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Bolt’s ‘triple-triple’ bid continues
In his quest for a ‘triple-triple’ gold medal defence, Usain Bolt takes the first step towards the 200m gold today when he runs in the men’s 200m heats. The newly crowned Rio 2016 100m champion will run in Heat 9 at 12.46pm. The heats also feature 100m medallists Justin Gatlin (USA) and Andre de Grasse (CAN).
Can Brazil’s women advance to the football final?
As Canarinhas line up to face USA’s conquerors Sweden in the women’s semi-final at 13.00. The other semi-final kicks off later the same day at 4pm in Belo Horizonte between 2012 bronze medalists Canada and three time Olympic bronze medalists Germany. Both will be looking to avoid the bronze medal match this time around. Brazil’s women have played some outstanding football so far and will look to entertain a packed out 78,000 at the Maracanã. Can Marta and Co. book their place in Friday’s gold medal final? You won’t want to miss it.
Biles dusts herself off and goes again
She may have wobbled on the balance beam and ended up with bronze on Monday, but you can be sure that USA’s little superstar Simone Biles will be giving it everything today in the final of the women’s floor exercise to win a fourth Rio 2016 gold medal. The final begins at 2.47pm and is the last artistic gymnastics individual event of these Olympic Games. It also features Biles’ USA compatriot and London 2012 floor exercise gold medallist Aly Raisman.
Triple jump final of champions in the morning
Early this morning (9.50am) the final of the men’s triple jump takes place in the Olympic Stadium. London 2012 gold medallist and double world champion Christian Taylor (USA) will be there again, and with the 2016 world leading jump as well as the longest qualifying jump, he will be confident of victory. Beijing 2008 champion Nelson Évora of Portugal is also competing however, as is 2016 World Indoor Champion gold medalist Dong Bin of China.
Final of the men’s 3m springboard diving
At 10am on today, the semi-finals of the men’s 3m springboard get underway, with the final then taking place at 6pm. China’s London 2012 gold medalist Cao Yuan qualified for the semi-final with the best preliminary score of 498.70 and is seeking another Olympic gold medal. Great Britain’s Jack Laugher, who in tandem with Chris Mears made history by winning GB’s first ever diving gold in the men’s synchronized 3m springboard, has also qualified and will go looking to make more history.
Can Dibaba eclipse her family’s Olympic records?
The final of the women’s 1500m takes place later tonight (16 August) at 22:30 and Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia, a world record holder for her event with two older sisters who are previous Olympic medal winners. Tirunesh Dibaba is a six-time Olympic medallist (three golds, three bronzes) in the 5000m and 10,000m, while Ejegayehu Dibaba won silver in Athens in the 10,000m. Dibaba’s cousin Derartu Tulu was also the 10,000m champion at Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000. No pressure then…
Who will flop in the high-jump final?
Monday night also sees the final of the men’s high jump at 8.30pm. This high-jump is possibly the most wide-open field of any event. It’s anyone’s for the taking with the final including five previous Olympic medallists and three world champions with a host of countries in the running for a medal including Qatar, Ukraine, Canada, Bulgaria, Great Britain and the USA!
David v Goliath in the women’s hockey quarters
At 10am, Brazil’s women’s hockey team will play the Netherlands in a quarter-final clash at Deodoro Stadium. The Netherlands are the defending world and Olympic champions and will provide a stern test for Brazil’s hockey credentials. Can the home crowd help cheer Brazil to an unlikely win?
