![French star Marchand eyes more Olympic gold after triathlon thriller](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/2d/94/52/French-star-Marchand-eyes-more-Olym-227410.jpg)
-
Philippines arrests pastor wanted by US for child sex trafficking
-
Soccer great Morgan bids farewell in final match
-
Drugs test row 'still on my mind' says US Open champion Sinner
-
Paris Paralympics close with a party after 'historic summer'
-
Dolphins ace Hill baffled by 'crazy' police arrest
-
'I let lot of people down', says Fritz after US Open final loss
-
Vatican thriller 'Conclave' drums up Oscars buzz in Toronto
-
More civilians killed hours after Sudan rejects UN experts' report
-
Ronaldo strikes late to seal Portugal win over Scotland
-
Drought sinks longest Polish river to record-low level
-
East Timor prepares for first papal visit since independence
-
Tearful Sinner dedicates US Open title to seriously ill aunt
-
Three things on US Open champion Jannik Sinner
-
Ten-man Spain sink Switzerland in 4-1 romp
-
Hill sparks Dolphins comeback in wild NFL opening day
-
Sinner sweeps to US Open title for second Grand Slam triumph
-
Smith heroics for England remind Collingwood of Gilchrist
-
Thousands protest Mexican judicial reform
-
Nissanka leaves Sri Lanka in sight of third Test win over England
-
Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
-
Thousands defy roadblocks in rally for Pakistan ex-PM Khan
-
Roglic wins record-equalling fourth Vuelta
-
Russia advances in east Ukraine, launches deadly air strikes
-
Cowboys quarterback Prescott agrees record $240 mln extension
-
Swiss double in Paralympic wheelchair marathons, Dutch women retain basketball title
-
New 'Beetlejuice' creeps its way to top of N.America box office
-
South Africa captain Kolisi leaves Racing 92: French Top 14 club
-
Funeral for slain athlete Cheptegei in Uganda on Sept 14
-
Dolphins star Hill arrested on way to season-opener
-
Smith hits back after England collapse against Sri Lanka
-
Weather delays final regattas in Louis Vuitton Cup
-
Venezuela's Gonzalez Urrutia: from placeholder to opposition pointman
-
Marquez thanks rain for San Marino MotoGP win as leader Martin pays for gamble
-
Boeing, union reach preliminary deal to avert Seattle-area strike
-
Neuville wins Acropolis Rally to close in on world title
-
Venezuela's opposition figure fled to Spain to save 'his life'
-
Trump, Harris tied on eve of televised presidential debate
-
Paris Paralympics the greatest ever, say former Olympics executives
-
Pope exit revives Sri Lanka's hopes in third Test against England
-
Gunman kills 3 Israelis at West Bank crossing as Gaza war rages
-
Marquez wins San Marino MotoGP as leader Martin pays for rain gamble
-
Greece to hike fee for cruise passengers to Mykonos and Santorini
-
Carsley's 'refreshing' England overhaul launches new era
-
Swiss double in wheelchair marathons on final day of Paralympics
-
France's Le Pen urges Macron to hold referendum to break deadlock
-
Typhoon Yagi weakens, toll rises to 14 in Vietnam
-
India's Randhir Singh elected Asian Olympic chief
-
Under pressure, UN winds down 'unique' Iraq probe into IS crimes
-
'Proud' athletics great Weir calls time on marathon Paralympic career
-
'Brave' Afghanistan can beat anyone, says skipper ahead of NZ Test
![French star Marchand eyes more Olympic gold after triathlon thriller](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/2d/94/52/French-star-Marchand-eyes-more-Olym-227410.jpg)
French star Marchand eyes more Olympic gold after triathlon thriller
French star Leon Marchand is targeting more gold in the Olympic swimming pool on Wednesday as the off-on saga swirling around triathlon ended with the event finally going ahead on an action-packed day five of the Games.
Marchand, who is rapidly emerging as one of the faces of the Olympics after a dazzling victory in the 400m medley on Sunday, aims to add to his tally in the 200m butterfly and breaststroke finals at La Defense Arena.
The 22-year-old's quest for more gold promises to be one of the highlights of Wednesday's swimming finals, which will see US great Katie Ledecky, a seven-time gold medallist, aiming to defend her 1500m freestyle crown.
Chinese world record-holder Pan Zhanle is favourite in the men's 100m freestyle final, while Australia's 200m freestyle champion Mollie O'Callaghan will be expected to triumph in the women's 100m free as the battle for swimming medals reaches the halfway stage.
Marchand will be aiming to add to a French gold medal tally which improved to six after Cassandre Beaugrand's superb victory in the women's triathlon earlier Wednesday.
Hazardous pollution levels in the River Seine in recent days had threatened to cause chaos to the triathlon competition and embarrassment to Paris Games chiefs.
- Triathlon duel -
Organisers were forced to cancel training this week in the river and postponed the men's race on Tuesday after the Seine was found to be too dirty for athletes following rainstorms last week.
But despite heavy rain overnight -- which can cause pollution levels to spike -- the women's field dived into the Seine at the historic Alexandre III bridge in the heart of the City of Light before a cycling stage and then a running stage, as big crowds lined the route.
Beaugrand, 27, emerged from the leading pack on the final lap of the running stage before crossing the line and sinking to her knees in elation.
She said she had "never doubted" that the swimming would go ahead, despite the threat of cancellation, which would have turned the race into a duathlon of only cycling and running.
"It would have been shameful for our sport... it would have been a disgrace," she told reporters after victory.
In the delayed men's triathlon, Britain's Alex Yee surged past New Zealand's Hayden Wilde in the final stretch in a dramatic finish to improve on his silver from the Tokyo Games.
In other action on day five, China's table tennis world number one Wang Chuqin suffered a shock defeat, a day after having his bat broken.
Wang won mixed doubles gold on Tuesday but his elation turned to anger after a photographer accidentally snapped his bat while jostling to take a picture.
Less than 24 hours later, Wang went out in the singles after a 4-2 defeat to Truls Moregard of Sweden.
- China chase diving sweep -
China meanwhile ramped up their bid for a clean sweep in diving, prevailing in the women's synchronised 10m platform ahead of North Korea and Britain.
China have won all three golds in the sport in Paris so far.
In men's basketball, LeBron James and his USA teammates have their sights set on the last eight as they face Olympic newcomers South Sudan.
Kevin Durant's return from injury inspired the Americans to a rout of Nikola Jokic's Serbia in their opening game, an ideal start for the reigning champions who are eyeing a fifth straight Olympic crown.
In gymnastics, Japanese gymnast Daiki Hashimoto bids for repeat gold in the men's all-around final, where he is expected to face a ferocious fight from China's Zhang Boheng.
If Hashimoto delivers, he would emulate countryman Kohei Uchimura by retaining all-around gold, and keep it in Japanese hands for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Games.
Meanwhile on the famous red clay of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz remained on course for a blockbuster tennis showdown after advancing to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic gold to add to his record-breaking collection of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, defeated Germany's Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3, while Spain's Alcaraz swatted aside Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-2.
In women's football, title-holders Canada must beat Colombia if they are to advance to the quarter-finals following a six-point deduction over a spying scandal.
O.Gaspar--PC