Sarah Rendell, Will Magee, Katy Murrells, Martin Belam, Will Unwin and Jonathan Howcroft 

Paris 2024 Olympics day two: Peaty shares 100m breaststroke silver after Murray keeps tennis career alive – as it happened

Adam Peaty shares silver as Andy Murray and Dan Evans save five match points to progress to round two in the men’s doubles
  
  

Adam Peaty wins silver.
Adam Peaty wins silver. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Thank you for joining us. It has produced some special sporting moments as well as some shocks and records.

We will be back tomorrow to bring you all of the action from the Games but for now here are some of the day’s top stories:

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There has been some challenging weather conditions in the surfing with powerful winds. Portugal’s Yolanda Hopkins suffered a wipeout but she got back on her board to record the best wave of her heat to progress. While in heat seven Brazil’s Tainá Hinckel was the athlete to come through.

A record was broken in the stands rather than the pitch in the women’s rugby sevens today. The event broke the record for the biggest crowd for a women’s rugby game with 60,000 in attendance at the Stade de France. It break the record set at Twickenham in 2023 during the Women’s Six Nations between England and France.

I’m going to guess that you have heard about Team GB’s Andy Murray and his doubles partner Dan Evans’ win earlier, but you never know you may have missed it. Catch up with the story below:

Some of the swimmers waved when they stepped on to the dark pool deck for the men’s 100m breaststroke final, some of them punched the air, pressed their hands together in prayer, or cupped their hands to their ears. Adam Peaty did not so much as flicker his eyes left or right. The defending Olympic champion walked straight ahead to the blocks, and set himself for the race ahead. Win it, as he did in Rio and Tokyo, and he would become the third swimmer in history, after Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, to win gold in the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games.

He lost. A minute later, 59.05sec to be precise, Peaty touched the wall in second. He was just two-hundredths behind the Italian Nicolò ­Martinenghi, who was out in lane seven. So it was silver, and he even had to share it with Nic Fink from the USA, who finished dead level with him.

Read more:

Team GB women have secured team qualification:

In the other 8pm BST kick-off in the women’s football there has been a huge result. France were leading after a goal from Marie-Antoinette Katoto but Canada levelled through Jessie Fleming. Canada then found a late winner after Vanessa Gilles scored deep into injury time. It has been a controversial Games for Canada with their drone scandal but they are now two wins from two.

In the women’s football, USA have defeated Germany 4-1. Sophia Smith scored two and Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams added one each to make it two wins from two for Emma Hayes. Guilia Gwinn was the scorer of Germany’s lone goal.

Perhaps the pivotal moment in this game – tonally, if not competitively – came right at the end of the third quarter. Anthony Edwards sends Nikola Jovic to the shoe shop with an outrageous feint and slip, drains a simple two, and as he peels away he sees pretty much the entire bench doing impressions of him, spinning and reeling, consumed in fits of laughter. That, in hindsight, was probably the point at which a potentially tricky Olympic basketball opener against the world’s No 4 side dissolved fully into riotous, uproarious pantomime. Read more:

Germany’s Dominik Koepfer has come out on top of his thriller in the men’s singles tennis against Canada Milos Raonic. Koepfer won 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(1) to advance to the second round.

Raonic is playing in his final Olympics but it doesn’t end with that defeat. He is competing in the doubles with compatriot Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Léon Marchand crushed his competition to take gold in the men’s 400m individual medley tonight. His home crowd absolutely delighted in the win, catch up with the race here:

Team GB’s Kim Woods has reacted to winning bronze in the kayak final earlier today. She said: “It feels absolutely incredible. I can’t believe how long my journey’s been. I’ve been paddling for 20 years now and finally have a medal around my neck.” Read the full piece:

Japan’s Koki Kano has won gold in the men’s epee individual fencing after beating France’s Yannick Borel 15-9.

In round one of the men’s singles tennis there is an absolute thriller taking place. Canada’s Milos Raonic won the first set 7-6 against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer. Koepfer hit back in the second 7-6 to force the match to a third set. That is currently 5-5 with both giving absolutely everything on court.

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Do you want all of the results in one place? Of course you do and we have it for you. Click below for all the details:

In the women’s football two games are still in action. Canada have equalised against France in their match that stands at 1-1, while the USWNT are leading Germany 3-1. I will confirm those results when the full whistle peeps.

Egypt’s Mohamed Elsayed has won bronze in the men’s epee individual fencing after beating Hungary’s Tibor Andrasfi 8-7.

Hosts France have another chance to add to their medal tally as Yannick Borel is going up against Japan’s Koki Kano in the men’s epee individual fencing final. That action just getting underway.

American Lee Kiefer has won the women’s foil individual fencing gold after beating compatriot Lauren Scruggs 15-6 in the final. It was a dominant and strong performance from Kiefer.

In the women’s 200m freestyle semi-finals, American Claire Weinstein topped the first semi with one minute, 55.24 seconds. In the second semi-final Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who won last night, was the fastest with a time of 1:54:64.

In the women’s foil individual fencing final there are American compatriots fighting for the gold medal. Lauren Scruggs is up against Lee Kiefer with Kiefer leading 8-3 as things stand.

I believe Peaty is joint second and so third Nic Fink will also get a silver.

In the pool next is the women’s 200m freestyle semi-finals. There’s also fencing and football results and more to come this evening.

Peaty added: “I am so happy I can race the best in the world and coming second. These are happy tears because I said I gave my absolute best everyday and I have. This event has changed so much, as racing can, now I’m almost an older man here now. I can’t have relentless pursuit every day without sacrifice… As a man now it is hard to compete with the younger ones.”

Adam Peaty has spoken to the BBC: “I mean it has been a very long way back and look at the score there. I gave my absolute all there. It’s not about the end goal, it’s all about the process. It doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says, I’m already a winner. I’m not crying because I came second, I’m crying because of the journey.”

It’s not to be for Peaty, he didn’t get the best start. He got himself back into it but Martinenghi really went through the gears. A close battle, tough for Peaty but a silver is not to be sniffed at.

Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi is the new Olympic champion. What a swim from him, he records a time of 59.03. Peaty takes silver with 59.05 and Nic Fink takes bronze. Wow.

Peaty doesn't win gold

Wow. A shock.

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That confirmation now, Morgan was seventh fastest but he is in an eight-strong final. Now, for Peaty.

The second 100m men’s backstroke is won by China’s Xu with a time of 52.02. British swimmer Oliver Morgan came third there with 52.85. No official confirmation but I think Morgan has made the final but GB’s Marshall has not.

It’s 100m men’s back stroke semi-finals and the whole field in the first semi is so close. Italy’s Thomas Ceccon was the fastest with 52.58 seconds. Britain’s Jonny Marshall was eighth with 53.46, we’ll have to see how the second one goes to see who qualifies.

Thank you Will, I hope you treat yourself to a few sugars in that tea. It is almost Peaty time but first we have some men’s backstroke semi-finals.

It’s almost time for Adam Peaty’s tilt for a third straight gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke. Sarah Rendell is going to guide you through it, as I need a breather and a nice cup of tea. Over to Sarah.

Here’s Nicole Jeffery’s snap report from the women’s 100m butterfly, with Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh of the USA winning gold and silver respectively and Zhang Yufei claiming bronze.

Women’s rugby sevens: China have indeed completed a huge 40-12 upset against Fiji. High drama.

Women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals: Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa has won the second semi, with Mona McSharry of Ireland in second and Lilly King of the USA in third. Britain’s Angharad Evans comes in fourth and that’ll be enough to see her through to the final in sixth position!

Here’s the report from Australia’s epic comeback against Zambia in the women’s football. Enjoy!

Women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals: Tang Qianting of China has won the first semi, with Alina Zmushka of Belarus – competing as a neutral – in second and Benedetta Pilato of Italy in third.

Joe Pearson writes in with a helpful update. “Hi Will! I know it’s like trying to keep up with a runaway train, but China led Fiji in the women’s rugby sevens 19-7 at the half. Upset klaxon warning!!!” It’s now 40-12 (!) to China and almost over.

Max Litchfield is speaking to the BBC and he’s understandably gutted after finishing fourth in the men’s 400m individual medley for the third Games in a row. “I don’t really know what to say,” he says tearfully, adding that he takes some solace from breaking the British record with a time of 4 min 8.85 sec. “I’ve given my everything mentally and emotionally. It’s just not meant to be, again.”

Here’s our report from Rosie Eccles’s split-decision defeat to Aneta Rygielska in the women’s 66kg division boxing. “A boxer knows when they have won a fight,” Eccles said afterwards. “I knew I had won the fight so I am really, really shocked. It feels as if I am in a dream right now, but not a great one. For her to have a point taken off for spoiling, I am even more gutted.”

Women’s football: It’s all over in Nice and Australia have won 6-5. Trying to keep up with tonight’s action has been like trying to outrun a high-speed train.

Men’s 200m freestyle semi-finals: Scott gives an impressive showing to finish second behind David Popovici of Romania. Richards edges through to the final in seventh position.

Men’s 200m freestyle semi-finals: Britain’s Matthew Richards has finished fourth in the first semi, leaving him in a precarious position. Duncan Scott, also of Team GB, is in action in the second semi.

