Day five of the Olympics has already seen a Team GB medal rush, starting with the women’s and men’s triathlon events to kick off another busy day at Paris 2024.
Alex Yee turned his Tokyo silver into a spectacular Paris gold with a scarcely believable comeback in the men’s triathlon, which had to be postponed yesterday after failing safety tests due to pollution in the river Seine, just after Team GB’s world champion Beth Potter took a gutsy bronze in the women’s triathlon amid treacherous conditions.
Shortly after, the women’s quad sculls rowers added to the GB haul with an incredible comeback of their own to pip the Dutch boat to gold on the line. Meanwhile, in diving, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson won a historic bronze medal in the women’s 10m platform synchro, emulating Tom Daley and Noah Williams’ fine silver.
Later this afternoon, Mallory Franklin could earn GB a podium spot in the canoe slalom and BMX freestyle star Keiran Reilly heads into the final as the top qualifier. Then this evening, Katie Ledecky returns to the pool looking to extend her dominance in the women’s 1500m freestyle and claim her eighth Olympic gold, while there will be an exciting battle in the gymnastics hall when the men’s individual all-around final pits Hashimoto Daiki of Japan against China’s Zhang Boheng. Joe Fraser and Jake Jarman also feature for Team GB.
Last night, Andy Murray continued to write a remarkable final chapter to his career in Paris as he and Dan Evans conjured another dramatic escape to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles, while there was a sensational first swimming gold medal for Team GB’s men’s 4x200m freestyle team.
Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below.
Olympics 2024: Team GB schedule
Right, let’s mark your cards for this afternoon in terms of Team GB athletes. After the medal rush this morning (four medals already today, including two gold) – are there any more podium chances for Brits?
You’ll be pleased to hear that yes indeed there are, starting with Kieran Reilly in the BMX freestyle shortly.
- 1:32pm BST: BMX freestyle men’s park final – Kieran Reilly qualified top and is favourite
- 2.30pm BST: Canoe slalom – Women’s C1 semi-final – Mallory Franklin won silver in Tokyo and is a medal shot again
- 4.25pm BST: Canoe slalom – Women’s C1 final – Mallory Franklin presuming qualification from semis
- 4.30pm BST: Artistic Gymnastics – Men’s individual all-around final – Joe Fraser and Jake Jarman representing Team GB
Luke Baker31 July 2024 13:07
WATCH! Olympics 2024: Team GB take dramatic quad sculls rowing gold
It’s been wall-to-wall drama for Team GB this morning. Fair to say they haven’t done things the easy way! But here’s their incredible late comeback in the women’s quad sculls rowing that saw them pip the Dutch boat on the line for gold
Luke Baker31 July 2024 12:57
Olympics 2024: Djokovic bemoans weather after Koepfer victory
Speaking after his round three win, Djokovic had plenty to say about the state of the Parisian heat and humidity, adding that he hopes he can make the best of the conditions as he hunts for a gold medal.
“I am soaking wet [with sweat] honestly, it is a very humid day today as it was yesterday, I just hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit. It is what it is, you have to accept and embrace the conditions. It is the same for you and your opponent so you have to make the best of it,” he said.
“It is a great honour to represent my country at the Olympics, it is an incredible event. We play Roland Garros every year in this stadium but the crowd, the atmosphere, the colours, everything is different, in a good way! The Olympic crowd is just something different, people travel from all over the world to support their athletes. It is just beautiful to see, we are all celebrating sport and I am happy to stay in the tournament.”
Arthur Ferridge31 July 2024 12:56
Olympics 2024: Tennis at Roland Garros
In what is perhaps the least surprising headline of the day, Djokovic progresses to round four in straight sets (7-5, 6-3).
Koepfer held his own in the first set before struggling with injury through the second, taking a medical pause about halfway through before fighting through to the end of the match.
Ultimately, a routine day out for Djokovic, with that match lasting just one hour and 37 minutes. He will face Stefano Tsitsipas in round four.
