Summary

  1. swimming

    Postpublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - men's 200m butterfly final

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport in Paris

    Yeah, my ears are going to take a pounding tonight.

    The chants of Allez les Bleus have begun for Leon Marchand.

  2. swimming

    Who is Kristof Malik?published at 19:38 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming

    Kristof MilakImage source, Getty Images

    There's a lot of talk, and rightly so, about French swimming star Leon Marchand as he bids for double gold in the pool tonight.

    Marchand's first attempt at gold comes at 19:37 when he competes in the 200m butterfly final and if he is going to be denied it looks likely that Hungary's Kristof Malik will be the man to do it.

    Malik is the world and Olympic record holder and the reigning champion over 200m - he's considered by many to be the best butterfly swimmer on the planet.

    The 24-year-old has led the way in the 200 fly for more than five years and he boasts the eight fastest swims in history by someone not named Michael Phelps.

    The Hungarian's world record stands at 1:50.34 and was set two years ago at the World Championships. He opted to skip last year's Worlds in Japan, citing burnout, and therefore comes into this final with some questions still to answer.

  3. swimming

    Who is Leon Marchand?published at 19:37 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming

    Leon MarchandImage source, Getty Images

    Leon Marchand is fast becoming the biggest star of men’s swimming.

    Tickets to see the 22-year-old at his home Games in Paris have been hot property and every time he has entered La Defense Arena the reception from the crowd has been incredible.

    After his first Olympics in Tokyo three years ago, Marchand sent Michael Phelps’ former coach Bob Bowman a letter, asking to be taken under his wing.

    Bowman said yes and the rest, as they say, is history. Marchand has been ripping it up on the American collegiate circuit before winning two golds at the 2022 world championships and three last year.

    Last year he even broke Phelps’ last remaining world record in the 400m medley. That’s why in Japan they call him ‘the new monster’.

    In Paris, Marchand is targeting a remarkable four golds. He’d already won one, in the 400m medley, before tonight.

  4. swimming

    'Marchand would be bigger than Dupont'published at 19:37 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport in Paris

    France fans

    You’re not even at a Paris 2024 event if you don’t spot a Phryge hat outside the venue.

    Oceane Salvignol and Frederic Folliet were easy to pick out at La Defense Arena among the thousands of colourful French fans here in support for one certain individual.

    “We bought these hats especially for tonight - because it is Leon Marchand,” they say.

    “He is going to win the gold medal. Well, we hope so. Especially because it will be history.

    “He is already a national hero. But making history tonight will take him to an even higher level.

    “It will put him up there with Antoine Dupont - in our eyes, at least.”

  5. swimming

    'Sjoestroem used all of her experience'published at 19:37 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - women's 100m freestyle final

    Adrian Moorhouse
    1988 Olympic 100m breaststroke champion on BBC TV

    Sarah Sjoestroem is a fans' favourite. Someone who has been around the world with swimming and fans alike will be chuffed with that one. She delivered didn't she? Used all of her experience there.

  6. swimming

    Postpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - women's 100m freestyle final

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport in Paris

    I've been sat next to the Swedish TV commentators all week. They're in tears. Our desk was nearly knocked into the pool. I think my eardrum has just been given lifetime damage.

  7. gold-medal

    Gold Medalpublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - women's 100m freestyle final

    Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden takes gold.

    Sjostrom is the world record holder and she sneaks victory by the finest of margins.

    American Tori Huske was 0.13 seconds behind for silver and Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey adds bronze to her silver in the 200m freestyle.

  8. swimming

    Postpublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - women's 100m freestyle final

    Torri Huske of the USA leads at 50m.

  9. boxing

    What’s happened so far to Team GB in the boxing ring?published at 19:34 British Summer Time 31 July

    Boxing

    Katie Falkingham
    BBC Sport in Paris

    Bantamweight Charley Davison was the first to fall in a controversial points defeat by Turkey's Hatice Akbas, followed the next day by team-mate Rosie Eccles who was left in tears and "really, really shocked" as her 66kg bout with Aneta Rygielska went the Pole's way in another contentious split decision.

    Heavyweight Pat Brown was beaten by Brazil's Keno Machado 4-1 on the judges' cards, before GB's poster boy Delicious Orie - at superheavyweight - felt gold had been "taken away" from him in another 3-2 split decision.

    Earlier on Wednesday, middleweight Chantelle Reid suffered a narrow defeat as the judges handed a 3-2 victory to Morocco's Khadija Mardi, leaving Richardson as the last man standing.

  10. boxing

    'The worst decision I have seen in the flesh'published at 19:33 British Summer Time 31 July

    Men's boxing - 71kg (19:48 BST)

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    On the boxing judges split decisions...

    Looking at really good fighters losing 3-2. The Rosie Eccles one is the worst decision I have seen in the flesh.

    I was concerned I know this group. They have been together three years and there is some good friendships in there [camp].

    Speaking to the head coach Rob McCracken, they are hurting a bit – they are fighting their heart out and not getting the rub of the green.

    If one of the five judges had scored one of the three round differently we would be talking about four winners, some of the people Team GB lost to in their next fight they breezed it.

    I think Cindy Ngambo would have steadied it, but we need Lewis to win as a thumbs up for British boxing!

