Key events
Two false starts then, at about 200, Paulino eases on to the gas, winning by miles in 49.21; USA’s Alexis Holmes is second and Nielsen third, but she’s slower than third and fourth in the first race, so she’s out – likewise Pryce.
Pryce goes in the second 400m semi as does Paulino; they flank Team GB’s Laviai Nielsen.
This women’s pole is developing into a classic, Moon and Newman now both over 4.85. But now it’s Kennedy who leads on countback.
Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain wins from the front in 49.08 which Adeleke following her home. Ohuruogu is fifth and out.
Anyroad, here’s the first semi of the women’s 400m, Victoria Ohuruogu – sister of Christine – goes for GB. she’s got a lot of work to do at 300m.
Nina Kennedy definitely isn’t worried about countback now! She clears 4.85 first time and takes the lead as others fail their first attempts
I wonder if Hudson-Smith also suffered from impostor syndrome, unsure if a kid from Wolverhampton belonged in the rarefied atmosphere of elite sport. But he’s ready now, and this race might be coming at the perfect time for him.
Back in the studio, we’re discussing the men’s 400m final, coming up in just over half an hour. Eric Liddell was the last British man to win that – also in Paris, a hundred years ago. Matt Hudson-Smith has a really good shot at doing it – he’s the fastest in the world this year but also, he’s matured as an athlete and as a man:
I always say the sport is 10 per cent physical and 90 per cent mental,” he said. “Once you get to this level and everyone is of a similar ability, you know anyone can get to 300m but it’s what you do mentally in the last 100m.
You have to prepare your mind to push through the hurt. Like I said, I was very naive early on. I never took diet, physio and gym seriously because in my head I was doing pretty well just on the track. I was always top 10 in the world. I wouldn’t say I was comfortable or happy but it was kind of being satisfied that I was doing okay in life compared to a lot of people.
Now, for instance, Christine (Ohuruogo, his coach) doesn’t allow me to settle. She’s always in my ear and forcing me to be the best person for myself. It’s just the whole overall process of being an athlete and a better person. It’s understanding my role in the sport instead of doing just one singular thing. You know, being an athlete is just one aspect of it. You’ve got to do so many other things to develop yourself, even outside of it and learn different skills.”
Back to the women’s vault, Moser has missed, just, at 4.85, while another miss for Belgium and score for China means the latter lead 3-2 and will go through if they score their last effort. But first Belgium have to score … and they don’t! China meet the Netherlands in the final!
Belgium miss and China score, so it’s now 2-2 after three. I’d happily watch football shoot-outs that used this method – I tihnk the NASL did in the 70s.
OK, not quite penalties – players get eight seconds to take the ball from the 23-metre line to goal. Belgium are 2/2, the second of those a daring lob; China are 1/2.
Another shoot-out, this time in the women’s hockey semis; China equalised late doors, so they and Belgium now face a test of skill and composure under pressure the lottery of penalties.
Beau Dure
Artistic swimming: Artistic swimming was formerly called synchronized swimming, and the looks of disappointment on the faces of Japanese team were eerily in sync as they saw their scores in the acrobatic program. Japan had stood fourth after the first two phases of the three-phase event, but not only did their overall score not surpass Spain, it allowed France to slip past them.
USA came into the acrobatic program in second place, narrowly ahead of Spain. Their degree of difficulty on the start list was lower than that of the teams chasing them, though, so would need to execute well to take silver. They were already winners in many casual observers’ eyes, moonwalking into Olympic immortality.
Their routine looked impressive enough, and indeed, they stayed ahead of Spain to move into first place with one team remaining.
That team is China, of course, who have an unassailable lead. But the USA have ended a 20-year medal drought in this event.
Canada, whose routine closed with the music of Eminem, are poised to finish a respectable sixth.
Next on the track it’s the semis of the women’s 400m. Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica is favourite, but I’m also looking forward to seeing how Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke does – with Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic and Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland also worth a look.
The times in which runners qualify for finals affects the lane draws; here’s an explainer of how those work – and that’s changed.
In the studio, MJ notes that Lyles didn’t run great and has probably spent the last three days talking. Jess Ennis-Hill notes his confidence, which will allow him to run closer to his best in tomorrow’s final, and over 200m I agree. Over 100m, I found his chat a masking agent, misdirecting from his nerves – for him and his rivals – but over the longer distance, he feels impregnable. That said, Tobogo looks really good and it’ll take something quick to beat him.
Erriyon Knighton of USA wins the final 200m semi in 20.09, Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia taking second. Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu is third and moves on to, likewise his compatriot Makanakaishe Charamba – which is to say De Grasse has de gone.
But she makes it look easy, clearing 4.80 for a share of third. She won’t be too worried about countback because she’ll have assumed that for gold, she’ll need to vault higher than everyone else.
“I think people think that I train twice a day all year round and it’s hustling and grinding but we’re in such a high impact sport that you can only train a few times a week,” Kennedy revealed.
“Your body just can’t withstand that power and that force that’s going through it.”. And on what they do, I appreciated this – again from Kennedy.
“I think people think that I train twice a day all year round and it’s hustling and grinding, she said, “but we’re in such a high impact sport that you can only train a few times a week. Your body just can’t withstand that power and that force that’s going through it.”
In other words, however hard you think this stuff is, it’s harder.
