Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first Olympic heptathlon medal but narrowly missed out on taking gold to Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam. 

Johnson-Thompson, who is a two-time world champion, produced a career-best performance in the 800m, clocking a time of 2:04.90 seconds.

After going into the final event 121 points behind Thiam, the Brit needed to finish nearly nine seconds quicker than her opponent to reach the top step of the podium. 

However, the Belgian finished with a time of 2:10.62 seconds, claiming gold by 36 points and becoming the first woman to win three heptathlon titles.

Thiam finished on 6,880 points, with her compatriot Noor Vidts moving above Switzerland's Annik Kaelin in the final event to take bronze.

Team GB's Jade O'Dowda finished 10th overall, while Ireland's Kate O'Connor was 14th.

Sergio Camello came off the bench to score twice in extra time as Spain added Olympic gold to their glittering trophy cabinet with a thrilling 5-3 victory over France.

Three goals in 10 first-half minutes – two from Fermin Lopez and the other from Alex Baena – appeared to take the final away from Thierry Henry's hosts, who had led early on through Enzo Millot.

However, Maghnes Akliouche teed up a grandstand finish at the Parc des Princes, then Benat Turrientes' foul allowed Jean-Phillipe Mateta to force extra time with a 93rd-minute penalty.

Both teams threw caution to the wind in the additional period, but Camello was the hero, producing a wonderful lob and a breakaway second to secure gold for Spain.

The hosts took the lead with the very first attempt of the game as Millot pounced on a loose clearance to fire goalwards from the right side of the area. Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball, palming it into the bottom-left corner.

However, Spain soon hit back through Barcelona youngster Lopez, who swept his finish into the bottom-left corner after being found in the middle of the area by Baena.

Buoyed by that strike, Spain built a two-goal lead within 10 further minutes. Lopez pounced for his second when Guillaume Restes could only parry Abel Ruiz's shot to put them 2-1 up, then Baena added the pick of the goals.

Lining up a free-kick just to the left of the D, the Villarreal man gave Restes no chance by whipping a sensational effort over the wall and into the top-left corner.

Manu Kone missed a great chance to cut Spain's lead when he nodded against the crossbar after the break, but Les Bleus' hopes were rekindled with 11 minutes to play as Michael Olise's free-kick was steered into the far corner by Akliouche.

There was more drama in stoppage time, with Turrientes clumsily dragging Arnaud Kalimuendo down from a corner. Mateta kept his nerve from the spot to level, though Turrientes almost redeemed himself with a dream winner when his shot clipped the crossbar at the other end.

France continued to press in extra time, but they were caught out in the 100th minute as Camello latched onto Adrian Bernabe's pass before sitting Restes down with a delicate chipped finish.

Camello was not done there, latching onto a long throw from Tenas as France threw players forward in stoppage time, before making sure of the gold by finishing past Restes.

Data Debrief: Roja end 32-year Olympic wait

Since an iconic Spain team featuring the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique won gold on home soil at Barcelona 1992, La Roja have been reduced to the role of nearly men at the Games.

They were losing finalists at Syndey 2000 (versus Cameroon) and Tokyo 2020 (against Brazil), but they got over the line this time around, even if they had to go the distance.

With the senior squad winning a record-breaking fourth European crown last month and the under-23s claiming gold in Paris, it looks like this era of Spanish success could go on for some time yet.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic solidified her status as one of the all-time greats in the 400m, capturing Olympic gold in a stunning and historic race at the Paris 2024 Games on Friday. In what is now the fastest 400m race in Olympic history, Paulino stormed to victory, shattering the Olympic record with an extraordinary time of 48.17 seconds.