  11. swimming

    Postpublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming - women's 100m freestyle final

    OK, we're ready to get going with the first of eight events in the pool with five gold medals up for grabs.

    First up is the women's 100m freestyle final with Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan, who has already scooped two gold medals at this Games, and Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey, who took silver in the 200m freestyle, are the ones to watch.

    I've enjoyed the programme of swimming over the last few nights, I'm not sure how I'll fill my time once it's over.

  12. boxing

    'The judging has been a bit off'published at 19:33 British Summer Time 31 July

    Men's boxing - 71kg (19:48 BST)

    Galal Yafai
    2020 Olympic gold medalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Team GB in boxing, we are the powerhouses - we are up there.

    We are normally getting medals, but we have not had the rub of the green in this tournament.

    It is the Olympics and you are fighting the best of the best, the judging has been a bit off in my opinions, and I am hoping Lewis Richardson can do it tonight.

    He is a great fighter and he had a tough time not qualifying for Tokyo - hopefully he can deliver.

    His weigh has changed and he didn’t know what he wanted to do – he made the decision to go down a weight and only he knew if he could make it.

  13. boxing

    'We need Lewis to deliver'published at 19:29 British Summer Time 31 July

    Men's boxing - 71kg (19:48 BST)

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I have been having awful flashbacks in the last two days to Atlanta [1996 Olympics] - a dreadful experience.

    Let me tell you this, Lewis Richardson is the man you want in the trenches with you.

    If we have lost five and you have got one left I swear to you it would have been Lewis Richardson. His backstory and his struggle to get here after being savagely denied a place going out to Tokyo.

    He is the man I want next to me in the trenches - we need Lewis to deliver.

  14. boxing

    Richardson last man standingpublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 31 July

    Men's boxing - 71kg (19:48 BST)

    Katie Falkingham
    BBC Sport in Paris

    Lewis Richardson is the last boxer standing for Great Britain.

    Five British boxers have been before him, and all have exited in the first round - some under contentious circumstances.

    Not since 1996 have Team GB left an Olympic Games without a boxing medal. Can Richardson keep GB’s hopes alive?

    It’s been a long road to Paris for the 27-year-old. After suffering from stress fractures in his back and failing to qualify for Tokyo, his natural weight division was removed from the 2024 Olympic programme, meaning he’s had to drop weight to 71kg.

    He faces 2022 European champion Vakhid Abbasov at around 19:48 BST.

  15. tennis

    Alcaraz and Nadal in troublepublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 31 July

    Tennis - men's doubles quarter-finals: Alcaraz/Nadal 2-6 3-4 Krajicek/Ram*

    Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are in danger of a quarter-final exit as they have just had their serve broken by the American pair of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, who only need two holds of serve for the win.

    Alcaraz and Nadal are arguing their case with the chair umpire over a tight line call, but it doesn't matter and doesn't change anything.

  16. Allez Marchand!published at 19:25 British Summer Time 31 July

    Here's Marchand in action on day two. The poster boy of these Games, certainly in the pool.

  17. gymnastics

    'Fraser and Jarman did a fantastic job'published at 19:24 British Summer Time 31 July

    Gymnastics - men's all-around final

    Beth Tweddle
    London 2012 bronze medallist on BBC TV

    Joe Fraser and Jake Jarman could not have done any more out there today. They had the difficulty and had the execution to match it. They did a fantastic job.

  18. swimming

    La Defense ready for Marchand Maniapublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 31 July

    Swimming

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport in Paris

    French fans

    Marchand Mania feels ready to hit new levels at La Defense Arena because this really could be one of the night's of the Olympics for the hosts.

    The French star, a poster boy of these Games, is going for the rare feat of winning two individual golds in the same session tonight.

    First up he'll be in the 200m butterfly final, where he'll have to beat the defending champion and world record holder Kristof Milak of Hungary.

    After a rest of less than two hours Marchand will go again in the 200m breaststroke final.

    The French support is out in force with air horns, flags, face paint, France shirts, Marchand masks and, style by Antoine below, inflatable cockerel costumes...

    France fans
  19. gymnastics

    'Oka put in a fantastic final routine'published at 19:21 British Summer Time 31 July

    Gymnastics - men's all-around final

    Beth Tweddle
    London 2012 bronze medallist on BBC TV

    Shinnosuke Oka put in a fantastic final routine. When you go up knowing that if you put in a fantastic routine you are potentially going to become an Olympic champion, that is no mean feat to get up there with that pressure. The technicality, the execution, the difficulty, it was beautiful.

    Oka celebrates his gold medal by holding aloft the Japan flagImage source, Getty Images
  20. sailing

    Wilson on course for windsurfing medalpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 31 July

    Emma WilsonImage source, get

    Britain's Emma Wilson tops the windsurfing table with two days left, with Israel’s Sharon Kantor second.

    Wilson looks well placed for a medal after winning seven of the 11 completed races.

    On Wednesday, the debut women's windsurfing marathon was abandoned as wind faded.

    There are five more races planned on Thursday, before the quarter-final, semi-final and final stages on Friday.

    Wilson would progress straight to the final - and a guaranteed silver medal - if she finishes top of the rankings.