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PARIS: Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola broke an Olympic record to win the men’s marathon on Saturday, while Victor Wembanyama’s France looked set to beat the powerful United States in the fantasy basketball final.
Tola, the 2022 world champion, dominated the marathon on the sun-soaked streets from central Paris to Versailles, while Eliud Kipchoge’s bid for a third gold medal came to naught.
The competition kicked off the penultimate day of the sporting calendar, with the final round of track and field events set to decide eight medals, with China set to sweep golds in diving and table tennis.
The United States and China tied for first place in the medal table, each winning 33 gold medals.
Tola had a strong solo run, finishing in 2:06:26, 21 seconds ahead of Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bashir Abdi of Belgium, with Kenya’s Benson Kipruto taking bronze.
“I am very happy today. I am the 2022 world champion and now I am the Olympic champion,” Tola said.
“This is the best day of my life. This is my goal.”
Kipchoge, a 39-year-old Kenyan and former world record holder, won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but withdrew late in the competition.
– France takes aim at powerful US –
The star-studded U.S. basketball team, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, was made to sweat by Serbia in Thursday’s semifinal but staged a thrilling comeback in the fourth quarter, with Curry scoring 36 points.
The four-time defending champions will look to defeat France in the gold medal match at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
But James, who is seeking his third Olympic gold medal, knows it will not be an easy match against the hosts, who have NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama.
“The competition is very strong. Obviously, it’s Wimby’s (Wimbanyama) first time at the Olympics, but that team has been competing together for a long time,” he said.
“They’re always a favorite with the crowd, so we’re looking forward to this game.”
The Stade de France will host a series of track and field events later on Saturday as the United States looks to continue its dominance.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi shared the high jump gold medal in one of the most memorable moments of the Tokyo Olympics.
But this time, both of them faced questions about their physical health when they participated in the competition.
Tamberg was hospitalized this week with a high fever and kidney pain, while Barshim appeared to have injured his left calf during qualifying.
Defending world champion Tamberi, who has a high jump of 2.37m in 2024, will be hoping to keep pace with his rivals.
“I hope he will be fit by Saturday,” the Italian said. “I need him on the pitch. I have to be fit myself, but I hope he can play.”
The competition also includes the men’s 800m and 5000m finals, the women’s 100m hurdles and 1500m finals, and the final event is the 4x400m relay.
The Hayes Factor
Emma Hayes’ United States women’s team faces Brazil in the women’s soccer final.
The United States has won four of the first five Olympic women’s volleyball titles since the competition began in 1996, but has not won a gold medal since the 2012 London Olympics.
The team has been rejuvenated under new coach Hayes, an English coach who won numerous trophies during his time as Chelsea manager.
Brazil will try to win the title at a third attempt after losing to the same opponents in both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing finals.
Brazilian star Marta, 38, will compete in her sixth and possibly final Olympics, hoping to add a gold medal to her two silver medals.
American star Trinity Rodman said: “Marta changed the game of soccer around the world.”
“She was a talented football player and a great person. I’ve always admired her. She leaves a lasting legacy, but what we want is that gold medal.”
At Le Golf National Golf Club, two-time medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand was at nine under with one round left, tied with 137th-placed Morgane Metraux of Switzerland.
The Chinese team is striving to win the last gold medal in the diving event and end this competition with a total of eight gold medals, among which the men’s 10-meter diving platform will be the last gold medal of this competition.
— AFP
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