Paulino, known for her powerful and controlled running style, took command of the race from the start. She maintained her composure through the first 300m and then unleashed a devastating kick down the home stretch, pulling away from a world-class field to claim her first Olympic title. Her time of 48.17 seconds broke the long-standing Olympic record of 48.25 seconds, set by Marie-José Pérec at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Trailing Paulino was Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser, who clocked a season-best 48.53 seconds to take the silver medal. Naser, who has been gradually returning to her best form after a few challenging seasons, showed glimpses of the brilliance that saw her run the third-fastest time in history, 48.14 seconds, at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

The bronze medal went to Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland, who crossed the line in 48.98 seconds, marking her as the third woman in the race to break the 49-second barrier—a testament to the extraordinary quality of the competition.

The race was exceptional from start to finish, with all eight finalists clocking sub-50-second times. Ireland’s rising star, Rhasidat Adeleke, finished fourth in 49.28 seconds, just a fraction ahead of Great Britain's Amber Anning, who set a new personal best of 49.29 seconds. Alexis Holmes of the USA also set a lifetime best, finishing sixth in 49.77 seconds, while Sada Williams of Barbados was seventh in 49.83 seconds. Norway's Henriette Jaeger rounded out the field, finishing eighth in 49.96 seconds.

Paulino’s victory adds another prestigious trophy to her growing collection, which already includes two World Championship silver medals. Her performance in Paris not only cements her legacy but also raises the bar for future generations of 400m runners.

Jamaica's Nickisha Pryce, who entered the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as one of the favourites for gold in the women’s 400m, has announced the end of her season following a heartbreaking finish in the semi-finals. The 2024 NCAA champion and national record holder, who had lowered Jamaica's 400m record to an astonishing 48.57 seconds last month, was widely expected to contend for the top spot in Paris. However, according to impeccable sources close to the athlete, Pryce was struck by a stomach virus just before the semi-finals, which derailed her Olympic dreams.

Despite her best efforts, Pryce could only manage a fourth-place finish in her semi-final heat, clocking a disappointing 50.77 seconds—well off her personal best. Reflecting on her season and the abrupt end to her Olympic journey, Pryce shared on Instagram, “The end of my season may not have been what I had hoped for, but I trust that God knows best.”

The virus had a lasting impact, leaving her unable to recover in time to compete in Friday's 4x400m relay, prompting her to make the difficult decision to end her season early. “Despite the disappointment of not achieving the desired outcome, I believe that there is a reason for everything and that God has a plan for me,” Pryce wrote, expressing her faith and resilience.

While missing out on the Olympic final was a significant setback, Pryce's 2024 season remains one for the history books. She claimed the NCAA title with a record-breaking 48.89 seconds and anchored her Razorback 4x400m relay team to a remarkable 3:21.93, setting another record. Throughout the season, Pryce consistently pushed the limits, running lifetime bests on four occasions, with her crowning achievement coming at the London Diamond League on July 20, where she set the national record of 48.57 seconds, her fifth lifetime best.

Looking ahead, Pryce remains optimistic about the future. “I’ll use this as a stepping stone towards something greater and that there are valuable lessons to be learned from this experience. Even though it may be difficult to accept at the moment, I am grateful for the opportunity to grow,” she reflected, signaling her determination to return stronger next season.

As she wraps up an extraordinary year, Pryce expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her. “With that being said, I’m utmost grateful for everything I’ve achieved this season. Next year will be even better by God’s will. Thank you to all my supporters who ride with me along my journey."

For the first time since the 2008 in Beijing, Jamaica has failed to medal in the Women’s 4x100m at an Olympic Games.

Jamaica’s quartet of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes and Tia Clayton produced a season’s best 42.29 fifth in the final at the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France on Friday.

The American quartet of Melissa Jefferson, TeeTee Terry, Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson combined to run 41.78 for gold ahead of Great Britain (Dina Asher-Smith, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt) who ran 41.85.

Germany ran 41.97 in third while France were fourth in 42.23.

Joel Embiid is out to silence a hostile French crowd when Team USA face the hosts in the men's basketball gold medal match at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. 

Embiid, who was born in Cameroon but was granted US citizenship in 2022, declared for Team USA late last year after his home country failed to qualify. 

