It’s a packed Olympics schedule on Day 13 of the Paris 2024 Games with Team GB keen to add to its medal collection.
American sprint sensation Noah Lyles once again headlines the athletics today, hunting double sprint gold in the men’s 200m final following Matt Hudson-Smith’s heartbreaking 400m final silver last night. Great Britain’s heptathlon star Katarina Johnson-Thompson is also in action.
Jack Laugher is back in the men’s diving 3m springboard final, looking to win another medal after securing the bronze in the 3m synchro with Anthony Harding.
Plus look out for LeBron James and Team USA in the men’s basketball semi-finals later this evening, when UK-based boxer Cindy Ngamba – who has secured the Refugee Team’s first-ever Olympic medal – will also be in semi-final action, aiming to keep her gold hopes alive.
Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below.
Australian Olympic hockey player apologises after arrest for buying cocaine in Paris
Australia’s Olympic hockey player Tom Craig has been released from police custody and apologised to his family and teammates after being arrested in Paris for buying cocaine.
“I’d firstly like to apologise for what has occurred in the last 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake. I take full responsibility for my actions,” Craig said as he left police offices.
“My actions are my own and in no way, reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, my sport, and the Australian Olympic team. I’ve embarrassed you all. I’m truly sorry,” he added.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 11:11
Olympics 2024: Athletics – Great Britain safely into men’s 4x100m relay final
So encouraging stuff for Great Britain’s men’s four, who were stripped of their silver medal from Tokyo after CJ Ujah’s doping violation. Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake were part of that quartet alongside Zharnel Hughes – will Hughes be fit enough for the final? Regardless, you’d back Team GB to be in the medal mix if they fire.
“Me and Nethaneel do this like clockwork,” veteran Kilty tells the BBC. “We’ve been here a million times. It’s amazing to get out here with these young flying machines. It’s amazing to get out there with our fastest time of the year, and we’ll definitely push on for the final. We’ve got much more in us.”
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:59
Olympics 2024: Athletics – men’s 4x100m relay heats
So the qualifiers for the final are…
The Americans should take it at a canter if fully-loaded and functioning, but it’ll be anyone’s game, really, for the other medals.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:54
Olympics 2024: Athletics – men’s 4x100m relay heats
A nightmare for Jamaica and only fourth for the sprinting powerhouse! Kishane Thompson took the baton with 100m to go and had it all to do after two dreadful changeovers, and though he surges from sixth, it is not enough! Jamaica miss the 4x100m final – Japan and Italy take the two spots available to fastest losers.
China, France and Canada snatch the three automatic qualifying spots, though seven of the quartets in the first heat were quicker. Thompson and his teammates look up the big screen, perplexed, perturbed and bidding adieu to Paris 2024.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:51
Olympics 2024: Diving – Women’s 3m springboard semi-final
Grace Reid is through in seventh, with a score of 290.05.
There is also joy for Yasmin Harper, who sneaks through into the final in 12th.
The final will take place at 2pm tomorrow.
Sonia Twigg8 August 2024 10:41
Olympics 2024: Athletics – men’s 4x100m relay heats
A show of force from the United States, 37.47secs and clear air to the rest of the field. South Africa wisely utilise Akani Simbine (fourth again in the individual 100m) to anchor, and he brings them home impressively, taking them from out of contention to second.
Great Britain are third and into the final, with Louie Hinchcliffe going very well on relay debut. An anxious wait for defending champions Italy – having taken that stunning gold in Tokyo, they finish fifth in the heat and will be reliant on slow times in the second of them.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:41
Olympics 2024: Athletics – men’s 4x100m relay heats
Over to the men, then, with Great Britain and the USA in heat one of two. Zharnel Hughes is still nursing the hamstring issue that forced his withdrawal from the 200 metres, which means a first run for Louie Hinchcliffe in the British quartet. We know the NCAA Champion is rapid, but how will he gel with Jeremiah Azu, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake?
The United States have rested Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, though can still rely on 60m world champion Christian Coleman to provide an explosive start and Fred Kerley to keep things moving smoothly the second leg. You’d imagine Bednarek will take the bend tomorrow night with Lyles to bring it home – that looks a fearsome foursome, assuming they get to the final…
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:34
Olympics 2024: Diving – Women’s 3m springboard semi-final
Ahead of the final round, there is still a bit of work to do from Grace Reid, who was ninth after four dives.
Yasmin Harper sits in sixth.
It’s worth remembering that only the top 12 make the final.
Sonia Twigg8 August 2024 10:32
Olympics 2024: Athletics – women’s 4x100m relay heats
A national record for Canada in fourth in that second heat, and they’ll be into the final. The Netherlands, who pipped Nigeria for fifth, also take a fastest losers’ spot.
Here’s your line-up for tomorrow night in order of qualification time:
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:29
Olympics 2024: Athletics – women’s 4x100m relay heats
Storming stuff from the British quartet, clean and quick – 42.03secs, with their two fastest sprinters still to come in. That will please them mightily. Great Britain take heat two from France, with Jamaica a relatively distant third.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 August 2024 10:25