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PARIS — In 2021, when the gymnast Simone Biles first started to publicly carry out the vault that now bears her title — the Biles II — her means to land the extremely troublesome routine awed the world of gymnastics.

However quickly after, Biles was robbed of her likelihood to carry out it on the Tokyo Olympics when she was beset by a sudden and unexplainable lack of her means to regulate her physique by the air often known as the “twisties.” The affliction pressured her to withdraw from most of her occasions that summer season, together with the vault closing.

On Saturday, the dream deferred lastly grew to become actuality. Within the Olympic vault closing, the Biles II helped to win its namesake her third gold medal (and counting) of the Summer time Video games in Paris.

And it could have been its final ever look by her in competitors, Biles mentioned afterward, when requested if the occasion had been the ultimate vault of her profession. 

“Is that this my final? Undoubtedly the Yurchenko double pike. I imply, I form of nailed that one,” Biles mentioned. “By no means say by no means. The subsequent Olympics is at residence. So that you simply by no means know.”

The routine was certainly one of two vaults Biles carried out within the occasion, by which closing scores are calculated by taking the typical of two totally different routines. The Biles II, the higher-scoring of the 2, appeared like this: Biles sprinted down the runway, then cartwheeled right into a backward handspring onto the vaulting desk, an strategy known as a Yurchenko. Then, she pushed off so excessive into the air that she was in a position to full two full flips as she held out her flexed legs in a pike place.

The momentum she generates is so nice that she hardly ever sticks the touchdown, extra typically taking a step or two as she did Saturday.

The vault, often known as the Yurchenko double pike, was formally named after Biles when she grew to become the primary gymnast to land it at a world competitors in 2023.

In gymnastics, a closing rating relies each on the issue of the gymnast’s tried routine and the standard of her execution. The problem of Biles’s vault is at the moment the very best within the ladies’s sport, value 6.4 factors — which helps to offset the fractions of a degree misplaced as a consequence of an additional step.

Simone Biles after ending her vaults through the the Olympic gymnastics ladies’s vault closing on Saturday.

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Naomi Baker/Getty Photos

On Saturday, her Biles II vault earned a 15.7 after a tenth of a degree was deducted when she stepped one foot barely out of bounds. Her second vault earned a rating of 14.9, giving her a closing rating of 15.3 — a 3rd of a degree greater than her closest competitor, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.

Andrade, extensively thought of the world’s second-best gymnast, had gained gold on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after Biles withdrew from the occasion, then bested Biles in vault ultimately 12 months’s World Championships. Saturday’s silver medal is Andrade’s third medal of those Olympics, after she gained silver within the particular person all-around occasion and helped lead Brazil to a workforce bronze earlier within the week.

“I’ve by no means had an athlete that shut, so it positively put me on my toes,” Biles mentioned Thursday. “It introduced out the most effective athlete in myself, so I am excited and proud to compete along with her.”

One other American gymnast, Jade Carey, gained the bronze medal with a closing rating of 14.466.

Biles has two occasions remaining in Paris, the steadiness beam and flooring train finals. They signify a possibility to match her historic medal whole from the 2016 Video games in Rio de Janeiro, by which she gained 4 golds and a bronze as a 19-year-old.

As her 2024 Olympic run nears its finish, Biles has already begun to subject questions on whether or not she plans to retire from the game. At 27 years previous, she is already older than virtually all of her rivals. By the point the 2028 Olympics start, she shall be 31.

For now, she continues to be having enjoyable, she mentioned Saturday. “Not many individuals on the planet can do it to this stage. As soon as we’re out right here, the ground is our stage, so it simply feels so releasing for us, as a result of we’re in our aspect, we’re having enjoyable, we’re doing what we like to do,” she mentioned.

“However at a sure level, as we grow old, it does get somewhat bit extra scary. We’re extra conscious of what we’re doing, what can occur,” she mentioned. “So our consciousness is there. However it’s all the time enjoyable.”

There can be no fairytale ending within the 100m for athletics’ dash legend Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce.

The 37-year-old Jamaican, the Olympic champion within the occasion at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, withdrew previous to her semi-final on Saturday night time (3 August) on the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 after sustaining an damage in her remaining warm-up forward of the race.

Jamaica’s chef de mission Ian Kelly confirmed to Reuters that Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal was as a consequence of damage after studies surfaced that it had been as a result of she was denied entry to the venue.

Footage on social media confirmed that Fraser-Pryce had been delayed entry earlier within the day, however Kelly stated an damage was what pressured Fraser-Pryce’s from the semis later within the night.