That decision came after he also sought French citizenship, amid suggestions president Emmanuel Macron had called the Philadelphia 76ers star to convince him to represent the hosts.

Embiid has been jeered by French fans throughout the basketball tournament, with the USA winning all five of their games to date, reaching the final with Thursday's comeback victory over Serbia.

On the eve of Saturday's gold medal match, Embiid said: "Frankly, I don't understand why I've gotten a lot of criticism from the crowd. 

"They're going to boo me. I'm going to go back at them and tell them to 'suck it.' It's going to be fun."

Reflecting on his decision to link up with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and company in representing the USA, Embiid said he would have played for Cameroon if they had qualified.

"Having lived half of my life in the US and the other half in my country, Cameroon, it just looked like it was, 'you could go two ways'," Embiid said. 

"I said from the beginning that if Cameroon would've qualified, that would never have been a choice. Then having the family [in the US] and having built a lot of things and having accomplished a lot of things, knowing the group of guys deeply, it just made it easy.

"I think a lot of people wanted to make it an issue because of the storyline and all that stuff.

"But to me it's whatever it takes to win gold. So that's what I'm focused on. It's all about Team USA against France."

Ann-Katrin Berger clinched the Olympic bronze medal for Germany with a last-gasp penalty save as Die Nationelf edged out Spain by a 1-0 scoreline on Friday.

Giulia Gwinn gave Germany the lead from the penalty spot but Alexia Putellas had a chance to send the game to extra time at the death, only to be denied by Berger.

In a very even first half, Spain failed to register a shot on target, though they had the better chances as they twice struck Berger's crossbar. Teresa Abelleira curled a free-kick against the woodwork before Aitana Bonmati rifled a powerful long-range effort off it just before the break.

Germany's attempts to play on the counterattack eventually paid off, with Cata Coll giving away a penalty when she rushed off her line, only to crash into Gwinn.

The winger stepped up to take the spot-kick that she won, sliding it into the bottom-right corner and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Berger later pushed away Jenni Hermoso's tame close-range header, but Spain would get one last chance when Janina Minge tripped Lucia Garcia in the box with mere seconds remaining.

Putellas' penalty was at a comfortable height for Berger, who dived the right way and got two strong hands on the shot to ensure her team got the prize.

Data Debrief: Gwinn's winning touch

Gwinn was the biggest attacking threat for Germany in the bronze-medal match, having the most shots (two) and more touches in the box (five) than any of her team-mates.

It is the fourth Olympic bronze that Germany have won, and their first since a run of three straight between 2000 and 2008. 

Meanwhile, Spain's torrid run against Germany goes on - they have never beaten Die Nationelf in their history, and their wait for a first women's football medal at the Olympic Games will continue for at least another four years.

Defending Cincinnati Open champion Novak Djokovic will not take part in this year's tournament following his success at the Paris Olympics. 

Djokovic, who claimed his first gold medal at Roland-Garros against Carlos Alcaraz last week, has withdrawn from the US Open tune-up event in the United States. 

The Serbian became only the second player after Andre Agassi in the Open Era have won all four Grand Slams, the gold medal at the Olympics and the ATP Tour Final with his win over the Spaniard in the French capital. 

Djokovic also became the oldest player (37y 74d) to secure the gold medal in either the men’s or women’s singles at the Olympics, since the sport’s reinstatement as an Olympic event in 1988.

However, he has chosen to focus on the upcoming US Open, a competition he won 12 months ago against Daniil Medvedev to claim the latest of his 24 grand slam titles. 

"We certainly understand that it is a quick turnaround from his Olympic triumph to come to Cincinnati," Tournament Director Bob Moran said in a news release.

"His title run here last year was so memorable. We are eager to see him on court again soon."

Last year in Cincinnati, Djokovic claimed the title in three sets against Alcaraz, claiming his second win over the Spaniard in their fourth meeting. 

