The Olympics continues on another busy day at Paris 2024 as Simone Biles missed out on history thanks to a dramatic fall off the beam but Keely Hodgkinson is gearing up for her shot at gold on the track.
Biles has enjoyed a sensational Olympics but she faltered for the first time on the final day of the gymnastics. She fell off the balance beam during that apparatus final to miss out on a medal and although she still has the floor exercise final to come, the American icon won’t be able to seal the two golds she needed to share the all-time women’s Olympic record of nine titles.
The action kicked off with the triathlon mixed relay as Great Britain lost their title to Germany after a dramatic sprint finish. Beth Potter carried a lead into the final leg but was caught by Germany’s Laura Lindemann and America’s Taylor Knibb heading into the final straight.
It came down to a photo finish, with Lindemann claiming gold. It was too close to call between Potter and Knibb and although the final standings initially showed Team GB were given silver, the result was changed with the United States winning silver and Great Britain taking bronze.
Later on, attention switches back to athletics and focuses on Hodgkinson’s bid to win the 800m final. The Team GB star is determined to turn silver into gold after a series of near-misses, including in Tokyo three years ago, and set the fastest time in qualifying ahead of tonight’s final.
Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below.
Team GB cyclists to refocus after shock of Katie Archibald freak injury
The track cycling programme in Paris gets underway this afternoon, with Team GB again strong contenders in a number of disciplines even after a freak injury for Katie Archibald. Emma Finucane, a potential breakthrough star of this Olympics, and the rest of the women’s team sprint squad will get things up and running this evening.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:55
Adam Peaty questions if Chinese swimmers are taking doping tests ‘like I am’
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:48
Noah Lyles didn’t cross the line first but still won Olympic gold – anatomy of the greatest 100m final
So no medal for Simone Biles, but there was success on the Stade de France track for one of the United States’ other stars last night. Lawrence Ostlere explains how Noah Lyles surged from seventh at the halfway mark to back up his big talk as the showman showed out in the 100 metres final.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:39
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – Alice D’Amato wins GOLD in women’s balance beam!
Disappointment for Simone Biles, who strides away from the competition area ruing what might have been. It didn’t have to be perfect by any means from the American, solid and unspectacular enough for a medal and anything more surely securing gold. But her hunt for Olympic gold number eight goes on – she’ll be back in action at Bercy Arena in about an hour in the floor final.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:32
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – Alice D’Amato wins GOLD in women’s balance beam!
It looked beautifully measured from Rebeca Andrade, but it is nowhere near enough! A difficulty score of 5.700 and a total tally of 13.933 leaves her fourth – Alice D’Amato is the Olympic champion!
A low-quality final, in the end, but a fine achievement for D’Amato, with teammate Manila Esposito also securing a podium finish. Zhou Yaqin, despite that steadying hand during her routine, secures silver.
GOLD: Alice D’Amato (Italy)
Silver: Zhou Yaqin (China)
Bronze: Manila Esposito (Italy)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:27
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – Simone Biles misses out on medal in women’s balance beam final
Crikey. Rebeca Andrade had to wait and wait and wait for news of Biles’ score to come through, but now knows that even her qualifying score of 14.500 will be enough for gold. Up the Brazilian leaps.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:22
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – Simone Biles misses out on medal in women’s balance beam final
She’s off! Wow. In the sort of sequence she normally nails, Simone Biles stumbles slightly and comes off the apparatus.
Well well well. It’s a cracking dismount, but there will be at least a point deduction. It goes to show just how devilishly difficult the balance beam is, even the slightest misstep enough to scupper a gymnast’s chances. The judges take their time with the score…13.100. Biles misses out on a medal.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:16
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – women’s balance beam final
The volume lifts as Simone Biles composes herself. Switch-leap mount, a pike back early in the routine. It’s a fluid, fun start.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:14
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – women’s balance beam final
Safe and secure from Alice D’Amato, out with a two-and-a-half twists to complete an excellent routine with a relieved smile. There are two big hitters to come but that may well be enough for a podium place she so deserves…
14.366! Enough for top spot and the Italian is guaranteed a medal.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:14
Olympics 2024: Gymnastics – women’s balance beam final
Another faller! Oh, poor Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, off in her first series, and then again later. Has a covert carpenter been in overnight and shaved the beam down?
Romania’s Maneca-Voinea is out of the medal chase with a 11.733. She’ll hope for a better outing on the floor later in the day.
Three athletes to come. 14.200, remarkably, will guarantee a medal. Alice D’Amato, so close to a medal in the all-around, is the second Italian in this final and starts confidently.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 August 2024 12:10