Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred will target an Olympic sprint double on Tuesday as Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr face off in a 1500m grudge match that promises fireworks.
Boxing’s first gold is up for grabs at Roland Garros, the home of French tennis, but all eyes will be on Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who is at the center of a gender controversy.
Alfred, who won the women’s 100 on Saturday, is the first athlete from the tiny Caribbean island of Saint Lucia to win an Olympic medal.
She is now looking to emulate Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, who completed the 100-200m double at Rio 2016 and the Covid-postponed Tokyo Olympics.
Alfred won her semifinal Monday in 21.98 seconds, but was edged out in the overall time by American sprinter Gabrielle Thomas, who crossed the line in 21.86.
Jamaican world champion Shericka Jackson withdrew before the heat on Sunday.
Thomas, who is looking to upgrade from bronze in Tokyo, has the fastest time in the world this year at 21.78 seconds and has made no secret of her sights on a gold medal.
The clash at the Stade de France between Nor Ingebrigtsen and his British rival Kerr in the men’s 1500m will not be for the faint of heart.
Kerr, 26, finished second to Ingebrigtsen in Sunday’s semi-final, with the two facing off in the final 20 metres.
The Norwegian has had several jabs at Kerr since the Brit beat him in last year’s World Championship final, claiming he often misses events.
Kerr says he’s always at the big championships and predicted the final would be one of the “meanest and toughest” people have ever seen.
The British runner, who took bronze behind 23-year-old Ingebrigtsen in Tokyo, said he wanted to talk on the track.
“I’m ready to go after it, I think we all are, there’s been a lot of talk over the last 12 months, two years even, so I’m just trying to settle it a bit on Tuesday and give it my best performance.”
A certain Algerian boxer Khelif, who will face Thai Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals of the division under 66 kilograms, has at least a bronze medal in Paris.
Khelif and another boxer, Taiwanese Lin Yu-ting, were disqualified from last year’s world championships by the International Boxing Association after failing gender eligibility tests.
Boxing in the French capital is governed by the International Olympic Committee due to the financial, administrative and ethical interests of the IBA.
The IOC has cleared both boxers to fight and Lin is also guaranteed a medal.
In the women’s soccer competition, World Cup holders Spain and four-time gold medalists the United States are on course for a showdown in Saturday’s final.
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s Spain face surprise semi-finalists Brazil in Marseille, while a rejuvenated USA under new coach Emma Hayes face Germany in Lyon.
“We’re so confident going into the games. That comes from Emma. She has a lot of faith in us,” forward Sophia Smith said when asked about the influence of the new coach.
Britain’s track cycling powerhouse won the first gold on offer in the women’s team sprint on Monday and will be aiming for a double in the men’s competition.
China’s dominant divers are chasing a fifth gold in the women’s 10m as they look to sweep the competition. China leads the medal table with 21 golds, one ahead of the United States.
