Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Medal table | Olympic schedule | How to watch | Olympic newsBefore the setting came into play, the Paris Olympics were already guaranteed to be a spectacle.The best athletes from around the world twist, contort, jump and dive in ways most of us couldn’t even imagine. Mix in the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic cities in Paris and its surroundings, and it adds up to a photographer’s dream.Here are some of the best images from Day 12 of the Olympic Games on Wednesday from the track to the court to the velodrome and beyond.Looking good and performing well on the trackThe track is one of the most-watched venues in these or any Olympic Games. Athletes awarded the once-every-four-years spotlight put their best feet forward in competition — and in fashion.Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado competes in the women’s pole vault final. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)Canada’s Alysha Newman competes in the women’s pole vault final. She finished with a bronze medal behind gold medalist Nina Kennedy (Australia) and silver medalist Katie Moon (USA). (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)Czech Republic’s Amalie Svabikova reacts after jumping in the women’s pole vault final. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)USA’s Quincy Hall celebrates after winning the men’s 400m final in a thrilling comeback. (BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)Women’s basketball down to final fourThe U.S. women won their 59th consecutive Olympic basketball game Wednesday with a victory over Nigeria to advance to a semifinal matchup against Australia. Belgium and France also advanced and will play in the other semifinal. The winners of those games will play for the gold medal as USA seeks its eighth straight Olympic championship.France’s Iliana Rupert scores during Wednesday’s quarterfinal win over Germany. (ARIS MESSINIS via Getty Images)Boxing crowns 2 championsThe boxing competition handed out medals in two weight classes on Wednesday. Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez defeated France’s Sofiane Oumiha for the men’s lightweight gold medal. Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhnia defeated Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay for middleweight gold.Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez (R) reacts after beating France’s Sofiane Oumiha in the men’s lightweight boxing final. (MOHD RASFAN via Getty Images)Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay receives instructions and relief during the middleweight final against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak. (MAURO PIMENTEL via Getty Images)USA wins silver in artistic swimmingThanks in part to an underwater moonwalk, USA’s artistic swimming team took home the silver medal. China won gold and Spain secured bronze. The silver is USA’s first medal in the event since 2004.USA won the silver medal in artistic swimming. (Amin Mohammad Jamali via Getty Images)USA denied shot at volleyball gold by PolandUSA fell short of a shot at its fourth men’s volleyball gold medal in the semifinals Wednesday. Poland rallied to win the last two sets of a five-set match against USA to earn a spot in the gold medal match against France on Saturday. USA will play Italy for bronze on Friday.Poland’s Wilfredo Leon Venero, Jakub Kochanowski and Bartosz Kurek block a ball against USA in Wednesday’s semifinal. (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA via Getty Images)Action heats up at the velodromeCanada was one of eight teams to compete in the men’s team pursuit final on Wednesday. Australia (gold), Great Britain (silver) and Italy (bronze) finished on the podium.Dylan Bibic, Mathias Guillemette, Michael Foley and Carson Mattern of Canada compete during the men’s team pursuit finals. (Kevin Voigt via Getty Images)
