https://www.scmp.com/rss/518885/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The man who attacked Ugandan runner Rebecca Cheptegei has died from injuries sustained when he poured petrol over the Olympic athlete, the Kenyan hospital treating him said on Tuesday. Police said that Dickson Ndiema Marangach assaulted Cheptegei in her home in western Kenya on September 1. The mother-of-two sustained 80 per cent burns and died last week. In the course of the attack, Marangach also incurred 30 per cent burns and was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Moi Teaching... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3277955/alleged-killer-ugandan-olympic-runner-rebecca-cheptegei-dies-burns-hospital-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3277955/alleged-killer-ugandan-olympic-runner-rebecca-cheptegei-dies-burns-hospital-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:22:13 +0000 Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died after being set on fire by her boyfriend in Kenya, Uganda’s Olympic Committee chief said on Thursday. “We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei … following a vicious attack by her boyfriend,” Donald Rukare said in a post on X. Cheptegei, 33, had sustained burns to 80 per cent of her body, the acting head of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in the Rift Valley city of Eldorect where she was being... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3277314/paris-olympics-marathon-runner-rebecca-cheptegei-dies-after-being-set-fire-boyfriend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3277314/paris-olympics-marathon-runner-rebecca-cheptegei-dies-after-being-set-fire-boyfriend?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 07:58:35 +0000 The Paris Olympics drew 30.6 million viewers daily. And under the glow of the City of Light, athletes were launched further into the social media stratosphere. So here’s 15 athletes who gained the most followers through the Games, with Brazilian athletes in particular benefiting. Rebeca Andrade View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebeca Andrade🤍🦋 (@rebecarandrade) Gymnast Andrade, Brazil’s most decorated Olympian, collected four medals in Paris... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3274438/olympic-stars-biggest-instagram-follower-boom-simone-biles-stephen-curry-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3274438/olympic-stars-biggest-instagram-follower-boom-simone-biles-stephen-curry-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:16 +0000 An Olympic gold holds the weight of, well an Olympic gold, but adding a touch of flair and suspense to them does no harm. In a city revered for its arts and theatre, plenty of athletes created masterpieces of their own on the canvas of an Olympic arena. Whether they caused you to squint or shout at your screens, here are five of those edge-of-your-seat finishes that turned Olympic dreams to reality in the most dramatic fashion. Pandemonium on the piste How do you top a fencing final decided by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274102/cheung-ka-longs-gold-pans-record-time-and-chinas-bad-maths-5-dramatic-olympic-moments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274102/cheung-ka-longs-gold-pans-record-time-and-chinas-bad-maths-5-dramatic-olympic-moments?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 06:00:20 +0000 You only get one Olympics debut, and from preteens and veterans to global sporting superstars, Paris had it all over the course of two-and-a-bit weeks. Some newcomers left with new-found fame, others simply added another page to their storied career, while there were those who even became memes. But whatever else happens in the rest of their lives, they’ll always have Paris. Here’s a look back at five who stood out in the French capital. Letsile Tebogo First time proved to be a charm for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274099/nba-stars-world-record-breakers-and-main-character-energy-top-5-debuts-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274099/nba-stars-world-record-breakers-and-main-character-energy-top-5-debuts-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 03:00:12 +0000 It’s almost over now. Just one final push. We may be heading into the final day, but that does not mean the end of the action. There are still plenty of medals to hand out as we wind down and look towards Los Angeles 2028. The battle for supremacy rumbles on as China and the United States battle it out to top the gold medal leaderboard in Paris. So, for one final time, here’s what to look forward to today with all times – as always, in HKT. Hongkonger alert There is still one remaining athlete... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274044/paris-olympics-hongkonger-action-china-v-us-no-1-5-things-know-day-16?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3274044/paris-olympics-hongkonger-action-china-v-us-no-1-5-things-know-day-16?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Aug 2024 04:30:11 +0000 The United States team’s disqualification for an invalid baton exchange in the men’s 4x100 metres relay at the Paris Olympics has prompted sarcastic comments on Chinese social media. Some questioned why the Americans had not asked for a rerun after their team of Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Fred Kerley bungled their first baton change. It left them trailing behind as Canada claimed gold, South Africa silver and Great Britain bronze, with the US later disqualified. China, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3274005/paris-olympics-us-mens-4-x-100m-relay-debacle-prompts-sarcasm-among-chinese-netizens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3274005/paris-olympics-us-mens-4-x-100m-relay-debacle-prompts-sarcasm-among-chinese-netizens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Aug 2024 08:55:20 +0000 It’s nearly over, but that doesn’t mean things slow down. Day 15 sees huge names in global sport looking to add Olympic gold – or in some cases more Olympic gold – to their medal collection. Women’s football will say goodbye to arguably its greatest-ever player, but will it be a happy farewell? Meanwhile, China’s table tennis domination shows no sign of stopping and is likely to continue. So let’s take a look at what’s happening with all times, as usual, specified as HKT. Not a sprint Strap... