Page 17 - 2024 Olympics

Olympic 2024: Freestyle BMX star Hannah Roberts aims for gold in Paris

Hannah Roberts looked perfectly at ease relaxing on a covered porch on a rainy July morning in Michigan, just weeks before she left for the Paris Olympics, content that she had put in the work necessary to win the gold medal that escaped her in Tokyo. For the past three years, the best freestyle BMX rider of her generation has been driven by the silver she took home instead. If I'm being honest, Roberts told The Associated Press, while keeping an eye on the rambunctious kids she was babysitting, I don't know whether silver or bronze would make too much difference for me. And maybe it's better for me the first time not to win. I think if I would have walked away with gold, I wouldn't have had the motivation to keep going forward. Now, the 22-year-old Roberts is coming off her fifth world title in a seven-year span, and again the heavy favorite to win Olympic gold. The competition begins Tuesday at the urban sports park built at Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris. Hannah is .

Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower stadium draws crowds for social media post

Lena Von Schonlaub used Eiffel Tower Stadium as a backdrop for her own personal photo shoot. Von Schonlaub shifted her head from side to side, smiling big while she held her phone in front of her face and clicked over and over. Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower hovered right behind her, overlooking the site where beach volleyball is being played at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It has been one of the most popular attractions of the Olympics, drawing hundreds of people looking for the best photo to post on their social media pages. The perfect setting for a digital age. "I think it's the most beautiful location you can have," said Von Schonlaub, who traveled to Paris from Munich, Germany. "It's Instagrammable." The sand and upbeat DJ music always give beach volleyball the feel of a party. The sport has been played at plenty of iconic sites, including Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where beach volleyball is very popular. But for many athletes and visitors, Eiffel Tower

Olympics: Kerala cyclist's 22,000 km journey to cheer for Neeraj Chopra

India's star athlete Neeraj Chopra will have a special supporter at the Paris Olympics: a Kerala cyclist who has travelled all the way from Calicut, riding more than 22000 kilometers over two years. Fayis Asraf Ali's arrival in the French capital was the culmination of a long journey on his Surly bicycle that took him across 30 countries, beginning on August 15, 2022. Ali set off with a mission to cycle from "India to London to spread peace and unity". Having cycled across 17 countries, he stopped in Budapest one August afternoon last year, when he came to know that the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist was staying across the street. The ace javelin thrower was with the athletics contingent for the World Championships in which claimed another historic win. A few hurried calls to a "known Kerala coach" led to a "dream meeting" with his sporting idol. "I got a few minutes to talk to the Indian athletes and Neeraj told me since 'you are going to London why don't you come to Paris for th

Vandalism hits communication lines in France during Paris Olympics

The French government says multiple telecommunications lines have been hit by acts of vandalism, affecting fiber lines and fixed and mobile phone lines as cities around France are hosting events for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The scale of the impact is unclear, as is whether it has affected any Olympic activities. The vandalism came after a rson attacks hit train networks around France on Friday, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony. Marina Ferrari, secretary of state in charge of digital affairs, posted on X that damage in several regions overnight Sunday to Monday affected telecommunications operators. She said that led to localized impact on access to fiber lines and fixed and mobile telephone lines. Paris 2024 Olympics organisers would not immediately comment. A French police official said at least six of France's administrative departments were affected, which include the region around the Mediterranean city of Marseille, hosting Olympic soccer and sailing ...

Olympics 2024: Ponnappa-Crasto stare at early exit after group stage defeat

India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto were staring at an early exit after suffering their second consecutive group stage defeat in the women's doubles badminton competition at the Paris Olympic here on Monday. The Indians went down 11-21 12-21 to the world number four Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in the 48-minute Group C match. They had lost their opener against South Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong. Ponnappa and Crasto, world number 19, are currently placed third in their group behind the Japanese and the South Koreans. The two top ranked pairs from each group qualify for the quarterfinals. "A bit disappointed because this was the only shot we had for a chance to get to the quarters. Not the way we wanted to play but they were very strong. I wish we had given them a better fight. We have one more match and hope we can win that," Ponnappa said after the game. "They were very strong, offensively and defensively. Defensively we were a bit lacking to

High stake matches await men's basketball teams in Paris Olympics

No team has reached the quarterfinals yet in the men's basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics. No team has been eliminated, either. That said, Tuesday and Wednesday sure seem like make-or-break days for some nations and medal chances might evaporate very quickly for those which stumble again. With all 12 teams having been in action on either Saturday or Sunday, everyone in the men's tournament at Pierre Mauroy Stadium gets Monday off. For some, that provides a chance to regroup and practice. For others, like the U.S. which rolled past Serbia in its opener, led by Kevin Durant's brilliant return from a calf issue it brings a day to relax, recover and go be Team USA fans. It's huge," U.S. coach Steve Kerr said Monday. And it's also important for us to allow our players to enjoy the Olympic experience, for them to be able to go and watch some of the other sports, be with their families. It's a huge part of this. That's what today is about, and then we'll lock back in ...

