The latest Paris Olympics updates show France aiming to solidify its position in the top spots of the medal table with crucial events in football and swimming. Thursday saw historic moments in swimming as Canada’s Summer McIntosh set the fastest time at the Summer Games in the women’s 200-meter butterfly, while the USA’s Katie Ledecky made history by becoming the most decorated woman in the sport with a silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. In gymnastics, Simone Biles secured her second Olympic all-around title, while in tennis, players from Spain, Serbia, Italy, and Canada reached the men’s singles semifinals. Women’s basketball saw Germany, France, and the USA advancing to the quarterfinals, while surfing faced controversy as an Australian judge was removed for embracing a contestant.
Looking ahead to Friday’s events, French swimmer Léon Marchand aims for his fourth gold medal of the 2024 Games in the 200-meter individual medley. American Caeleb Dressel will compete for his ninth Olympic gold and the second in Paris in the men’s 50-meter freestyle final, while the women’s 200 backstroke final is set to take place. Additionally, a highly anticipated men’s football match between France and Argentina, which is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final, will be taking place at Bordeaux Stadium, along with other quarterfinal matchups in men’s football including Japan vs Spain, Egypt vs Paraguay, and the US vs Morocco.
In men’s tennis, the singles semifinals featuring Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti against Novak Djokovic are set to start at 12 pm. Alcaraz, who became the youngest man to reach the singles semifinals at a Summer Games since Djokovic in 2008, advanced by defeating American Tommy Paul. Musetti earned his spot in the semifinal by beating Tokyo Games gold medalist Alexander Zverev. Additionally, the mixed doubles gold-medal match at Roland Garros will begin at 7 pm, adding to the excitement of the tennis events at the Paris Olympics.
