French swim star Marchand bags more Olympic gold after gymnastics thriller / Photo: © AFP
French swim star Marchand bags more Olympic gold after gymnastics thriller
Home favourite Leon Marchand won his second gold in the pool on Wednesday, an action-packed day at the Paris Olympics that also saw Japanese gymnast Shinnosuke Oka take a thrilling all-round title.
Marchand, who is rapidly emerging as one of the faces of the Games, powered home in the men's 200m butterfly, adding to his dazzling victory in the 400m medley on Sunday.
The 22-year-old could make it a popular treble as he competes in the 200m breaststoke later Wednesday, roared on by a partisan crowd at La Defense Arena.
In another pulsating night in the Olympic pool, Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem produced the performance of a lifetime to pip Torri Huske from the United States to the wall in the women's 100m freestyle.
Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan will have to wait another four years for a freestyle double as the 200m champion was beaten into a surprising fourth place.
US great Katie Ledecky, a seven-time gold medallist, also swims later Wednesday aiming to defend her 1500m freestyle crown, as the battle for swimming medals reaches the halfway stage.
Marchand added to a French gold medal haul which already improved to six after Cassandre Beaugrand's superb victory in the women's triathlon earlier Wednesday.
Hazardous pollution levels in the River Seine in recent days had threatened to cause chaos to the triathlon competition and embarrassment to Paris Games chiefs.
- Triathlon duel -
Organisers were forced to cancel training this week in the river and postponed the men's race on Tuesday after the Seine was found to be too dirty for athletes following rainstorms last week.
But despite heavy rain overnight -- which can cause pollution levels to spike -- the women's field dived into the Seine at the historic Alexandre III bridge in the heart of the City of Light before a cycling stage and then a running stage, as big crowds lined the route.
Beaugrand, 27, emerged from the leading pack on the final lap of the running stage before crossing the line and sinking to her knees in elation.
She said she had "never doubted" that the swimming would go ahead, despite the threat of cancellation, which would have turned the race into a duathlon of only cycling and running.
"It would have been shameful for our sport... it would have been a disgrace," she told reporters after victory.
In the delayed men's triathlon, Britain's Alex Yee surged past New Zealand's Hayden Wilde in the final stretch in a dramatic finish to improve on his silver from the Tokyo Games.
In other action on day five, China's table tennis world number one Wang Chuqin suffered a shock defeat, a day after having his bat broken.
Wang won mixed doubles gold on Tuesday but his elation turned to anger after a photographer accidentally snapped his bat while jostling to take a picture.
Less than 24 hours later, Wang went out in the singles after a 4-2 defeat to Truls Moregard of Sweden.
- China chase diving sweep -
China meanwhile ramped up their bid for a clean sweep in diving, prevailing in the women's synchronised 10m platform ahead of North Korea and Britain.
China have won all three golds in the sport in Paris so far.
In men's basketball, LeBron James and his USA teammates have their sights set on the last eight as they face Olympic newcomers South Sudan.
Kevin Durant's return from injury inspired the Americans to a rout of Nikola Jokic's Serbia in their opening game, an ideal start for the reigning champions who are eyeing a fifth straight Olympic crown.
In gymnastics, Japan's Shinnosuke Oka claimed a shock victory in the Olympic men's gymnastics all-around title on Wednesday, dethroning compatriot and defending champion Daiki Hashimoto in a thrilling final.
Oka, 20, claimed gold ahead of Chinese duo Zhang Boyeng in second, with Xiao Ruoteng claiming bronze as Hashimoto finished sixth.
Meanwhile on the famous red clay of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz remained on course for a blockbuster tennis showdown after advancing to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic gold to add to his record-breaking collection of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, defeated Germany's Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3, while Spain's Alcaraz swatted aside Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-2.
However, the dream Spanish team of Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal failed in their doubles bid, losing to Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in possibly Nadal's final appearance at Roland Garros.
In women's football, title-holders Canada must beat Colombia if they are to advance to the quarter-finals following a six-point deduction over a spying scandal.
P.Gomez--LGdM