Women’s football: In another amazing comeback, having been 5-2 down, Australia now lead Zambia 6-5 in Nice. We’ve got a dedicated live blog for the game and nobody would blame you for switching.

Look at the roar as Murray and Evans sealed victory. Imagine the sheer adrenaline flowing through those two right now.

Another email from Simon McMahon. “I’m in bits, Will. But I’m not crying, you’re crying. What will we do without Andy? What will tennis do without Andy? What will the Olympics do without Andy?”

Huge cheers in the men’s 400m individual medley as the local hero Leon Marchand obliterates the field to win gold. The Frenchman was already well clear after the butterfly, and was pretty much out of sight after the backstroke. He then extended his lead further in the breaststroke with the crowd chanting “Allez! Allez!” after every stroke. He then brought it home in the freestyle to win in 4 mins 2.95 sec – a new Olympic record. Britain’s Max Litchfield was fourth in this race for a third successive Games.

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Murray and Evans beat Daniel and Nishikori 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9

Wow. Just wow. Murray has extended his career in semi-miraculous fashion, he and Evans saving five match points to roar back and win the deciding tie-break 11-9.

Men’s doubles tennis: Wait a minute! Evans and Murray have somehow dragged it back to 9-9! Five match points squandered by Daniel and Nishikori!

Marchand wins gold in men’s 400m individual medley!

… and he’s won it by an absolute mile. Tomoyuki Matsushita of Japan has won silver, with Carson Foster of the USA taking bronze. The crowd are euphoric as their champion leaps out of the pool to wave and bask in the adulation.

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Men’s doubles tennis: Despite their second-set heroics, it’s not looking good for Evans and Murray in the deciding first-to-10 tie-break. The British pair are 3-8 down.

Men’s 400m individual medley: Time to take a quick break from the tennis to see whether Marchand can live up to expectation. The swimmers are out, Britain’s Max Litchfield included. Marchand is met by an enormous roar from the crowd.

We’ve got mail! Simon McMahon writes: “Evening Will. NO WAY Murray is retiring after these Olympics. Win or lose, he’s like the terminator. He’ll be back. One more tilt at Wimbledon next year. Though I know the reality. Just can’t bear to think that Andy will have played his last ever point of competitive tennis tonight. COME ON DAN, COME ON ANDY!!!”

Our report from the USA’s 110-84 victory over Serbia in the basketball has landed. Have a read, if you like.

Incredible scenes at La Defense Arena in Paris, writes Sean Ingle, as the 15,000-strong crowd begin an impromptu version of La Marseillaise before shouts of “Leon! Leon!” ring out. The French star Leon Marchand goes for swimming gold in the 400m individual medley in under 10 minutes ...

Men’s doubles tennis: Evans and Murray earn three set points, but Daniel and Nishikori defend the first two. The British pair succeed at the third time of asking, however, Murray delivering the decisive blow at the net to level the match at one set apiece.

Men’s doubles tennis: The pairs trade points before a thunderous rally ends with Evans playing a crafty shot to make it 4-3. Murray then sends in a thumping serve and Evans follows up with another killer shot to put some daylight between the pairs at 5-3.

Men’s doubles tennis: Daniel and Nishikori get an early mini-break, but Evans breaks back with a wonderful return. Evans and Murray make it 2-2, the latter winning the point with an unstoppable smash.

Men’s doubles tennis: What a game. Nishikori holds, but Evans and Murray win a couple of superb rallies along the way. The highlight, though, is an audacious lob from Nishikori which drops just inside the baseline. It’s 6-6 and we’re heading to a tie-break.

Men’s doubles tennis: It’s a shakier service game from Evans, but he and Murray win a vicious rally to make it 40-30 when Nishikori attempts a lob that goes just long. Evans closes out with an excellent serve and Murray kills the game with a cross-court smash at the net to make it 6-5.

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Hello! It’s been a frenetic start to the Games, hasn’t it? Back to the tennis, then, before the swimming gets under way. Daniel holds serve to love and it’s 5-5.

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Right, it’s time for me to hand over to Will Magee for the second-set denouement – plus all the other action coming up shortly, including a big night in the pool. Over to you Will …

Fist pumping, screaming and British flag flying aplenty at Roland Garros, where a flying Evans shows tremendous reflexes at the net to dispatch a winning volley and break Nishikori to love! They’re back on serve once more in the second set at 4-4. But Murray – so fallible on serve today – must now hold serve. And it’s 30-40, break point. If the Japanese duo take this they’ll be serving for the match. But once again Evans performs heroics at the net. Deuce. Game Murray and Evans. Cue much more fist pumping. The British team are ahead in the second set for the first time. They lead 5-4 – having lost the first set 6-2.

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GB’s women have suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Australia in the rugby sevens. They’ve lost 36-5 against the 2016 Olympic champions at the Stade de France. GB started with a 21-12 win over Ireland earlier but have been outclassed here – Ireland, meanwhile, who are making their Olympic debut in Paris, have routed South Africa 38-0 in their second Pool B match.

And Angelique Chrisafis reports that scepticism among the French about hosting the Games has been replaced by euphoria, helped by impressive early medal success:

When the French rugby sevens won gold with their national hero Antoine Dupont blasting through Fiji’s defence, and tens of thousands of fans in berets and cockerel outfits at the Stade de France began chanting Edith Piaf’s cabaret classic, Non, je ne regrette rien, it was clear that France was on a roll like never before.

No one had expected the sheer scale of togetherness and raw patriotic emotion in France in the first weekend of the Olympics. A nation which had for months been overwhelmingly sceptical about hosting the world’s biggest sporting event, got on board with the Games with such fervour that even “Toto” Dupont himself was surprised.

“I’ve rarely seen an atmosphere like this before, even though I’ve played matches in this stadium,” the famously humble Toulouse rugby star said at the Stade de France.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the 27-year-old jumped from the stage at the Club France venue in La Villette wearing a pair of giant bunny ears and was passed gently and respectfully around above fans’ heads like a precious human talisman.

It seemed like the country, hit by political crisis and without a proper government, was now desperate to forget its troubles for two weeks and party day and night.

France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot laid the ghost of bitter experiences in past Olympic Games with an accomplished ride to an emotional gold medal in the women’s mountain biking, but it was a mixed day for the hosts after Loana Lecomte sustained a serious injury in a crash.

For Ferrand-Prévot it was a monumental victory, long in the making, in what is expected to be her last mountain biking race. The 32-year-old, five times a world champion, was 25th in London 2012, forced to abandon after a crash at the Rio Olympics, and thwarted by a puncture in Tokyo.

“I’ve been in robot mode the past few months, like a hermit,” Ferrand-Prévot said. “I haven’t spoken to anyone. I just trained, ate and slept.”

Now, after finally winning Olympic gold, she is planning to move into road racing. “I want to prepare for the Tour de France Femmes and try to win the Tour next year,” she said.

Team GB’s Evie Richards, riding her second Olympic Games, finished fifth, only 25 seconds outside the medal positions, despite recovering from a serious concussion less than two months ago. “Seeing as I was in bed with a concussion seven weeks ago, fifth was great,” Richards said. “I banged my head really badly, and I had close to six weeks off the bike.

Cheers on Lenglen as Murray and Evans break to drag themselves back to 2-2 in the second set. But no sooner do they break … than they’re in danger of being broken. They’re 0-40 down on Murray’s serve. It would be the third time Murray’s serve has been broken in this match. He’s clearly still not fully fit after his surgery to remove a spinal cyst – the Olympics appear to have come around a little too soon. They save the first break point, but the Japanese pair cut them in two with a winner down the middle that clips the baseline on the second! Nishikori and Daniel have the break once more and lead 6-2, 3-2.

A surprise in the judo. The Tokyo 2020 champion in the women’s 48kg category, Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, has been beaten in the 52kg final. Diyora Keldiyorova of Uzbekistan wins gold, Krasniqi silver and Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta and France’s Amandine Buchard bronze.

Strong serving from Daniel backs up the break. That’s seven games in a row for the Japanese pair. But Evans does at least offer some resistance by charging to 40-0 on his serve – and Evans whips away a forehand winner to hold to 15 and stop the rot. They’re still down though, 6-2, 2-1. But they do have something to try to build on.

Uh oh. Murray is break point down in the opening game of the second set. And a double fault hands it to his Japanese opponents. Murray stares down at the clay and then decides to fiddle with his shoelaces, as if they were to blame. The crowd on Suzanne Lenglen groans. As does Judy Murray probably, who’s sitting in the stands. The Brits trail 6-2, 1-0.

No such problems early on in the women’s singles for Coco Gauff, one of the USA’s flagbearers in the opening ceremony, along with LeBron James. She leads Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 3-1 in the opening set.

Murray said this summer when asked about his looming retirement that there is no perfect way to end a tennis career. I’m not sure he’d have had this in mind though. Hopefully him and Evans can regroup in this second set.

Murray’s career could be coming to a very quick end on the Paris clay at this rate. Japan’s Nishikori, despite being comprehensively beaten by Britain’s Jack Draper in the singles earlier, is in inspired form alongside Daniel, hitting freely, and both Murray and Evans have had their serves broken. That’s four games in a row and Nishikori is serving for the first set at 5-2. Make that 6-2. Nishikori serves it out to love.