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273992/paris-olympics-us-basketball-gold-marathon-golf-and-more-5-things-know-day-15?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273992/paris-olympics-us-basketball-gold-marathon-golf-and-more-5-things-know-day-15?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Aug 2024 04:30:08 +0000 Noah Lyles said he kept a Covid-19 diagnosis under wraps to avoid gifting a psychological edge to his Olympic 200 metres rivals in Paris. After finishing third in Thursday’s final, behind winner Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and fellow American Kenny Bednarek, Lyles left the track in a wheelchair. Later, the 27-year-old spoke in the bowels of the Stade de France, wearing a black surgical mask. “I do have Covid, I tested positive around 5am on Tuesday,” he said. “I woke up in the middle of the night... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273787/paris-olympics-usas-noah-lyles-hushed-covid-positive-avoid-giving-edge-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273787/paris-olympics-usas-noah-lyles-hushed-covid-positive-avoid-giving-edge-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 22:56:10 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A “regretful” Wu Yanni delivered a withering assessment of her own abilities on Thursday, after crashing out of her Olympic 100 metres hurdles event in Paris. The 27-year-old finished fourth in her repechage race, flunking a second opportunity to reach the semi-finals after a disappointing heat 24 hours earlier. Compatriot Lin Yuwei, who claimed gold at last year’s Asian Games, was also eliminated after placing sixth in her race. And after being knocked out, Wu said she had come to France aiming... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273771/paris-olympics-china-sprinters-too-slow-too-weak-says-wu-after-100m-hurdles-failure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273771/paris-olympics-china-sprinters-too-slow-too-weak-says-wu-after-100m-hurdles-failure?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:59:07 +0000 The global and United States anti-doping agencies are at odds over undercover tactics used by the American body to try to catch drug cheats, Reuters has learned. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said US agency Usada had broken the global code by letting several athletes it had caught between 2011 and 2014 violating drugs rules to go undercover and keep on competing without prosecution in exchange for information on other violators. Usada said the tactic was necessary and allowed, and wanted... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3273701/anti-doping-agencies-wada-usada-clash-over-use-undercover-athletes-catch-drug-cheats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3273701/anti-doping-agencies-wada-usada-clash-over-use-undercover-athletes-catch-drug-cheats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:30:14 +0000 “Remember to to look both ways before crossing the street” is a standard piece of advice we all receive as children – well, someone should have told the camera operator during the men’s 5000 metres heat at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. A video on social media showed the cameraman casually crossing the track as the runners approach and then quickly stopping in the middle of the group. “It is amateurish,” said Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who was looking to overtake on the curve as the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273673/paris-olympics-cameraman-crossing-tracks-almost-causes-pile-during-mens-5000m-heat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273673/paris-olympics-cameraman-crossing-tracks-almost-causes-pile-during-mens-5000m-heat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:30:08 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu China’s new hurdle star Wu Yanni delivered a brutally honest self-assessment of her Olympic debut when asked to mark herself. Her time of 12.98 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles semi-finals was too slow to qualify for the final to cap a disappointing bow. When asked what score she would give herself for her Olympic debut, she simply replied: “Zero.” “I ran really slow while they ran super-fast. Oh my god!” the 27-year-old added in a post-run interview with mainland media on Wednesday. Though she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273665/paris-olympics-debutant-wu-yanni-brutally-marks-herself-zero-after-qualification-failure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273665/paris-olympics-debutant-wu-yanni-brutally-marks-herself-zero-after-qualification-failure?