PARIS OLYMPICS 2024: What you need to know right now
Adds Swiatek, basketball, table tennis
PARIS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek, the overwhelming favourite for an Olympic gold medal, was left in tears after her stunning loss to China's Zheng Qinwen in the women's tennis semi-finals at Roland Garros -- her first defeat there since 2021.
Simone Biles will be chasing a sixth Olympic gold medal when she competes in the women's gymnastics all-around final later.
Here's what you need to know about the Olympics on Thursday, when a total of 18 gold medals are up for grabs.
SWIATEK OUT
Iga Swiatek will have to wait four more years to try and win an Olympic gold medal after the Polish top seed was shocked by China's Zheng Qinwen in the tennis semi-finals.
BASKETBALL
Reigning champions the United States crashed to a third straight defeat in the women's 3x3 basketball pool stage, going down 17-15 to Australia.
JUDO CHAMPION ALSO EXITS
Japan's Aaron Wolf relinquished his Olympic under-100kg crown after losing in early judo action on Thursday, while Germany's Anna-Maria Wagner scrapped her way into the women's under-78kg semi-finals.
BOXING
Algerian Imane Khelif's much-hyped Paris Olympics welterweight fight against Angela Carini in the round of 16 lasted 46 seconds after the Italian had to stop following a powerful punch to the nose.
The 25-year-old Khelif has been in the spotlight since being disqualified before a gold medal match at the 2023 World Championships for failing International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules that prevent athletes with XY chromosomes competing in women's events.
MARVELLOUS MARCHAND
France's Olympic star Leon Marchand won an unprecedented two finals on the same night in the pool on Wednesday, securing his status as France's face of the Games.
CROWD FAVOURITE THROUGH
Another favourite of the French home crowd, 17-year-old table tennis player Felix Lebrun qualified for the men's semi-finals.
SIXTH GOLD FOR BILES?
Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all-time, made her much-anticipated return to the Olympic stage on Sunday. The American aims for her second gold medal of the Paris Olympics in the women's gymnastics all-around final at 6.15 pm (16:15 GMT).
OLYMPIC MUMS
While motherhood was once seen as incompatible with a career in competitive sport, Olympian mums have shown that old stereotypes are giving way, from judo to fencing, basketball and beyond.
PINTADO BLAZES TO 20KM RACE WALK WIN
Brian Pintado of Ecuador pulled away from the field over the final kilometre to capture gold in the men's 20km race walk, crossing the finish line in a time of one hour 18 minutes and 55 seconds.
RIFLE MEDAL
China's Liu Yukun won gold in the men's 50 metre rifle three positions. Ukraine's Serhiy Kulish won the silver, and India's Swapnil Kusale took bronze.
MORE SWIMMING
Four medals are at stake in the evening at La Defense Arena including the women's 200 metres butterfly, the men's 200 backstroke and the women's 200 breaststroke.
The marquee event of the day is the women's 4x200 freestyle relay, with the heats in the morning session followed by the final in the evening.
SURF IS BACK?
Competition in Tahiti is likely to resume on Thursday after storm delays.
OLYMPIC FEVER
Unlike in Tokyo, stadiums are packed. Crowds are going wild, chanting, applauding, supporting the home team. The French are also tuning in by the millions to watch the Games on TV. After months of doom and gloom, Olympic fever has caught on in France.
Reuters Olympics coverage home https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/
Explainer: Olympics schedule, map, medals table, sports guides https://www.reuters.com/graphics/OLYMPICS-2024/EXPLAINER/byprqrwmqve/
Compiled by Ingrid Melander, Rachel Armstrong and Lori Ewing; Editing by Tom Hogue, Ed Osmond and Hugh Lawson
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