Olympics: Harmanpreet Singh rescues late 1-1 draw for India vs Argentina

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh rescued India by converting a last-minute penalty corner as they held former champions Argentina to a 1-1 draw in a Pool B hockey match of the Paris Olympics here Monday. India had fluffed as many as nine penalty corners before Harmanpreet found the net, firing the ball into the top corner. Argentina were left to rue the missed penalty stroke by Maico Casella in the 36th minute. It was Lucas Martinez, who had put his side ahead in the 22nd minute with a field goal and Harmanpreet, who had struck against New Zealand in the dying moments, found the net a minute before the final hooter. Harmanpreet did not feel that India fared poorly. "To be honest, we created a lot of chances. There were lots of open slots and counter balls. Finishing is where we need to do better. Even in 50-50 balls we have to give 100 percent and in 100 per cent ball, we need to convert with effort. We will keep that in mind going forward," Harmanpreet told PTI. The India captain was a

Olympics 2024: Will Manu Bhaker win second Bronze for India on July 30?

Becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting at the Olympic Games, Manu Bhaker will be walking in with a high morale for that second bronze medal.

Manu-Sarabjot duo enters bronze medal round, Ramita finishes 7th in final

A confident Manu Bhaker placed herself in contention for a second Olympic medal as she combined with Sarabjot Singh to make the bronze playoff in the 10m air pistol mixed team event but Ramita Jindal ended seventh in the 10m air rifle women's competition here on Monday. The 22-year-old Bhaker came into the mixed team qualifications after winning a historic bronze medal in the 10m women's air pistol event on Sunday. Bhaker and Sarabjot finished with a total of 580 to make the medal round to be held on Tuesday. The Indians will face Koreans Oh Ye Jin and Lee Wonho, who shot 579, in the bronze-medal match. The other Indian pair of Rhythm Sangwan and Arjun Singh Cheema finished 10th with a score of 576 and failed to make it to the medal rounds. Turkiye, who equalled Qualification Olympic Record with 582, and Serbia (581), who finished second, respectively, will contest the gold-medal match. Bhaker was sensational with her 98s in the first two series, but a 95 in the third set pulled t

Paris Olympics 2024: In another attack, France's telecom lines vandalised

The attack comes days after arson attacks on France's train networks on the day of Olympics opening ceremony

Decoded: Olympics 2024 opening ceremony backlash over 'Last Supper' parody

Olympics 2024: According to the ceremony's artistic director, Thomas Jolly, the scene was designed to reference pagan gods, aimed at celebrating community tolerance

Govt spent Rs 2 crore on Manu Bhaker's training: Sports Minister Mandaviya

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya credited Khelo India and TOPS initiatives for driving sports talent across the country

Triathlon training cancelled: What is the controversy surrounding Seine?

2024 Paris Olympics: The Olympic triathlon training session was cancelled on Monday for the second consecutive day due to poor water quality of the Seine River

Triathlon cancels Olympic swim training for 2nd day over poor water quality

The water quality in the Seine River remained a concern Monday as officials called off the swimming portion of an Olympic triathlon training session for a second straight day. Event organizers overseeing the event at the Paris Games are optimistic that triathletes will be able to swim in the city's famed waterway when the competition starts on Tuesday. The sport's governing body World Triathlon and its medical team, along with city officials, are banking on sunny weather and higher temperatures over the course of the next 36 hours to improve the water quality and bring it below the necessary limits to stage the swim portion of a race that also includes biking and running. World Triathlon made the decision to cancel the swim workout early Monday following a meeting over water quality. The representatives for Paris 2024 and triathlon's international federation said tests conducted in the Seine on Sunday showed water quality levels leading into the training session that did not provide

