Americans Kristen Faulkner, left, and Lily Williams celebrate winning the gold medal in the women's team pursuit event, at the Summer Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024, in Paris, France.Ricardo Mazalan/The Associated Press
U.S. women’s pursuit team ends gold drought
MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEUX, France – The U.S. women’s pursuit team of road race Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner, Chloe Dygert, Jennifer Valente and Lilly Williams held on through a ragged finish to beat New Zealand in the race for gold at the Paris Games on Wednesday night. The Americans led by more than a second a quarter of the way through the 4,000-metre race and stretched the lead at one point to nearly two seconds. They gave the U.S. its first gold in the event after 12 years of close calls. The American women’s pursuit program similarly has been chasing gold ever since the 2012 London Games, when it finished second to Britain. It lost a rematch four years later in Rio de Janeiro, and then in Tokyo, the U.S. had to beat Canada for bronze.
Hampton Morris of the United States competes during the men's 61kg weightlifting event at the Summer Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024, in Paris, France.Kin Cheung/The Associated Press
U.S. weightlifter finds podium
PARIS – Hampton Morris does not have a driver’s licence. He does have an Olympic bronze medal. The 20-year-old who trains in his garage at home in Marietta, Ga., on Wednesday became the first U.S. men’s weightlifter to take home a medal of any colour at the Games in four decades. Narrowly missing out on a world record that would have gotten him silver, Morris followed Mario Martinez and Guy Carlton from Los Angeles in 1984 as the most recent American men to win a medal at the Olympics. Li Fabin of China defended his title from the Tokyo Games in 2021 and set an Olympic snatch record.
Celine Boutier of France drives a ball during the first round of the women's golf tournament at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024.Lisa Leutner/Reuters
Boutier dazzles French crowd with 65
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – For all the countless times Celine Boutier has played Le Golf National, what carried her to a seven-under 65 and a three-shot lead Wednesday in the Olympics were the two days when she didn’t even have her clubs. Boutier watched from the gallery over the weekend as the French fans cheered and chanted and sang for Victor Perez and Matthieu Pavon, ovations they rarely hear anywhere else. When it was her time to perform, the 30-year-old from France delivered a round to remember. Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa had a 68, and only 10 other players broke par. The group at 70 included Gaby Lopez of Mexico and Lilia Vu. Alena Sharp of Hamilton shot an opening round of one under par, and is tied for seventh. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was two over and tied for 30th.
Australia's Keegan Palmer competes in the men's park skateboarding final during the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, on Aug. 7, 2024.Odd Andersen/The Associated Press
Australian repeats as park skateboarding champion
PARIS – Australia’s Keegan Palmer scored a 93.11 Wednesday to successfully defend his Olympic park skateboarding title at the Paris Games. His performance wowed a crowd that included skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, Snoop Dogg and U.S. basketball star Devin Booker. The 21-year-old Palmer took gold in the sport’s Olympic debut three years ago in Tokyo. He led in the prelims Wednesday and then throughout the finals after posting the top score on the first of his three runs. He’d already secured the gold medal before his final run and fell after also crashing on his second run. But his magnificent first run was all he needed to go home with another gold medal. American Tom Schaar posted a 92.23 on his second run to win silver. Brazil’s Augusto Akio won bronze.
Team China competes in the team acrobatic routine of artistic swimming at the Summer Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.Lee Jin-man
China dominates artistic swimming
China took gold in the artistic swimming team event, dominating in the absence of Russia, which had won every gold medal in artistic beginning with the 2000 Sydney Games. It was a big medal for China, and also a step forward for the sport, which changed its name from synchronized swimming several years ago to update its image. Some swimmers still call it “synchro.” China finished with 996.1389 points, ahead of the United States and Spain. It was the first U.S. medal in the sport since 2004. Men had an opportunity for the first time to compete in artistic swimming at the Olympics, but no men were picked by any of the teams. There is consideration to add a mixed duet team event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would create more space for men to compete.