Grant Holloway stormed to the gold medal in the 110m hurdles final at the Paris Olympics, having missed out by five hundredths of a second in Tokyo three years ago.
Holloway was edged out by Jamaica's Hansle Parchment at the delayed 2020 Games but travelled to France having won three straight World Championship golds.
He flew out of the blocks in Thursday's final at the Stade de France, taking the crown with a time of 12.99 seconds.
Fellow American Daniel Roberts claimed silver with a time of 13.09, with Jamaica's Rasheed Broadbell taking bronze.
Holloway sprinted to the bell following his triumph before declaring: "I've made it. I've done it. I am the Olympic champion."
The 26-year-old had previously won gold at the World Indoor Championships and the Diamond League, in addition to his triumphs at the 2019, 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
Jamaica’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rasheed Broadbell can now add Olympic medallist to his resume after securing bronze in the final of the Men’s 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Broadbell recovered from a shaky start to power through the field on the way to be shoulder-to-shoulder with American Daniel Roberts heading into the final hurdle.
Roberts, who miraculously stayed on his feet after clipping a series of hurdles in the middle of his race, held his nerve to produce a dive across the line to just hold off Broadbell and take the silver medal.
Both Roberts and Broadbell were credited with the same time (13.09) with Roberts finishing three thousandths of a second ahead (13.085 to 13.088).
American reigning two-time World champion Grant Holloway ran 12.99 to claim his first Olympic title and continue his dominance on the event.
Spain’s Enrique Llopis ran 13.20 in fourth while Japan’s Rachid Muratake ran 13.21 in fifth. American Freddie Crittenden ran 13.32 in sixth while Jamaica Orlando Bennett and defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment were seventh and eighth with 13.34 and 13.39, respectively.
Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and Shiann Salmon finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the final of the Women’s 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Clayton, who won bronze at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, ran a brilliant 52.68 for fifth while Salmon ran 53.29 in fifth.
American superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the Stade de France track ablaze with a phenomenal world record 50.37 to successfully defend her Olympic title, breaking the previous mark of 50.65 she set in winning at the US Olympic Trials in June.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s countrywoman, Anna Cockrell, produced a massive personal best 51.87 in second while 2023 World Champion Femke Bol took bronze in 52.15.
The USA's Jasmine Jones ran a personal best 52.29 in fourth. Canada's Savannah Sutherland and France's Louise Maraval were seventh and eighth with 53.88 and 54.53, respectively.
Letsile Tebogo won Botswana's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men's 200m final on Thursday, as Noah Lyles missed out on a sprint double.
US Track and Field subsequently confirmed 100m victor Lyles raced despite testing positive for COVID-19, yet he still took bronze while compatriot Kenny Bednarek claimed silver.
Tebogo recorded a winning time of 19.46 seconds at the Stade de France, appearing in control from the off as he won just Botswana's third Olympic medal of any kind.
They previously took 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 had already beaten Lyles in the semi-finals, running a time of 19.96 to the American's 20.08.
In Thursday's final, Bednarek followed Tebogo home with a time of 19.62, while Lyles was third with a 19.70 despite rumours circulating about his fitness in the build-up to the race.
After the final, Lyles was wheeled away from the track in a chair and US Track and Field revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Another American, Erriyon Knighton, just missed out on the podium with a time of 19.99, while Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic was fifth.
Guerschon Yabusele starred for France as they confirmed their place in back-to-back Olympic gold medal matches in men's basketball, beating Germany 73-69 in an enthralling semi-final on Thursday.
Yabusele, who plays his domestic basketball with Real Madrid in Spain, top scored with 17 points to lead the hosts, who were silver medallists in Tokyo three years ago, to another final.
Isaia Cordinier added 16 points to France's total, while San Antonio Spurs star and NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Dennis Schroder led for Germany with 18 points, with Fritz Wagner the only other player to reach double figures against the Olympic hosts.
Germany's loss brought an end to their incredible recent run stretching back to last year's World Cup, having won 12 consecutive games in major international competitions.
France will now face either the United States or Serbia in Saturday's final, with LeBron James and company hoping to win Team USA's 17th gold in men's basketball.
Morocco claimed a first Olympic medal at the eighth time of asking as they swept aside Egypt 6-0 at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Thursday.
Abde Ezzalzouli and Soufiane Rahimi impressed for the Atlas Lions, with their first half goals sending Tarik Sektioui's on their way to a podium finish at the Games.