Fraser-Pryce was trying to declare a medal within the 100m for a fifth consecutive Video games, having gained bronze in 2016 and silver in 2021.

“It’s troublesome for me to seek out the phrases to explain the depth of my disappointment,” Fraser-Pryce stated in an Instagram submit early Sunday (4 August) morning. “I do know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. … The help of my followers, my nation and the bigger group has rooted me in immense gratitude that has sustained me all through my profession.

“With each step and win, you all have been there for me,” she added. “My religion has at all times affirmed my belief within the journey.”

The legendary sprinter remains to be scheduled to run with the Jamaicans’ 4x100m relay staff.

Fraser-Pryce has gained eight Olympic medals in complete, together with a 3rd gold with the relay staff at Tokyo 2020 along with her two 100m triumphs.

Two-time and reigning Olympic champion, Fraser-Pryce’s compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah, didn’t make the journey to Paris after struggling an damage in Might. Which means the ladies’s 100m can have a brand new champion for the primary time since Athens 2004.

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Two-time Olympic 100 champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s quest for an additional title ended abruptly Saturday when she pulled out earlier than the 100-meter semifinal on the Paris Video games.

Olympic officers stated she suffered an undisclosed harm. The letters “DNS” — “Did Not Begin” — flashed on the scoreboard solely moments earlier than she was speculated to race Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred within the night’s second semifinal.

“We solely acquired the data that she is injured, however (a group physician) is addressing the matter, and we’ll converse additional on the matter,” group supervisor Ludlow Watts informed the Jamaica Observer.

Alfred ended up beating Richardson in each the semifinal and the ultimate to take the gold medal.

Fraser-Pryce, who received gold medals in 2008 and 2012, has stated this will likely be her fifth and last Olympics. In a social media put up early Sunday morning, she thanked her supporters however didn’t present specifics about her harm.

“It’s tough for me to seek out the phrases to explain the depth of my disappointment,” she posted. “I do know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. I’m actually Blessed to have had the steadfast help of my followers since my Olympic debut in 2008.

“With each step and win, you’ve gotten all been there for me.”

Fraser-Pryce superior simply by the primary around the day earlier than, ending second in her first-round warmth in 10.92 seconds.

Earlier within the day, Fraser-Pryce was one in every of a number of athletes blocked from coming into the coaching monitor, the Jamaica group stated on its social media web site. The group stated she was finally let in.

Paris organizers stated she merely got here to the incorrect gate, and needed to go to a special one to get into the follow space.

Fraser-Pryce has a complete of eight Olympic medals, together with gold within the 4×100 on the Tokyo Video games in 2021. She additionally has 16 medals at world championships, together with 5 titles within the 100, the newest of which got here in 2022.

Her departure left the 100 with out all three Jamaicans who swept the rostrum in Tokyo. Reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah shut down her season earlier this yr with an Achilles tendon harm, and bronze medalist Shericka Jackson introduced this week that she was specializing in the 200.

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AP Summer time Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

De Grasse est arrivé à Paris avec un exploit titanesque dans sa ligne de mire : remporter une médaille au 100 m dans trois Jeux olympiques d’affilée. Au cours des 128 dernières années, seulement un homme a réussi cet exploit : Usain Bolt.

Justin Gatlin a pour sa half remporté des médailles dans trois Jeux non consécutifs : en 2004, en 2012 et en 2016. Son histoire est cependant marquée d’un immense bémol. Si l’Américain n’a pas obtenu de médaille à Pékin, en 2008, c’est parce qu’il était suspendu pour dopage. Son entraîneur Trevor Graham ayant supervisé de nombreux athlètes trouvés coupables de dopage, les performances de Gatlin ont longtemps soulevé du scepticisme.

Tout cela pour dire qu’il y a une raison pour laquelle Usain Bolt est le seul à s’être maintenu parmi les trois hommes les plus rapides de la planète aussi longtemps : parce que c’est extrêmement difficile.

***

Depuis le milieu des années 2010, Andre De Grasse est toujours parvenu à atteindre ses pics de efficiency au bon second, juste à temps pour les plus grandes compétitions. C’est ce qui lui a valu trois médailles à Rio (le bronze aux 100 et 4 x 100 m, l’argent au 200 m) et trois autres à Tokyo (le bronze au 100 m, l’argent au 4 x 100 m et l’or au 200 m).

Cette année, le Canadien a éprouvé plus de difficulté à faire lever la pâte en prévision des Jeux.

