BBC Wales at the Olympics

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The track and field has started and there will be only one Welsh athlete in action over the next few days.

That is Cardiff sprinter Jeremiah Azu, who will compete in the men's 100m competition which starts with the heats on Saturday morning.

Azu, 23, is the only Welsh athlete to have dipped under 10 seconds for the event, running 9.97secs in Germany in May.

He secured his spot at his first Olympics by coming second at the GB trials in Manchester in June.

Azu is now targeting the Olympic 100m final on Sunday night and a medal in the 4x100m relay next week.

Lynn Davies, Wales' only track and field gold medallist who achieved his historic success in the long jump in Tokyo in 1964, hopes Azu can achieve his dream.

"He’s a lovely lad Jeremiah, and he’s the first Welshman to go under 10 seconds in the 100 metres, which is truly world class," said Davies.

"I hope he makes the final, because it’s going to be very tough to do that. He’s got two other very good British sprinters alongside him.

"You have Louie Hinchcliffe, who’s coached by Carl Lewis, and Zharnel Hughes, and they’re very good as well."

Listen to the full interview with Lynn Davies on BBC Radio Wales Sounds.

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Welsh sailor Chris Grube and helm Vita Heathcote are in sixth place after race 2 of the mixed dinghy event in Marseille.

The Team GB pair finished in 16th place in race 2 to drop them down the standings, after claiming second in race one on Friday morning.

Race 3 and 4 take place on Saturday from 16:05 BST, with the event contested during 10 races over five days before the medal event on 7 August.

Grube, 39, has come out of retirement to compete at a third Olympic games.

Meanwhile, Micky Beckett, who is from Solva, has finished the day in 12th place overall in the men's dinghy event after claiming 15th and eighth in the two races on Friday.

His campaign will continue tomorrow.

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Welsh rower Ollie Wynne-Griffith has been reflecting on being pipped to the gold medal in the men's pair in a dramatic finale.

Wynne-Griffith and Tom George led for the majority of the race and looked set to win, but Croatia's defending champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic charged past them in the closing 20m to win by 0.45 seconds.

Having put in such a huge effort, the British duo's disappointment was clear to see, with Wynne-Griffith blaming himself for getting the finish wrong.

"I made a mistake on the line and that's racing for you," he said.

"Olympic silver medallists, I'm so proud of what we did.

"We had a great start and a great first 1500m, just on the last four strokes it was a case of winning or losing unfortunately.

"I feel having an Olympic medal around your neck is a special thing, especially in a pair.

"It's incredibly competitive, we know Croatia are three-time Olympic champions, so if we knocked them over today... you've got to produce a seriously good race.

"I'm proud of all the work we put in, just gutted the colour [of the medal] is not different.

"But I'm sure if I polish it up over the years it might change colour!"

If you can stand it, here is Welsh rower Ollie Wynne-Griffith just missing out on gold.

Heartbreaking.

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Welsh rower Ollie Wynne-Griffith has claimed silver with Tom George in the men's pairs at the Paris Olympics.

The duo agonisingly missed out on gold as Croatia produce a brilliant late sprint to snatch the victory.

So Wynne-Griffith and George had to settle for silver after leading for most of the race.

Wynne-Griffith hails from Guildford but has a Welsh dad, but grew up dreaming of playing rugby for Wales.

Instead he has gone on to become one of Britain's top rowers instead.

He won Olympic bronze in the men's eight at the last Games before switching to the pair with childhood friend George for this Olympic cycle.

They have been on the podium at every major championships since Tokyo and won their first major title at the 2024 European Rowing Championships.

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At 39 years of age, sailor Chris Grube is the elder statesman of Team GB's Welsh contingent.

However, the father of two has a chance to make a slice of history in his third Games - and not just by reaching the podium after finishing fifth in the last two Olympics.

He is in a new sailing class, a mixed dinghy in which a man and a woman team up in the boat.

Grube is crew to 23-year-old helm Vita Heathcote, whose hopes are high after winning silver at this year's World Championships.

