 6-0 2-0 down and looked to be out of ideas.

He tried everything – including an underarm serve that Djokovic still returned – before jokingly offering his racquet to a group in the crowd to see if they could do any better.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon came when Ebden finally got on the board for 4-1 in the second set.

Ebden put his shirt over his head and celebrated towards the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation before an amused Djokovic patted him on the shoulder as they went to their chairs.

Djokovic may have wished for slightly tougher opposition to find his rhythm on the court, but he will welcome a quick victory nonetheless.

He could potentially play long-time rival Nadal next, although the Spaniard will need to beat Hungary’s Marton Fuscovics to progress.

Alcaraz made quick progress in his singles match, beating Lebanese Hady Habib 6-3 6-1, while Daniil Medvedev saw off Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-1 6-2.

With no play possible on the outside courts on Saturday, Britons Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Katie Boulter have to wait an extra day to begin their singles campaigns.

The segment, which resembled the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion and featured drag queens, a transgender model and a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine Dionysus, drew dismay from the Catholic Church and the religious right in America.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference.

“We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”

The International Olympic Committee said it took note of Paris 2024’s clarification.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director behind the flamboyant opening ceremony, said the scene had not been inspired by “The Last Supper” and depicted a pagan feast linked to the gods of Olympus.

“You will never find in my work a desire to denigrate anyone or anything,” Jolly told broadcaster BFMTV.

CATHOLIC HERITAGE

France, while proud of its rich Catholic heritage, also has a long tradition of both secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is not only legal, but also considered by many as an essential pillar of freedom of speech.

Hugo Bardin, whose drag queen character Paloma took part in the tableau, was disappointed Paris 2024 had felt compelled to apologise.

“An apology means recognising a mistake, recognising that you deliberately did something to harm, which was not the case,” Bardin said.

“What bothers people isn’t that we’re reproducing this painting,” Bardin continued, “what bothers people is that queer people are reproducing it.”

Supporters of the tableau praised its message of inclusivity and tolerance.

However, the Catholic church in France said it deplored a ceremony that “included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity”.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the highest-ranking Catholic official in Malta and an official for the Vatican’s powerful doctrinal office, said he had contacted France’s ambassador to Malta to complain about the “gratuitous insult”.

In a message to the ambassador shared on X he wrote: “I would like to express my distress and great disappointment at the insult to us Christians during the opening ceremony … when a group of drag artists parodied the Last Supper of Jesus.”

Some commentators said the controversy was another example of 21st-century culture wars turbocharged by a 24-hour news cycle and social media.

Jolly said on Saturday religious subversion had never been his intention.

“We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together. We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that,” he told reporters on Saturday.

With 329 events in 32 sports, the continent will have plenty of opportunities to get on the podium in the French capital.

While there are athletes who have already tasted success at the Olympics and are aiming to extend their legacies, others could make fresh history for their country or sport.

Here BBC Sport Africa picks out six competitors to keep an eye on over the course of the Games.

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, athletics)

With two world titles won and four world records set in the past 13 months, Kipyegon is in sparkling form heading to Paris.

The 30-year-old is aiming to secure her third successive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500m. No African athlete has ever won gold in the same event three times in a row.

Kipyegon lowered her 1500m world record time at the Diamond League meeting in the French capital earlier this month and will also be appearing in the 5,000m at the Games

After winning both titles at the World Championships last year, can the Kenyan repeat the feat at the Olympics and cement her position as the queen of the track?

In action: Friday, 2 August (5,000m heats), Monday, 5 August (5,000m final), Thursday, 8 August (1500m semis), Saturday, 10 August (1500m final).

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana, athletics)

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Image caption: Last year Letsile Tebogo became the first African man to claim a 100m podium finish at the World Athletics Championships

The first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier over 100m, Tebogo announced himself on the senior stage last year when he picked up two medals at the World Championships.

He took silver in the 100m and bronze over 200m, becoming the first African man to win a world medal over the shorter distance.

Off the track, the 21-year-old has had to cope with the death of his mother Seratiwa, with whom he shared a close bond, in May.

Tebogo could become the first African man to win a 100m or 200m medal at the Games since Frankie Fredericks in 1996, but he will have to be at his very best to go a step further and emerge from a competitive field to win his country’s first ever Olympic gold.

In action: Saturday, 3 August (100m heats), Sunday, 4 August (100m semis and final), Monday, 5 August (200m heats), Wednesday, 7 August (200m semis), Thursday, 8 August (200m final).​​​​​​​

Biniam Girmay (Eritrea, cycling time trial & road race)

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Image caption: Girmay is revered by Eritreans and fans from his home country are often there to support him at his races in Europe

Fresh from a successful Tour de France – making history as both the first black African to win a stage at the world’s most famous bike race and then topping the points classification – Girmay is already a national hero in Eritrea.