Son meilleur chrono de 2024, un honnête 10,00 s, a été réalisé le 18 juin, à Turku, en Finlande. Cela signifie que De Grasse n’est pas descendu sous la barre des 10 secondes depuis 2021. On ne parle donc pas d’un léger passage à vide. À Tokyo, il avait notamment réussi son meilleur chrono à vie : 9,89 s.

Lorsqu’on prend un pas de recul et qu’on regarde l’état du 100 m sur la scène internationale, on constate par ailleurs qu’il y a énormément de profondeur dans cette self-discipline. Pas moins de 30 sprinteurs ont couru plus vite que De Grasse cette année. Dimanche, les demi-finales seront de véritables batailles de tranchées. Il faudra presque utiliser une baïonnette pour s’emparer de l’une des huit locations disponibles en finale.

La profondeur de la cuvée 2024 est absolument impressionnante. Il y a neuf êtres humains qui ont couru sous les 9,9 s ces dernières semaines et le grand favori, l’Américian Noah Lyles (9,81 s), n’a enregistré que le 3e chrono de l’année, derrière les 9,77 s du Jamaïcain Kishane Thompson et les 9,79 s du Kényan Ferdinand Omanyala.

Le médaillé d’or de Tokyo, l’Italien Marcell Jacobs, ne fait pas partie des neuf coureurs qui sont passés sous la barre de 9,9 s. Ses 9,92 s du 18 juin le placent tout de même parmi les coureurs dont il faut tenir compte pour l’obtention d’une médaille.

***

Samedi, je suis allé passer l’avant-midi au stade pour assister aux {qualifications} du 100 m, et la efficiency de De Grasse n’a pas été rassurante.

La vedette canadienne s’est retrouvée dans la même imprecise de {qualifications} que l’Américain Kenneth Bednarek, le Camerounais Emmanuel Eseme et le Libérien Emmanuel Matadi. Si vous ne connaissez pas ces noms, rassurez-vous, parce qu’ils sont loin de faire partie de la nice élite du 100 m.

Malgré cela, De Grasse a eu besoin de toute sa petite monnaie pour obtenir une 3e place et se qualifier pour les demi-finales.

Matadi, 33 ans, n’a jamais participé à une finale du 100 m, que ce soit aux Jeux ou aux Championnats du monde. Et De Grasse, crispé, ne l’a devancé que par un centième de seconde avec un chrono de 10,07 s.

Bednarek, un spécialiste du 200 m, start à se consacrer sérieusement au 100 m et a fait arrêté le chrono à 9,87 s cette année, deux centièmes sous le meilleur temps à vie de De Grasse. L’Américain a mené les {qualifications} en 9,97 s. Esem a pour sa half pris le 2e rang en 9,98 s.

À l’challenge du tour préliminaire, le chrono de De Grasse apparaissait au 18e rang samedi.

Évidemment, il faut en prendre et en laisser lorsqu’il est query des {qualifications} parce que les meilleurs athlètes en lice n’ouvrent pas tout grand la machine. Par exemple, le Omanyala s’est qualifié pour les demi-finales avec un chrono de 10,08 s. Il a toutefois cessé de courir après 80 mètres après avoir constaté qu’il avait largué ses rivaux.

Or, ce n’est pas ce qui est arrivé à De Grasse, qui a dû donner tout ce qu’il avait pour survivre. On était loin du tour préliminaire de Rio, où il avait eu le temps de badiner et d’échanger des sourires avec Usain Bolt.

Le Canadien s’est-il gardé quelques dixièmes en réserve pour le grand soir? On ne peut que le souhaiter. Ce n’est toutefois pas ce que ses performances récentes annoncent.

PARIS — A noise rippled by way of Stade de France on Saturday night when, earlier than a semifinal of the ladies’s 100 meters on the Paris Olympics, the lane belonging to Jamaican sprinting star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was unexpectedly left empty. 

Fraser-Pryce, lengthy the standard-bearer for the occasion after profitable Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, bronze in 2016 and silver in 2021, didn’t begin the race, a dropout that was not revealed publicly till her opponents stepped as much as their beginning blocks. 

No clarification was supplied for her determination, and she or he didn’t present any particulars in a publish on Instagram later Saturday.

Within the publish, Fraser-Pryce thanked her followers for his or her help and acknowledged her disappointment.

“It’s troublesome for me to seek out the phrases to explain the depth of my disappointment, she stated. “With each step and win, you all have been there for me. My Religion has all the time affirmed my belief in my journey. Thanks for persevering with to be with me immediately and day-after-day.”

