Matthew Hudson-Smith will try to become Britain’s first Olympic 400m champion in 100 years on Wednesday, while women’s golf star Nelly Korda begins her title defence.
Victory would represent a huge achievement for Hudson-Smith, who has been at a personal low after being isolated in the United States during the Covid pandemic and racking up huge medical bills as he recovers from a torn hamstring and Achilles.
The 29-year-old arrived in Paris in top form, clocking a blistering 43.74s – the fastest time in the world this year – at the London Diamond League last month.
Hudson-Smith qualified for the final by easing to victory in Tuesday’s semi-final.
However, one of his main threats is the man who beat him in the Commonwealth Games final, Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, an unpredictable runner who has looked good in the heats.
Also on the track, Moroccan hero Soufiane El Bakkali will defend his 3,000m steeplechase crown and look to become only the third Arab to win double Olympic gold.
“With all the experience I have, I know how to handle the pressure,” said the two-time world champion, who eased into the first-place heat.
The women’s pole vault and men’s discus medals will be decided in field events at the Stade de France.
World number one Korda begins her bid to become golf’s first two-time Olympic champion but will need to halt a recent slump in form.
The American became the first LPGA Tour player since 2013 to win six titles in a single season in a span of just seven tournaments earlier this year, but then suffered three consecutive cuts.
“The game of golf is a fun game,” Korda told reporters before the first round.
“Sometimes you feel on top of the world and within seconds you feel like you’re at the bottom of the sea.”
Japanese US Open champion Yuka Saso, two-time Olympic medalist Lydia Ko and home hope Celine Boutier are also among the medal favorites at Le Golf National.
In the boxing ring, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting is looking to follow in the footsteps of Imane Khelif, after the pair found themselves at the center of a gender controversy, in a gold medal clash.
Algerian Khelif, who defeated Thai Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals of the 66 kg division on Tuesday, is certain to win silver in Paris.
The International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif and Lin from last year’s world championships after they failed gender eligibility tests.
The IOC has cleared two experienced female boxers to compete and Lin will face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahramanova in the semi-finals of the women’s 57kg event in the first match of the night at Roland Garros.
Team pursuit gold is up for grabs in the velodrome, with new world record holders Australia taking on Great Britain in the men’s final, while New Zealand were the fastest qualifiers for the women’s first round.
The final day of skateboarding at the Place de la Concorde sees Britain’s Andrew Macdonald, 51, compete in the men’s park, a day after 14-year-old Arisa Trew of Australia won the women’s final. China will be hoping a late weightlifting gold rush is taking off to help its battle for the top of the medal table with the United States.