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US men open with win over Serbia in basketball

It’s all over in Lille: the USA opening their men’s basketball campaign with a statement 110-84 win over Serbia – who are supposed to be their biggest rivals for gold. Smiles all round from LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Olympic debutant Steph Curry. James got 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds – and Durant led the way with 23 points in less than 17 minutes on court. They’ll be delighted to get over the 100-point mark in only a 40-minute game. A dream start from the new Dream Team.

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A couple of women’s football results to bring you: Colombia have beaten New Zealand 2-0 to claim their first win of the tournament, while Japan scored two goals in injury time to stun Brazil 2-1. Just getting under way: Australia v Zambia and Spain v Nigeria – and the Matildas are already a goal down, conceding in the first minute. You can follow that match with Sarah here.

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Evans and Murray come from a break point down in Evans’s service game to hold, with Murray sealing the game with a dismissive volley at the net. The Brits lead 2-1 in the opening set on serve.

Dan Evans also played in the men’s singles earlier, winning his first-round match against Tunisia’s Moez Echargui in three sets, despite taking a tumble on the clay in the second set. As well as grazing his knee, he needed treatment on his wrist and back. He’s looking OK in the early stages this evening though, alongside Murray in the doubles. Evans is serving at 30-15 and it’s one game all. Evans, by the way, at the age of 34 is playing in his first Olympics – while Murray won singles gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and also picked up a mixed doubles silver in London.

End of the third quarter in Lille and the USA are now running away with it in the men’s basketball: they lead Serbia 84-65, having trailed 10-2 early on.

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At Roland Garros in the tennis, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon this month, has knocked out Gael Monfils at his home Olympics, 6-1, 6-4. It means that Andy Murray, in the final event of his career, has stepped on to court for his doubles match alongside Dan Evans. The Brits are taking on the Japanese pair of Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori.

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Jack Snape reports from the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on that dramatic women’s kayak single (K1) final:

Australia’s flag bearer Jess Fox has delivered under huge pressure to continue her country’s golden start to the Games, winning the women’s kayak at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in eastern Paris.

The 30-year-old came into Sunday’s semi-final with the fastest time in Saturday’s heats but slipped to eighth before the medal race, triggering fears she may not live up the expectations that come with being the face of the Australian team in Paris.

But she produced a brilliant display in the final, finishing the course in a clean 96 seconds, winning by one and a half seconds over Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska. Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods won bronze after Germany’s Ricarda Funk picked up a penalty.

Deep into the third quarter of the men’s basketball, and LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and co still have the advantage, leading Nikola Jokic and Serbia 73-59. James and Durant have combined for 39 of the USA’s points.

Thanks Sarah. The golds keep on coming, because it’s all over in the women’s street skateboarding final. It’s a Japanese one-two, with Coco Yoshizawa taking gold and Liz Akama silver. The venue at La Concorde is absolutely packed with Brazilian fans, and they’ve been given something to cheer about with the 16-year-old Rayssa Leal winning bronze.

Well my first stint of the day is over and I am handing over to Katy Murrells. Enjoy the next few hours.

Fox wins kayak gold and Woods bronze

Ricarda Funk is off on her run, can she retain her crown or will Jess Fox win gold? Early on Germany’s Funk is superbly clean and she is using all of her power to have a golden run. But she has a few errors and she is in the red on the split time and then she gets a penalty! Oh my, she has received a 50. Fox has a gold and GB’s Woods has won bronze!

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Woods is just as quickly out of silver as she went into it with Klaudia Zwolinska from Poland putting in a storming run in the kayak final with a time of 97.53. GB’s Woods had a time of 98.94. One competitor to go but it is the defending champion.

Team GB’s Kim Woods is up next in the kayak singles final. She needs to beat Australia’s Jess Fox’s 96.08 time to get in the gold medal position. She has a really strong start, it isn’t perfect but she is in the green on the split time. Woods is very composed and clean, can she get into the gold medal position? She may have slipped out after a slow recovery. She isn’t into the gold medal position but she slides into silver! There are two competitors left to run.

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There has also been action in the men’s tennis where Spain’s Rafael Nadal has set up a showdown with Novak Djokovic in the second round. Nadal was pushed by Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, who pushed the match to a third set but Nadal won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Elsewhere in the event Jack Draper is also through to the second round after beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets.

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Here’s a news story amid all of the live sport:

It is half-time in the men’s basketball and the USA are leading Serbia 58-49.

Kevin Durant has scored 21 points without a miss and has been electric since entering the game.

So Australia’s Jessica Fox is ready for her run in this kayak singles final. She has never won gold in this event before, she looks fiercely focused. Fox has a powerful start and is relatively smooth but she needs to pick up the pace here to get into the gold medal position. Gate number 12 is masterfully dealt with and she records a time of 96.08 seconds and she is in the gold medal position for now.

In the women’s rugby sevens Canada have beaten Fiji 17-14 in their pool match. GB are next in action at 6.30pm GMT against Australia in that event.

In the men’s basketball it is still a close encounter. The USA have shaken off their wobbly start but Serbia are putting in a great performance. The USA are currently leaving 40-30 in the second period.

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The women’s kayak final is underway. The big stars in this one being Australia’s Jessica Fox and GB’s Kim Woods. All the details to come as we have them.

Here we go then, a shoot-off for the gold medal. The Republic of Korea go first and it is a 10, what a shot. China follow it up with an eight, RoK score a nine and now China need a 10. She gets it – the pressure on her shoulders there, so well executed. RoK slots a 10 and China finish with nine.

The judges are making sure the 10s are 10s and they are. The gold medal goes to the Republic of Korea. What an end to this final!

The gold medal women’s team archery final has gone to a three arrow shoot-off after the Republic of Korea could not score ten to take the gold. Such drama!

In the women’s skateboarding after the two runs Japan have a 1-2-3 with Liz Akama, Coco Yoshizawa and Funa Nakayama in the top three positions. There is now a trick section which will impact how this final will end and who will get the medals.

The men’s basketball is becoming a real battle with the lead switching every few seconds. The USA bench just erupted after they thought there was an unsportsmanlike foul, it has been given at a foul and they are checking it. After a review they are not upgrading it and it remain as a regular foul, the USA clearly not happy with the call. The USA leading 23-20 right now.

Elsewhere, the Republic of Korea have the upperhand at the moment in the archery final. They lead 4-2.

In the women’s football, Colombia are leading New Zealand 1-0, while Brazil v Japan is still in a 0-0 deadlock.

The time-out in the men’s basketball has worked perfectly for the USA, they have launched a comeback and it is LeBron James spearheading it. They are now currently leading 14-12 against Serbia with great attacking play by James.

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Some news from a press conference, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won the gold medal in mountain biking earlier on and in her presser has announced she will be retiring from the discipline in order to focus on the road. What a golden way to bow out of the discipline.

In the women’s rugby sevens hosts France have beaten Brazil 26-0 in their pool game. There will be more action from the sport from 4.30 with Team GB next playing at 6.30pm BST against Australia.

The USA missed a few free throws through Joel Embiid but they have their first points on the board with Lebron James slotting a great shot. The USA are struggling here and they have called a time-out to settle themselves. Serbia leading 10-2.

In the men’s basketball Serbia have scored first against the USA and they currently lead 4-0. Serbia have been very astute defensively so far.

The women’s team gold medal match in the archery between the Republic of Korea and China is underway. I’ll update you as that one progresses.

Coming up with have some men’s basketball with the US team taking on Serbia. They are running through the anthems now with the camera panning to stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry. A tasty match in store.

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In the women’s skateboarding street final Brazil’s Rayssa Leal has logged a huge point score in her first run with 71.66. Several other skaters have logged scores but they are nowhere near the Brazilian with the current second place held by Japan’s Funa Nakayama with 48.14.

In the men’s singles tennis Britain’s Jack Draper has taken the first set 6-1 against Japan’s Kei Nishikori and the second set is just getting underway. The match is in the first round of that event.

Thank you Martin, I will be taking you through the next hour and a bit and we have some medals coming our way. There is a skateboard street final, some archery and a canoe slalom. Let’s get stuck in shall we?

That is it from me, Martin Belam, for today. I will be back with you for the early action from Paris tomorrow. I am now handing you over to Sarah Rendell. See you soon!

Tumaini Carayol was at the Bercy Arena for the Guardian this morning to witness the return of Simone Biles to the Olympic stage:

As Simone Biles offered herself a few final quiet words of encouragement by the balance beam before she returned to compete in front of the world once again, the entire spectacle could have been so overwhelming. The Bercy Arena was already exploding with excitement whenever her name was mentioned. Countless celebrities, from Tom Cruise to Ariana Grande, lined the stands and flashed up on the screens. All eyes were on Biles, and she knew it.

The competition draw that Biles and her US teammates received was also unhelpful. They were required to start on the balance beam, the most unpredictable apparatus and the event that exposes all tension and uncertainty. If you cannot control your nerves, you will fall.