Bilal El Khannouss, Rahimi, Akram Nakach and a stunning free-kick from captain Achraf Hakimi would add further gloss to an impressive display after the break.
Morocco got off to an excellent start through Ezzalzouli's curling effort from outside the box, as Rahimi added a second three minutes later with a powerful header.
The result was put beyond doubt when El Khannouss notched Morocco's third, with Rahimi netting his sixth goal of the tournament just after the hour mark.
Rahimi then turned provider to set up Nakach inside the area, with Hakimi rounding off a fine display in style with an exquisite dead ball effort from distance.
Data Debrief: Rahimi stars in Atlas Lions' landmark triumph
12 years after their last appearance at the Olympic Games in London, Morocco returned with a bang, ending an impressive campaign with a deserved bronze medal.
Rahimi, who plays his football in the UAE with Al Ain, has been arguably the standout player of the tournament and leads the race for the Golden Boot ahead of France's Jean-Philippe Mateta and Spain's Fermin Lopez.
Morocco outperformed their expected goals (xG) by 4.76, with Rahimi contributing 0.82 to their xG total (1.24), while also registering the most shots on target (two) and touches in the opposition box (seven).
Caribbean sailors Luc Chevrier of St. Lucia, Just van Aanholt of Aruba, and Thad Lettsome of the British Virgin Islands gave it their all but, unfortunately, fell short of the medals as the men's dinghy sailing event finished with the medal race on Thursday at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Chevrier finished 29th in the competition, scoring 199 points and 163 net points while van Aanholt finished 33rd with 217 total points and 178 net points.
Lettsome finished 38th, with 255 total points and 215 net points.
Throughout the competition, these sailors displayed exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship, representing their countries with pride on the global stage.
In the women’s dinghy competition, Bermuda’s Adriana Penruddocke and the Cayman Islands’ Charlotte Webster gave strong efforts.
In race 9, Webster finished 37th, while Penruddocke finished 42nd. After the medal race, Penruddocke finished 36th overall with 270 total points and 226 net points while Webster finished 41st with 349 total points and 306 net points.
These women put out a valiant effort, and while they did not get the opportunity at medalling, their performances were admirable, showcasing their athletic ability and passion for the sport.
Santi Denia views Friday's Olympic gold medal match versus France as an opportunity for Spain to underline their status as European football's finest.
La Roja have enjoyed a terrific 2024 to date, with the country's senior and under-19 sides both claiming European Championship titles last month.
Those successes came on the heels of Luis de la Fuente leading the senior team to UEFA Nations League success in 2023, and his men overcame heavyweights Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England on their impressive run to Euro 2024 glory.
Olympic hosts France lie in wait in Friday's gold medal match at the Parc des Princes, where Denia is backing his team to bring more pride to their country.
"We are delighted that we are a benchmark in Europe and the world, it is a job that has been done for years," Denia said at Thursday's pre-match press conference.
"We have improved and continued to work, believing in a model of play and a profile of players that represent us.
"If we have been waiting for the gold medal for so many years, it is a challenge and an additional excitement."
Spain's only previous gold medal at the Olympics came on home soil at Barcelona 1992, when a team featuring the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique beat Poland 3-2 in a thrilling final.
Captain Abel Ruiz, who joined Girona in June, is keen to follow in the footsteps of that legendary side.
"We are motivated, we know that the gold is something very important for the country and for us," he said.
"It is something that could be historic and for which we have fought hard, we have been in the training camp for 40 days and it is a lot of effort. We are really looking forward to the final."
Thierry Henry believes France's journey to the Olympics final has been a success, whether they finish with a gold or silver medal against Spain in Paris.
Henry has led France to a first final at the Games since their win against Brazil in 1984, a time when he was preparing for his first senior season with Monaco's reserves.
Les Bleus entered the competition with one of the strongest teams on paper, but Henry faced a difficult task in assembling his squad.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery were refused permission to compete in the Games by their clubs.
However, Henry was quick to praise his group of players that have taken part in the tournament, saying his dream has already come true.
"This event is special because (in our sport) you don't think about finishing second or third, or winning a medal," Henry said.
"So our story is a success - let's make it better.
While Henry has the opportunity to add an Olympic medal to his World Cup and European Championship successes as a player, he was keen to look at the bigger picture.
