And that, believe it or not, is that. I’m the last one here and it’s time to turn off the lights. We’ve not quite managed to catch the sun but we’ve given it a good chase and it is time to bring our rolling live coverage to an end, or rather, put it under the stairs for the next four years.
All that’s left to say is a big thank you for reading and commenting below the line. And if you still cannot quite admit to yourselves that it’s the end do join Tom Lutz for his (no doubt hilarious) coverage of the closing ceremony here.
It’s been a blast.
Three in a row for the USA (UK eyes only)!
And on the topic of Farah, arise Sir Mo?
Is Mo Farah the greatest British Olympian of all time? If his double double becomes a treble double he’d be hard to argue against but the man himself is unsure if he’ll be going to Tokyo 2020. Sean Ingle has more …
Just the 30 points for Kevin Durant in the end … here’s the match report on the USA’s crushing basketball final win over Serbia.
The US Olympic men’s basketball team won their third straight gold medal and did it easily, beating Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.
After a few close calls earlier in the tournament, this was no contest. Kevin Durant scored 30 points and helped the Americans jump out to a huge lead by half-time.
It was the final game with the national team for Mike Krzyzewski, who took the Americans back to the top and leaves with them there after becoming the first coach to win three Olympic gold medals.
Carmelo Anthony also picked up his third gold to go with a bronze, becoming the most decorated male in Olympic basketball history.
The US beat Serbia by just 94-91 in pool play, holding on when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a three-pointer at buzzer. This rematch looked nothing like that meeting, but it did resemble the final of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, which the Americans won 129-92.
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That’s a wrap, says Barney Ronay, in a lot more detail and with a lot more words.
Great Britain’s self-satisfaction at finishing second in the medals table is in no small part down to the fact that results and performances did not fall off a cliff having recently hosted the Games. Or in short, that they did not suffer like Australia have done and, if you read this, continue to.
As expected, the USA have coasted to men’s basketball gold that means all sporting competition at the Rio 2016 Olympics has finished and the curtain will come down on the Games in just a couple of short hours when the closing ceremony begins. While we wait I would highly recommend having a watch of this …
Here’s some reaction from a clearly disappointed Joe Joyce – as well as some words of encouragement from Anthony Joshua, who won the super heavyweight gold medal four years ago.
A reminder that the USA are closing in on the final gold medal of these Olympics. It would be No46 for them, which would equal their tally from four years ago.
Great Britain may have won gold medals in more sports than any other nation in Rio, but they didn’t enter the football competition. Is that going to change in Tokyo? Owen Gibson has the latest.
Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s report on Great Britain’s 67th and final medal of these Games.
David Wall has sent an email in response to Hubert …
I’m not sure I would disagree with any of Hubert’s picks (and it’s nice to see the recognition of the Beeb’s coverage, it often seems a knee-jerk reaction to criticise them whatever they do (and usually without justification)), but I was especially pleased that Cavendish finally got an Olympic medal.
And as for the moment that was most breath-taking, I’d pick Simone Biles’s floor routine, in particular that tumble she does where she flips holding a pose like Ironman in flight to what seems like four times her height. And then she just bounces on her feet and carries on dancing with total nonchalance. No matter how many times you see it you can’t help bursting into a grin at seeing something that shouldn’t really be possible.
Oh, and a special mention for pundit-of-the games, Michael Johnson, and in particular that clip of him watching the finish of the Women’s 400m.
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It’s not easy to disagree with Hubert … but I’m going to encourage everyone to so anyway.
Here’s a video of Joe Joyce’s silver medal (for UK eyes only I’m afraid).
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Kyle Snyder has become the youngest ever American to win wrestling gold at the Olympics. Snyder is just 20 but took out the experienced Khetag Goziumov from Azerbaijan, who is 13 years his senior. Goziumov had won bronze at the last two Olympics. The signs were there early for Snyder – he won all 179 of his matches at high school, and is the current world champion at 97kg.