But Biles effortlessly worked her way through a smooth, efficient opening beam routine without a flicker of uncertainty. That first routine would set the tone for a spectacular return to Olympic competition as she finished her subdivision of women’s qualification as the top all-around qualifier, scoring 59.566. It is the biggest international all-around score of the Olympic quad and with three more subdivisions to come, there is not a soul who can outscore her.

Read more from Tumaini Carayol here: Biles battles through pain on spectacular Olympic return with top score in qualifying

Women’s rugby sevens: the competition has just witnessed a couple of rather one-sided pool matches. Australia beat South Africa 34-5, while the USA got the better of Japan 36-7. Next up on the hour in the Stade de France are the hosts France against Brazil.

Women’s team archery: the semi-finals have been and gone, and the gold medal match will see China take on the defending gold medallists from Tokyo, South Korea at 17.11 local time in Paris. The Netherlands and Mexico will contest bronze before that at 16.48.

Nick Ames has been at the Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium for the Guardian:

Helen Glover’s return to Olympic waters brought smooth progress to the women’s four final and suggested the third gold medal of a stellar career lies well within her reach.

British crews won three of their five heats on a warm, bright day at Vaires-Sur-Marne that stood in happy contrast to Saturday’s persistent rain. The prospect of a successful summer looks real, Emily Craig and Imogen Grant looking peerless in the women’s lightweight double sculls while Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George stated a compelling case in the men’s pair.

“To be in this position with three people I could not ask any more of, I’m the lucky one,” Glover said of a boat that will start Thursday’s final as favourites. The 38-year-old, who has three children, rows alongside Esme Booth, Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten. At halfway they appeared to be in a three-way race with New Zealand and China but they pulled ahead, Shorten setting a formidable pace in the stroke seat, and beat the All Blacks by just over a length.

Glover won gold in the women’s pair in 2012 and 2018; her legendary status was showcased when, along with Tom Daley, she carried the flag for Great Britain at the opening ceremony on Friday and said her preparations had been lifted by the honour. “It’s given me a massive boost,” she said. “You walk a little bit taller and a little bit prouder. It’s not something I expected.”

The four are hitting form at the right time. They were crowned European champions in April and Glover believes hard work is paying off when it matters. “We’ve all been consistent, robust, ready, and I think playing the long game has worked,” she said.

Craig and Grant showed why they are the team to beat in the last-ever Olympic competition in their category. They were millimetres away from a medal in Tokyo but won their heat by more than two lengths from Greece here, building up an unmatchable pace in the middle kilometre and not letting go. They will hope for a similarly commanding semi-final on Wednesday.

Read more from Nick Ames here: Helen Glover powers through rowing heats with third Olympic gold in reach

Women’s canoe slalom kayak single: Jess Fox of Australia has qualified for the final, with a contained performance that saw her make the eighth fastest run in the semi-final. 12 competitors advanced.

The three fastest qualifiers were Ricarda Funk of Germany, Klaudia Zwolińska of Poland, and Team GB’s Kimberley Woods.

The final is scheduled for 17.45 local time.

Women’s canoe slalom kayak single: Klaudia Zwolińska of Poland, rank fifth in the world, is comfortably through to the final, second fastest so far, behind Ricarda Funk of Germany. Australia’s Jess Fox is the final run.

Women’s canoe slalom kayak single: with the crowd willing her on Camille Prigent of France is going to the final – but it was closer than she would have liked. She is sixth fastest. Klaudia Zwolińska of Poland is next. She is the closest challenger to Australia’s Jess Fox for gold later on today.

Women’s canoe slalom kayak single: Evy Leibfarth of the USA doesn’t look to have done it, she got into some difficulty, picked up two penalty seconds, and is now placed 12. That won’t be good enough unless the last three all have disasters. Camille Prigent of France is out in front of her home crowd now.

Women’s canoe slalom kayak single: we are down to the final four runs of this semi-final, with the four competitors who had the best combined time after yesterday’s two heats due. Evy Leibfarth of the USA is on the water now. Ricarda Funk is fastest so far, with the German picking up two penalty seconds on a run of 97.31. The 12 fastest qualify for the final. Antonie Galušková of the Czech Republic has just had a shocker and picked up 50 penalty seconds which has knocked her out of contention altogether.

Women’s kayak single slalom: Kimberley Woods of Great Britain has secured her berth in the final. The twelve fastest competitors qualify for a chance to win a medal at 17.45 local time tonight.

Australian medal hope and flag bearer Jess Fox is going last in this session after her rapid – see what I did there – performance in yesterday’s heats.

Women’s rugby sevens: Great Britain ended up defeating Ireland 21-12 in their rugby sevens pool game earlier. Despite extensive research* I can’t find a nickname for Australia’s women’s rugby sevens’ team, but my ignorance has not stopped them racing into a 24-0 lead over South Africa.

The South Africans will be sick of the sight of Maddison Levi already, as she has scored three tries in the first half.

[*some cursory Googling]

Michael Jung and Laura Collett were going head-to-head for Olympic eventing gold after impressive cross-country rides on Sunday, with Britain defending the lead in the team ranking while its main rival Germany was eliminated when one rider fell, Reuters reports.

Putting on an error-free and perfectly timed cross-country performance through the chateau gardens of Versailles, Germany’s three-times gold medallist Jung and his gelding Chipmunk opened up a small lead.

“It was such a great feeling, each jump was super, Chipmunk was super to ride,” Jung said. “But everything can still go wrong. For now, I am happy with how it went, I try to enjoy it and then we have to prepare for the show-jumping.”

Britain Collett, Jung’s main challenger for individual gold, and her horse London 52 on Saturday registered a new Olympic eventing dressage record with a score of 17.5 penalty points.

They took 0.8 penalty points in Sunday’s cross-country phase, however, while Jung defended his 17.8 dressage score.

Collett hinted her early starting time might have been a factor, as parts of the ground were still wet after days of rain. “Time was tight,” she told reporters. “There’s an awful lot of twists and turns when we were slipping all over the place, so I had to be quite careful.”

After today’s session, in the team cross country Great Britain lead France and Japan in the top three spots

Our the ever-wonderful Tom Jenkins has cast his eye over the equestrian eventing at the sumptuous Palace of Versailles…

Picture editor John Windmill has put together this gallery of some of the best images from day two of the Olympics for your enjoyment …

Men’s singles tennis: the schedule for this was disrupted by rain yesterday, but at the moment Spain’s Rafael Nadal has arrived back from his starring role in the opening ceremony and is 4-1 up against Márton Fucsovics of Hungary.

Team GB’s Daniel Evans is 5-2 up in the third and deciding set after he and Tunisia’s Moez Echargui shared the first two. Evans’ teammate Jack Draper is through to the next round, where he faces Taylor Fritz of the USA.

After all that focus on the women’s cross-country cycling, let us have a quick round-up of what is going on elesewhere. And there is a lot. Spain’s women beat China 90-89 in the basketball. Sweden have beaten Germany 31-28 in women’s handball. Great Britain are leading Ireland by 21-12 in the women’s rugby sevens, and Poland beat Japan in the women’s volleyball.

Incredible stuff for France there. It is day two and the medal table has Australia top with three golds, China are in second, also with three golds. South Korea and France now have two apiece.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Batten and Rissveds embrace at the end, they pushed each other nearly right to the finish line before the US rider just had a little bit more.

Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands is fourth. She must feel crushed. She spent so long in second place and then appeared to suffer a puncture which ultimately looks like it has cost her a medal. Evie Richards of Great Britain is fifth.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot’s winning time is 1:26:02, and her margin of victory two minutes and 57 seconds.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Hayley Batten of the USA takes silver! Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds takes bronze! What a fantastic race.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: who grabs silver? Hayley Batten of the USA or Jenny Rissveds of Sweden? Batten has tried to shake off Rissveds and is second, but hasn’t managed to ditch the Swede.

Gold for France as Pauline Ferrand Prevot wins women's mountain bike cross-country

France have their second gold as host nation after a dominant performance by Pauline Ferrand Prevot in the women’s mountain bike cross-country.

The 32-year-old has already said this will be her final Olympics, after a career which includes 12 World Championship titles across disciplines. She led for nearly the entire race. It was an incredible ride.

Ahead of the race she had told L’Equipe “I’m pretty confident about my physical condition. Anything can happen and above all, it’s still sport. Sport is beautiful because it can be cruel, but we’re going to avoid that being the case on Sunday.”

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: the French flags are out waving at the side of the course for Pauline Ferrand Prevot. She has been alone out the front for nearly the whole race and has a three minute advantage. She is so close to claiming France’s second gold of these Games …

Paris 2024 organisers have apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups angered by a kitsch tableau in the Olympic Games opening ceremony that parodied Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting, Reuters reports.

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

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The opening ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance,” the 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.”

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) and Haley Batten (USA) in second and third have a gap of about twenty seconds ahead of fourth, and they are going to battle for the silver and bronze medlas. Rissveds has been doing all the work on the front this last lap.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Pauline Ferrand Prevot has heard the bell for the last lap. This will be a very popular victory for the host nation if she can keep it together for one more circuit.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: the group chasing for silver and bronze has split a little, with Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) and Haley Batten (USA) together in second and third now. They are three minutes behind leader Pauline Ferrand Prevot of France.

