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Paris 2024 Olympics day 11: USA’s Thomas wins 200m gold, Hocker stuns in 1500m, GB’s Richardson loses boxing semi-final – as it happened

Cole Hocker stunned Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win the men’s 800m, while Gabby Thomas took the women’s 200m and Winfred Yavi the women’s 3000m

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Wed 7 Aug 2024 00.11 CESTFirst published on Tue 6 Aug 2024 05.59 CEST
Gabby Thomas celebrates after winning the women’s 200m final.
Gabby Thomas celebrates after winning the women’s 200m final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Gabby Thomas celebrates after winning the women’s 200m final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

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That, then is us. Thanks again for your company, and we’ll be back with you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Peace out.

And of course that thing that’s always coming but never arrives will soon be upon us – or not. Either way, just seven-and-a-half hours from now, the marathon race walk mixed relay gets going. Then there’s the women’s golf, a bunch of taekwondo, canoeing, climbing, and such, with the women’s 100m hurdles and men’s 5000m heats also going down – among other things.

The men’s 800m heats, for example, and the women’s speed cycling final. Actually, there’s loads of cycling in various guises, including the team pursuit final at 5.33pm BST – GB are in that one. And the big track and field finals in the evening are the women’s pole vault, the men’s discus, the men’s 400m – feat. Matthew Hudson-Smith of GB, the fastest man in the world this year – and the men’s 3000m steeplechase.

And so, so much more.

So I guess that’s another lifetime in the books. Cole Hocker of USA, not Josh Kerr of GB or Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, won the men’s 1500m in a terrific race; Winfred Yavi of Bahrain set a new Olympic record winning the women’s 3000m steeplechase; Gabby Thomas of USA took the women’s 200m; Kellie Harrington Ireland retained her women’s lightweight boxing title; and Brazil will play USA in the final of the women’s football. I hate to keep going on, but it’s been wondrous, again.

Who doesn’t love a good celebration? And this is a belter. Harrington had a tricky childhood, discovered boxing, and now look. She is the happiest person in the world right now.

Harrington is tearful and she’s overcome, praying, laughing, crying. “Feel the magic in the air” pumps out of the PA and Harrington can feel it alright, dancing, skipping and jumping. This is beautiful to behold.

Kellie Harrington of Ireland beats Yang Wenlu of China in the women's 60kg boxing final to win gold!

For the second Olympics in a row! History! What an absurd achievement!

Kellie Harrington is jubilant after winning gold! Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
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“Kellie, Kellie, Kellie!” chant the crowd. She could ride this out, and she takes some shots looking to stick and move, but with 30 seconds to go, Kellie Harrington looks certain to retain her Olympic title!

Harrington takes the round on all but one of the cards, but Yang’s come out quickly at the start of round two. Harrington, though, lands a body-shot, but then wears a couple. She smiles and, as the cliche goes, that’s a sure sign she felt it. Oh, and then Harrington turns Yang’s chin with an overhand right! That might be the best punch of the fight and she again wins on the cards. Yang needs astoppage to win.

Yang lands a good right, then a hook to the body, and it’s more even now as we near the end of round one, but Harrington finishes with a lovely backhand and I reckon she'll be in front with the judges.

We’ve brought you so much Lympics today that my page is barely running, so please bear with me. But as the crowd cheer her on, Harrington lands a smart overhand, and is shading the exchanges.

It’s Kellie Harrington time! The defending champ is about to get going against Yang Wenlu and the arena are behind her. Here we go!

Some football housekeeping: the men’s bronze-medal match between Egypt and Morocco will be on Thursday at 4pm BST; Germany meet Spain in the women’s equivalent at 4pm on Friday. The men’s final, France v Spain, and women’s final, USA v Brazil, are 6pm Friday and 4pm Saturday respectively.

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Liu of China has beaten Chen of Taipai and will meet Khelif in the final of the women’s 66kg boxing.

USA have beaten Brazil 122-87 in the quarter-finals of the men’s basketball. They meet Serbia next – don’t miss that – while France meet Germany in the other semi.

“Watching in Spain,” writes Cameron Abbey, “they look out on their feet and have done all game. Mentally and physically exhausted, they basically haven’t stopped in any sense since winning the World Cup, and carrying a ton of pressure on top of all that. They just didn’t have anything left to give, and it showed.”

Yup, I’m, sure that’s part of it. The schedule is nuts, the expectation is huge, and their opponents might never play that well again – that’s what it takes to beat them. They remain brilliant.

Brazil beat Spain 4-2 and will play USA in the final of the women's football

I don’t know when Spain last lost, but it was a long time ago. Brazil, though, were almost perfect tonight, and if they play like that again, they can beat USA – who weren’t great against Germany.

Priscila of Brazil celebrates the victory over Spain in their semi-final. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
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USA now lead Brazil 119-85 in the men’s basketball; we’ve 0.43 left. Meantime, Paralluelo has just missed a chance for her hat-trick, sliding in and missing contact by a fraction. This is almost over, and taking a corner – which comes to nowt – Bonmati looks tearful. She’ll not have expected this.

Paralluelo scores her second, Spain making first contact with a corner, a header at the back of the box allowing her to shoot, and though her first effort is blocked, the rebound falls kindly and she punches home a livener from close range. We’ve got a minimum of three minutes of added time left, and it’s Brazil 4-2 Spain.

That second 66kg semi is up next, and after it a late-night treat: Wenlu Yang of China takes on Kellie Harrington of Ireland in final of the women’s 60kg lightweight division.