USA are looking good to claim the last gold medal – you can follow the men’s basketball final here – but if not, their most recent was pretty special. Bryan Armen Graham has more …
Claressa Shields beat distractions, nerves and a top-flight opponent to become the first American boxer to capture back-to-back gold medals and cap the US boxing team’s most prolific Olympics in nearly a generation.
The American middleweight lived up to her world No1 ranking in the 75kg division with a unanimous-decision win over second-seeded Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands before a lively crowd at Riocentro. Ringside judges Fathi Madfoua of France and Natalya Tsoy of Kazakhstan handed in cards of 39-37, while China’s Meng Wang scored it a 40-36 shutout.
After the result was announced Shields dropped to one knee in joy then turned a cartwheel before climbing out of the ring and lapping it full sprint with an American flag in tow, the latest peak in a four-year run at the summit of women’s boxing.
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Here’s more on one of the best feel-good stories of the Games to have a read as we tick down to the main event … the closing ceremony!
As they began, so they ended. And while the assembled British media and a good share of the near-capacity crowd railed in indignation at the split decision against Joe Joyce in the final event of the whole Games, the Londoner took it calmly and with just a hint of a raised eye-brow.
Tony Yoka, the Frenchman who beforehand called Joyce a “robot” whom he reckoned was “scared” of him, got gold, a few bruised ribs and the nod from two of the three judges.
Did he think it fitted the pattern of some controversial decisions over the fortnight? He paused, smiled and said, “Possibly”. He is not a man easily brought to anger, but he was done a mighty disservice here on Sunday afternoon.
There’s a fair bit of outrage from viewers over the Joyce v Yoka result. Yoka’s style clearly made more of an impression on the judges but there was, the cynics would perhaps say, an inevitability over the outcome. It was close though, could have gone either way.
The long and short of that is that there is only one more gold medal to be decided. It’s going to go to either Serbia or the USA in the men’s basketball final and you can follow that here.
And here’s even more on the Mongolian wrestling coaches.
Gold for France! Silver for Great Britain!
Joyce is awarded the third round, 2-1, but Yoka takes it on a split decision adding Olympic gold to his world title. Great Britain’s 67th and final medal is silver – just as it was in London. Joyce is hugely disappointed, Yoka elated as he celebrates with Estelle Mossely, his fiancee and the lightweight champion.
Anthony Joshua, the 2012 super heavyweight champion, does not agree with the decision. On BBC duty he says “for me, he’s Olympic champion.”
A disappointed Joyce asks John Inverdale what he thought of the verdict … Inverdale deflects with the skill of a boxing champ.
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Joyce is looking for the big shot. He’s making an impression but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be enough. Not enough are getting through Yoka’s defences, or not in the eyes of the judges anyway. And that’s that … Yoka has effectively won, but we’ll wait for the official decision.
Joyce continues as the aggressor at the start of the second round, throwing a lot of punches and maintaining a high tempo. Yoka again comes back at him and all three judges go with Yoka. Work to do then for Joyce, a lot of work …
The bell goes and we’re under way between Joyce and Yoka, the current world champion. Joyce begins on the front foot, targeting the body. Joyce is making inroads, Yoka doesn’t look particularly solid on his feet but he lands a right hand just before the bell. Yoka gets the round according to two judges, one plumps for Joyce.
Here’s more on the thrilling bronze medal match in the basketball between Australia and Spain earlier …
Gold for Denmark!
It’s not to be for France, there will be no third consecutive gold medal in the men’s handball. Denmark got their noses ahead and stayed there, running out 28-26 victors.
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Gold for Uzbekistan!
Gaibnazarov is awarded the light welterweight gold medal match against Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo on a split decision. Joyce v Yoka up next.
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Just a couple of minutes to go in the men’s handball final and Denmark have just scored to move 27-25 ahead.
