Paris Olympics 2024 Day 13: Team USA survive Serbia fight and launch massive comeback to win semifinal
Day 12 was a historic day in Paris as Australia surged to their best ever gold medal haul at an Olympics, is there more joy to come today?
Follow all the action live.
Hometown heroes
France have advanced to basketball’s gold medal match at their home Olympics with a tense 73-69 semifinal win over Germany.
Guerschon Yabusele paced the winners with 17 points, while transcendent star Victor Wembanyama stuffed the stat sheet in a 11-point, seven-rebound, four-assist, three-block effort.
Fire in the Hull
Aussie attentions now turn to the track for the women’s 1500m semifinals, where Jess Hull and Georgia Griffith will be looking to punch their ticket to the final.
Griffith is first up in the opening heat which is about 10 minutes away before Hull follows in the second heat.
A strong debut from Alexandra
Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva finished top-22 in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual All-Around qualifiers at her first Olympic Games.
Nina’s crowning moment
Nina Kennedy has just been given her gold medal after a stunning performance in yesterday’s pole vault final.
The Busselton-born star flashed a wide smile through the whole ceremony and celebrated with fist pumps after stepping up to the top of the podium.
Clearing 4.90m saw her become the first ever Australian woman to win gold in a field event.
Richardson into the semifinal!
And he’s through!
Another brilliant ride from Matthew Richardson, who capitalised on Obara burning his petrol tickets early to again hit the front in the final lap.
He is now guaranteed a medal race, with the semifinals and finals slated for tomorrow.
Semifinal on the line
The second heat of Matthew Richardson’s quarterfinal against Yuta Obara is moments away.
If he wins, the West Australian will progress to the semifinals under the best-of-three system.
Well done Welsford
Sam Welsford has survived some close shaves to finish fifth in the elimination race.
He spent much of the race towards the back of the pack but often found an extra gear when required, including in one clash with world champion Iuri Leitao.
The Velodrome Games
Sam Welsford is looking to stay alive in the elimination race of the men’s omnium.
In a very Hunger Games-esque disclipline, the last-placed rider from every second lap is knocked out.
Around the grounds
France and Germany are tied up at 33 apiece at half-time of their men’s basketball semifinal clash.
Elsewhere today, China’s Luo Shifang set three Olympic records on her way to winning gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting, while India beat Spain in the men’s hockey bronze medal match.
Richo blitz
Matthew Richardson gave plenty of early distance to Japan’s Yuta Obara but showed off his brilliant closing speed to win their first heat.
In the final lap, the Australian worked his way around and eased in front, finishing more than half a second in front.