Australia miss again, but their keeper saves USA’s fourth go so the match is still alive, then they score to make it 3-3; if USA score their final shot they’re into the semis … and they do. They meet Serbia in the last four.
Back to the women’s hockey semi, China still lead Belgium 1-0, with 11 minutes of Q4 gone. In the water polo, meanwhile, there’s a shoot-out following a 9-9 draw – get it on if you can – with USA leading 3-2, Australia having missed
Tobogo comes through and past Lyles in the last 30 to win in 19.96 – Lyles didn’t start especially well either – but as we saw in the 100m, he can win gold without winning either qualifying race, so.
Also in the second race is Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. Real talk, this isn’t the strongest field we’ve ever had, but he might be Lyles’ closest challenger; remember, Lyles hasn’t lost in 26 races, – since the final in Tokyo.
Noah Lyles goes in the second race, and those of you who followed Sunday night’s blog might recall my noting how brilliant his mum, Keisha Cane Bishop, is – the energy they give each other is beautiful. Well, here’s further evidence.
Really enjoyed interviewing Junelle Bromfield, was my first time meeting her & she’s honestly so sweet! Also, for someone that lost their Mother, I think it’s incredible how Noah Lyles’s Mum stepped up to drive her to training every day 💜
Full interview: https://t.co/oR0U6hnTN0 pic.twitter.com/UKVIqZhCnY
— Lillz (@LillzTIL) July 3, 2024
And immediately it’s time for the men’s 200m semis, Kenny Bednarek of USA in the first … and he wins in 20.00, Alexander Ogando os the Dominican Republic coming in second. Andre de Grasse, the defending champ, must wait and see.
Apologies, the Mish went when I took a comfort break, and he beat Mikhail Iakovlev of Israel. So both Brits are into the last eight but I don’t think there’s a bracket to see who each faces next -– or if there ism I can’t find it.
And now it’s time for the Mish…
Carlin has the inside, it’s close, and Paul of T&T is giving it a good go … but Carlin hangs on, just.
Jack Carlin’s sprint last-16 tie is away, and with two laps to go, he goes.
Benjamin goes out in measured manner but comes on strong around the curve to win, easing up, in 47.86. He is good. Roshawn Clarke of Jamaica is second, while the fastest losers are Dos Santos and Samba from race one and two respectively.
Some belters in here.
USA’s Rai Benjamin goes in the final 400m hurdles semi, and he’s my pick for gold. He’s fit and running fast – fastest – so if he can handle the situation, he has the speed and technique to win. “I need to perform when it really matters and that’s at Worlds, at the Olympics,” he said. “And I haven’t done that yet.”
In the second men’s 400m hurdles semi, Kyron McMaster OBE of the British Virgin Islands, slows up well before the line and is almost punished, but he wins in 48.15 with Rasmus Magi of Estonia coming second. Abderrahman Samba of Qatar is third in a slower time than Dos Santos managed, so he’s struggling.
The GB bronze-medal team are delighted. Josie Knight explains that not that long ago, Katie Archibald broke her ankle, and she thought he hopes went with that. But they reconfigured and here they are.
Elinor Barker says it was closer than she expected. This morning, she felt like a spring coil ready to go, which is rare, and she’s glad everything fell into place.
Back at the velodrome, it’s the men’s sprint quarters, and GB have two men in that: Jack Carlin and Hamish Turnbull – known, of course, as “The Mish” or “The Morpeth Mish”.
Wilma Murto of Finland, Alysha Newman of Canada and Stefanidi are over 4.70, Murto leading having not failed any height yet. And, as I type, Italy’s Elisa Molinarolo clears it too to join here at the top of the leaderboard.
Warholm ties up under pressure from Clement Ducos, the new french star, but he kicks again to win in 47.67; he is ard. Dos Santos, though, finishes in 47.92, will have to wait.
Off in the 400m hurdles, Warholm away well while Dos Santos has work to do…
What a photo we have here.
This, of course, is the classic of the genre – Greg Louganis still qualified for the final and won gold.
USA beat NZ to take gold in the women’s team pursuit
That wasn’t the tidiest ride, but it was enough
USA still lead NZ but they’ve to ease up to come together, and this isn’t quite over yet.
On the track, it’s time for the men’s 400m hurdles semis, Karsten Warholm, the defending champ and world record-holder in the same race as Alison dos Santos, one of the other favorites.
Back to the velodrome, USA lead by 0.845 after 1000, but as we’ve seen, this is not when these races are settled.
In the women’s hockey semis, China lead Belgium 1-0 in Q2, the winners to meet the Netherlands in the final; and in the quarters of the men’s water polo, a Guardian derby, in which Australia lead USA 5-2.
Coming up next: the final of the women’s team pursuit, in which USA take on New Zealand.
While that was going on, Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett won the final 110m hurdle semi in 13.09, Daniel Roberts of USA coming second. Parchment and Shunsuke Izumiya of Japan also qualify for the final as fastest losers.
Elinor Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Jessica Roberts win bronze for GB in the women’s team pursuit
That was a fine ride – GB let Italy get in front, kept to their plan, and gradually reeled them in to win by 2.579s.
Oh man this is going ro be close, Josie Knight putting in the pace from the front, and at 3625 it’s dead level! GB are coming and lead at the bell! They look good for bronze!