Associated Press has the latest on the Mongolian coaches’ protest …
Two Mongolian wrestling coaches have taken off their clothing, one all the way down his underwear, to protest the result of a bronze medal match. Uzbekistan’s Ikhtiyor Navruzov appeared to have lost to Mandakhnaran Ganzorig 7-6 at 65 kilograms on Sunday. Uzbekistan challenged the scoring, likely because the Mongolian began running around in celebration with less than 10 seconds left rather than engaging with Navruzov.
Navruzov won his challenge and the match on criteria as the last wrestler to score. Ganzorig, who had already started celebrating, fell to his knees in disappointment. The Mongolian coaches went much further than that. Byambarenchin Bayoraa took his shoes and shirt off and threw them to the mat in disgust in front of the officials. Tsenrenbataar Tsostbayar stripped all the way down to his blue briefs. The Brazilian crowd started chanting “Mongolia! Mongolia!”
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Overwhelming emotion at the climax to Brazil’s gold-medal volleyball match against Ital. It’s a tactile sport anyway – the players group-hug after every point, and since there are 25 per set, I reckon that’s more hug-to-action ratio than any other sport. And here were two of the most demonstrative nations on earth, who also happen to the two volleyball superpowers. After Italy’s net fault challenge on matchpoint had been overruled, the Brazil players dissolved, to a man, into tears. Bruno and Sergio knelt on the ground, locked eyes and held each other’s heads in their hands like Monica and Chandler in The One Where They Got Engaged. Everywhere were 7ft men crying into each other’s shoulders (since their team-mates are the only people tall enough to do this with, so there’s probably a lot of pent-up stuff that they have to get out).
We’re running a little late in the boxing arena so Joe Joyce against Tony Yoka is going to be a little delayed. It’s the men’s light welterweight final first. Fazliddin Gaibnazarov against Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo, the nephew of Javier Sotomayor, the high jump legend.
It’s still extremely close in the men’s handball final – Denmark lead 20-19 after 11 minutes of the second half. This is an excellent game, and indeed an excellent sport. Ridiculous save from Denmark’s goalkeeper keeps them ahead by one.
Neymar is in the crowd – he’s not really keeping it together. That’s gold medal No7 for the hosts. And a second in volleyball after taking home the men’s beach title.
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Gold for Brazil!
Brazil have had a first match point in the men’s volleyball final but Italy level at 24-24. They’ll have another … and they’ve won it. Brazil are the Olympic champions for the first time since 2004. And the place has gone absolutely wild!
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Just to bring you up to speed – Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan has been crowned men’s flyweight champion after defeating Russia’s Misha Aloian in the final. Not long now until Joe Joyce takes on Tony Yoka in the men’s super-heavyweight final.
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More on the news that Kate Richardson-Walsh has been chosen as Great Britain’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony …
More info on the Mongolian coach – and considerably less sympathy.
Which meant his opponent gained a point and resulted in a nudie coach meltdown scenario pic.twitter.com/Aa27yrAqoC
— Hilary Evans (@OlympicStatman) August 21, 2016
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It’s half-time in the men’s handball final where Denmark currently lead France 16-14. Meanwhile, in the men’s volleyball final, Brazil are closing in on gold, two sets to the good, but Italy have carved themselves an 18-15 lead in the third set.
A bit more pictorial evidence of the Mongolian coaches who expressed their anger in the wrestling hall by removing their clothes (of course).
Richardson-Walsh will follow in the footsteps of Ben Ainslie, who had the honour four years ago, and she’s the first female flagbearer for Great Britain at a closing ceremony since Kelly Holmes did so in 2004.
And here’s a bit of breaking news for those of you who like closing ceremonies. Kate Richardson-Walsh, a four-times Olympian and the captain of Great Britain’s gold medal winning hockey team, will carry Great Britain’s flag.
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It appears that the coach of Mongolia’s Mandakhnaran Ganzorig has been incensed by something and has whipped off his clothes to demonstrate his fury. Ganzorig has just lost his bronze medal match by a single point so it’s probably a safe bet that had something to do with it.