The Serbian's victory over Alcaraz at the Games took his record to 5-4 over the world number three having lost in the Wimbledon final the previous month. 

Djokovic's withdrawal moves Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard into the draw.

Following an electrifying 400m final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Wednesday, Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith made a powerful and emotional statement as he celebrated his silver medal win. Hudson-Smith, who clocked a lifetime best and set a new European record with a time of 43.44 seconds, proudly waved both the British and Jamaican flags above his head, paying tribute to his roots in a moment of triumph.

The race was one for the history books, with the first five finishers all breaking the 44-second barrier in what has become one of the fastest 400m races ever. The gold medal was claimed by the USA’s Quincy Hall, who edged out Hudson-Smith with a lifetime best of 43.40 seconds. Muzala Samukonga of Zimbabwe secured the bronze with a national record of 43.74 seconds, just ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who also set a national record and personal best of 43.78 seconds. Kirani James of Grenada, the 2012 Olympic champion, finished fifth in 43.87 seconds, underscoring the extraordinary quality of the race.

In the aftermath of his remarkable achievement, Hudson-Smith took to social media to explain the significance of the Jamaican flag in his celebration. The gesture, he revealed, was a heartfelt tribute to his Jamaican heritage and, in particular, to his grandmothers, both of whom are Jamaican.

“I haven’t seen both my grandmothers who are Jamaican in a while, so I held the Jamaican flag as an ‘I love you’ to them. They are my biggest supporters, along with my mum who was born in Jamaica. I just wanted to represent my family,” Hudson-Smith shared.

The 29-year-old sprinter’s homage to his Jamaican roots resonated deeply with his fans and family alike, as he further added, “I hope they picked up on the gesture so when I get back to the UK, I can get some more oxtail.”

Hudson-Smith’s victory and his subsequent tribute to his heritage highlight the profound connection many athletes feel to their cultural backgrounds, even as they compete on the world’s biggest stage. His silver medal win not only cements his place as one of Europe’s finest sprinters but also as a proud ambassador of his rich Jamaican lineage.

 Jamaica's women’s 4x400m relay team secured their place in the final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, delivering a season-best time of 3:24.92 in the second of two heats on Friday. The quartet of Andrenette Knight, Ashley Williams, Charokee Young, and the seasoned Stephenie-Ann McPherson ran a strategic and powerful race, finishing first in their heat and ranking fourth overall among the qualifiers.

McPherson anchoring the team in style, ensured a comfortable win in their heat.

However, despite Jamaica’s strong showing, it was the United States that stole the spotlight in the qualifying rounds. The American team, consisting of Quanera Hayes, Shamier Little, Aaliyah Butler, and Kaylyn Brown, stormed to victory in their heat with a blistering season-best time of 3:21.44. Their time was the fastest of the day, making them the team to beat as the finals approach.

The lone Caribbean representative will have their hands full in the final that will also feature formidable opponents in the form of Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Canada.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 4x400m relay, Trinidad and Tobago faced a tough challenge during the heats. Despite a valiant effort, the team—comprising Renny Quow, Jereem Richards, Jaden Marchan, and Shakeem McKay—finished eighth in the first heat with a time of 3:06.73, falling short of qualifying for the finals.

The competition was fierce, and while the Trinidadian team gave their all, it was not enough to advance.

On the other hand, Botswana’s men’s team delivered a stellar performance, clocking the fastest time of the qualifiers at 2:57.76, a season-best. The team, which included Leungo Scotch, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Anthony Pesela, and Bayapo Ndori, demonstrated exceptional speed and coordination, making them strong contenders for a medal in the finals.

The finals for both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays are shaping up to be highly competitive events, with fans around the world eagerly awaiting the outcome.

In a dramatic and brutal set of semi-final heats on Friday at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas and Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent successfully advanced to the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles. However, the path to the final proved treacherous for many top contenders, as the 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan of Nigeria and Jamaica's two-time world champion Danielle Williams were among those who failed to qualify.

