PARIS, Aug 10 — Imane Khelif won the gold medal in the women’s welterweight boxing in front of a roaring crowd that rallied round the Algerian who has been at the centre of a gender eligibility dispute.
It came on a day in which the US edged ahead of China in the medal table, making its Olympic debut and there was heartbreak for France in the men’s soccer final.
Here is what you need to know about the Olympics.
Khelif
Algeria’s Imane Khelif beat China’s Yang Liu to claim the gold medal, being unanimously judged to have won the welterweight bout in front of a packed house of adoring Algerian fans in Paris's genteel tennis club Roland Garros.
Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 world championships, has been in the spotlight at the Paris Games amid a gender eligibility dispute that has dominated headlines.
US triumph and tribulation in the relays
The United States raced to the gold medal in the Olympic women’s 4x100 metres relay, capturing their 12th title as Britain made a mess of their final baton exchange.
The American men’s team stumbled, however, botching a handover that led to disqualifcation and a gold medal for Canada.
Elsewhere on the track, Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet surged to the Olympic women’s 10,000 metres gold medal to add to her 5,000 title at the Games while Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam won her third successive Olympic heptathlon gold medal.
Spain spoil France’s soccer party
Spain secured the gold medal in the Olympic men's football tournament after substitute Sergio Camello scored twice in extra time to earn a dramatic 5-3 win over hosts France in a nail-biting final at Parc des Princes.
The teams were locked at 3-3 at the end of normal time but Camello scored 10 minutes twice in the extra period to earn Spain their first Olympic men's soccer title since 1992.
Break out star
Japan’s Ami Yuasa won a battle with Lithuania’s Dominika Banevic to dance her way to the first Olympic gold medal ever awarded for breaking.
Yuasa, known as B-Girl Ami, immediately broke out an impressive air flair to start the final and laid down a series of halos to seal the 3-0 win over B-Girl Nicka and bring the crowd at La Concorde to their feet.
Dutch cycling joy
Harrie Lavreysen did what he does best as the flying Dutchman once again proved to be in a league of his own to retain his Olympic sprint title in dominant fashion.
Just as in Tuesday’s team sprint final, the outcome looked inevitable as the 27-year-old known affectionately as The Beast outpaced Australia’s Matthew Richardson.
Climbing surprise
Britain’s Toby Roberts was as surprised as anyone when he clinched the boulder and lead gold medal in a major upset as Japan’s clear favourite Sorato Anraku fell and had to settle for silver.
Kiteboard win
Valentin Bontus of Austria won gold in the men’s kiteboarding. Toni Vodisek of Slovenia secured silver and Max Maeder of Singapore picked up bronze.
Bontus, 23, celebrated his win with a huge aerial jump on his foiling board, pumping his fist after a dominant finish.
Public holiday
The president of Botswana declared Friday afternoon a half-day public holiday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo claiming the country's first Olympic gold medal by winning the 200 metres on Thursday.
Tebogo powered clear of Americans Kenny Bednarek and Covid-hit Noah Lyles.
— Reuters