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:08 +0000 Chinese fans are rallying behind their new track sensation Xu Zhuoyi despite him exiting in the 110 metres hurdles semi-final, urging him to set his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Xu, who won over fans at home with his charmingly “nerdy” look, dashed to the finish line with his spectacles firmly in place, clocking 13.48 seconds in Thursday’s semi-final. Though his Olympic journey ended sooner than hoped, Xu’s unique charm and determination have ignited a passionate following. The topic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273648/nerdy-hurdler-tipped-olympic-success-la-2028-after-semi-final-exit-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273648/nerdy-hurdler-tipped-olympic-success-la-2028-after-semi-final-exit-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 03:30:12 +0000 China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) called for more frequent anti-doping testing of American track and field athletes, in light of the United States’ Erriyon Knighton completing his 200 metres semi-final despite having previously failed a doping test. The relationship between China and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) was already strained following the news disclosed earlier this year that 23 Chinese swimmers had been cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 despite having... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273652/paris-olympics-chinada-call-more-testing-us-athletes-after-erriyon-knighton-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273652/paris-olympics-chinada-call-more-testing-us-athletes-after-erriyon-knighton-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 02:31:21 +0000 Sporting a charmingly “nerdy” look, Xu Zhuoyi won over fans at home in China as he dashed into Thursday’s 110 metres hurdles semi-final. With his bookish demeanour and complete with glasses, Xu transformed into a blur of speed on the track, surging forward in the waning moments of his heat to finish first. But it wasn’t his result that became the talk of the town – rather it was the endearing guise of the “glasses flyer”. A brilliant Chinese physicist takes a break from work and goes for a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273475/chinas-glasses-flyer-xu-sets-pulses-racing-nerdy-look-100m-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273475/chinas-glasses-flyer-xu-sets-pulses-racing-nerdy-look-100m-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:00:13 +0000 American Noah Lyles stormed to glory at the Olympics on Monday in the men’s 100 metres – the blue riband event where Asian track athletes have once again been conspicuous by their absence. In Paris, not a single Asian athlete made it into the women’s 800m final, the 4x400m mixed relay, or the men’s and women’s 100m finals. Those that progressed beyond round one – Japan’s Sani Brown Abdul Hakim, and Thailand’s Puripol Boonson in the men’s 100m – stood little chance of winning a medal, proving the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273381/paris-olympics-why-does-asia-struggle-produce-track-stars-what-needs-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273381/paris-olympics-why-does-asia-struggle-produce-track-stars-what-needs-change?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:30:08 +0000 Dozens of medals are up for grabs in Paris on Tuesday, with a mix of classic Games staples and recent additions to the programme. If you have yet to embrace Olympic skateboarding, this is the time to do so. Its contestants are some of the Games’ youngest – and bravest. Or you can keep it traditional with the women’s 200 metres final. So here are five things you should know for day 11, with all times noted in Hong Kong time as is the norm. Too cool for school We’re not sure what we were doing at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273342/paris-olympics-lebron-11-year-olds-china-eye-diving-gold-5-things-know-day-11?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273342/paris-olympics-lebron-11-year-olds-china-eye-diving-gold-5-things-know-day-11?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 04:30:10 +0000 At the 2024 China National Track and Field Championships, local hero Wu Yanni clinched the gold medal in the women’s 100-metre hurdles. Not only did the 27-year-old improve her personal record by 0.02 seconds, she also set an Asian best for the season in this event. On Chinese social media, Wu is one of the most popular and talked-about athletes, not only for her remarkable performances on the track but also her tattoos, race-day make-up and outspoken personality, which often clashes with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3271010/paris-olympics-hopeful-social-media-star-wu-yanni-tattoos-make-and-fiery-personality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3271010/paris-olympics-hopeful-social-media-star-wu-yanni-tattoos-make-and-fiery-personality?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 04:00:13 +0000 World records lit up the small hours at the Paris Olympics, with track and field providing the highest point and the cycling velodrome raising the speedometer. There was that lesser-spotted thing, a medal for China in athletics, but in a second week when Hong Kong’s podium hopes are less numerous, one stand-out possibility was extinguished. Those who were awake may wish they had gone to bed thinking the city’s table tennis players were still in the fight, but alas, they are not. Let us talk you... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273325/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-duplantis-world-record-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273325/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-duplantis-world-record-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 23:38:15 +0000 The chances are the 77,083 spectators inside the Stade de France could run newly crowned Olympic champion Noah Lyles quite close in terms of the reaction time, given the speed with which they left after the men’s 100m final on Sunday night. I might have spent a couple more minutes in the stands watching the moments after a United States sprinter finally won the coveted title again after 20 years before making my way to the exits, but there must have still been 20,000 people walking, or running,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273315/postcard-paris-stunning-show-speedy-final-and-even-quicker-exit-after-mens-100m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3273315/postcard-paris-stunning-show-speedy-final-and-even-quicker-exit-after-mens-100m?