Updated

Women’s hockey: Reuters is carrying some quotes from Australia’s Stephanie Kershaw after her side beat South Africa 2-1 in their opening fixture. She told the news agency:

I think we got all the nerves out. We didn’t step up as quickly as we wanted to but we got better. There’s a lot of waiting; for the team to be picked, then get on the plane, then play the first game. We were buzzing to get out there and trying to get rid of that nervous energy. We have a lot more in us, but we did what we needed to do.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Jenny Rissveds (Sweden), Laura Stigger (Aut) and Haley Batten (USA) and Alessandra Keller (Swi) are now locked in a battle for what will probably be silver and bronze behind France’s seemingly unstobbable Pauline Ferrand Prevot.

Puck Pieterse (Ned) was in that group, but a slight mechanical seems to have scuppered her medal hopes after spending most of the race out in second place. Incredibly frustrating for her. She is trying to make her way back to that group.

Updated

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Pauline Ferrand Prevot of France has just finished lap 5 with a gap of one minute and 42 seconds to go over Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands. There are two laps to go.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: a big crash for France’s Loana Lecomte, who was in medal contention. She is down in one of the rock sections. The riders around her managed to avoid a pile up.

Daniel Boffey was at Les Invalides this morning for the Guardian:

Teenage archer Penny Healey admitted that she was struggling to hold in the tears after the British women’s archery team was knocked out of the Paris Games by Germany.

The 19-year-old, who had been inspired to take up the sport after watching the Disney-Pixar film Brave, said there had been some early nerves during the tie but insisted she would pick herself up for the individual event on Thursday.

It was the consistency of the world champion German team that did for the hopes of Healey and her teammates Megan Havers, 16, and Bryony Pitman, 27, who had raised their game after a poor start.

Healey, who reached the top of the world rankings last year with two gold medals at the European Games in Krakow, said it had taken a few shots for her to settle into the event.

She said: “I think the first two shots were kind of just being a bit shocked and like, nervous in the way that I was actually here shooting. Once I like realised, yeah, I’m here, then I started putting in tens again. [But] the Germans are a really good team.”

She added: “I’m trying not to cry right now.”

Read more here: British teen archer inspired by Disney movie holds back tears after team exit

Women’s hockey: as an England football fan myself, 2-1 defeats to Spain are still a somewhat thorny topic. Great Britain’s women have just suffered the same score against the same opponents in the hockey.

All the scoring happened in the first nine minutes, with Laura Barrios notching for Spain in the fourth minute, Giselle Asley responding immediately for Team GB, and then Lola Riera with what proved to be the winning goal in the ninth minute.

That result means that after one match in Pool B, Argentina, Australia and Spain have recorded wins, while Great Britain, South Africa and the USA all have one loss each. Great Britain face Australia at 17.00 local time tomorrow.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Pauline Ferrand Prevot remains in the lead. She has been racing for over half an hour now and has a one minute advantage. You can’t take the outcome for granted though, as it is a perilous discipline, as this picture of South Africa’s Candice Lill shows. Lill has to get her bike back to the technical zone on foot to get it seen to after this mechanical.

Men’s basketball: the latest from the “you had one job …” files, the basketball match between South Sudan and Puerto Rico was delayed slightly when the wrong anthem was played for South Sudan. It obviously didn’t put them off, they won 90-79.

United States men play Serbia men at 17.15 local time today.

Women’s street skateboarding: the qualification prelims for this have been going on at La Concorde, another venue chosen to really show off spectacular views of Paris. And it is generating some spectacular photographs as well.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: Estonia’s Janika Loiv has just picked herself up after a fall, but the main story is that France’s Pauline Ferrand Prevot has scorched off the front of the pack now. She is nearly thirty seconds ahead of Puck Pieterse and Loana Lecomte.

Women’s hockey: in Group B Australia beat South Africa 2-1. In the other match in that group today Spain are leading Great Britain 2-1. The fourth quarter has just started in that one.

As an aside the Olympic website lists every athlete as SURNAME Firstname and every time I want to cut-and-paste a name I have to reverse and recase it, and rest assured, I shall be 1) writing a stiff letter of complaint 2) consistently making mistakes with names. Apologies.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: four riders have broken away at the front, and on the last split the group was being led by Loana Lecomte of France. Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands is second, Lecomte’s compatriot Pauline Ferrand Prevot is third, with early leader Austria’s Laura Stigger in fourth.

Men’s tennis singles: Great Britain’s Jack Draper has taken a 4-1 lead in the first set against Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Women’s mountain bike cross-country: the race has started on this compact circuit. There are 36 competitors, and at the first split Austria’s Laura Stigger is in the lead, but there is only a tenth of second separating the first 11, which includes Team GB’s Evie Richards who is ninth. The French pair, Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Loana Lecomte, are well placed.

Updated

Equestrian cross-country eventing: in the team event Germany and Australia have already had a difficult day. Kevin McNab one of Australia’s silver medal-winning team from Tokyo three years ago, took the decision to withdraw his mount Don Quidam midway through his round because he felt there was a problem. Germany’s Christoph Wahler also failed to finish on Carjatan S. The course looks impressive.

Hello from London again. It is Martin Belam back with you. I’ve fired up some tennis, the equestrian event and some women’s hockey on my frankly ridiculous-sized monitor here. I’m also all set for the women’s mountain bike cross-country which starts shortly, and is – I think – where we will see the next medals awarded. What a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

Some fantastic news for all you lovely people: Martin Belam is back in the game and will take you through the afternoon’s events across Paris (and beyond).

Australian boxer Tina Rahimi has hit out at France’s hijab ban, which prevents French athletes participating in certain sports at the Olympics from wearing religious head scarfs.

Kieran Pender has the story.

Women’s volleyball: During the break, Sweet Caroline is being pumped out to entertain the crowd. Are there any Neil Diamond-free sporting events anymore?

Women’s volleyball: Poland take the second set against Japan to make it 1-1. It is the first to three sets and it is very even at the moment.

Women’s tennis: Sorribes Tormo v Krejcikova is heading into a deciding set after the Czech won the second 6-0. She certainly has the momentum.

I may have done a fair amount of moaning about the difficulty of getting around Paris, after its transformation into an Olympic Village, but you have to say once you are actually IN the venues they are little less than sublime.

I was at the beach volleyball this morning to see the Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl in 2016 booed as he was introduced to the crowds, which felt like a moment - Olympic crowds generally like to focus on, and enjoy the sport if they are lucky enough to get a ticket. Steven van de Velde and his playing partner Matthew Immers went on to lose to Italy.

But I stuck around to see the women’s France v Germany match - and you have to say the atmosphere they have created in here with the Vibe man pumping up the crowd to a soundtrack of Eurobeats is something else.

Beach volleyball made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1996 Atlanta Games and has a habit of being held in the most spectacular of venues, including at the Horse Guard’s Parade in London in 2012 and Copacabana beach at Rio 2016. But this court - with its backdrop of the Eiffel Tower - is surely the best of the lot.

Despite a huge amount of support from the home crowd Aline Chamereau and Clemence Viera lost in two sets to Germany’s Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann, but the Mexican waves alone made the trips worthwhile for the home fans.

Cameron Norrie withdraws from men's singles tennis

Team GB’s Cameron Norrie will not participate at the Olympics due to injury.

Updated

Women’s basketball: The national anthems of Spain and China have just rung out. It should be an intriguing encounter.

The important thing in Paris today is that the sun is finally out after a couple of days where it looked like the sky was falling in.

Keep track of the medal table. There will be plenty of movement on there in the coming weeks.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: The USA leotards are said to cost $3,000 each thanks to the crystals that adorn the outfit. Fancy.

• The caption to this picture was amended on 29 July 2024 because an earlier version mistakenly said it was of Jordan Chiles.

Updated

Men’s beach volleyball: A Dutch convicted child rapist competing for the Netherlands at the Paris 2024 Olympics was met with boos – and some applause – as he walked out for his first beach volleyball match on Sunday. Alexandra Topping was there.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics:

Current team standings:

  1. USA 172.296

  2. Italy 166.681

  3. China 166.682

  4. Great Britain 160.830

  5. Romania 159.497

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: USA finish with a team total of 172.296 to put them in the lead. Italy move into second, having scored 166.861, edging China into third after the finished with 166.628.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Sunisa Lee comes off the uneven bars with a secore of 14.866. Her overall score is 56.132, putting her second overall.

Simone Biles stars in US women's team gymnastics

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Biles concludes with an all-around total of 59.566.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Biles is down off the uneven bars, landing with a smile and showing no obvious sign of discomfort. She blows kisses to the crowd and dances with teammates. She is loving life and will be top of the leaderboard.

Equestrian: German eventer Christoph Wahler fell during his cross-country ride on Sunday, dashing Germany’s hopes for a team medal and leaving Britain and France to battle it out for the gold.

Wahler fell off his grey gelding Carjatan midway through his ride, footage showed, after he had started without major difficulties. He fell just after a downhill obstacle some athletes competing before him had described as particularly difficult.

The athlete and horse will undergo checks, but there were no reports of injuries, a German team spokesperson said. In the Olympic competition, a fall results in the effective elimination of the rider with 200 penalty points, which also ended German hopes of a team medal.

