DAY TWELVE of the Olympics is HERE as we head into the home stretch in Paris – and ex-Prem star Danny Mills’ son George is through to the 5000m final despite his furious bust-up in the heats.
Team GB’s strongest gold medal hopes come through 400m specialist Matt Hudson-Smith who races in tonight’s final.
However, Great Britain have also tipped to add to their track cycling medal tally in the men’s and women’s pursuit at 5:30pm.
Gender row boxer Lin Yu-Ting is in semi-final action against Turkish fighter Esra Yildiz Kahraman at 8:30pm.
And American star Gabby Thomas will still be celebrating after winning the 200m final on day eleven.
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Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
Finucane did not make the same mistake as Marchant.
She eased round the outside to the front of her heat with two laps to go and went away from the field to be clear at the bell.
After that it was about making sure nobody came past her and while Lea Friedrich of Germany closed the gap to half a wheel, Finucane looked to have plenty in hand.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
Not so great for Katy Marchant as she will have to go through the repechage later this morning after getting her race-plan wrong and finishing only third.
The Brit was in fourth place as the derny pulled off, tracking France’s Mathilde Gros.
But as Gros and New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews led out, Marchant was out of position and had to come round the outside.
She was catching the front pair with every stroke off the final bend but had left herself with too much to do and missed out on automatic qualification, with the Kiwi ahead of the home rider.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
Jack Carlin and Hamish Turnbull went through in a stunning first track cycling event of the day – which saw the Olympic record broken three times and the two fastest times in the history of the sport.
Carlin was the best of the Brits, clocking 9.257 seconds for fifth fastest – and ahead of previous Games record holder Jeffrey Hoogland of Holland.
Turnbull, one of the early starters, was seventh to earn himself a decent seeding position for later.
But either side of Carlin, a series of incredible flying laps saw the record books shattered.
Mikhail Yakovlev of Israel had been the first to break Hoogland’s Tokyo mark of 9.215 seconds, clocking 9.152.
Two riders – and barely two minutes – later, Aussie Matt Richardson not only beat Yakovlev’s time but also smashed the WORLD record as he broke the timer in 9.091.
And last to go Harrie Lavreysen took another three thousandths of a second off the all-time mark as he managed 9.088.
Views from SunSport’s Joshua Jones
SunSport are also at La Concorde.
This multi-venue is the site of the 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle, breaking and skateboarding.
Breaking makes its Olympics debut on Friday and today’s main show here is the skateboarding.
We’ve got the men’s park event – featuring 51-YEAR-OLD Andy Macdonald, born and raised and living in America but representing Team GB through his father and grandfather.
He goes a little bit later on in heat four.
This is the men’s version of the event Sky Brown won her brilliant bronze in yesterday.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
First Brit to go round the high banks is Northumberland’s Turnbull, who already has a silver medal in his pocket from yesterday.
Huge British contingent inside as well and a roar as he clocks 9.346 – that’s more than 77kmh – to be fastest so far.
But there’s plenty to go, including Carlin and the two flying Dutchmen, Jeffrey Hoogland and Harrie Lavreysen.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
Back here at the Le Velodrome at Saint-Quentin en Yvelines on the far outskirts of Paris – think Maidenhead if you’re looking at a map of London – and it’s about to be all go.
First up for GB are Hamish Turnbull and Scotland’s Jack Carlin in the “flying lap” qualification round of the men’s sprint.
Then gold medal sprint team-mates Katy Marchant and Emma Finucane go in the first round of the keirin.
That’s the one where six riders follow a bloke on a moped – technically called a “derny” – for three laps and then race out over the final three circuits.
After that the women’s pursuit team of Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Jessica Roberts ride against the USA over 4km.
Win and they will be in the final – probably against New Zealand – but if they lose they must post one of the two fastest times outside the semi-final winners to make the bronze medal match.