"Did I ever think I would be part of an Olympic team? Never. I'll tell you why it's different for me," Henry said.
"I was never with my family watching me performing. When I say performing, you understand what I mean, obviously I'm not performing on the field anymore.
"But I never had my kids at a stadium looking at me with my team, being an 'actor', because when I had my kids I was almost at the end of my career.
"Maybe that's what was missing."
Tom Daley is a "pioneer for diving" who "brings the fun", so says his Team GB team-mate Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.
Spendolini-Sirieix claimed bronze at the Paris Olympics in the women's synchronised 10m platform, alongside Lois Toulson.
It is the 19-year-old's first medal. She was Team GB's youngest diver at the Tokyo Games at just 16.
Daley also made an early Olympic debut, competing in Beijing in 2008 at 14 years old. Now 30, he added to an already stellar medal collection in Paris, winning silver in the men's synchronised 10m platform with Noah Williams.
And Spendolini-Sirieix is grateful for the influence Daley has had on both her and the sport.
"I really feel like Tom has been the pioneer for diving. He’s really put diving on the map," she said while speaking to Stats Perform at Adidas house.
Daley became the first British diver to win four Olympic medals when he took gold in the 10m synchro at Tokyo 2020 with partner Matty Lee, to add to his three bronze from previous Games.
“Tom has done so much for our sport and as a team-mate, he's been really, really supportive," added Spendolini-Sirieix.
"He makes us laugh with his terrible dad jokes. But he just brings the fun, he brings the excitement and he brings the energy."
Asked whether she thought Daley would compete in Los Angeles in 2028, Spendolini-Sirieix was unsure, but partner Toulson chipped in: "It wouldn't surprise me, knowing Tom."
Just as his personality away from the pool is infectious, Daley's success in it has also rubbed off on the rest of his team.
In Paris, Team GB have the second-best medal haul in diving, only second to China.
They made history by winning medals in all synchro events, with one silver and three bronze.
"Now I really do feel like we've all put diving on the map, and that's the power of sport, it's the power of the Olympics,” said Spendolini-Sirieix, who also finished sixth in the women's 10m platform.
"We can really broadcast the hard work that we've been putting on. And I really do hope that more people tune into diving and try diving, because it's really a beautiful and unique sport."
Spendolini-Sirieix argues that such a feat would not be possible without the support of those behind the scenes.
"We are the ones that are diving, but we really feel like everyone dives with us in our hearts and with us behind our backs. It takes a village to create an athlete," she said.
"Having our family here as well to celebrate with us is the best part. It’s honestly the most amazing feeling."
Day 8 of Track and Field at the 2024 Paris Olympics was a day of mixed emotions for Caribbean athletes, highlighted by a standout performance from Jamaica's women in the 4x100m relay. As the morning session unfolded, the Jamaican quartet delivered a strong run to secure their place in the finals, a beacon of hope on an otherwise challenging day for the region.
The Jamaican team, comprised of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes, and Tia Clayton finished third in their heat with a season-best time of 42.35 seconds, which placed them sixth overall and earned them a coveted spot in the finals.
In stark contrast, Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s relay team faced disappointment. Despite their best efforts, they finished eighth in their heat with a time of 43.99 seconds, which was not enough to advance to the finals. The team, consisting of Akilah Lewis, Sole Frederick, Sanaa Frederick, and Leah Bertrand, gave it their all but ultimately fell short.
The men’s 4x100m relay saw similar heartbreak for Jamaica. The team, made up of Ackeem Blake, Jelani Walker, Jehlani Gordon, and Kishane Thompson, ran a season-best time of 38.45 seconds but finished fourth in their heat and 11th overall, failing to make it to the finals. It was a bitter pill to swallow as they had high hopes for a strong finish.
Elsewhere, the Caribbean faced tough outcomes in other events.
In the women's shot put, Jamaica's Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Lloydricia Cameron, along with Trinidad & Tobago's Portious Warren, did not advance past the qualification round. Thomas-Dodd threw 18.12m, Cameron achieved a season-best of 18.02m, and Warren managed 17.22m. Their efforts were valiant but fell short of the 19.15m qualification standard, ending their Olympic journeys in this event.
The women's 100m hurdles also saw Caribbean athletes falling short. Emelia Chatfield of Haiti and Denisha Cartwright of the Bahamas competed fiercely but did not make it past the repechage round. Chatfield finished sixth in her heat with a time of 13.24 seconds, while Cartwright was seventh, clocking 13.45 seconds. Despite their strong performances, they were unable to advance to the semifinals.