Things appear to be kicking off at the wrestling arena …
Absolute insanity here at Carioca Arena 2 where the coaches for Mongolia's Mandakhnaran... https://t.co/GickPbxoRC pic.twitter.com/yep2k1a5iz
— Wayne Drehs (@espnWD) August 21, 2016
Time for another email … this time from Kari Tulinius.
France and Denmark is a rematch of 2008’s handball final. Not the same teams, but the coach of the Danish national handball team, Guðmundur Guðmundsson, coached his native Iceland to the Olympics final in Beijing, where his side was comprehensively outplayed by the classy French. France have been coached by Claude Onesta since 2001, and have been utterly dominant in a way that is rare to see in a team sport. Both coaches are among the best that handball has ever seen. If nothing else it should be an interesting tactical battle.
Thanks Kari. France are currently 13-12 up after 25 minutes.
And eventually Brazil, despite giving up a set point, have taken a 2-0 lead against Italy in the men’s volleyball final, claiming the second set 28-26. Insurmountable? Well Brazil led 2-0 at London 2012 and ended up losing to Russia but will lightning strike twice?
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Nerve-jangling stuff in the men’s volleyball final – it’s 24-24 in the second set. Time for a, erm, time out.
We’re up and running in the men’s handball final where it is 10-10 between France, going for an historic third Olympic title in a row, and Denmark. Nail-biter …
And why not have a read of Andy Bull’s last dispatch from Rio, what with Great Britain now assured of second place in the medals table.
A bit more info on Shields – not only is she the first American boxer to win back-to-back gold medals, she is, for the second successive Olympics, the only boxer to win gold for USA.
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Gold for USA!
In the boxing ring, Claressa Shields has successfully defended her Olympic title with a unanimous victory over her Dutch opponent, becoming the first ever American boxer to do so!
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Great Britain’s Grant Ferguson crosses the line in a very respectable 17th place. That’s a fine ride from the 22-year-old. Peter Sagan isn’t going to finish for a while.
Gold for Switzerland!
Nino Schurter cruises over the line for an emphatic victory, avenging what happened in London 2012 when he was outsprinted for gold by Jaroslav Kulhavy. The Czech takes silver this time while it’s Spain’s Carlos Coloma Nicolas who takes bronze.
It’s been a very bad day for Peter Sagan but I’ll bring you more on him shortly.
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Coloma Nicolas has pulled clear in third and perhaps may just be able to catch Kulhavy, who doesn’t look comfortable.
Boxing is going to be one of the main focuses of the closing few hours of this blog – and we’re under way in Carioca Arena 2. The USA’s Claressa Shields is up against Nouchka Fontjin.
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I’ve had an email from David Keech in the US of A. Thoughts?
Living here in the USA I regularly see China in 2nd place, followed by GB. This is because the USA uses a “medal count” table and not, as is the case for the majority of the rest of the world a “medal table”. The difference? In the “count” table all medals are treated equally with a gold valued exactly the same as a bronze. Tell that to Usain Bolt and many others please! In contrast, the medals table counts golds first followed by silver and then bronze. This is fine for GB and China – as clearly GB has many more medals of a higher color than China but does a disservice to countries with many silvers and bronzes who are placed behind countries – such as Singapore and Fiji – with exactly one gold. My suggestion is to use a simple points system with gold = 5, silver = 3 and bronze = 1. USA would be on top with 364 points, GB narrowly pips China 218 to 210 but Mexico, with 3 silvers and 2 bronzes gets placed above the “one gold” countries with 11 points to 5. What do you all think about this?
This may be becoming a bit of procession for Schurter but the battle for bronze between France’s Marotte and Coloma Nicolas of Spain is thrilling. Very little to choose between them at the moment.
Schurter has really pulled ahead of Kulhavy now – there’s just one lap to go and he’s just over 30 seconds ahead. Surely it’s his to lose …
Ouch! That’s a horrible looking crash for Gehbauer of Austria. He went over his handlebars and ate rock. Not pretty but it looks like he’s manfully carrying on.