And the session ends with Carlin and Turnbull back in action in the first match round of the sprint. That’s where the riders go round three times but it’s only the very last bit that normally matters.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
No problems for Laugher and Houlden in their final two dives either as they qualify third and fifth.
But it will take a really top set for Laugher tomorrow – or a major blunder by Xie or Wang – for him to realistically target anything better than bronze.
Mills advanced
George Mills has been advanced to the next round of the 5000m after falling in his heat.
The race referee has advanced the Team GB runner, who collided with three other athletes during heat one.
He is one of four athletes to be put through, with Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Dutch runner Mike Foppen and Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu of the Refugee Olympic team.
Bitter Mill
Team GB’s George Mills fell during a frantic 5000m heat at the Stade de France.
The 25-year-old, who is the son of ex-England defender Danny Mills, was one of a number of athletes to hit the deck during the opening heat.
Mills was far from impressed after crossing the line with a time of 14:37.08 and could be seen arguing with France’s Hugo Hay.
Fellow Brit Patrick Dever also appeared in heat one, finishing 13th in 14:13.48.
Views from SunSport’s Martin Lipton
All looking good so far for Jack Laugher and Jordan Houlden as they bid to qualify for the 3m springboard final tomorrow.
Laugher is third, behind – of course – China’s Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyu – after four of the six dives, with Houlden two places back.
But Harrogate ace Laugher was splitting the Chinese after the first two dives and is only 12pts behind Xie, hinting that he could possibly snatch silver if he hits his straps in the final.
Wang, though, appears mesmerisingly brilliant. He is surely bound for the top of the podium.
Pole vaulter jokes about bulge
Anthony Ammirati made a hilarious joke about his bulge after it cost him Olympic glory.
In a video that appears to have been deleted from his TikTok, the 21-year-old finally reference the viral moment.
He posted a clip of himself blankly staring into space while eating alongside the caption: “POV: You make more buzz for your package than for your performances.”
The Frenchman’s private parts clipped the bar as he attempted to clear 5.70m during qualifying.
Stars sell Olympic items
Olympic athletes have been spotted flogging their freebies online as they look to cash in after the Games.
Auctions for Samsung flip phones that are given to every athlete have flooded eBay in particular.
And while some have kept the phone as a Paris memento or even used the new device, other have opted to sell theirs on eBay.
Searches for Paris or Olympics versions of the flip phone produce a string of results with many being listed as ‘brand new’.
Swoboda salute
Fans think they have figured out why Olympic sprinter Ewa Swoboda apologised for saluting earlier in the Games.
The Polish athlete was spotted making the gesture during her warm-up for the women’s 100m heats.
She saluted with her right hand before correcting the mistake and switched to a left handed salute.
Reacting to the viral moment on social media, one fan wrote: “Military salute is with the right hand. So, she switches to her left to say hello.”
Credit: X
Team GB’s day 11 medallists
Team GB picked up four more medals on Tuesday to take their tally in Paris to 46.
Josh Kerr won a dramatic silver medal in the men’s 1500m following another silver in the men’s team sprint for Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe and Hamish Turnbull.
Earlier in the day, Sky Brown battled through the pain barrier to take her second Olympic bronze in the women’s park skateboarding.
Boxer Lewis Richardson also won bronze after losing his welterweight semi-final bout against Mexico’s Marco Verde via split decision.
Credit: Getty
Paris 2024 Medal Table
Team GB’s four medals on Tuesday sees them remain fifth in the Olympic medal table.
They sit one gold behind hosts France after adding two silvers and two bronze medals on day 11 of the Games.
The USA lead the way with 24 golds and 86 medals overall.
Welcome to day 12 at the Olympics
Skateboarding legend Andy Macdonald makes his Olympics debut in the men’s park event aged 51 (11.30am).
Toby Roberts goes into his preferred lead climbing phase of the bouldering and lead sport climbing semi-final in third with Hamish McArthur in eighth (9am).
