Tokyo 2020 Olympics: athletics, basketball, GB’s 16th gold and more – live!

It has been a very good day for Australia, who are currently winning the battle for the top four in the medal table.

Your friend and mine, Gary Naylor, has been in touch about the toughest sports for commentators:

Hi Paul. Commentating on the Points Race in the velodrome can’t be easy – I’m not sure the competitors are entirely on top of what’s going on.

Congratulations to Australia, who have equalled their best ever performance at the Olympics with three days of competition still to come.

They’ve won 17 gold medals so far, the same as their total at the Athens Games in 2004. They’re now fourth on the medal table behind China (34 golds), USA (29 golds) and Japan (22 golds).

I’ll let you into a secret. I’m writing a big Olympics quiz, which we will publish early next week. One of the questions will be about the age difference between the youngest and oldest medallists at these Games. If you read this article by Martin Belam, you’ll probably get the answer right.

Want to contribute to my quiz? Send me an email with your best Tokyo 2020 trivia.

We were having a debate on the liveblog earlier this week about the toughest events at the Olympics. How about a slightly different question today: which event do you think would be the most difficult to commentate on?

I bring this up as I’m currently watching some Kata – one of the two types of karate at the Games – and it’s not easy to work out who is doing it well and who is doing it badly. They all look very impressive so I’m just going to assume they’re as incredible as each other.

Commentating on the swimming marathon must be tricky too. Not only because it’s hard to work out who is who in the water, but also because the swimmers are in the water for a long time without much changing. It has the drinks breaks to break up the action but, other than that, the commentator has to talk around the subject for extended periods. At one point during the women’s race the other night, one commentator segued into a discussion about his favourite sushi restaurants.

Have an opinion? Drop me an email at [email protected]

An exhausted, emotional and victorious Nafi Thiam has been describing how she feels after winning gold in the heptathlon.

I’m still in shock. it’s been two difficult years with a lot of up and downs and physical problems and in my head I wasn’t always in the right place. I’m happy, it’s paid off in the end and now I want to enjoy my holidays I think I need some time off. I’m just exhausted. I don’t really have the words right now.

Here’s a little trivia about Thiam: she studied geography at the University of Liège. This is what she said about her choice of subject: “I like climatology, I like geomorphology, I like a lot of subjects – like a heptathlon. Maybe that’s why I love it.”

The best photos at the Olympics today. The hockey one is my favourite.

Dallas Oberholzer is a 46-year-old Olympic skateboarder who previously worked as Janet Jackson’s chauffeur and was once nearly eaten by a jaguar in the Amazon. If that doesn’t suck you in, we’re done here.

Basketball: USA will play France in the final of the men’s basketball.

France have beaten Slovenia 90-89 to set up a final against USA on Saturday. They are now guaranteed at least a silver medal.

USA overcame Australia 97-78 earlier today, although it wasn’t as simple as it sounds. They were 15 points behind in the second quarter before storming back thanks to fine performances from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Slovenia will play Australia for a bronze medal on Saturday.

Our reporter Kieran Pender watched USA win earlier:

Holly Bradshaw – who has gone from beans to bronze – has been talking to the BBC about winning an Olympic medal in the pole vault.

This is what I’ve worked for my whole career. I’ve had so many ups and downs. It’s something that I’ve wanted so bad and it’s finally happened. It’s not sunk in. I don’t know what to say. I’m almost emotionless because I don’t know what emotion this is that I’m feeling. It’s relief, pure enjoyment and excitement. I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. I knew I could get there one day and I just can’t express how grateful I am to be involved in this sport and to finally get an Olympic medal, I can’t believe it.”

I absolutely love this line: “I’m almost emotionless because I don’t know what emotion this is that I’m feeling.” That sounds like a great song lyric.

Risako Kawai has won another gold for Japan!

Risako Kawai, the defending Olympic champion and three-time world champion, has beaten Iryna Kurachkina of Belarus 5-0 in the 57kg wrestling final. She becomes just the third female wrestler to have won multiple Olympic gold medals. Her sister, Yukako Kawai, won gold in the 62kg division yesterday.

Holly Bradshaw won an Olympic medal for her country today in Tokyo. A year ago she was training at home during lockdown with what looks like a tin of beans attached to a pole.

I don’t know who is laughing at the decathletes – not me – but Thomas Atkins – has emailed to defend them:

Everyone likes to laugh at the big lummoxes lumbering round the 1,500m at the end of the decathlon, but these people are running 1,500m at 3km/min pace (the max setting on most treadmills – a speed I can just about manage for about 30 seconds at a flat-out sprint) after having done nine other events to elite standard. It’s an absolutely astonishing piece of athleticism, endurance and sheer will.

I agree Thomas, 100%.

Damian Warner wins gold for Canada in the men’s decathlon!

That was brilliant from Damian Warner. Not only has he won gold but he has also set a new Olympic record and broken the 9,000-point barrier! 9,018 points!

This gold medal has been some time coming after winning bronze at the Olympics in Rio in 2016, as well as bronze (2013), silver (2015), and bronze (2019) in the World Championships.

In case you were hoping to see Katarina Johnson-Thompson on the podium in the heptathlon, she had to pull out of the event yesterday due to injury.

The full story as Holly Bradshaw brings home another medal for Team GB.

Women’s heptathlon: Nafissatou Thiam retains her gold medal!

Thiam has won gold for Belgium (6791 points), with Anouk Vetter (6689) and Emma Oosterwegel (6590) – both from the Netherlands – reaching the podium.

Noor Vidts (6571) missed out on a bronze medal by just 19 points. Argh. That’s gutting for the Belgian.

Athletics: We’ve also reached the last event of the women’s heptathlon. For the record, here are the seven disciplines.