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 22:30:14 +0000 Leading Asian sprinter Shanti Pereira said her Olympic Games disappointment would not “define who I am and what I am capable of”. Singaporean Pereira ran 23.45 seconds, a long way off her personal best of 22.57, to finish last in her 200 metres repechage race on Monday. The 27-year-old, who was eliminated in round one of the 100m last week, said a fibula injury sustained in April left her needing to “bounce back from the bottom” to compete in Paris. Pereira vowed she would fight on until the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/asia/article/3273302/shanti-pereira-honoured-put-singapore-map-sad-after-olympics-blow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/asia/article/3273302/shanti-pereira-honoured-put-singapore-map-sad-after-olympics-blow?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 14:00:14 +0000 You can measure your life in Olympic cycles, or more specifically an Olympic event that entrances you every four years. The men’s 100 metres sprint, crowning the world’s fastest human, has that allure. While few readers will recall Jesse Owens winning in 1936 in real time, some will have caught Jim Hines (1968), and the likes of Carl Lewis (1984, 1988), Linford Christie (1992) and Usain Bolt (2008, 2012, 2016) remain vivid for many. Overnight, the race to join that list lived up to its billing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273179/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-lyles-pan-speed-gold-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3273179/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-lyles-pan-speed-gold-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Aug 2024 23:35:52 +0000 In the wake of a night forever etched in Asian history, Hong Kong and China fans can finally breathe a little, although if tennis is your thing then there is a storming men’s singles final to look forward to. But we doubt we are the only ones still recovering from Zheng Qinwen’s battering of Donna Vekic, so a bit of a snoozy Sunday ticks the boxes. And away from the latest instalment of the rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, today’s agenda is more of about enjoying the Olympic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/buzz/article/3273125/paris-olympics-novak-djokovic-noah-lyles-chase-gold-5-things-know-day-9?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/buzz/article/3273125/paris-olympics-novak-djokovic-noah-lyles-chase-gold-5-things-know-day-9?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Aug 2024 04:39:47 +0000 A highlight of day eight was always going to be Zheng Qinwen’s attempt to win China’s first Olympic gold in singles tennis. She managed it, beating Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday’s final in Paris around the time many people in her homeland’s time zone were hitting the hay. But what those back in China probably did not see or hear was her message later as she reflected on the achievement, which is where we shall start in recapping events overnight. Around the time Zheng spoke, there... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/china/article/3273117/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-zheng-gold-ledecky-history-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/china/article/3273117/while-you-were-sleeping-5-things-know-after-zheng-gold-ledecky-history-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2024 23:32:54 +0000 In absence of Asia’s speediest man Su Bingtian, Xie Zhenye will carry the torch for China’s sprinting aspirations in the Paris Olympics. Holder of the Asian 200-metre record, Xie is eyeing the 100m and 200-metre finals in Paris, in what could be his last Olympic Games. And as the backbone of China’s 4x100-metre relay squad, he will aim for a return to the podium after a Tokyo bronze. While Xie is a sprinter by trade, he is also a champion at overcoming mental hurdles. His journey has been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3270858/xie-zhenye-chinas-sprinting-hope-olympics-champion-overcoming-mental-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3270858/xie-zhenye-chinas-sprinting-hope-olympics-champion-overcoming-mental-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2024 05:00:11 +0000 Day eight of action in Paris is yet to begin, but China has already guaranteed itself silver and gold medals. And while the country seems to have medals at its disposal today, a whole array of Eiffel Tower scraps are up for grabs. While eyes on this part of the world will be transfixed to racquet sports, there’s a whole buffet of sports available in the French capital. So here’s five things you’ll want to keep your eyes on with all times noted in Hong Kong Time. Gold guaranteed This could go... https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3273068/paris-olympics-5-watch-day-8-imane-khelif-action-queen-wen-gunning-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3273068/paris-olympics-5-watch-day-8-imane-khelif-action-queen-wen-gunning-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2024 04:30:36 +0000 Shanti Pereira is one of the fastest women in Asia. Singapore’s “Sprint Queen” holds the city state’s national records for the 100 and 200 metres, at 11.20 and 22.57 seconds respectively, both set in 2023. Her six medals last year at various continental meets – including Singapore’s first athletics medals at the Asian Games in nearly five decades – catapulted her to household-name status. It was a phenomenal season, all the sweeter for coming after a rough patch lasting several years. Her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/profiles/article/3270857/paris-olympics-profile-who-shanti-pereira-singapores-sprint-queen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/profiles/article/3270857/paris-olympics-profile-who-shanti-pereira-singapores-sprint-queen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Aug 2024 02:00:21 +0000 Rapper Flavor Flav and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian teamed up to sponsor NCAA discus champion Veronica Fraley, who has struggled to pay rent despite qualifying for the Paris Olympics. A day before discus officially commences, Fraley took to X to voice a more dire concern than that of her Games debut. “I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent my school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything ) enough to buy new cars... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272946/reddit-editor-flavor-flav-sponsor-us-paris-olympic-athlete-unable-afford-rent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272946/reddit-editor-flavor-flav-sponsor-us-paris-olympic-athlete-unable-afford-rent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:30:17 +0000 It’s nearly time for the blue ribbon events of the Games. As track and field pushes off with the start of the month, 200 metres Asian record holder Xie Zhenye will lead the Chinese contingent, while Felix Diu Chun-hei will fly the flag for Hong Kong. The 48 events unfolding across the track and field in Paris give the Chinese a chance to surpass their six-medal haul from Tokyo. Athletes to watch Sha’Carri Richardson (United States) The 100m world champion will make her Olympic debut after a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272743/paris-olympics-track-and-field-schedule-key-dates-all-you-need-know-ahead-kick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272743/paris-olympics-track-and-field-schedule-key-dates-all-you-need-know-ahead-kick?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 05:00:15 +0000 For top athletes, the Olympics is not just about winning a gold medal, but also for testing the limits of human endeavours. The Games’ motto – “Faster, Higher, Stronger” – has inspired generations to compete with their peers to achieve the best results in human history. And at most events, athletes at the pinnacle are also aiming for the Olympic record and, above all, world record. With that in mind, here are some Olympic records likely to be challenged in Paris. Women’s 200m 21.34 seconds One... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272125/five-olympic-games-and-world-records-likely-be-challenged-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3272125/five-olympic-games-and-world-records-likely-be-challenged-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jul 2024 08:00:17 +0000 This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Download our app to get faster notifications and 14 days of unlimited access. The Paris Olympics has roared into life on an action-packed opening day, with Hong Kong’s own Vivian Kong Man-wai making history with another fencing gold. China has made its own golden start, in the mixed team 10m air pistol and women’s 3m synchronised springboard diving, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3272126/paris-olympics-day-1-global-stars-chase-gold-action-packed-start-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/hong-kong/article/3272126/paris-olympics-day-1-global-stars-chase-gold-action-packed-start-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jul 2024 06:32:42 +0000 The 2024 Olympics will take place in the City of Love. So it’s only natural to take time to appreciate the athletes fans are most likely to fall for. The Games are the height of athletic competition, which means everyone taking part is a monster in their field. But some are gods and goddesses off it and will draw as much attention for their looks as their sporting talent. So, as the Paris Games get under way, here are 10 hotties to keep your eyes on … Daria Bilodid Ukraine View this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272003/paris-olympic-games-10-hottest-athletes-men-and-women-who-are-good-they-look?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/aquatics/article/3272003/paris-olympic-games-10-hottest-athletes-men-and-women-who-are-good-they-look?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:00:11 +0000 While the Olympics are celebrated for their spirit of camaraderie and fair competition, they have also played host to some of the most contentious and dramatic incidents in sports history. From doping scandals to controversial rulings, these moments have left indelible marks on the legacy of the Olympics, revealing the complex web of human drama beneath the glittering facade of gold medals. As Paris gears up for the next thrilling chapter of this global spectacle, let’s revisit five of the most... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/gymnastics/article/3270752/olympic-games-controversies-drugs-cheats-match-fixing-and-questionable-gymnasts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/gymnastics/article/3270752/olympic-games-controversies-drugs-cheats-match-fixing-and-questionable-gymnasts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2024 03:00:10 +0000 Rarely has an Olympic 100 metres champion been so belittled or so maligned as Italy’s Marcell Jacobs. It is fair to say the Texas-born Italian stunned the field to snatch gold in the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games, in a European record of 9.80 seconds. He made it double gold just days later by helping Italy to victory in the 4x100m relay, again a result that left pundits shocked and opened up a Pandora’s box of questions. A former long jumper, Jacobs had vastly improved his 100m times that season... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3271664/paris-olympics-marcell-jacobs-italys-much-maligned-defending-100m-champion-back-form?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3271664/paris-olympics-marcell-jacobs-italys-much-maligned-defending-100m-champion-back-form?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:00:12 +0000 A fresh wave of global talent will shine under the City of Lights over the next two weeks. Athletes from across the world, and at different ends of their careers, will be making their Olympic debuts in Paris. Among those reaching a place inhabited by just 0.0001 per cent of the world’s population are NBA stars, a 58-year-old, children not yet old enough to watch a PG-13 film and more. The new faces cover a broad scope of experience, with seasoned professionals parading in the opening ceremony... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/china/article/3271657/nba-superstar-steph-curry-chinese-auntie-preteen-among-olympic-debutants-paris-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/china/article/3271657/nba-superstar-steph-curry-chinese-auntie-preteen-among-olympic-debutants-paris-games?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:15:10 +0000 The United States and China have finished in the top two spots in the medal table in four of the past five Olympics, but it was only in Beijing in 2008 where the hosts came out ahead. While that trend is expected to continue in Paris, China are projected to win as many as 34 golds, which could see them challenge the US’ position of dominance. The Nielsen’s Gracenote forecast, updated on Monday, has the US winning 39 golds. Should the predictions be accurate, the Americans would match their tally... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3271488/us-china-battle-olympic-gold-medal-dominance-pools-are-key-battlegrounds-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3271488/us-china-battle-olympic-gold-medal-dominance-pools-are-key-battlegrounds-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:15:08 +0000 The Olympics is where sporting miracles happen, and athletes break records once believed to be beyond reach. But those milestones not only rely on athletes’ talents and hard work, improving technology continues to bring new possibilities to modern sport world, pushing athletes ever greater feats. Visible at almost all elite training and sports events, wearable technology and high-speed motion analysis enables coaches to identify areas for improvement in real time. Here are some of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3271008/paris-olympics-tech-advances-helping-athletes-go-faster-higher-and-stronger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3271008/paris-olympics-tech-advances-helping-athletes-go-faster-higher-and-stronger?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2024 04:30:10 +0000 Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old sensation who is headed to the Olympics as part of the US 4x400 metres relay pool, made his case to compete in Paris with a sizzling 44.20 seconds at a meet in Gainesville, Florida. Wilson broke the under-18 world record, taking control before the final straight of the race on Friday local time, holding off reigning Olympic 4x400m relay gold medallist Bryce Deadmon, who finished second in 44.23. It was another impressive performance from Wilson, who finished sixth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3271245/paris-olympics-wilson-16-could-be-us-youngest-male-runner-games-after-latest-feat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/athletics/article/3271245/paris-olympics-wilson-16-could-be-us-youngest-male-runner-games-after-latest-feat?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jul 2024 08:59:09 +0000 American triathlon star Kirsten Kasper said a sparkling World Cup performance in “iconic” Hong Kong this year was the catalyst for achieving her lifelong Olympic dream. It required a Herculean effort for Kasper to reach the 2024 Games as she overcame serious adductor and hip injuries, and suffered selection near misses for the 2016 and 2020 Games. The fight for United States qualifying spots amounted to a mini-Olympics in itself, with Kasper eventually getting the nod over the Rio 2016 gold... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3270941/us-olympic-medal-hopeful-kirsten-kasper-hails-iconic-hong-kong-driving-paris-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3270941/us-olympic-medal-hopeful-kirsten-kasper-hails-iconic-hong-kong-driving-paris-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2024 10:30:11 +0000 The man behind a running company supporting athletes competing at the Paris Olympics wants to curb the advance of shoe technology, to preserve the integrity of elite sport. It is nearly five years since Eliud Kipchoge’s Nike-manufactured sub-two hour marathon in Vienna prompted a redrawing of athlete footwear regulations. Nico Mermoud, the co-founder of shoe brand Hoka, said athletics chiefs must “allow technology to evolve … knowing it might create a benefit”, but acknowledged human endeavour... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3270649/hoka-chief-wants-curb-advance-shoe-technology-sub-2-hour-marathon-chase-hots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3270649/hoka-chief-wants-curb-advance-shoe-technology-sub-2-hour-marathon-chase-hots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong sprinter Felix Diu Chun-hei will compete at the Paris Olympic Games – even though he did not get there by the standard route. With no Hong Kong athlete having attained direct qualification, World Athletics gave Diu one of the “universality” spots put aside for under-represented countries and which are designed to increase the diversity of nations in the Games’ various sports. The 24-year-old received confirmation only one day before he attended the delegation’s flag presentation... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3270471/paris-olympics-sprinter-felix-diu-aims-hong-kong-record-after-winning-unexpected-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3270471/paris-olympics-sprinter-felix-diu-aims-hong-kong-record-after-winning-unexpected-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:00:15 +0000 Afghan sprinter Kimia Yousofi is preparing to compete at her third Olympics after being selected for the Paris Games from her training base in Australia. Yousofi, Afghanistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Olympics in Tokyo, has been living in Australia since 2022. The Australian Olympic Committee on Tuesday congratulated Yousofi on her selection for the women’s 100-metre sprint. “It’s an honour to represent the girls of my homeland once again,” she said in a statement released by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3269733/paris-olympics-kimia-yousofi-represent-stolen-dreams-afghan-women-third-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3269733/paris-olympics-kimia-yousofi-represent-stolen-dreams-afghan-women-third-games?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 08:00:17 +0000 On a gloriously sunny Tuesday night training session at the Eindhoven athletics club, young hopefuls are put through their paces, dreaming of emulating their most famous member: double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan. It was on these tracks more than a decade ago that Hassan, a young asylum seeker from Ethiopia, embarked on a journey that would lead to history at the Tokyo Olympics and make her a top medal contender in Paris. “We immediately saw she was a talented athlete,” said Ad Peeters,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3269142/shy-ethiopian-refugee-double-dutch-olympic-champion-sifan-hassans-road-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3269142/shy-ethiopian-refugee-double-dutch-olympic-champion-sifan-hassans-road-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:30:17 +0000 Hong Kong sprinter Felix Diu Chun-hei is expected to become the newest member of the city’s Olympic delegation this week, thanks to a universality spot from World Athletics. Diu’s gain would come at the expense of long jumper Tiffany Yue Nga-yan, who has fallen down the world rankings in recent weeks, and is likely to be just below the 32nd spot when Olympic qualification closes on Sunday. The 100-metre specialist would become the third athlete from the city to benefit from the wild card entry,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3268601/paris-olympics-hong-kong-sprinter-felix-diu-make-final-cut-expense-tiffany-yue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3268601/paris-olympics-hong-kong-sprinter-felix-diu-make-final-cut-expense-tiffany-yue?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jun 2024 10:00:16 +0000 Jamaica’s two-time Olympic women’s 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah will not defend her titles at next month’s Paris Games after failing to recover from an Achilles injury, the sprint star said on Wednesday. Thompson-Herah, who completed the 100m-200m gold medal double at both the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, confirmed her decision after pulling out of this week’s Jamaican trials. “I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics this year but at the end of the day it’s sports and my... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3268197/jamaican-sprint-star-thompson-herah-devastated-after-injury-rules-her-out-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3268197/jamaican-sprint-star-thompson-herah-devastated-after-injury-rules-her-out-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jun 2024 01:59:37 +0000 Athletes on Tuvalu train on the airport runway in the absence of a running track, but the tiny Pacific nation will still manage to send a one-man sprint team to the Paris Olympics. Karalo Maibuca will jet across the world to race for Tuvalu in the men’s 100 metres at next month’s Games. The 25-year-old was flag-bearer three years ago in Tokyo, a role he will reprise in the French capital – he is his country’s sole representative. Tuvalu has a population of around 11,000 and is made up of a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267245/paris-olympics-tuvalu-nation-where-athletes-train-airport-runway-send-one-man-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267245/paris-olympics-tuvalu-nation-where-athletes-train-airport-runway-send-one-man-team?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:00:09 +0000 For generations of sprinters in the women’s 100 metres, 10.49 seconds is the world record they have been chasing since 1988. For Al Joyner, it is a time he sees everywhere he looks. Like the other day when he was contemplating putting a pair of his late wife Florence Griffith Joyner’s spikes up for auction and happened to glance at the clock. It read 10:49. “I think at those times she’s saying, ‘Hello, how are you doing? I’m still here’,” Joyner said. The aura and records of Griffith Joyner... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266195/sprinters-catching-flo-jos-100-200-metre-world-records-have-stood-1988?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266195/sprinters-catching-flo-jos-100-200-metre-world-records-have-stood-1988?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:14:22 +0000