Should the 24-year-old finish in the top two in cycling’s time trial or road race then he would achieve the East African country’s best-ever result at the Olympics, surpassing an athletics bronze gained in 2004.

First comes the individual time trial, which looks set to be Girmay’s best chance of a medal, along a flat 32.4km-long route which starts on the Esplanade des Invalides and finishes on the Pont Alexandre III.

The 273km road race course a week later will be far more challenging – rolling out into the countryside west of Paris before a final climb up Montmartre along with cobbled streets and tightly winding sections.

Without the backing of a team of riders to help set up a sprint finish, the odds of victory on the Trocadero are stacked against Girmay. Yet he has been used to overcoming hurdles from the start of his career.

In action: Saturday, 27 July (time trial), Saturday, 3 August (road race).

Blessing Oborududu (Nigeria, freestyle wrestling)

An icon of wrestling in Nigeria and Africa, with 14 continental titles and four Commonwealth medals, Oborududu was her country’s best performer at Tokyo 2020, where she won silver in the 68kg category.

Aged 35, she returns in the same weight class for what could be her final Olympics.

Oborududu is seeded sixth on the back of the rankings points she has picked up since last year’s World Championships. France’s Koumba Larroque is among those ahead of her and will enjoy the backing of the home crowd.

Having made her senior debut in 2009, can Oborududu go out in a blaze of glory by topping the podium and delivering just a fourth Olympic gold medal for the West African nation?

In action: Monday, 5 August (68kg round of 16, quarters and semis), Tuesday, 6 August (68kg medal finals).

Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso, athletics)

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Image caption: A leap of 17.64 metres gave Hugues Fabrice Zango world triple jump gold in Budapest last year

The 31-year-old delivered Burkina Faso’s first-ever Olympic medal when he took bronze in the men’s triple jump in Tokyo three years ago.

Zango surpassed that feat by becoming world champion last year, with an effort of 17.64m in Budapest.

He was greeted by cheering crowds on his return to Ouagadougou and became the first sportsman to have the country’s highest honorary distinction – Officer of the Order of the Stallion – bestowed upon him for his achievements.

Also a qualified doctor in electrical engineering, Zango aims to be a “symbol of hope” to others in his West African homeland. The next target is registering more history for Burkina Faso in Paris.

In action: Wednesday, 7 August (triple jump qualification), Friday, 9 August (triple jump final).

Fatima Zahra El Mamouny (Morocco, breaking)

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Image caption: Fatima Zahra El Mamouny became Africa’s women’s breaking champion in May last year

Better known as B-girl El Mamouny, the Moroccan made history by becoming the first-ever qualifier for the Olympic breaking competition.

The sport has been introduced for Paris 2024 as the International Olympic Committee looks to appeal to a younger generation.

The 24-year-old got into breaking on the streets of Rabat, although at first her parents were not supportive of her newfound passion.

Dancers will compete in a series of one-on one battles, taking it in turns to show their moves and receiving marks for technique, variety, execution, musicality and originality.

The Place de la Concorde, a major public square at the end of Paris’ most famous street, the Champs-Elysees, could witness the African champion make Olympic history.

In action: Friday, 9 August.

Set to be the first Olympic Games Opening Ceremony held outside a stadium, the 26 July celebration will transform the French capital into a stadium and theatre as the traditional parade of athletes takes place in boats along the Seine, passing the most iconic Parisian landmarks.

Here is all you need to know about the Opening Ceremony.

When will the opening ceremony be held?

The Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place on Friday, 26 July.

The event will start at 19:30 CEST and is expected to last more than three hours.

Why is this ceremony historic?

Paris 2024 will mark the first time in history of the Olympic Summer Games that the Opening Ceremony is held outside a stadium.

Instead of familiar images of athletes marching out along an athletics track, guests and viewers will be treated to a colourful river parade through the heart of the French capital.

The Seine, the city’s main water artery, will substitute for the traditional track, the quays will become spectator stands, while the setting sun reflecting off famous Parisian landmarks will provide the backdrop for the event.

This outdoor concept also makes Paris 2024 the largest Opening Ceremony in terms of audience and geographical coverage.

What is the route of the parade?

The parade route along the Seine is a visual journey through Parisian history and architecture.

The Austerlitz Bridge next to the Jardin des Plantes is the starting point for the flotilla, which will then continue west for 6 kilometres along the Seine, passing under historic bridges and by iconic landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame and the Louvre, as well as some Games venues, including the Esplanade des Invalides and the Grand Palais.

Grouped on the boats with their national teams, the athletes will ultimately arrive opposite the Trocadero – the esplanade across from the Eiffel Tower – where the official protocols will be carried out, the Olympic cauldron lit, and the Paris 2024 Games officially declared open.