Sailing events are taking place in Marseille, well away from the main Games focus in Paris. Grube and Heathcote's campaign is scheduled to start at 11:05 BST, but there have already been start delays due to unfavourable conditions in previous races this week.

There are two races a day until the top 10 boats move into the medal races on Wednesday, 7 August, when double points are again up for grabs.

It's the same pattern for Grube's compatriot Michael ‘Micky’ Beckett, who ended his opening day - Thursday - in 11th in the men’s dinghy. Beckett's Friday races are due to take place this afternoon.

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The athletics track and field programme starts today and what a lovely time to take a trip down memory lane with Welsh sporting royalty.

Lynn 'The Leap' Davies remains the only Welsh athlete to win an individual athletics gold medal after claiming gold in 1964 in Tokyo.

Davies told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast about an incident which helped him finish first on that historic day in Japan 60 years ago.

"You work hard and have this dream of going to the Olympic Games, which is every four years, and maybe reaching the final," said Davies.

"So it needs a lot of dedication and ambition, and on the day itself, you need that little bit of luck.

"My coach Ron Pickering said ‘Lynn, when you’re on the runway watch the flag at the top of the stadium because that’s a good indication of the wind.’

"So just before my fifth-round jump, I stood there for about half a minute and it did drop. I ran down and went into the lead.

"You need a bit of luck on the day and that’s what can make the difference."

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As we wait to see how Ollie Wynne-Griffith fares in his bid for gold in the men's pair with Tom George at 10:30 BST, BBC Radio Wales have been catching up with yesterday's medallists Becky Wilde and Matt Aldridge.

Wilde won an emotional bronze medal in the women's doubles sculls with Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne.

"It has been an emotional whirlwind since we crossed that line yesterday but I am loving every minute of it," said Wilde, who is from Taunton but has a Welsh mum and represented Wales at swimming for a decade.

"Standing on the podium was the stuff of dreams, looking up into the crowd to see my family and friends is a memory I will have forever."

The pair qualified late for the Games after Wilde had surgery on both arms last September.

"I only started rowing six years ago, I used to swim before switching," said Wilde.

"I have had a bit of a tricky journey with lots of injuries, hip and forearm surgeries and many broken ribs.

"It has been a crazy season, but to end up here with a bronze medal is special."

Aldridge was part of the men's fours that won another bronze in the final race of the day, alongside Oli Wilkes, David Ambler and Freddie Davidson.

"It's been an absolute privilege," said Aldridge.

"It was an incredible race. We knew in order to get a medal we would have to have our best race and on the day we found that."

Aldridge believes Wynne-Griffith can add to the Welsh rowing medal tally when he goes for gold on Friday morning.

"Ollie is an incredible athlete and he and Tom are looking strong," said Aldridge.

"They have had a slightly tougher progression into the final than they would have liked but that will help them.

"They are two immensely talented athletes and Ollie can come home with a gold."

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Rower Ollie Wynne-Griffith is the main focus of Welsh attention at the Paris Games on day seven.

The 30-year-old and his men's pair partner Tom George have gold on their minds in the final at 10:30 BST at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre.

Attention switches to Marseille where Chris Grube enters the sailing fray with partner Vita Heathcote in the mixed dinghy, scheduled for 11:05 BST, while Mickey Beckett starts the second day of men's dinghy racing at 14:35 BST.

In the evening Rupert Shipperley, Jacob Draper and Gareth Furlong are part of the GB hockey team facing one of the top tips for Paris gold, Germany, in their pool game (19:15 BST).

GB secured a quarter-final spot by beating hosts France 2-1 on Thursday.

Team GB finished fifth in tonight’s Women’s Final 4x200m Freestyle, won by Australia.

Medi Harris was not included in the final team but played a part in the final leg of the heats.

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Michael ‘Micky’ Beckett has finished the day’s sailing in 11th place overall at the Paris Olympics.

The men’s dinghy saw a delayed start due to low winds in Marseille, but once up and running Beckett made a strong start in race one.

He was in the top 10 at mark 1, but had to complete two penalty turns for a rule breach, pushing him back to 19th.

