NEW DELHI: Sha’Carri Richardsonwho is the world champion and fastest woman this year, aims to secure Olympic glory in the women’s 100m on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Simone Biles chasing a third gold medal in Paris, and the Algerian boxer embroiled in gender controversy returned to the ring.
In the swimming pool, Katie Ledeckynow the most decorated US women’s Olympian, looking to add 800m freestyle gold to her 1500m title in the penultimate night’s competition.
At Roland Garros, Zheng Qinwen faces Donna Vekic with a chance to win China’s first tennis singles gold.
The 24-year-old Richardson, Texas, heated Friday in 10.94 seconds, becoming the first American since Gail Devers in 1996 to claim the title. Olympic 100m gold. His Olympic aspirations in Tokyo three years ago were derailed by a positive marijuana test after victory in the US trials.
While Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred was Richardson’s main rival, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith recorded the fastest time in the heats, winning in 10.87 seconds over Jamaica’s two-time 100m gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The 100m semi-finals and final are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
“To be an athlete here, to compete with energy, with a great appreciation for track and field, gives me great support for being a track and field athlete,” Richardson said.
“So I’m really excited to compete on the Olympic stage.”
In the second full day of athletics competition in Paris, several exciting events are scheduled, including the women’s triple jump, the men’s shot jump, and the final stage of the men’s decathlon.
Simone Biles, who faced a challenging Olympic experience in Tokyo, where she had to withdraw from several events due to mental blocks known as “twisties”, has won two gold medals in Paris. The 27-year-old gymnast has claimed victory in the team event and all-around competition.
For now, Biles is concentrating on the vault final, where she will once again face defending champion Rebeca Andrade. The American icon knows that the Brazilian athlete poses a significant threat to his chances of winning another gold medal.
“I don’t want to compete with Rebeca anymore. I’m tired!” Biles said after she secured the all-around title. “Very close.”
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, two female boxers, have found themselves at the center of controversy over gender rights in Paris Olympics.
Despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for not meeting the eligibility criteria, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed him to compete in Paris, sparking a heated debate. Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, who will face Khelif, expressed her disagreement with the decision, stating in a Facebook post: “In my humble opinion, I don’t think this contestant can compete in the women’s category.”
In swimming, 27-year-old American swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed her eighth gold medal by winning the 1500m freestyle title on Wednesday. However, she faces a tough challenge from Australia’s Ariarne Titmus as she seeks her fourth consecutive 800m title. Meanwhile, Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh is aiming for her third Olympic gold medal in the women’s 200m medley, having won gold in the 200m butterfly and 400m medley, along with silver in the 400m freestyle.
In tennis, rising Chinese star Zheng has a chance to make history for his country. After defeating four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, he will face Croatia’s Vekic on the same court where his childhood inspiration, Li Na, became China’s first Grand Slam champion 13 years ago at the French Open.
The men’s cycling race was another highlight of Saturday’s event, with Dutch world champion Mathieu van der Poel, Paris Olympic time trial champion Remco Evenepoel, and fellow Belgian Wout van Aert among the top contenders.
Meanwhile, Simone Biles chasing a third gold medal in Paris, and the Algerian boxer embroiled in gender controversy returned to the ring.
In the swimming pool, Katie Ledeckynow the most decorated US women’s Olympian, looking to add 800m freestyle gold to her 1500m title in the penultimate night’s competition.
At Roland Garros, Zheng Qinwen faces Donna Vekic with a chance to win China’s first tennis singles gold.
The 24-year-old Richardson, Texas, heated Friday in 10.94 seconds, becoming the first American since Gail Devers in 1996 to claim the title. Olympic 100m gold. His Olympic aspirations in Tokyo three years ago were derailed by a positive marijuana test after victory in the US trials.
While Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred was Richardson’s main rival, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith recorded the fastest time in the heats, winning in 10.87 seconds over Jamaica’s two-time 100m gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The 100m semi-finals and final are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
“To be an athlete here, to compete with energy, with a great appreciation for track and field, gives me great support for being a track and field athlete,” Richardson said.
“So I’m really excited to compete on the Olympic stage.”
In the second full day of athletics competition in Paris, several exciting events are scheduled, including the women’s triple jump, the men’s shot jump, and the final stage of the men’s decathlon.
Simone Biles, who faced a challenging Olympic experience in Tokyo, where she had to withdraw from several events due to mental blocks known as “twisties”, has won two gold medals in Paris. The 27-year-old gymnast has claimed victory in the team event and all-around competition.
For now, Biles is concentrating on the vault final, where she will once again face defending champion Rebeca Andrade. The American icon knows that the Brazilian athlete poses a significant threat to his chances of winning another gold medal.
“I don’t want to compete with Rebeca anymore. I’m tired!” Biles said after she secured the all-around title. “Very close.”
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, two female boxers, have found themselves at the center of controversy over gender rights in Paris Olympics.
Despite being disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for not meeting the eligibility criteria, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed him to compete in Paris, sparking a heated debate. Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, who will face Khelif, expressed her disagreement with the decision, stating in a Facebook post: “In my humble opinion, I don’t think this contestant can compete in the women’s category.”
In swimming, 27-year-old American swimmer Katie Ledecky claimed her eighth gold medal by winning the 1500m freestyle title on Wednesday. However, she faces a tough challenge from Australia’s Ariarne Titmus as she seeks her fourth consecutive 800m title. Meanwhile, Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh is aiming for her third Olympic gold medal in the women’s 200m medley, having won gold in the 200m butterfly and 400m medley, along with silver in the 400m freestyle.
In tennis, rising Chinese star Zheng has a chance to make history for his country. After defeating four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, he will face Croatia’s Vekic on the same court where his childhood inspiration, Li Na, became China’s first Grand Slam champion 13 years ago at the French Open.
The men’s cycling race was another highlight of Saturday’s event, with Dutch world champion Mathieu van der Poel, Paris Olympic time trial champion Remco Evenepoel, and fellow Belgian Wout van Aert among the top contenders.