In the men's 800m, St Vincent and the Grenadines' Handal Roban, Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson, and Dominica’s Dennick Luke all faced similar fates in the repechage round. Roban finished fourth with a time of 1:45.80, Anderson fifth in his heat with 1:46.01, and Luke set a national record of 1:46.81 but finished sixth in his heat. None of these times were sufficient to move on to the semifinals, marking the end of their Olympic campaigns in this event.
Trinidadian medal hopeful Nicholas Paul failed to advance to the men’s sprint quarter-finals in the Paris Olympics at the National Velodrome in Paris on August 7.
After losing by four-thousandths of a second to three-time Olympic medallist, Englishman Jack Carlin in the 1/8 finals, the 25-year-old had to contest the 1/8 repechage against Australian speedster Leigh Hoffman and Japanese Yuta Obara.
"Jack Carlin is an experienced racer and it was a great race," Paul told Sportsmax after the repechage.
"Tactically, I think I played it out as best as I could and it just comes down to the line," he added.
With the winner only progressing to the August 8 quarter-final round, Paul placed third and was eliminated, with Obara – whom Paul had beaten in the1/32 round – winning the repechage and advancing.
In the opening round of sprint qualifying earlier on, Paul advanced as the seventh fastest qualifier (9.371s) in the flying 200m after Australian Matthew Richardson (9.091s) and reigning Olympic sprint champion Harrie Lavreysen (9.088s) broke Paul’s world record in this event.
In the 1/32 finals, Paul left it late against Obara and edged him on the line for the win. He then defeated another Japanese cyclist, Kaiya Ota, in the 1/16 final, which set him up against Carlin in the 1/8 final.
Paul and fellow TT rider Kwesi Browne return to the National Velodrome track on Saturday for the opening round of men’s keirin qualification.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards produced the best 400m race of his life but it just narrowly placed him outside the medals at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old, who entered Wednesday’s Men’s 400m final at the Stade de France with a personal best of 44.18 done at the London Diamond League on July 20 this year, produced a national record 43.78 to finish fourth.
The previous national record of 44.01 was held by Machel Cedenio who ran that time in a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Running out of lane nine, Richards went out extremely hard in the first 300m before being caught by the field in the last portion of the race.
American Quincy Hall won his maiden Olympic title with a brilliant personal best 44.40, the fourth fastest time in history.
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, like he did at the World Championships in Budapest last year, took silver with a European record 43.44 while Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga ran 43.74, a national record, to take bronze just ahead of Richards.
Grenadian 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James was fifth in 43.87. USA’s Chris Bailey (44.58), Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (44.73) and USA’s Michael Norman (45.62) rounded out the top eight.
Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert has advanced to the final of the Men’s triple jump at the Paris Olympics.
The 19-year-old, in his first Olympic Games, produced a best jump of 16.99m to advance sixth overall in qualifying at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
That 16.99m came in his first-round jump. He then did 16.95m in round two before closing out his qualifying campaign with a foul in the third round.
The other Jamaican in the field, Jordan Scott, had a best jump of 16.36m to finish 24th overall in qualifying.
Medal contenders Pedro Pichardo, Jordan Diaz Fortuin and Hugues Fabrice Zango all successfully made it through to Friday’s final.
Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke and the British Virgin Islands’ Kyron McMaster will represent the Caribbean in the final of the Men’s 400m hurdle after successfully getting through the semifinals at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
BVI’s McMaster, who finished fourth at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, will have an opportunity to win his first Olympic medal after running 48.15 to win the second semifinal ahead of Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.16), now a finalist for the third successive Olympics.
Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba also made it through to the final out of that semi with 48.20 in third.
Jamaica’s Malik James-King looked set to finish in the top two in that semifinal before clipping the last hurdle and stumbling to seventh in 48.85.
Clarke ran comfortably on his way to 48.34 for second in the third semifinal behind American Rai Benjamin who won in 47.85.
Reigning Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm (47.67), France’s Clement Ducos (47.85) and 2023 World champion Alison Dos Santos (47.95) qualified from the first semifinal.
Jaheel Hyde ran 50.03 to finish seventh in that first semifinal.
The final is set for Friday at 2:45pm Jamaica Time (3:45pm ECT).
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