The second race went far more to plan as he finished ninth.

Beckett is now 11th overall, with races three and four to come from 14:35 BST on Friday.

He needs to finish in the top 10 after the opening series to progress to the medal race.

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Great Britain women’s hockey team claimed their second win of Paris 2024, beating the United States 5-2.

Cardiff’s Sarah Jones scored GB's fifth goal - her first of the Games.

The team are back in action on Saturday at 09:00 BST when they take on Argentina in their final match of the pool stages.

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Medi Harris' sisters Corina and Isabelle have spoken to BBC Sport Wales after the Welsh swimmer helped Great Britain qualify for tonight's final of the women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay.

Harris swam the last leg as the team secured the seventh best time overall.

Corina said: "There was crazy pressure on Medi, she had to stand there and wait for everyone else to go first knowing she’s about to go.

“She’s just like her dad, she’s very cool, calm and collected.

“We thought we were going to have a little nap, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think the plan now will be to have a drink, get some food and get ourselves ready for tonight."

Isabelle added: "I was quite emotional when Medi first got into the pool. The spectacle is so big, and the atmosphere is quite intense, but it was just exciting.

“I do feel that Medi was more excited in this one rather than nervous because she was with her team-mates and they’re a good group of friends.

“Then there’s us, crying and stressing out, she’s the cool one out of us.”

For the third match in a row, the GB men's hockey team - whose squad includes Welsh trio Rupert Shipperley, Jacob Draper and Gareth Furlong - have come from behind to get a result, beating hosts France 2-1.

That puts GB up to second in Pool A, with the top four going through to the quarter-finals.

Their final match of the group stage is tomorrow at 19:15 BST against Pool A leaders Germany.

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Welsh rower Matt Aldridge has spoken of his pride after winning a bronze medal in the men's four.

"Got a lot of pain at the moment, but a lot of pride. I'm Incredibly happy, that was possibly the best race we’ve done all Olympic cycle," he said.

"This year we’ve had our ups and downs, but when it came to the biggest race of them all, we put together the fastest race we could.

"Hats off to every single athlete in that field, everyone is on top of their game, everyone is so strong. The Americans and the Kiwis are outstanding racers.

"Of course we were dreaming of coming here and winning.

"We went into that final believing if we get our race right, we can. We did everything within our power and we weren’t fast enough, sometimes that’s elite sport.

"You have got to take the wins where you can."

Aldridge, who started rowing for Wales in 2013, is already looking ahead to the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.

"Four more years and we’re going to come back and upgrade the colour [bronze] for sure," he added.

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The family of Welsh rower Becky Wilde have been celebrating her bronze medal in the women's double sculls at the Paris Olympics.

Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne finished third behind winners New Zealand and Romania who claimed silver.

Wilde's mother Sharon, who is Welsh, was delighted with her daughter's medal.

"It is amazing," she said.

"We believed in them, they have been rowing so well from where they have come from, it has to the surprise medal for rowing. I am absolutely chuffed for them.

"It is so incredible for her. She has worked so hard for so long. She never gave up believing or training, so if anybody deserves if it, she does. With all the injuries and everything, it's incredible.

"She was a swimmer before, she swam for Wales and we have had loads of support from the Welsh community."

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Wales' Medi Harris swam the final leg for Great Britain as they qualified for tonight's final of the women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay.

Team GB qualified as the seventh fastest overall having finished third in the first semi-final behind the United States and Brazil.

The final will take place at 21:03 BST this evening at Paris' La Defense Arena.

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There was further success for Welsh rowers when Matt Aldridge was part of the men's four who won bronze in Paris.

After Becky Wilde had earlier claimed bronze, Aldridge also finished third on the podium alongside his Great Britain crew of Oli Wilkes, David Ambler and Freddie Davidson.

Aldridge hails from Christchurch in Dorset and has a Welsh grandmother.

He began his rowing career competing for Wales before moving onto the Great Britain programme.

Watch Great Britain win their 18th medal of the Games with this brilliant bronze-winning row from Mathilda Hodgkins-Bryne and Welsh rower Becky Wilde.