Female Olympians hit fashion runway in Paris to celebrate gender parity

It may be too early to call these Paris Olympics the Fashion Olympics. But, in the city widely considered the capital of fashion, the word fashion has surely been mentioned so far more by now than in any other Games. And so it made sense to Angela Ruggiero, a four-time U.S. Olympic medalist in ice hockey, that if she was going to launch a celebration of gender parity in these Games, it should be with a fashion show. And that's how some 20 or so former or current Olympians wound up sashaying down a makeshift runway on Sunday at a Paris restaurant, to whoops and high-fives from a supportive audience. For years, says Ruggiero, who runs a market research firm focused on the intersection of sport and innovation, she's been following this trend of sport and fashion colliding. And the Olympics are in Paris. I mean, what a perfect venue to celebrate a monumental achievement of gender parity on the field while nodding to opportunities off the field, including elevating these women's voices .

Manu's efforts, Jaspal's blessings got us the medal: Shooter's parents

The day at Manu Bhakar's house on Surajkund Road began early with a small 'havan' performed by her parents. The ritual continued until the champion pistol shooter secured India's first medal at the Paris Olympics a bronze. Manu, on Sunday, became the first woman from the country to win a medal in shooting, showing tremendous fighting spirit to end a 12-year drought in the sport at the quadrennial showpiece. Her father, Ram Kishan, emerged from their third-storey flat to acknowledge the greetings of well-wishers and said it was all because of his daughter's efforts and coach Jaspal Rana's blessings that Manu won the medal. "Manu's efforts and Jaspal's blessings and the sports ministry's assistance, it all helped in her success, which ended India's 12-year drought at the Games," Ram Kishan told PTI Videos. Ram Kishan said that he was expecting more success from Manu in the days to come. "This is the start, she has two more matches. She talks to us for a few minutes every day, she i

Paris Olympics: Andy Murray's tennis career extended with doubles win

Andy Murray's tennis career was extended for at least one more match in dramatic style when he and British partner Dan Evans saved five match points during a first-round doubles win at the Paris Olympics. Murray and Evans rallied past the Japanese pair of Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9 on Sunday. The Brits trailed 9-4 in the decisive tiebreaker, which is held in place of a third set in doubles. The 37-year-old Murray announced before the Summer Games that it would be the final event of his career, and then pulled out of the singles bracket, leaving him only in doubles. He is a three-time Grand Slam champion and the only tennis player with two Olympic singles golds from London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. His first Wimbledon championship, in 2013, made Murray the first man from Britain to win that trophy in 77 years. Murray has dealt with a series of injuries in the latter stages of his career, including a hip replacement in 2019. Most recently, he needed .

Paris 2024: Nadal wins in Olympic singles, to face Djokovic in 2nd round

Rafael Nadal made a last-minute decision to play singles at the Paris Olympics on Sunday and won his first-round match against Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to set up a blockbuster showdown against rival Novak Djokovic. Nadal was greeted by a standing ovation from spectators, many of whom used cameras on their phones to capture the moment when he strode into Court Philippe Chatrier the same stadium where he has captured his record 14 French Open titles. There is a statue of Nadal outside the arena, and fans gathered around the steel structure Sunday morning, when it was still unclear whether he would be competing later. Not only did the 38-year-old Spaniard play, but for stretches, particularly in the early going and in crunch time down the stretch, he played very much like a version of himself everyone is used to seeing: the sprinting, sliding, grunting star who owns 22 Grand Slam trophies in all and won Olympic gold medals for Spain in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016. And t

China claims diving record with its 49th Olympic gold medal, surpasses US

China has won more diving gold medals than any other country, passing the one-time powerhouse United States for the top spot on the table Monday. Lian Junjie and Yang Hao breezed to victory in synchronized 10-meter platform, the 49th gold medal in China's history. After a bit of clarification from the International Olympic Committee, China's mark stands alone, Some record books list the U.S. with 49 golds as well, but the IOC considers a 1904 victory in a one-time event known as plunging for distance to be part of the swimming program, not diving. And What Is Plunging For Distance? ======================= It was apparently popular around the turn of the last century, basically requiring an athlete using that term rather loosely to plunge into the water facedown from a stationary position and float as far as possible for either 60 seconds or until the competitor had to come up for air. The victory went to whoever traveled the farthest without using using their arms or legs. ...

Paris Olympics 2024 HIGHLIGHTS, Day 3: Alcaraz wins men's singles match

India at Olympics 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: India men's hockey team manage to draw vs Argentina on the back of Harmanpreet Singh's goal.