We are currently going through the best of the rest finals at Lagoa, before the medals go up for grabs later.

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport in Rio

Bucketing down en route to Lagoa for the rowing where GB medal hopes rest on the shoulders of the men's four, who are hoping to win a fifth successive medal in this boat, and the women's pair of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who are aiming to become the first female Brits to defend an Olympic title.

Sat in the bus with James Cracknell, who won the men's four in 2000 and 2004, he says rain never bothered him and usually means it's less windy. He also says that it can hand GB crews an advantage over others, who may be less acquainted with typically British weather. 

As for the chances of Constantine Louloudis, George Nash, Moe Sbihi and Alex Gregory continuing GB's dominance in the men's four, Cracknell is confident. 

Image source, Getty

Image source, Getty Images

Irish golfer Padraig Harrington believes all players participating in the Olympics are already winners.

Golf has returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence, with Brazil's Adilson da Silva hitting the first shot.

The 44-year-old said: "They're already winners once they hit the first tee shot, which is not usual for golf events.

"Normally we have 155 losers every week, where as this week there's 60 guys going home who will all be considering themselves winners."

A number of the games top players, including Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, have all pulled out citing concerns over the Zika virus.

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Michael Phelps was among a group of 23 American swimmers who demanded more drugs testing in the run up to the Rio Olympics, the BBC has learned.

The Olympics' most decorated athlete signed a letter sent to the International Swimming Federation (Fina) in December.

It proposed carrying out "at least six" targeted, out-of-competition tests on the 10 quickest swimmers in each of the 34 Olympic events.

Fina accepted the proposal, external in January.

We will be chatting to a plethora of Team GB medallists in the next hour including gold medal cyclist Philip Hindes from the men's team sprint, silver medal canoeists David Florence and Richard Hounslow and the rugby sevens squad. Use #bbcrio2016 on Twitter, external to send in your questions and watch them live on our Facebook page, external.

Watch here...

The Polish pair playing now face GB's Chris and Gabby Adcock tomorrow.  

Go and size 'em up...

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Andy Shepherd: Athletics. Athleeeetics. Athletics athletics athletics. ATHLETICS

Don't forget to get in touch throughout the day/night with your thoughts, even if they are just the same word over and over... 

#bbcrio2016 is the hashtag to use. 

Watch live racing here. 

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If there was an award for the coolest granddad, Amber Hill's would be in with a shout of winning it for he has undoubtedly played his part in turning the 18-year-old into an Olympian.

Bill Rogers took his granddaughter clay pigeon shooting nearly a decade ago and she's been hooked ever since. Hill, winner of the 2013 Young Sports Personality of the Year, begins her quest for gold in today's skeet competition, which starts at 13:00 BST.

Also hoping for Olympic success is 44-year-old Welsh shooter Elena Allen. She is competing at her second Olympics, having failed to qualify for the skeet final at London 2012 when she admitted the applause of the crowd had put her off.

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They have been called the "dead certs" of the GB rowing team... 

No pressure then ladies... 

Unbeaten since 2011, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning will defend their title in the women's pair final today. 

That starts at 15:06 BST and will finish about seven minutes later... 

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Laurence Halsted competes for Great Britain in the quarter-finals of the team foil competition today.

In four weeks time he will be best man at Julian Bennetts' wedding and the groom-to-be has written a quietly touching tribute to his mate in the Daily Telegraph today.

"I am convinced he will be absolutely insufferable if he wins an Olympic fencing medal today," he writes., external

"That’s not to say I don’t want him to, of course.

"I know what it would mean to him, and his family. I saw him the day his Dad, Nick, died in 2007. One of the last things Laurence did was promise him he would fight at the Olympics wearing a British vest, as Nick himself had done in 1968, and his mother, Clare, had done in 1972 and 1976." 

Heather Watson had packed up her room in the athletes' village and was preparing for her flight home when she was told Romania's Monica Niculescu and Florin Mergea had withdrawn from the mixed doubles, earning her and Andy Murray a doubles spot

"I genuinely had all my stuff packed, I had no idea, wasn't sure if we'd get in and then just got told, 'Get your kit on, you're on'," she said.

"I really do enjoy mixed doubles I enjoy the variety and trying to return the guy's serves, all of it."

She and Murray beat David Ferrer and Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-3 and will play Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna of India in the last eight.

'You live and you learn'published at 11:51 British Summer Time 12 August 2016

11:51 BST 12 August 2016

Gymnastics

"I'm super sad that my Olympic experience is over (competitions). My final last night wasn't what I wanted it to be but you live and you learn and at the end of the day, I'm still an Olympian. 

Thank you for all the kind messages over the past few days, I'm looking forward to a good rest now and ready to support the rest of Team GB in the games. 

Also big thanks to Liz & Colin for taking me round yesterday & to my personal coaches who have done everything for me ❤️

Lots of love guys!"

Ellie Downie finished 13th in the all-around final. At 17, there will be more chances for her.

The second round is underway in the golf with Canada's David Hearn among the early risers.

After the first round, Australian Marcus Fraser has a three-shot lead at the top of the standings.

He is eight-under with Open champion Henrik Stenson and Canada's Graham DeLaet leading the chase.

Justin Rose is the best placed Briton on four under with Masters winner Danny Willett back at level par.

Watch here.

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Katherine Grainger's fifth Olympic medal came after taking two years away from rowing to do a doctorate in homicide sentencing.

And as Alistair Magowan notes, her route to glory "comprised enough plot twists, acrimony and despair to make a decent crime thriller".

Read the rest of his feature over here.