Imane Khelif of Algeria beats Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand to reach the final of the women's 66kg boxing

She was far too good, and doesn’t she enjoy the moment! She;’s guaranteed at least a silver and faces either Nien Chin Chen of Taipei of Liu Yang of China for gold.

Imane Khelif of Algeria celebrates after winning her fight against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
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Khelif and Suwannapheng are now deep into the third, and a barrage from the Algerian leaves her opponent facing a standing count. This is over, failing a knockout, and the crowd, full of Algerians, go wild – wilder – at the final bell.

If Coll was raging then, she’ll be incandescing now! She’s just been megged by Kerolin, who charges down a clearance, runs through, steadies, and slots. Brazil lead Spain 4-1 and though there’ll be 15 minutes added on, this is surely over! The Spain keeper has had better nights.

Brazil almost make it 4-1, then there’s a minor row between Coll and Gabi Porthilo in the discussions which follow after the latter obstructs the former trying to start a counter.

Ah, telly give the goal to Salma Paralluelo … and then Putellas hits the bar! Otherwise, it’s tight in the boxing, Khelif – with the arena well behind her – having the better of round one, taking it on all the cards.

Back to the basketball, USA now lead Brazil 91-64 in the third. But we’re back to the boxing, where Khelif will take on Janjaem Suwannapheng in the women’s 66kg semis.

We did Josh Kerr’s Eurosport interview but were then overtaken with amazing athletics, so let’s catch up with his BBC edition. He stated his goal but he can’t be disappointed. He controlled his controllables, ran the best physical and tactical 1500m of his life, and if you spend your life worrying about what everyone else does, you’ll never be satisfied. Not unlike Alexander Hamilton in that regard.

He’s still working towards the gold – he’s improved from bronze to silver – at 26, he’s still got time, and he wants it even more now.

There’s always 2028. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
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“I realise that nothing unsettles a team like going down early to a ridiculous own goal,” emails Kári Tulinius, “but Spain have looked distinctively second best. I honestly can’t remember a Brazil team that’s looked this cohesive and fluid. If it weren’t for the weight of history behind the US, I’d say that Brazil will go into the final as favourites.”

I’d not say that at this point because they’ve only played like this once. It is, though, great news if we’ve another brilliant team to entertain us, and especially great news if that team is Brazil.

It can’t be the occasion because they’re world champs, but on the other hand the Olympics are special. I guess it might be complacency, or that their high line isn’t helpful to defenders not the sharpest on the turn; or maybe Brazil have just been fantastic.

As you might imagine, I’ve not been able to keep eyes on this game in the way I’d like, but from what I’ve seen Brazil have been by far the better side and our commentators just suggested they could easily be four or five up. What on earth has happened the mighty Spain?

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Oh my goodness gracious me! Priscila leads a counter, times her pass perfectly and Adrian must score! But she punches her shot against the bar! But Gabi Porthilo nods back across and she gratefully dives to head home! Brazil lead 3-0 and there are now 18 minutes to go!

Now 22 to go in the women’s football semi and it’s still Brazil 2-0 Spain. And this is a massive shock – Spain are world champs and have so many of the world’s best players – but they did look vulnerable, especially in behind, in the group stages, and conceding early in the way that did must’ve took a major mental toll.

A palindromic score at the half – get me and my US sporting lingo – in the men’s basketball quarter, USA 63-36 Brazil.

In the second women’s football semi, it’s still Brazil 2-0 Spain, 55 and change gone.

In 15 or so minutes, Imane Khelif will fight in the semis of the women’s 66kg divison. Those of you familiar with my noise will know I’m not short of an opinion and rest assured, I’ve got one on this. But in this blog, we’ll just report the sport.

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Back to the athletics, Asher-Smith is proud of her performance, which is nice to here after her 100m disappointment. She’s really happy for Julien Alfred, she says, who she really likes and has enjoyed seeing her improve.

She was told to go out like mad – “If you die, you die” – so she did, and she doesn’t get that instruction often, the last time being the worlds when she took bonrze, so enjoyed herself having a go at it.

…and Verde takes it! All the judges gave him round three, so Richardson, in front after two, must content himself with bronze; it’s his, he doesn’t have to fight for it.

Marco Verde wins it! Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
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There’s been a bit going on, so please forgive my tardiness in marvelling at Mijaín López Núñez, who this evening won gold in the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling, thrashing Yasmani Acosta of Chile 6-0. Very nice, I hear you say – well, he’s now the only person ever to win five consecutive Olympic titles in the same event. Effort.

I say that, but Richardson takes round two on four of the cards and now leads! This final stanza, if we’re to elegantly variate, should be a jazzer.

Verde is the better fighter as we near the end of the second – he’s got a really canny grasp of distance and Richardson is being told to let his hands go.

Lewis Richardson goes on the front foot. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
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In the men’s basketball, USA now lead Brazil 40-21 with 7.53 to go in the second. I think they might be OK.

Time for a ruckus! In the men’s welterweight boxing, Lewis Richardson of GB has just got going in his semi-final against Marco Verde of Mexico.

Goodness me! Gabi Portilho has just put Brazil 2-0 up on Spain! Spain rinsed them by the same score in the group – and it could’ve been many more. But now look! Montse Tomé has a lot of work to do at half-time, which it now is.

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Neita says she gave everything and didn’t let herself down at all – she was so close to a medal in both 100m and 200m, and though she puts a brave face on it, it’s not hard to detect her iontesne disappointment.

Thomas has been the best 20m runner in the world this year and found a fine run when she really needed one. When people consult the record books, no one will see the missing names – though it’s a shame for them and us that they weren’t with us.

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