How many athletes will take part?

Almost 100 boats carrying an estimated 10,500 athletes will float along the Seine during the parade. The larger of the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) represented in the parade will have boats to themselves, while the smaller ones will share boats.

Camera equipment set up on the decks will allow spectators to see the athletes up close and witness their emotions.

What entertainment performances can we expect?

Thomas Jolly, a French theatre director and actor, is overseeing the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies as artistic director.

While most of the entertainment acts remain under wraps, based on the hints so far, we can expect a show on a grand scale with an eclectic mash up of the old and the new. Speaking to the media in January, Jolly said that he wants to showcase the contrasting cultures of France, be that opera or rap, thus bringing together all the pieces that form the nation’s diverse cultural identity.

For his part, ceremonies choreographer Maud Le Pladec promised that every bridge along the parade route will have dancers on it. Le Pladec will lead 400 dancers out of the total 3,000 artists who are set to take part in the Paris 2024 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, all decked out in one-of-a-kind costumes by Daphne Burki.

The French television presenter serves as the costume director for the show, leading a team of hundreds of dressmakers, hair stylists and makeup artists. Burki’s focus on sustainability also means there will be many vintage and upcycled pieces used in the ceremonies, mixed in with newer creations.

What will the athletes be wearing?

Artists will not be the only ones showing their style at the Opening Ceremony. With a line-up of luxury brands designing athlete uniforms, expect the Olympians to shine as well.

Team USA mix preppy jackets with jeans for a cool, all-American look, while Italian athletes will show up in casual, dark blue sets. Hosts France worked with a luxury brand to come up with vests and jackets that tie in with the general Paris 2024 look.

Other teams, such as Canada, Great Britain and Sweden, opted for a more athleisure look, all evoking the colour palettes of their national flags.

Some nations went even further with the patriotic details. Mongolian outfits have already created a buzz on social networks for their intricate embroidery and traditional silhouettes.

Brazil and Guatemala’s looks are also sure to turn heads. Brazil’s denim jackets feature animals that are native to the country, while the Guatemalan athletes are dressed up in folkloric hats and bags to make a colourful statement on the Seine.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO WATCH THE OPENING CEREMONY?

Almost 600,000 people will be able to enjoy the Opening Ceremony in person. True to its slogan, “Games Wide Open”, Paris 2024 tried to make the event accessible to as many people as possible by taking it outside of the traditional stadium setting.

There were 222,000 free tickets available to watch the parade from the upper banks of the Seine, in addition to 104,000 paid tickets on the lower quays. This marks the first Opening Ceremony where most spectators will not pay an admission fee – another historic milestone for Paris 2024.

Those in Paris who could not get tickets will be able to watch the Opening Ceremony on 80 giant screens set up throughout the city.

An additional 1.5 billion people from around the world are expected to tune into the television broadcasts of the ceremony.

Morocco had been 2-0 ahead against Argentina, who pulled a goal back and were pushing for an equaliser. Cristian Medina then appeared to have made it 2-2 in the 16th of what had been 15 scheduled minutes of injury time at the end of the second half.

After the resulting crowd trouble, play finally resumed after a lengthy delay with no fans present, and with VAR having ruled out Argentina’s equaliser, Morocco secured a controversial 2-1 victory.

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Image caption: A number of bottles and cups were thrown at the celebrating players after Argentina’s second goal, which was later disallowed

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Fans had to leave the stadium after the crowd trouble

Here’s how the chaos and confusion unfolded…

• Immediately after Medina looked to have made it 2-2, a number of cups and bottles were then thrown at the celebrating Argentina side before what appeared to be a flare landed near the players and coaching staff.
• A number of fans in Morocco colours also ran on to the pitch, with some being escorted off the pitch by stewards.
• Riot police moved to the side of the pitch and the referee immediately took the players off the pitch.
• The fans inside the stadium in Saint Etienne were told to leave the ground and a message on a big screen said: “Your session has been suspended please make your way to the nearest exit.”
• It was unclear whether the match had been classed as finished, but it was then revealed the final three minutes would be played in an empty stadium with no fans present.
• Before the match could be played to a finish, it was announced that Argentina’s potential equaliser had actually been ruled out by a video assistant referee decision that showed a player was offside before Medina scored.

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Image caption: Referee Glenn Nyberg gestures after VAR disallowed Argentina’s second goal

• The players had gone off the pitch at 16:05 BST, and they then came back to warm up at 17:45 before the match could resume at 18:00.
• Immediately the referee checked to see if the ‘equaliser’ should stand via a pitchside monitor and, as expected, the ‘goal’ was disallowed.
• Play resumed just after 18:00 for the last three minutes, and with neither side scoring further, Morocco won the match 2-1.