Arthur Ferridge31 July 2024 12:50
Olympics 2024: Hockey
More Team GB action this morning away from the medal rush. The women’s hockey squad have left themselves no margin for error after two early defeats in the pool stage but they got a pivotal 2-1 win over South Africa today to keep their qualification hopes alive.
South Africa led early through Kayla De Waal’s goal from a penalty corner but Amy Costello equalised before half-time. Hannah French then scored what proved to be the winner in the third quarter. The top four teams in each pool go through to the quarter-finals and Team Gb are currently fourth in Pool B.
Luke Baker31 July 2024 12:45
Olympics 2024: Boxing
One of the sports where things haven’t been rosy for Team GB in Paris so far is boxing. They sent six boxers to Paris and the first four to compete all lost in their opening bout, albeit a couple were robbed in terms of the decision.
A fifth Brit was in action a little while ago and sadly, it was more of the same. Chantelle Reid was taking on Morocco’s Khadija Mardi in the women’s -75kg category and Reid looked impressive early on but eventually lost a split decision as the judges ruled 3:2 in Mardi’s favour.
It means Lewis Richardson is GB’s final boxing hope tomorrow to avoid a clean sweep of opening losses.
Luke Baker31 July 2024 12:33
Olympics 2024: Tennis at Roland Garros
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is continuing his solemn march towards an Olympic gold medal, currently leading Germany’s Dominic Koepfer by one set to love in his third round match.
Djokovic currently holds a two game to love lead in set two, which would imply that he probably will not be on court for too much longer.
He beat arch-rival Rafael Nadal in straight sets on Monday after cruising through a round one match against Australia’s Matthew Ebden, who was playing his first competitive singles match for two years.
Arthur Ferridge31 July 2024 12:18
Olympics 2024: Women’s quadruple sculling – “Its quite overwhelming to experience this”
The Team GB crew speak on their incredible at-the-death victory.
Lola Anderson, speaking through tears: “It just feels like it’s been ages working towards this. You kind of get to the end of a cycle like this, and it doesn’t get bigger than this. It’s kind of overwhelming to experience.”
She’s asked about the story of her writing down the goal of winning Olympic gold – on a piece of paper that her father rescued a couple of years ago. He has since sadly passed away.
“Thirteen years ago… I’d forgotten about it obviously, but a couple of years ago my dad reminded me. I know that he’d be so, so proud. I’m thinking about him a lot right now.”
Anderson’s teammate Hannah Scott added: “I don’t even know if I’m emotional yet, I think that will come. I think I’ve just been trying to play it really cool. We knew, we had the confidence, we had done so many hard miles in training. If you think you can [do something], you might just one day, that’s the cool thing about the Olympics.”
Arthur Ferridge31 July 2024 12:06
Olympics 2024: Triathlon – Alex Yee makes Sam Dickinson vow for relay
“Yes, definitely,” Yee says when asked if Sam Dickinson, his Team GB teammate played a vital role pacing him. “He has been my housemate growing up, through Uni and freshers, so special.
“This guy, we lived together for two to three years, he got me out of bed a few times. I’m so proud of him. We’ll share a relay team together. We’ll try make this guy’s dreams come true later on.”
While Dickinson adds: “What a day, Alex is special. Alex won, I didn’t win, stepping off the course, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It’s not about me, helping a mate achieve his dreams, is special.”
Jack Rathborn31 July 2024 11:51
Olympics 2024: Women’s quadruple sculling – Team GB take gold in photo finish!
Unbelievable scenes on the water in Paris! Team GB could not have left it any later than that. After sitting in second for the vast majority of the race, an unbelievable surge in the final 100m saw Team GB snatch gold by a matter of inches, stealing the victory from the Netherlands on the final stroke of the race in what was an absolutely thrilling conclusion. Moments like that are what the Olympics is all about.
Though Great Britain trailed by 1.16 seconds at the halfway point, their final margin of victory was just 0.15 seconds, a loss which will live long in the memories of the Netherlands crew.
The Dutch boat look absolutely gutted, a stark contrast to the uninhibited jubilation in the British boat.
In third place is Germany, with Switzerland, Ukraine and China completing the order.
Arthur Ferridge31 July 2024 11:50