It marked the second beautiful withdrawal of a Jamaican star of those Olympics, after Shericka Jackson additionally withdrew from the 100 days earlier. Jackson will run the 200-meters. Fraser-Pryce’s Video games aren’t essentially over, as she stays eligible to run the 4×100-meter relay. 

With Jackson and Fraser-Pryce out, and embellished Nice Britain sprinter Dina Asher-Smith failing to advance out of the semifinal spherical, it additional opened the door for U.S. star Sha’Carri Richardson to seize gold in her Olympic debut and reassert her management over the occasion, after Richardson gained the world championship final 12 months.

Richardson safely superior to Saturday night time’s last, although was crushed in her semifinal by Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia. The 2 completed in the identical order within the last, with one in all Richardson’s coaching companions, USA’s Melissa Jefferson, taking the bronze.

NANTERRE, France – You could not stage Léon Marchand’s coronation any higher.

Over the past week, earlier than an adoring and at instances tumultuous dwelling crowd in Paris, the younger Frenchman with a mop of blond hair has emerged as the following massive title in worldwide Olympic swimming.

Marchand, age 22, had by no means received a gold medal earlier than these Summer season Video games. He is now claimed 4 particular person gold medals in a single Olympics, placing him in a class of greatness as soon as reserved completely for 2 Individuals, Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.

With every victory this week, together with his newest Friday night time the place he held up 4 fingers in celebration, Marchand additionally shattered the Olympic report.

“It was loopy,” Marchand mentioned of his closing particular person efficiency within the males’s 200 meter particular person medley closing at Paris’s La Protection area in a Paris suburb. “As soon as once more the general public was cheering. It was my final particular person race [of these Games] so I informed myself I needed to actually take pleasure in it.”

To say the general public was cheering would not start to seize the cultural second Marchand has sparked right here. Some French are ambivalent concerning the resolution to host the Olympics in Paris, however in every single place you go within the metropolis there’s Marchand fever. Taxi drivers speak about him. Youngsters swoon over him. At eating places, all the things stops when he races as all eyes flip to televisions exhibiting his victories.

Younger followers gathered exterior La Protection area in a Paris suburb Friday to cheer on their new swimming hero, Léon Marchand. He got here by way of for them, successful a fourth gold medal.

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Brian Mann/NPR

Crowds on the swimming venue right here have been full of Marchand followers. After every of his victories, 1000’s joined in boisterous renditions of La Marseillaise, France’s nationwide anthem.

Marchand is anticipated to swim once more on Sunday in a staff relay closing the place one other gold medal could be very attainable.

One twist to Marchand’s emergence as a nationwide icon in France is the truth that his efficiency within the pool has been formed largely by America’s long-dominant swimming system. Marchand lives within the U.S. many of the 12 months and competed till lately within the NCAA system for Arizona State College.

After her race on Friday, U.S. swimmer Regan Smith, who typically trains side-by-side with Marchand, voiced admiration for the Frenchman’s capability.

“I’ve had the chance to share a lane with him in apply for the higher half of two years,” Smith mentioned. “I have been in a position to see what he is in a position to do each day in apply. He clearly has it bodily, he is extremely proficient. However what units him other than everybody else is what he has proper up right here [in his mind]. It is in contrast to anybody I’ve ever met. He has this It issue, this Je ne sais quoi. He is aware of tips on how to get s*** executed.”

Leon Marchand of France, celebrates after successful the boys’s 200-meter particular person medley closing on the 2024 Summer season Olympics, his fourth particular person gold of the Paris Video games.

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Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Notably, Marchand is coached by Bob Bowman, the legendary American swimming coach who helped develop Michael Phelps’ expertise. Earlier this week, Bowman informed reporters Marchand has emerged in Paris as one of many all-time greats.

“I rank him on the prime proper now,” Bowman mentioned of Marchand. “He is acquired the velocity, he is acquired the endurance. He is not even reached his potential.”

Requested about the way it feels to coach a breakout expertise whose Olympic medals go to France, Bowman shrugged and mentioned, “I am nonetheless pink, white and blue in my coronary heart.”

After his win on Friday, Marchand mentioned he plans to maintain working with Bowman as he prepares for the following Summer season Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We shared wonderful moments right here. We’ve been working actually onerous over the past three years. I do not know tips on how to do the following half (of my sports activities profession). I believe (Bowman) will actually assist me with that, as a result of he is aware of quite a bit about it.

Requested about being in contrast with American Michael Phelps, who captured a profession complete of 28 Olympic medals — 23 of them gold — Marchand mentioned it is an honor. “After all, he’s a legend of the swimming world – and he’ll all the time be.”