• This post was amended on 29 July 2024. An earlier version misdescribed the event as “men’s equestrian”.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Beau Dure says: “Not sure how much they’re showing there [in the UK], but Biles’ limp keeps looking worse after every landing. And yet, she’s nailing everything.

“The good news is that she only has one more landing - the dismount from the uneven bars. Then we’ll have to see how she heals before all the finals.”

Push through the pain barrier …

Men’s swimming: Per Reuters …

World record holder Leon Marchand sent home fans into a frenzy as he topped qualifying for the Olympic 400 metres individual medley (IM) final in the morning heats on Sunday.

Chants of “Leon! Leon!” rang out from the terraces at a heaving La Defense Arena as the pin-up boy of French swimming walked to the starting blocks. Although it was only a heat, his swim nearly lifted the roof of the converted rugby stadium. The crowd sang “Allez, allez!” in unison as Marchand came up for air on every stroke of the breaststroke leg, then roared incessantly to bring him home in the freestyle.

His time of four minutes and 8.30 seconds was nearly six seconds off his world record but more than a second clear of Britain’s second quickest Max Litchfield. The crowd support was a “crazy thing”, said 22-year-old Marchand, a major contender for gold in four individual events in Paris. “It was beyond what I expected,” he said through a translator. “If I can liberate my body and my spirit for the afternoon, it will be great if I can free myself from the pressure.”

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: We are onto the final apparatus in this second subdivision.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Helen Kevric of Germany is out on the floor, offering up some tumble passes and a triple twist, inspired by the tango.

Score: 13.066.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Biles goes with something of 5.6 difficulty and nails it. She is off to the vault final, that’s for sure. There is laser focus in the eyes of Biles.

Her average vault score: 15.300. Not bad, then.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Biles produces the Yurchenko double pike and is utterly glorious. She really is on top form.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Carey gets 14.433 on the vault, surpassing Chiles. Biles is next up …

Women’s artistic gymnastics: The gymnastics is the place to be in Paris. Tom Cruise, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jessica Chastain are all inside the Bercy Arena, drawn to the competition by the likes of Simone Biles. Cruise has done enough stunts in his time, so must appreciate the work of the gymnast.

Team GB were quite interested in the YouTuber Emma Chamberlain – I have no idea – and one British gymnast seemed confused by who Cruise was. Others in attendance were John Legend, his wife Chrissy Tegen and Anna Wintour.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: 14.216 is the average score for Chiles, the best thus far.

Carey recovers from her issues on the floor with a cracking start on the vault.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Jordan Chiles of USA lines up for the vault. It is an aggressive sprint up to the apparatus and then a double twist. “A beautiful mix of power and grace,” is the comment on TV.

Her second one is even better, providing grace and a soft landing.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: China’s Luo Huan is on the balance beam. The 24-year-old veteran is unfazed by the situation despite her surprise call up to the team for an Olympic debut. She takes her time before performing a majestic double pike dismount. She runs off to her coaches with a beaming smile, an indication of her performance.

The score is … 13.733, the fourth best on the beam thus far.

Researchers took an interest in results from the Tokyo Olympics and found virtually no difference between men and women in air rifle competitions, while men did slightly better in air pistol, trap and skeet competitions.

Beau Dure on whether men and women should compete in one category in shooting.

Women’s judo: Team GB’s Chelsie Giles has spoken after her round-of-16 loss to Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta: “It started off a bit slow, I picked up two shidos. When it went into golden score, I thought I was doing a bit better. Then I just got unlucky and got caught off the wrong side. There’s not much I could have done, I just got caught. It was just a very tactical game … I’ve fought her several times before.”

Updated

Women’s judo: Japan’s Uta Abe, the reigning Olympic champion in the -52kg judo competition, suffered an upset defeat in the round of 16. Abe, who had not lost a fight in an individual competition since 2019, was beaten by Uzbekistan’s Diyora Keldiyorova, twice silver medallist at the world championships.

After Keldiyorova had won by Ippon, Abe sank to her knees holding her head in her hands as she tried to come to terms with what had happened. After saluting her opponent she struggled to walk and fell to her knees again before sobbing in the arms of her coach.

The 24-year-old Abe won the gold medal in Tokyo in 2021 shortly after her brother Hifumi Abe achieved the same feat. The four-times world champion, who had only participated in one competition this year, started her day with an easy win over Canadian Kelly Deguchi.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: China have moved up to second place overall, while Italy are third.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Biles is the reigning world champion. She starts well with a mesmeric triple somersault and then shows the balance and poise that has made her world famous. Her landings get better as the routine goes on. She really is a cut above, proving it with some perfect tumbling that no other gymnast could dream of doing. A real gamechanging individual. Fair to say, there is no indication she has an injury, based on her performance.

She is awarded 14.600.

Updated

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Carey’s error lands her with a score of for the floor routine 10.633. Biles is up next …

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Carey is on the floor, performing to Seven Nation Army. It is a decent routine but she concludes it by falling over backwards when trying to land after a somersault. She will not be happy.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Our man in the US, Beau Dure, says Simone Biles is doing some work with the physios. Hopefully all is well with the gymnast.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Qiu Qiyuan swings with incredible velocity on the uneven bars. She holds her pose as she swings on her very apparatus, earning 15.066.

Schäfer-Betz is awarded 13.366 for her work on the balance beam.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Pauline Schäfer-Betz is on the balance beam and is in magnificent form. She shows incredible agility and form, culminating with a perfect dismount. There are few better than the German in these situations.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: the main action at the moment is on the apparatus. Jade Carey is priming herself for her routine on the floor. Biles is sat on watching from the side, taking a few deep breaths before she is back in action.

Hello all! Let’s enjoy the real Olympic challenge: trying to keep up with all the action.

That is it from me, Martin Belam, for now. I will be back later on. Will Unwin is up next …

Women’s artistic gymnastics: … and Simone Biles is back. She gets a rapturous welcome from the crowd for her balance beam routine. She scores 14.733.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: Sunisa Lee of the USA team is on the beam at the moment, and the atmosphere in the Bercy Arena sounds electric.

Meanwhile Kaylia Nemour, representing Algeria, has scored a huge 15.6 on the uneven bars.

As a reminder, during this qualification session, teams are competing to qualify for the final. Eight go through to that. Gymnasts are also competing to reach the finals for the individual disciplines. In this session the US, China and Italy are the three teams appearing, and then as well as Nemour, there are two gymnasts from Germany – Sarah Voss and Helen Kevric – and one gymnast from Israel, who is Lihie Raz.

Here is our first look at Simone Biles preparing to compete today …

Men’s water polo: Spain have defeated Australia 9-5 in the opening match of this tournament. Serbia play Japan and hosts France face Hungary in the other Group B match-ups later today.

Group A teams will also play their opening water polo games today, as follows:

  • 15.00 Italy v USA

  • 16.35 Croatia v Montenegro

  • 21.05 Romania v Greece

(All local time)

Women’s artistic gymnastics: subdivsion 2 of qualification is about to start, and that means all eyes on Simone Biles

Updated

Men’s badminton doubles: Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, the number one seeds from China, have ended any hope that Great Britain’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy can qualify from their group, after the Chinese pair won their match 21-18 13-21 21-14.

Defending men’s golf champion Xander Schauffele has posted a short video message from the Olympics, saying that he has arrived at Le Golf National in Guyancourt and is ready to go. The men’s golf competition runs from Thursday 1 August to Sunday 4 August. The women’s competition runs for four days from Wednesday 7 August.

Sean Ingle is in Paris for the Guardian:

The first triathlon training session in the Seine was cancelled on Sunday morning due to poor water quality, leaving athletes facing an anxious wait to see if the levels improve before the men’s race is due to start on Tuesday.

Monday’s final ‘familiarisation’ session in the Seine is also said to be touch and go, following the heavy rains that have hammered down on Paris since the opening ceremony.

Organisers have confirmed they will make a decision about that practice session at 4am local time on Monday. But if it is also cancelled it will mean that the triathletes will have no chance to practise in the Seine before they race.

Read more here: Heavy rain ruins triathlon swim practice in Seine due to pollution concerns

Reuters reports that there were “a few discreet boos” as convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde made his debut for the Netherlands in the beach volleyball this morning. Van de Velde was convicted of raping a British 12-year-old girl in 2016.

Ciara Bergman, the CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, has said his inclusion in the team was “irresponsible”. She said “If you can rape a child and still compete in the Olympics, despite all athletes signing a declaration promising to be a role model, that is just shocking.”

Updated

Women’s team archery: Germany have beaten Great Britain to complete the quarter-final line up. The Germans will now face Mexico. Other match-ups will see number one seeds South Korea face the team from Taiwan. Number two seeds China face Indonesia, and India take on the Netherlands. Those quarter-finals start today at 14.15 local time.

Kieran Pender is in Paris for the Guardian

Australian Olympic road cyclist Lucas Plapp is in a stable condition in a Parisian hospital after a nasty crash in slippery conditions during the men’s individual time trial on Saturday.

Plapp was flying along the rain-soaked central Paris course, clocking the fourth fastest time at the first intermediate time check, before a crash saw the 23-year-old collide heavily with a barrier fence.