Charlton and Nugent were the Caribbean’s shining lights on a day filled with shocks and surprises. Charlton delivered a strong performance in the opening semi-final heat, finishing second behind the USA’s Grace Stark, who clocked an impressive 12.39. Charlton, the reigning 60m hurdles indoor champion, secured her spot in the final with a time of 12.50. Amusan, the world record holder, could only manage third place in 12.55, which was not fast enough to advance, marking a stunning exit for the Nigerian star.

Jamaica's Williams, who entered the competition with high hopes of adding an Olympic title to her two world championships, endured a disappointing run. Williams struggled throughout her race, clipping several hurdles, and ultimately finished sixth in her heat with a time of 12.82, falling well short of the final.

The second semi-final saw another tough outing for the Caribbean. Charisma Taylor of the Bahamas ran a lifetime best of 12.63 but could only finish third, just behind Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, who clocked 12.43 to take the second automatic qualifying spot. Alaysha Johnson of the USA dominated the heat, winning comfortably in 12.34. Despite Taylor’s personal best, it wasn’t enough to secure a place in the final.

Jamaica’s Janeek Brown, who had made a return to competitive hurdling after a two-year hiatus, struggled in her semi-final. Brown, the 2019 NCAA champion, finished seventh in 12.92, far from her personal best of 12.40 set five years ago, and her Olympic journey ended in disappointment.

The third and final heat was the fastest and most competitive, with reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico laying down a marker with a smooth run to win in 12.35, the quickest time of the round. Masai Russell, the USA champion and world leader with a time of 12.25 earlier this season, finished second in 12.42, just ahead of Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who crossed the line in 12.44. Despite finishing third, Nugent’s time was fast enough to secure her a spot in the final, keeping Jamaican hopes alive.

European champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France also advanced from this heat, finishing fourth in 12.52, a time that edged out Amusan for the last spot in the final.

With Charlton and Nugent advancing, the stage is set for a thrilling final later on Friday. They will face off against a formidable trio of American hurdlers—Grace Stark, Alaysha Johnson, and Masai Russell—alongside Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who looks determined to defend her Olympic title. The final promises to be a nail-biting clash, with both Caribbean athletes aiming to defy the odds and secure a place on the podium.

Stephen Curry praised the United States' "no quit" attitude after proving the hero in their thrilling comeback victory over Serbia in the Olympics semi-final.

Serbia entered the fourth quarter of the game with a 13-point lead, but a stunning late comeback from the USA, who have won gold in each of the last four Olympics, instead saw them prevail 95-91.

Curry starred for Team USA, scoring 36 points, the second-highest scoring game by an individual in the team's Olympic history, and his two free throws in the dying seconds ensured Serbia were unable to force any more drama.

And Curry explained how the lure of a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal spurred them to avoid the shock defeat.

"We talked about it the whole way, all summer," he said. "No matter how it looked, we were going to be challenged at some point.

"Outside of the exhibition series we had a pretty smooth road. Serbia are tough. They're a great team.

"Playing them three times, it's always hard to beat a team that many times, so to come back the way we did was amazing.

"We have no quit, and we know how much this means to win a gold medal with this group and the moment we have in front of us.

"Obviously, I hit the big three, but our defence carried us. Defence wins games in any league, especially in FIBA, so it was pretty special."

Serbia at one point held a 17-point lead in the first half, with NBA MVP Nikola Jokic getting 17 points and 11 assists, though they floundered in the closing stages.

While Curry took most of the headlines, LeBron James made his mark too, tying the game at 84-84 with four minutes remaining.

He got 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to finish with a triple-double, becoming the first player ever to complete the feat twice at the Olympics.

He echoed Curry's sentiments on Serbia's strength, noting how that helped to get the best out of the USA.

"Give a lot of credit to Serbia," James said. "They gave us everything they had.

"It's a great team. They played exceptionally well. They tested us and we needed that."