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Welsh rower Becky Wilde claimed an Olympic bronze in the women's doubles sculls with Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne at Paris 2024.

New Zealand took gold with Romania claiming silver.

The podium position has completed a remarkable rise for Wilde, who is from Taunton but has a Welsh mother.

After spending a decade in the water and swimming for Wales, Wilde switched to rowing.

Wilde and Hodgkins-Byrne left it late to qualify, doing so at the final Olympic qualification regatta in May.

Wilde's preparations had been affected by injury. Last year, she had surgery for compartment syndrome in both her arms, a condition which causes pressure to build inside the muscles.

But she battled back to hit form at just the right time.

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Olympic silver medallist Vicky Thornley was on BBC Radio Wales this morning running the rule over the Welsh rowers.

Becky Wilde, with Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, finished second in the women's doubles sculls semi-final to progress to the final this morning at 10:18 BST.

"What a story she (Wilde) has," said Thornley.

"This is only her third international rowing race and it's the Olympic Games. It's amazing.

"She has raced one World Cup, the Olympic qualifying regatta and qualified for the Games.

"They had the most incredible semi-final where she competed with such maturity and now she is in an Olympic final.

"It's all to play for and they are in medal contention."

Matt Aldridge will be part of the men's fours going in the final almost an hour later.

"They are in the hunt for a good medal," said Thornley.

"It will be between New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA for the spots."

Ollie Wynne-Griffiths has qualified for the men's pair final on Friday alongside partner Tom George.

"They are definitely in the hunt and they will be aiming for that top spot," said Thornley.

"The semi-final did not go exactly as they would have wanted because I am assuming they would have wanted to win and show a bit more dominance going into the final.

"They are in that final though and that is the one that matters."

Thornley expressed disappointment for Graeme Thomas and Tom Barass who agonisingly finished fourth in the men's quadruple sculls final.

"I am heartbroken for the guys they won't be coming home with a medal because I have an idea about how they will be feeling," said Thornley.

"They raced with such guts and did Team GB proud."

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Three medals are up for grabs for Welsh competitors today - two in rowing and another in the swimming at Paris La Defense Arena with sailing and hockey also the agenda.

Swimmer Medi Harris is part of the GB squad for the women's 4x200m freestyle relay heats, which are scheduled to start at 11:05 BST with the final for that event taking place tonight.

On the water, rower Becky Wilde is hoping for a podium spot in the women's double sculls at 10:18 BST, while Matt Aldridge goes in the men's four finals at 11:10 BST.

Meanwhile in Marseille, Micky Beckett will begin his campaign for a men's dinghy medal with races one and two due to take place from 11:15 BST.

Four Welsh hockey players are involved in group games at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. Rupert Shipperley, Jacob Draper and Gareth Furlong are in the GB squad who will take on hosts France at 11:45 BST, while Sarah Jones and her team-mates will take on the USA later in the day.

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales

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...and breathe.

It's the end of day five and it's felt like a whirlwind start to the these Olympic Games.

We've had the highs. Matt Richards' gold as part of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay last night was exactly that. Add to that his silver medal in the men's 200m freestyle the night before.

That's now two Olympic golds and a silver he's won...and he's still only 21.

Only two Welsh athletes have ever won more in the entire history of the Olympic Games. Paulo Radmilovic in swimming and water polo (four golds) and Richard Meade in equestrian (three golds).

Richards still has one more event to come this week in the men's 4x100m medley relay.

We also need to mention Kieran Bird, who also represents Wales, as he gets an Olympic gold medal for his swim in the 4x200m freestyle relay heats.

We've also had some lows though.

Not least the string of fourth places for Welsh athletes.

Josh Tarling in the men's time trial on day one, Ruby Evans in the women's team final of the gymnastics and today Graeme Thomas and Tom Barras in the men's quadruple sculls.

The sight of a distraught Tarling and Thomas, especially, is a reminder of how cruel sport can be.

But we still have 11 days left of competition...and plenty more medal hopes for the Welsh athletes in Team GB.