100m hurdles
High jump
Shot put
200 metres
Long jump
Javelin
800 metres

With only the 800m to go, Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium is the lead.

Men’s decathlon: It looks as if Damian Warner will be winning gold in the decathlon. With nine of the 10 events gone, the Canadian has a handsome lead.

The last event – the 1,500m – is coming up in 15 minutes or so. In case you were wondering – I always forget during the Olympic cycle – the 10 events are…

100 metres
Long jump
Shot put
High jump
400 metres
110 metres hurdles
Discus
Pole vault
Javelin
1,500 metres

While we’ve been enjoying the men’s 400 metres, a few big events have been taking place elsewhere in Tokyo.

Beach volleyball: the first of the men’s semi-finals has begun at Shiokaze Park. Norway are a set up against Latvia. The second semi-final, between Qatar and ROC, will be coming up straight after as the teams compete for a place in the final on Saturday.

Handball: Spain and Denmark are currently competing for a place in the men’s handball final. Denmark have taken an early lead in that match. France beat Egypt 27-23 earlier in the other semi-final.

Indoor volleyball: the second semi-final in the men’s indoor volleyball has also begun. France are playing Argentina for the chance to face ROC in the final. They beat the favourites, Brazil, three sets to one in the other semi-final earlier today.

Wrestling: Kawai Risako of Japan and Iryna Kurachkina of Belarus are fighting it out for a gold medal in the 57kg women’s wrestling. The hosts will be hoping for another gold medal there.

It’s all go in Tokyo.

Men’s 400m: Here are the full results:

Steven Gardiner 43.85
Anthony José Zambrano 44.08
Kirani James 44.19
Michael Cherry 44.21
Michael Norman 44.31
Christopher Taylor 44.79
Isaac Makwala 44.94
Liemarvin Bonevacia 45.07

Just in case you were wondering, Wayde van Niekerk, who set a world record of 43.03 in the 400m final in Rio five years ago, was not in the final. He has struggled with a series of injuries since tearing his anterior cruciate knee ligament in 2017. He finished fourth in his semi-final, which wasn’t enough to reach today’s final.

Steven Gardiner, the reigning world champion, took gold. With Shaunae Miller-Uibo hoping to retain her women’s 400m title from Rio five years ago, the Bahamas could be on course for a spectacular double.

Kirani James had been the quickest semi-finalists with a very fast time of 43.88 – which would have been enough for a silver medal in the final – but he had to settle for bronze behind Anthony José Zambrano of Colombia.

The two Americans – Michael Cherry and Michael Norman – finished just outside of the medals.

Sayōnara everybody: After a fairly hectic few hours, it’s time for me to plunge myself into an ice bath. Thanks for your company and I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Paul Campbell, who tells me he is feeling very Olympic today.

Men’s hockey: Australia suffered shoot-out heartbreak in their gold medal match against Belgium at the Oi Stadium. Kieran Pender was there for the Guardian.

Athletics: Steven Gardiner adds the Olympic 400m gold to his world title. Michael Norman made all the early running for the USA but faded on the run-in to finish fifth. His compatriot Michael Cherry ran a personal best in fourth place.

Athletics: The man from the Bahamas looked in trouble in the home straight but pulled a little extra out of the bag to win in a time of 43.85sec.

Athletics: There’s barely a pause for breath as the competitors for the men’s 400m final are introduced and get on their marks.

Philippe speaks the truth. While Sidorova was preparing for her only attempt at 4.95m, Nageotte joined in the rhythmic clapping to help send her on her way up the runway.

Athletics: With two faults to her name from earlier rounds, Sidorova fails with her only attempt at 4.95m. She has to settle for silver, while AMerican Katie Nageotte wins the gold medal.

Athletics: Bradshaw will take the bronze. She’s failed with her third attempt at 4.90m but looks delighted with her day’s work. Sidorova and Nageotte will contest gold and silver with the bar raised to 4.95cm.

Athletics: Bradshaw fails to clear 4.90m with her second attempt. America’s Katie Nageotte clears it to vault into the lead. Holly Bradshaw has been demoted to bronze for the time being. ROC’s Anzhelika Sidorova is the other athlete in the medal mix.

Athletics: Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw is currently in second place in the women’s pole vault, while Greek reigning champion Katerina Stefanidi has just gone out. Bradshaw is guaranteed a medal … but what colour will it be? 4.90m is the height.

Jake Whetton misses his shot at redemption and the Autralians have been beaten. Belgium win the gold medal, Australia have to make do with silver. That was very exciting.

Jake Whetton gets to retake his penalty for an unintentional foul by Vincent Vanasch, who looks gutted.

Or do they? The European side beat their Antipodean rivals in the shoot-out … but what’s this? There’s some dispute over Australia’s final missed “penalty”. Did Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch foul Jake Whetton?

Men’s hockey: Belgium mniss with their thirtd attempt, with Aussie goalkeeper Andrew Charter pulling off a save. Australia fail to capitalise, with Joshua Simmons missing their fourth pen.

Men’s hockey: Belgium have the upper hand in the shootout against Australia, who missed with their first attempt. Belgium have scored their first two.

Skateboarding: A few minutes after he had finished skating in the Olympics, Dallas Oberholzer, 46, from Durban, South Africa, launched into a story about the time he was nearly eaten by a jaguar while he was travelling in the Amazon, writes Andy Bull. Read on … because you have to really after an opening paragraph like that.

Men’s hockey: It’s all square between Australia and Belgium at the full-time hooter. Having scored one goal apiece, the gold medal match will be decided by a shoot-out. Five players from each team will have eight seconds to score against the opposition goalkeeper from a starting position on the 23 metre line.