The USA will face hosts France in the gold-medal match on Saturday.

Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles feels testing positive for COVID-19 "definitely" affected his performance in Thursday's 200m final, as he was denied a sprint double by Letsile Tobego.

Lyles took gold in Sunday's 100m showpiece by five-thousandths of a second and had the chance to become the first man to win a 100m and 200m double at a single Olympics since Usain Bolt in 2016. 

However, he finished third behind Botswana's Tobego and fellow Team USA star Kenneth Bednarek, managing a time of 19.70 seconds at the Stade de France.

Tobego managed a 19.46 as he became Botswana's first Olympic gold medallist in any sport, handing his country just their third Olympic medal of any description.

Lyles appeared lethargic and was wheeled away from the track in a chair after the race, as rumours swirled regarding his health.

US Track and Field subsequently confirmed he had competed despite testing positive for COVID-19, and Lyles was proud of the way he fought through illness to take bronze.

"I do have Covid. I tested positive around 5am on Tuesday morning," Lyles told reporters after the race.

"I woke up in the middle of the night feeling real chills, aching, sore throat, and those were a lot of the symptoms I've had right before getting Covid.

"It definitely affected my performance. I've had to take a lot of breaks… I was coughing through the night.

"I'm more proud of myself than anything, coming out here to get a bronze with Covid. I've had better days, but I'm walking around again. I was quite light-headed after that race.

"Shortness of breath, chest pain, but after a while I could catch my breath and get my wits about me. I'm a lot better now."

The United States launched a thrilling comeback to reach the basketball gold medal match at the Paris Olympics with a 95-91 win over Serbia, as Stephen Curry starred with 36 points.

Team USA – who have won gold at the last four editions of the Olympics – looked set to miss out on Saturday's final when Serbia entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead.

NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 17 points and 11 assists for Serbia, who led by as many as 17 points at one stage in the first half.

Bogdan Bogdanovic had 20 points for Serbia while Aleksa Avramovic had 15, but Serbia were unable to hold on and avenge their 110-84 loss to the USA in the group stage.

Golden State Warriors star Curry carried the USA's offense for most of the game, though it was LeBron James' driving layup that tied the contest at 84-84 with under four minutes remaining.

The USA struggled defensively for long periods but finally began to put real pressure on Serbia late in the fourth quarter, and a missed 3-pointer from Ognjen Dobric with Serbia 86-84 up proved decisive.

Curry put the USA ahead with a 3-point jumper on a James assist with two minutes and 24 seconds left, then layups from both players stretched their lead as Serbia wilted. 

Twice Serbia drew within two points in the final minute, only for two Curry free throws to seal the USA's victory with eight seconds on the clock.

They will face hosts France – led by NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama – in Saturday's gold medal match, after Serbia face Germany for bronze.

James added 12 rebounds and 10 assists to his 16 points to finish with a triple-double, while USA team-mate Joel Embiid brought up 19 points.

An emotional Letsile Tebogo dedicated his gold medal in the men's 200m at the Paris Olympics to his late mother after stunning his rivals at the Stade de France.

Noah Lyles, who won 100m gold on Sunday, entered Thursday's final as the clear favourite but could only manage a bronze medal, with US Track and Field subsequently revealing he was suffering from COVID-19.

Fellow American Kenny Bednarek took silver, with Tebogo's time of 19.46 seconds seeing him become Botswana's first Olympic gold medallist in any sport.

They previously won bronze in the men's 4 x 400 relay at the Tokyo Games three years ago, while Nijel Amos took silver in the men's 800m at London 2012.

Tebogo's triumph came just three months after his mother Seratiwa passed away following a brief illness.

After the race, Tebogo held up his spikes to the cameras to display a message detailing his mother's date of birth, before dedicating his victory to her.

"It's basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field," Tebogo told reporters.

"To take her with me, it gives me a lot of motivation. She's watching up there, and she's really, really happy."