In the mountain biking, Schurter has pulled about 12 seconds ahead of Kulhavy – Schurter seems to excel on the technical parts of the course and will not want a sprint finish. He’s certainly applying pressure on the defending champion.
Thrilling stuff in the volleyball, Brazil have three set points at 24-21 up but Italy rally, only temporarily though so the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead!
Things go from bad to worse for Pat Hickey and co.
Rio police seize laptops, passports & phones of Olympic Council of Ireland staff in Rio, no arrests but all will be questioned on Tuesday
— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) August 21, 2016
Two laps to go for the two leaders in the mountain biking – and it’s between Kulhavy and Schurter for gold … as it was two years ago, and as it tends to be more often than not.
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In the men’s volleyball meanwhile, Brazil have upped the ante in the first game of the gold medal match and have taken a 19-14 lead. Lots of happy spectators there.
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Hello world! Into the home straight now … but a number of i’s and t’s to be dotted and crossed. They include, among others, Julien Absalon, who is doing his level best to get back into contention in the men’s mountain biking.
And that’s your lot from me. It’ll be Gerard Meagher to take you through the last hours of the 2016 Olympics. Drop him a line on Gerard.Meagher@theGuardian.com. Cheers!
Back with the mountain biking, and Kulhavy currently leads Schurter...but only just as they enter the third-last lap. Coloma Nicolas and Marotte are not too far behind them in third and fourth. Looks like that flat tyre for Sagan earlier has scuppered things for him - he’s five minutes back.
Spain win bronze...
...in the men’s basketball! What a game, despite a late, desperate attack from Australia, in which they just couldn’t get a shot away. That was the very definition of a ding-dong tussle.
And now it’s Spain 89-88 Australia with 5.4 seconds to go! Remarkable stuff.
...And in the basketball - 9 seconds remain, and Australia have just taken a one point lead. 88-87 as Spain take (presumably one last) time out.
Meanwhile, the gold medal match in the volleyball has just started. It’s Italy v Brazil, and it’s 1-1 in the first set.
Couple of free throws for Australia...and both are sunk, so it’s 86-85 with 35 seconds remaining.
Less than a minute to go in the basketball - Spain 85-84 Australia. Tense, tight, tense as they take a timeout.
It’s Kulhavy and Schurter out ahead in the mountain biking, the one-two in this year’s world championships and with four laps to go, it looks like it will be the same in the Olympics. Coloma Nicolas is in third, with Marotte about 20 seconds back in fourth.
Over in the basketball men’s bronze medal match it’s tight, tight, tight. With just under four minutes left of the fourth quarter, it’s Australia 79-78 Spain.
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A couple more crashes in the biking, but Schurter has just re-taken the lead, with Kuhlavy and Carlos Coloma Nicolas just behind him.
Some flat tyres in the mountain biking - Fantana and a couple of others have both suffered punctures...and now Sagan has to have a wheel changed. Luca Braidot now leads, just ahead of Schurter.
And now a big crash, as Dutchman Rudi van Houts properly stacks it. Brutal stuff, this.
Here’s a few details on Great Britain finishing second behind the US in the medals table, ahead of China.
We’re about eight minutes into the cross-country mountain biking, and Nino Schurter leads, ahead of Marco Fantana and Peter Sagan in third. Speaking of Sagan...
Worth seeing what Sagan can do with a road bike https://t.co/WR38wfa9eE @NickMiller79
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 21, 2016
The men’s cross-country mountain biking is underway, where Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic defends his title. Britain’s Grant Ferguson goes in this one.
Gold for Russia in the group all-around rhythmic gymnastics
...they finish on a final score of 36.233, ahead of Spain in second and Bulgaria with the bronze, who just edged out Italy.
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At half-time in the men’s basketball bronze match, Spain have their schnozzes just in front against Australia, leading 40-38 at the break, with Pau Gasol of the San Antonio Spurs leading the way.