Plapp was taken to a French hospital, where he underwent abdominal surgery on Saturday evening. According to a statement from the Australian Olympic Committee, the Team Jayco–AlUla rider was supported at the hospital by his parents and a team doctor.

Plapp is a two-time Australian time trial champion, and has won the last three editions of the national road race championships. He also won a bronze medal in Tokyo on the track, as part of the team pursuit squad that recovered from a high-profile mechanical incident to a brave secure third place finish.

Read more here: Australian Olympic cyclist Lucas Plapp hospitalised after horror crash on slick Paris road

Women’s hockey: in Group A of the competition Belgium held a narrow 1-0 lead over China at the end of the third quarter. In the same group Germany v Japan started later. Charlotte Stapenhorst has given the Germans the lead with a twelth minute goal. It is half-time in that one. The Netherlands beat hosts France 6-2 in the group yesterday. There are six teams in the group – the top four progress to the knockout stage.

Men’s badminton doubles: I sort of suggested they didn’t have much chance earlier, but fair play to Team GB’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy who have taken their pool match against Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang of China to a third game, winning the second 21-13.

Women’s team archery: Team GB are currently trailling Germany 2 sets to nil in an attempt to reach the quarter-finals. Germany are current world champions and would back themselves to progress.

Women’s artistic gymnastics: the Bercy Arena has been staging subdivision 1 of the women’s contest qualification this morning in France, with the teams from Great Britain, Romania and Mexico involved, and also individual gymnasts from Ukraine, Switzerland, Bulgaria and South Africa. As ever, it is producing some spectacular images.

It is very early doors to mark progress, but Team GB have scored better than Romania, and Georgia-Mae Fenton of Great Britain is leading the individual qualification scores.

The US team and China will compete in subdivision 2, which is scheduled to start at 11.40am, local time.

Men’s badminton doubles: it was always going to be a tough ask for Team GB’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy against China’s world number one pairing of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, and the British pair have lost the first game 21-18. This is their second pool match, having lost the opener, so Lane and Vendy are under pressure to get a result today.

Some lovely images from the surfing competition in Tahiti…

Women’s handball: some incredible last-ditch last minute (and pretty physical) defending from Hungary including an immense save from Blanka Böde-Bíró, then after a tactical time out, they flashed down the other end and nicked it 25-24 against Brazil. Absolute scenes. Brazil lead for nearly all of it. The winning goal is timed at 59 minutes and 55 seconds. There are tears. There is joy. This is the Olympics.

Women’s handball: if you were after a tense finish to a match, Brazil and Hungary are 24-24 with two minutes to go 👀

Women’s beach volleyball: Spain’s Liliana Fernandez Steiner and Paula Soria Gutierrez have come up winners against Valentina Gottardi and Marta Menegatti of Italy in their Pool A match, 2-1. The other pairings in that group are from Brazil and Egypt, and they face each other at 16.00 local time today.

The women’s beach volleyball format, by the way, is that there are six pools each featuring four pairings, who play each other in a round-robin format. The top two in each pool progress to the round of 16. The six pairings in third place in their pools are ranked, and the top two of those also go through to the round of 16. Then there are lucky loser play-offs to determine which final two pairs also progress. I’m fairly certain that is slightly more convoluted than it needs to be.

Another gold for China as Yu Xie wins 10m air pistol final, Italy take silver and bronze

Men’s 10m air pistol: Yu Xie has won China’s third gold of the Games with victory in the men’s 10m air pistol.

In a tense finish his score of 240.9 was just enough to keep the gold medal from the hands of Italy’s Federico Nilo Maldini, who agonisingly finished on 240 points. The bronze also went to Italy, with Paolo Monna finishing some distance behind on 218.6.

The social media admins for Paris 2024 are showing off their croissants and coffee. I can confirm that this live blog this morning has been powered from London by coffee and scrambled eggs, and shortly more coffee.

Reuters has confirmed that, as suspected, the Olympics’ triathlon swimming training session scheduled for today has been cancelled after recent heavy rain in Paris affected pollution levels in the Seine. The men’s triathlon is due to be held on Tuesday.

Updated

My colleague Alexandra Topping is in Paris, and she has spoken to diver Noah Williams about the prospect of teaming up with the legend that is Tom Daley:

Noah Williams was only 12 when he went to watch Tom Daley – then the fresh-faced 18-year-old poster boy of London 2012 – claim an extraordinary bronze medal in the 10m platform dive. He admits now that he had little idea that 12 years later he would be gearing up to partner Daley in the synchronised 10m platform at Paris 2024, but says he always thought he would be an Olympian.

“I was a bit delusional when I was younger, I thought I was going to make the Olympics easily,” says the 24-year-old with a wry grin. “I think that helped me because if I had realised how far off the Olympics and how much work I had to put in to get to where I am now, I think I probably would have quit. I thought I was so close to making it, even though I was nowhere near.”

Read more here: Noah Williams inspired by teaming up with Tom Daley in Olympic diving

Women’s single sculls: after the three repecharge races, athletes from the Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Turkey, Paraguay and Peru are through to the quarter-finals. The men’s single sculls repecharges are on at the moment.

Women’s 10m air rifle qualification: the top eight athletes from the qualification round go through to the final later today where they will have a shot at a gold medal – ho ho ho see what I did there. India’s Elavenil Valarivan is leading at the moment, compatriot Ramita Jindal’s place in the final is not looking so certain.

Women’s handball: Brazil are taking in a 15-12 half-time lead against Hungary.

Women’s beach volleyball: Valentina Gottardi and Marta Menegatti of Italy have just lost the first set to Spain’s Liliana Fernandez Steiner and Paula Soria Gutierrez in the Olympics’ most under-dressed sport.

What an incredible venue the organisers have set up for this competition though, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. You can’t say they aren’t showing off Paris during these Games, can you?

In terms of medals today, just a reminder that this is what we are expecting, with the usual caveat that all times are local, all events are subject to change and so forth …

  • 🥇Shooting – men’s & women’s 10m air pistol (from 9:30)

  • 🥇Mountain Bike – women’s cross-country (from 14:10)

  • 🥇Judo – men 66kg / women 52kg (from 16:00)

  • 🥇Archery – women’s team (from 16:48)

  • 🥇Skateboarding – women’s street (from 17:00)

  • 🥇Canoe Slalom – women’s kayak single (from 17:45)

  • 🥇Swimming (from 20:30) – men’s 400m IM / women’s 100m butterfly / men’s 100m breaststroke.

  • 🥇Fencing (from 20:50) – women’s individual foil / men’s individual epee.

Women’s single sculls: there are three repechage races in this event taking place today. The commentator on Eurosport has said this is exactly where competitors don’t want to be, with an extra race to fit in and the knowledge that there are already 18 people who have rowed faster than you and qualified. Contrasted with yesterday it looks like an absolutely lovely day at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical stadium.

Women’s handball: the opening fixture today is Brazil v Hungary. Brazil won their first game on Thursday against Spain, Hungary lost theirs against the hosts and reigning champions, so are perhaps under more pressure to get a result today. There are six teams in Group B, with the top four progressing. It is tied 3-3 after eight minutes.

Updated

Hello, the action just does not stop during the Olympics, does it? It is Martin Belam here with you, watching about 1,057 different videostreams in London. There is already badminton, handball and rowing under way. More medals are up for grabs later on, so settle in, and I will do my best to keep you up to date with everything happening across the day.

Just like Celine, it’s time I took my leave. With day two up and running it’s over to Martin Belam to keep the Olympic flame burning. Au revoir!

The badminton is under way, soon to be followed by beach volleyball, handball, rowing, shooting, and volleyball at 9:00 local time, with archery, gymnastics, and fencing at 9:30.

That means we’re not far from seeing controversial Dutch olympian Steven van de Velde in action beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Live sport is under way on day two of the Paris Olympics, and once again badminton is out of the blocks early with matches in the group stages of the men’s singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Badminton!

Usain Bolt levels of perfect timing here from the history boys. The drain sludge formerly known as Twitter has been particularly miserable since the opening ceremony, and this image has been one of the reasons why.

The USA, expected to top the medal table for the seventh time in eight Olympics, began with little fanfare. Favourites struggled, including Chloé Dygert, who succumbed to the treacherous conditions in the time trial, while Katie Ledecky was overpowered in the pool.

Thankfully golden boy Caeleb Dressel continued his extraordinary Olympic streak with his eighth gold medal (no silver or bronze) in the 100m freestyle relay. The ubiquitous Snoop Dogg was on hand for good luck.

Even for the greatest rugby player alive, redemption comes with its own quantum of danger. Missing the Six Nations, abandoning the team he calls home and the colleagues he adores and the game he has mastered, for a step into a windswept unknown. The glory – a gold medal in a home Olympics – is the greatest an athlete can know. But the risk is that you get your heart broken all over again.

While Australia lead the early medal table there’s no question the biggest gold of the Games so far has gone to the hosts. France, and Antoine Dupont in particular, invested an awful lot in the rugby star’s brief transition from the 15-man to the seven-man game. Yesterday, at a delirious Stade de France, that gamble paid off.

Updated

Even at this early stage it is clear the main takeaway from these Games is going to be the city of Paris. The opening ceremony on the river, the landmarks overlooking arenas, and the embedding of all things Parisian into the fabric of the Olympics has imbued the 33rd olympiad with a striking identity.