Bitter rivals Actual Madrid and FC Barcelona are set to fulfill at MetLife stadium on Saturday, with Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti giving hints of what his beginning XI could be within the final coaching session earlier than the preseason pleasant.

On the US tour’s debut earlier this week, which was a 1-0 defeat to his former membership AC Milan on the Chicago Bears’ Soldier Discipline, Ancelotti handed Endrick his debut and went with a entrance line consisting of the Brazilian teenager as a striker flanked by Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler.

It was thought that Rodrygo, who joined the tour late on August 31, would take Guler’s place this time spherical however that hasn’t confirmed to be true as Ancelotti goes for a similar attacking trio.

In midfield, captain Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, and Mario Martin maintain the fort.

As for the defence, Ancelotti examined a staff that had Eder Militao beginning at heart again alongside Antonio Rudiger, with Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez the left and proper backs respectively, and that is the method the Italian has gone for towards Barca.

Thibaut Courtois would be the goalkeeper, at a time when Andriy Lunin may nonetheless go away the membership within the ongoing switch window given his discontent with being changed by the Belgian upon his return from an ACL harm earlier within the spring.

The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal are nonetheless on vacation following their exploits on the Euros, however one additional shock becoming a member of the squad is Vinicius Jr.

Whereas these talked about gamers acquired to a minimum of the semifinals or closing with their international locations on the European match, Vinicius’ Brazil suffered a disappointing quarterfinal penalty shootout loss to Uruguay within the US with the Ballon d’Or hopeful unable to play the fixture due to a suspension picked up towards eventual finalists Colombia within the group stage.

As ‘Vini’ has been with the squad lower than 24 hours, although, he appears to be like set for the bench and won’t begin towards a staff that was rocked by his first half, 30-minute hat trick within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing on the flip of the yr.

Actual Madrid Beginning XI Vs. FC Barcelona: Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Militao, Vazquez; Ceballos, Modric, Mario Martin; Brahim, Endrick, Arda

Round an hour earlier than kick off, FC Barcelona shared its beginning line up on social media, reproduced under.

After preliminary scares the match could possibly be referred to as off due to unhealthy climate, it was given the inexperienced mild to go forward as initially scheduled.

Leon Marchand‘s coach Bob Bowman mentioned the French swimmer dealt with the strain of performing and delivering on house turf within the Olympics completely after the 22-year-old sensationally swept the gold medals in all 4 occasions he entered on the Paris Video games.

Marchand gained the 400m IM, then the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke on the identical evening, and eventually the 200m IM on Friday to earn hero standing in France as he shot to the highest of the medal charts amongst particular person athletes.

“It is an unbelievable collection of occasions. I really feel like he did every little thing that we may presumably count on of him on this setting, on this form of lead-up and preparation,” Bowman advised reporters.

“He could not have dealt with himself higher in between all of the races. So it was only a full success… He is simply 100% profitable. So I am very pleased with him, it takes lots to be good.”

Bowman, who coached Olympic nice Michael Phelps, mentioned Marchand “manages himself very effectively,” figuring out precisely what to do together with his warm-ups, his follow timings, his restoration course of and his weight loss program.

The veteran coach additionally mentioned swimming on house turf definitely helped as the gang at a packed La Protection Area obtained their cash’s value when Marchand broke Phelps’s 200m IM Olympic report from 2008.

“I believe the closest I’ve seen was possibly Sydney in 2000 when (Ian) Thorpe swam. I bear in mind when Thorpe swam the 400m there, I felt just like the constructing was shaking and it was form of like this,” he mentioned.

Bowman mentioned the Frenchman was solely getting began and will additionally swim in different occasions sooner or later, just like the 100m butterfly when he will get older and stronger.

“I believe he can break (information) in different occasions,” Bowman mentioned. “He gave me some ammunition for the entire subsequent 12 months by not breaking that one. So now we’ve a objective, proper? We’ve issues to work towards.”

However first, Marchand can have just a few weeks off to soak in his achievements and reside with the newfound fame that comes with being the athlete that lit up France’s house Olympics and Bowman mentioned he hopes his scholar stays grounded.

“For the primary time, Leon’s going to exit into this setting in a really completely different life scenario than he was earlier than,” he mentioned.

“Sooner or later I am going to attempt to reel him again in and in six weeks or so, we’ll see if we won’t get him began.

“However for now, he will get a break as a result of he actually does want a break. He wants a psychological break and a bodily break.”

Spain vs Colombia