Both Morocco goals were scored by Soufiane Rahimi, one just before half-time and then a penalty early in the second half as they looked to begin their 2024 gold-medal bid with a win.

Argentina pulled a goal back through Giuliano Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid manager and former Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone.

But, after all the drama, it was Morocco who took the three points.

Argentina won the men’s Olympic football tournament in 2004 and 2008 and ex-Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, who was a part of the winning squad for the second of those successes, is managing the team in 2024.

Mascherano’s side will now need to get positive results against Iraq on Saturday and Ukraine on Tuesday to have a chance of finishing in the top two in the group and advancing to the quarter-finals.

A statement from the tournament organisers said: “The football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended due to a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators.

“The match then restarted and was able to conclude safely. Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions.”

Azamati is a member of Team Ghana, which is currently in Paris for the Olympic Games.

The team has been training in Strasbourg ahead of the competition, which runs from July 26 to August 11.

Reflecting on his experience at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Azamati shared his excitement for the upcoming games and emphasized the significance of representing his country.

“Representing Ghana means a lot. To be able to put on the jersey and go out there and represent the whole nation means a lot to me. I’ve seen Aziz (Zakari) and the others represent Ghana and I think it’s time for us to also do it,” he told SuperSport.

“I believe putting on that jersey goes a long way. It shows the work that we’ve put in, setting everything else aside. I’m just happy and proud to be able to wear the jersey and represent our country,” he added.

Azamati will be competing as part of Ghana’s Men’s 4×100 Relay Team in Paris.

The 37-year-old is planning to play in the singles and doubles at what will be his fifth Games.

“Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament,” Murray wrote on X.

“Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time!”

The Scot’s first Games appearance was in Beijing in 2008, when he lost in straight sets to Lu Yen-hsun in the first round.

Four years later, Murray swiftly put the disappointment of a Wimbledon final defeat by Roger Federer behind him, defeating the Swiss in straight sets at London 2012 to win gold.

The Briton became the first male tennis player to win two Olympic singles titles when he beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro at Rio 2016.

“Sir Andy has lived and breathed the values of tennis throughout his long career, championing equality and helping to send the message that our sport is for everyone,” International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said.

“Sir Andy’s love of tennis will see him continue to be involved in helping to grow and develop our sport globally.”

The three-time Grand Slam winner had career-saving hip surgery in January 2019.

Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, played competitively at SW19 for one last time earlier this month when he was knocked out of the doubles in the first round alongside his brother Jamie.

A back injury had threatened Murray’s participation at Wimbledon and he left it until the final moment before pulling out of the singles. He had hoped to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu, but she pulled out of that planned pairing because of a wrist injury concern.

Speaking after his defeat at Wimbledon, Murray said: “It is hard because I want to keep playing, but I can’t.

“Physically it’s too tough now. I want to play forever. I love the sport.”​​​​​​​

The Scot said earlier this year that he was “not planning to play much beyond the summer” but hoped to compete in Paris.

Dan Evans, the British number three, will partner Murray in the doubles.

The opening rounds of the tennis in Paris begin at Roland Garros on 27 July and the event concludes on 4 August, with medal rounds being played from 2 August.

Afterwards, they will travel to the Games Village in Paris by train on July 22.

The GOC will cover the costs of Team Ghana’s pre-Olympic training camp for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Ghana will be represented by nine athletes competing in athletics and swimming.

Ben Nunoo Mensah, the GOC President, emphasized that the committee is working alongside the government to ensure a successful campaign for Team Ghana, thereby alleviating some of the government’s burden.

He revealed that the GOC has allocated €35,000 for the pre-games camp, excluding flight tickets and per diems.

Support has been received from the French Embassy in Ghana and a pre-games subsidy from the International Olympic Committee to assist with the training camp and acclimatization.

Regarding the overall budget for the Games, Mr. Nunoo Mensah stated that it is handled by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, so he could not provide specific figures.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from Friday, July 26, 2024, to Sunday, August 11, 2024.

In the previous Tokyo Games, Ghana participated in four disciplines: Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting, and Judo. Notably, young boxer Samuel Takyi won a bronze medal.

McLaughlin-Levrone, 24, recorded a time of 50.65 seconds, which was 0.03secs faster than her previous best when she won the World Championships at the same track in 2022.

She was almost two seconds ahead of second-placed Anna Cockrell, who ran 52.64secs.

It was the fifth time she has broken the world record.

“I wasn’t expecting that time,” she said. “It’s super encouraging, knowing that more is there.”

Elsewhere, Shericka Jackson qualified for the 200m at the Paris Games by retaining the Jamaican Championship title.

Double world champion Jackson, 29, who had already qualified for the 100m, recorded a season’s best of 22.29secs on Sunday.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce chose not to compete in the 200m at the championships after finishing third in the 100m on Friday.