Max Burgin, Elliot Giles and Ben Pattison, 2023 world bronze medallist, begin their 800m campaigns (10.55am).
And Eleanor Aldridge and Connor Bainbridge are in sailing kite action (11.10am).
Today’s Team GB medal hopes
Team GB could add medals in the men’s and women’s team pursuit in the velodrome (5.30pm) to their track cycling tally.
Matthew Hudson-Smith may be in contention for a podium finish in the men’s 400m final, but American Quincy Hall and Grenada’s Kirani James are favourites (8.20pm).
Credit: AFP
Global stars in action today
After Scottie Scheffler secured USA gold for the men, golfing superstar Nelly Korda begins her quest for glory in the women’s tournament at Le Golf National (8am). Georgia Hall and Charley Hull go for GB.
Atthaya Thitikul, though, will hope to stop Korda and win Thailand’s first Olympic medal in a sport other than boxing, taekwondo or weightlifting.
Nigerian world record-holder Tobi Amusan goes in round one of the 100m women’s hurdles (9.15am).
And Australia’s Nina Kennedy and America’s Katie Moon will battle it out for pole vault gold after sharing the world title last year (6pm).
Current medal table
Team GB have won 46 medals so far, including TWELVE golds.
The USA have pipped China to the lead with 24 gold medals, while Australia sit third with 14 medals.
Kellie Harrington claims GOLD
Boxer Kellie Harrington has secured Ireland’s FOURTH gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The Irish superstar took gold after beating Yang Wenlu in the women’s 60kg gold medal final.
Credit: SPORTSFILE
Khelif’s final opponent CONFIRMED
Imane Khelif will next fight at the Paris Olympics on Friday, August 9.
Khelif will contest in the women’s 66kg gold medal match against Yang Liu at 9.51pm.
Credit: GETTY
View from SunSport’s Joshua Jones in Paris
IMANE KHELIF will fight for Olympic gold after another dominant win in the ring.
The Algerian, 25, blocked out the outside vitriol of the gender row to keep full focus on her task at hand.
After calling for an end to the “bullying”, she mercilessly despatched Janjaem Suwannapheng, 23, to reach Friday’s final.
The IBA claim two blood tests allegedly showed Khelif has XY chromosomes and therefore failed to meet their gender eligibility, booting her out of last year’s world championships.
But the IOC discredit the Russian-backed IBA and are happy with the female status on the passport of Khelif, and Lin Yu-ting, giving them the green light to compete at Paris 2024.
And Khelif has taken full advantage, winning her first two bouts with ease before breezing past Thailand’s No5 seed Suwannapheng, celebrating with a finger wag and then a joyful jig inside the ropes.
It was a new location under the roof of tennis’ Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros but Khelif received the same vociferous welcome with dozens of Algerian flags all around the impressive 15,000-seater arena.
Chants of her name started between and even during the bouts earlier on the card and amplified to ear-splitting volumes for her ring walk, while Suwannapheng got a mix of boos and applause.
In the opening round, towering Khelif had it all her own way and got the favour of all five judges, even after putting her opponent in a headlock.
The second was more of the same, again taking it 5-0, as every punch that landed from her blue gloves got met by a deafening cheer.
Khelif tried to wrap it up in style and the referee stepped in to give Suwannapheng a count with 20 seconds to go.
But although she survived to the final bell, Suwannapheng, Khelif and all the fans knew the Algerian had won – and it was soon confirmed by unanimous decision.
This famous stadium has seen its fair share of dominant wins from Rafael Nadal – but this was right up there.
Another performance like that on Friday and Khelif will be an Olympic champion.
Algeria with chance of boxing gold
Imane Khelif had a convincing victory in the women’s 66kg boxing.
While the fight went the distance, Khelif forced a standing eight count in the last round.
All the judges agreed as they awarded a 5-0 victory to Khelif.
Algeria has never had an entrant in the women’s boxing before but this year they could have the winner.
