RIGHT ON TARGET FOR OLYMPIC GOLD
Germany's Henri Junghaenel captured gold in men's 50m prone rifle after an impressive shooting display. He hit a near-perfect 10.8 four times at his first Olympic Games to outlast South Korea's Jonghyun Kim.
After he narrowly missed out on London 2012, Junghaenel was elated to hear his anthem here. "That sounds fabulous. Couldn’t sound better," he said. "It’s overwhelming, especially after I missed the last Olympic Games by just a very little, so I already accomplished everything with standing here in the final."
Jonghyun Kim of the Republic of Korea won silver and Russia's Kirill Grigoryan took bronze. (Photo: Getty Images/Sam Greenwood)
TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT
The fastest man on the planet got a special care package this week. The parents of Usain Bolt visiting the Jamaican sprinter in the athletes' village on the evening of 10 August before he goes for a 'triple-triple' in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, at Rio 2016.
Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt asked if their son was healthy, given the fact he pulled out of his national trials last month with a sore hamstring. His mother said he was ready to go. Bolt told her, "Mom, if I wasn't ready, I wouldn't be here because I'm not into the losing thing. I'm ready."
Find out when Bolt races in the heats and finals for all three events.
FANCY A CUPPA MADE OF GOLD?
Great Britain clinched a second consecutive rowing gold at Rio 2016, this time in the men's four. It is the country's fifth consecutive Olympic title in an event that — as the Associated Press put it — has become as British as afternoon tea.
Alex Gregory, Mohamed Sbihi, George Nash and Constantine Louloudis were in a tight race with Australia's four with only two-tenths of a second separating the crews at the half-way mark. The Australians fell back as the Brits won by nearly two seconds. Italy nabbed the bronze.
WORLD RECORD AND OLYMPIC GOLD FOR ALMAZ AYANA
With one kilometre to go in the women's 10,000m race, Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana had built up a 100m lead over the closest competitor. As the 24-year-old lapped yet another opponent, she crossed the finish line in 29 minutes,17.45 seconds — besting the world record by 14 seconds.
It was a fierce battle for silver between two-time defending Olympic champion, Ethiopia's Tirnuesh Dibaba, and Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot, who had overtaken the reigning champion with three laps to go. She took silver 10 seconds ahead of Dibaba, who won bronze with a personal best of 29:42.56.
WILL HE OR WON'T HE? SPECULATION ABOUT PHELPS' FUTURE GROWS
Is it his last one? Speculation about Michael Phelps retiring after Rio 2016 will not die down, not until the USA swimmer either makes it official or shows up on the pool deck in four years at Tokyo 2020. His Olympic roommate and long-time swimming frenemy Ryan 'Jeah' Lochte is stoking the rumour mill.
This morning, Lochte told NBC's 'Today' morning television programme that his rivalry with Phelps will "definitely" have another chapter at the next Olympic Games. "I guarantee he will be there," said Lochte. Phelps returned from retirement once already, following London 2012.
Phelps easily beat Lochte and the rest of the field on 11 August in the 200m individual medley.
TUNE IN NOW: WOMEN'S 10,000M RACERS CIRCLE THE TRACK
In the first medal event of the athletics competition at Olympic Stadium, the women's 10,000m runners are five minutes into a race that will last half an hour. A break-away group is already spacing out the track, with Kenya's Alice Aprot Nawowuna pushing the pace at the front of the pack.
ENNIS-HILL IS FIRST IN THE FIRST EVENT
Defending Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain kicked off the heptathlon with a strong performance in the 100m hurdles, as she did at London 2012. In a direct clash with rival Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Canada, the Briton dominated and won the heat in 12.84 seconds, the only competitor to beat the 13-second mark. After the first of seven events, she leads all competitors with 1149 points.
The heptathletes now move on to the high jump at Olympic Stadium.
(Photo: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill)
FROM ONE BALLER TO ANOTHER
Thanks to NBA House, located in the Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood of Gamboa, we're treated to this hard-top partnership of football and basketball. We'll forgive the North Americanism 'soccer' in respect of the talent.
ON THE SEVENTH DAY, LET THERE BE TRACK AND FIELD
The first day of athletics will hand out medals in the women's 10,000m and men's 20k race walk.
Ethiopia could place a triad on the podium for the 10,000m, topping it with two-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba. In the men's race walk, Spain's Miguel Angel Lopez looks to repeat his win at the 2015 world championship and hold off rivals from China and Japan. Read the full story about today's highlights.
(Photo: Getty Images/Ian Walton)
THE SKIES ARE GREY BUT THE DAY WILL BE GOLDEN
Good morning, world. Today at Rio 2016, we have a full schedule that includes the second round of men's play at the Olympic Golf Course, men's singles quarter-final tennis and men's doubles final (barring more rain delays), the equestrian dressage finals, and the final competition day of judo. Beach volleyball continues with the round of 16, boxing reaches the semi-finals, and the women's football tournament is into the quarter-finals. Today also marks the first day of athletics.
Read the full story about today's highlights.
WHAT A DAY!
World records, first-time medal winners, Michael Phelps, day 6 seemed to have it all.
Click here to take a look at the best bits. And click here too look at all that is in store for tomorrow. Rest easy in the knowledge that, yes, there will be more Phelps.
Here is a picture of all medal winners from the first ever men's Olympic rugby sevens tournament.
(Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers)
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