But how does that all play out at ground level in the city of love? Not as romantically as it sounds, as Alexandra Topping reports.

Visitors to Paris 2024 need to learn hard lessons fast. You think you know this city? You don’t. You think Google maps will show you where you need to go? It won’t. You think official-looking folk in Paris 2024 outfits will be able to give you accurate directions? Dans tes rêves, mon ami.

Over in the tennis the early narrative is concentrated on a couple of battered old legends: Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Both are on the cusp of retirement with Murray confirming the Olympics will be his swansong.

And it is possible that will arrive as soon as today with the two-time gold medallist competing alongside Dan Evans in the men’s doubles. They are last up on Court Suzanne Lenglen against Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel of Japan.

Nadal has set his hopes higher than bowing on out with a fond farewell, and with the tennis tournament being staged at his second home, Roland Garros, and his doubles partner being the brilliant Carlos Alcaraz, the odds are stacked in his favour. Yesterday the Spanish pair won their opening round match and are now just three wins away from a medal.

In the singles, Nadal is on court later today against Márton Fucsovics (HUN). Should he prevail, his reward will be a 60th and final clash against longstanding rival Novak Djokovic in round two.

Updated

Permit me a slight aside if you will. The Salukvadze story has been a staple of recent Games as she has chalked off a host of records. Another story that is always a delight to revisit every olympiad is that of Ágnes Keleti. If you don’t know of her, she is one of the most remarkable characters in sporting history.

Keleti is newsworthy today because she is the oldest surviving Olympic gold medallist. She’s 103 and still going strong.

Her story brings together the holocaust, the Hungarian revolution of 1956, and some serious Olympic medal-winning.

Some other headlines from the opening day include the incredible story of Nino Salukvadze. In Chateauroux the Georgian shooter became the first 10-time female olympian. Way back in Seoul 1988 Salukvadze won gold and silver for the USSR and has since competed alongside her son and carried the Georgian flag on three occasions.

Salukvadze already had the record for most Olympic appearances by a female athlete and is now tied with Canadian showjumper Ian Millar for the most for any athlete. Salukvadze is the only Olympian to compete at 10 Summer Games in a row, unlike Millar, whose appearances weren’t consecutive because Canada boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

It’s also a huge night for Australia’s women’s football team. The Matildas are enormously popular at home, but they opened their Olympic campaign with a tame defeat to Germany in front of a sparse crowd. Victory over Zambia, the lowest ranked side in Group B, is essential.

Meanwhile, Australia’s qualification hopes have been helped by the extraordinary situation that has engulfed defending champions Canada, who have been docked six points and seen their coach banned for a year.

Expectations are sky high down under for another golden day. Jess Fox, the K1 world champion, is in action on the whitewater. Chloe Covell is a contender in the women’s street skateboarding. And then back in the pool Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated olympian, will be out to add to her incredible haul in 100m butterfly.

Later on, in the pool, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) triumphed in one of the races of the Games, leading home Summer McIntosh (CAN) and Katie Ledecky (USA) in the 400m freestyle. All three have held the world record at various times since Tokyo, setting up one of the most eagerly anticipated finals in Paris. Kieran Pender was poolside at La Défense Arena.

It had been billed as one of the marquee races of the swim program in Paris – the race of the decade, even the century. It was supposed to be a nail-biting contest. Instead it was a coronation. Titmus executed her race plan flawlessly, leading at every turn. McIntosh pushed her hard, but the Australian had half a body length by 250m and ultimately won by almost a second.

It’s early in Europe, late in the US, but mid-afternoon in Australia, perfect for basking in green and gold glory.

A day that ended with the southern cross on top of the medal table was kickstarted by Grace Brown who prevailed in a treacherous time trial on the slippery streets of the historic city. Jack Snape was there.

The gold was an extraordinary achievement after Brown only took up cycling at 23 following an injury-plagued cross country career. “When I was running, I had this feeling, like if I really nailed everything, maybe I could get on an Olympic team or something,” she said.

“But I kept getting injured, so I never was able to get up to that next level. I started cycling just out of frustration with my injuries and – I don’t know – it just went really well.”

While we’re on the subject of surfing, a quick public service announcement on the pronunciation of Teahupo’o. In Tahitian every syllable ends in a vowel, and when there are vowel clusters each is pronounced as a separate syllable. So, Teahupo’o is Tay-a-hoop-oh-oh.

For some reason “cho-poo” or similar has become commonplace. If you hear someone saying that you must cast them into the ocean and let Poseidon do the rest.

Storm clouds were welcomed 15,000km away in Tahiti with stormy weather heralding excellent conditions for the first day of the surfing competition at the famous Teahupo’o break. Kieran Pender savoured the swells, sets, and spray.

On Saturday, half a world away from Paris, the second edition of Olympic surfing started with a bang – quite literally. As powerful Southern Ocean swells reach the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, having crossed thousands of kilometres of open ocean, the water heaves upwards and explodes on contact with the reef. The terrifying result is the fearsome Teahupo’o (which roughly translates as “wall of skulls”). And it offers the perfect gladiatorial arena for the world’s best surfers to vie for Olympic gold.

While the sun is shining now, the poor weather of recent days is going to have some lasting effects, most notably on the quality of the water in the river Seine. Paris’ famous waterway is scheduled to host the marathon swim and the swimming leg of the triathlon, but that will only happen if the water is deemed safe for athletes.

Swimming in the Seine is the most controversial and ambitious aspect of the Games. Lots of money has been spent cleaning up the river and building stormwater facilities to minimise runoff during periods of rain, but even so, it’s a mightily difficult problem to solve when faced with such a small window of opportunity. Sean Ingle has more.

Olympic triathletes in Paris are set to miss their first practice session in the River Seine on Sunday because of the deteriorating water quality.

Two days of practice are scheduled before the men’s event on Tuesday, with the women’s race taking place a day later. However, organisers admit the heavy rain over the past 24 hours means the water will likely fail its next test at 4am on Sunday morning.

The first action of the day is not for a couple of hours, and it all kicks off with another busy schedule of badminton from 8:30 local time. Then we’ve got some beach volleyball, handball, rowing, shooting, and volleyball (9:00), archery, gymnastics, and fencing (9:30).

And after a couple of grey days the weather is set fair to bathe the city of light in golden sunshine.

The medal table after one day of the Games makes pleasant reading for Australia. They lead the way with three golds and match the USA’s overall haul of five medals. With more swimming finals to come this evening there’s every possibility they retain that position for another day.

Preamble - Day Two Schedule

Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the second official day of competition of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

The Games exploded into life yesterday with China shooting and diving their way to the first two gold medals of the fortnight, and France’s rugby sevens outfit securing what will prove – even at this early stage – one of the most popular triumphs of the Olympics. But day two begins with Australia topping the medal table after an extraordinary run of success, especially in the pool.

So what can we look forward to today?

Medal Events

  • Shooting – men’s & women’s 10m air pistol (from 9:30)

  • Mountain Bike – women’s cross country (from 14:10)

  • Judo – men 66kg / women 52kg (from 16:00)

  • Archery – women’s team (from 16:48)

  • Skateboarding – women’s street (from 17:00)

  • Canoe Slalom – women’s kayak single (from 17:45)

  • Swimming (from 20:30) – men’s 400m IM / women’s 100m butterfly / men’s 100m breaststroke.

  • Fencing (from 20:50) – women’s individual foil / men’s individual epee.

    *(All times listed are Paris local)

Simon Burnton’s day-by-day guide

  • Swimming
    Between 2014 and 2020 Team GB’s Adam Peaty won every available global gold in the 100m breaststroke – including at two Olympics, two Commonwealth Games and three world championships – and broke the world record five times. But after Tokyo he stepped away from the pool, citing mental health issues. He returned last October, with his eyes on this day. His key rival will be Qin Haiyang, China’s breaststroke king, who in the 2023 world championships completed a treble of 50m, 100m and 200m.

  • Men’s basketball
    The United States have won 16 of the 20 men’s basketball golds, including the last four, and with LeBron James in an all-star side are inevitable favourites for another. James’s notable teammates include Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, and by a massive margin the NBA’s all-time three-point leader, who remarkably is playing his first Olympics at 36. Today they get their tournament under way against a Serbia side that has in its ranks this year’s NBA MVP in Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.

  • Women’s street skateboarding
    Japan won four of the six women’s skateboarding medals in Tokyo, including both golds, and in the street discipline have five of the world’s current top seven (in park they have four of the top six). But Brazil’s world No 3, Rayssa Leal, has high hopes. Nicknamed Fadinha (little fairy – after her first viral video, of her attempting and eventually nailing a heelflip in a fairy costume aged seven), Leal won silver in Tokyo aged 13, has got better since, and will be out to sprinkle some magic at La Concorde.

I’m sure I’ve failed to include something notable to you in this short rundown, so feel free to let me know what’s on your agenda by emailing: jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com or, if you’re still rummaging around in the post-Twitter dumpster fire, find me on X @jphowcroft.

I’ll be around for the first few hours of the blog here in Australia, after which I’m handing over to Martin Belam in the UK.

Updated

 

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