Back to the marathon, from a while ago now, and America’s Mebrahtom Keflezighi finished with, erm, a flourish.
Meb ends his Olympic career with a small incident, and a touch of class & humor https://t.co/0XjNrwWrLS
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 21, 2016
Well would you look at this. China, in third place, only have one more athlete to come - Zhen Wang in the men’s cross-country mountain biking, which starts in about ten minutes - so with 27 golds, Britain are second.
GB confirmed to finish second in the medal table, above China. Surreal.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 21, 2016
Ukraine are up now, performing to ‘Vogue’ by Madonna, but the crowd are clapping along, completely out of time. Chuck them all out this instant.
This rhythmic gymnastics really is an astonishing spectacle: mesmerising stuff, but to be perfectly frank I haven’t the faintest idea what is going on. Italy have just finished their performance with hoops and batons, and they seem pretty pleased with how it went.
Bronze for Germany in the handball
That’s yer lot in the handball third place game, as European champions Germany beat Poland 31-25.
The final of the group all-around rhythmic gymnastics is about to get underway: Spain qualified in first place ahead of Russia and Belarus. Italy, Japan, Israel, Bulgaria and Ukraine complete the eight that will duke it out for gold.
In the marathon, Great Britain’s Callum Hawkins has finished in ninth place, an impressive effort according to those who know better than I.
As an aside, just to add another little soupçon of shambles to this whole affair, they had to add a little extra bit, including a very tight loop, a couple of miles from home after discovering that the initial course they’d measured out was not, in fact, the correct distance. But hey, who remembers exactly how long these races are, eh?
USA win volleyball bronze!
Scenes in the volleyball, as the men’s bronze medal goes to the Americans who came back from two sets down to win 3-2. Remarkable stuff from six blokes named Chad.
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Lilesa holds off a late charge from Rupp to take silver, who wins bronze despite looking absolutely broken a couple of miles ago.
Gold medal for Eliud Kipchoge!
The Kenyan takes the men’s marathon after a brilliant run, crushing the will of the rest after that break with about four miles to go. He wins it in 2:08:44.
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The men’s basketball bronze medal match has just started - that’s Australia v Spain. Serbia will claim a silver medal when they play the USA in the final later, at around 15.45 local time.
Kipchoge’s lead is increasing by the metre, and Lilesa looks pretty good for silver: but Rupp’s bronze might be in some danger, with a group of three, featuring Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, closing in behind him.
Kipchoge is now in a commanding lead - only an act of God or perhaps a rogue shoelace can stop him from taking gold. Lilesa is around 12 seconds back, and Rupp is another 13 behind him.
And they’re stretching out further in the marathon - Kipchoge has powered ahead of Lilesa, who in turn is a reasonable distance ahead of Rupp now. Behind the American, Biwott seems to have dropped out.
And we’re into a decider in the volleyball - the USA have come from 2-0 down to draw it at two sets apiece, winning the fourth 25-19. Woo! Yeah! Good job!
Half-time in the handball bronze medal game, and Germany lead Poland 17-13.
There’s now a leading group of three in the marathon: it’s Kipchoge, Rupp and Feyisa Lilesa that are a good 30m ahead of the rest, now. Could be a crucial break with around five miles to go.
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Wrestling news, and a cuddly toy has encroached onto the mat, somehow. It’s discarded eventually by the referee, as Andriitsev challenges the final decision but Goziumov from Azerbaijan does in fact take it. He’s into the gold match, now.
Bit of a break in the marathon now, as Eilud Kichoge takes a group of about six up ahead. Galen Rupp is there, as is Stanley Biwott of Kenya and Lemi Berhanu from Ethiopia.
In that other 65kg semi, Toghrul Asgarov beat his Italian opponent to reach the gold medal grapple, and now it’s on to the 97kg semis. First up, Valerii Andriitsev from ‘The’ Ukraine against Azerbaijan’s Khetag Goziumov.
In the volleyball, the US have pulled a set back in the bronze medal match v Russia - 2-1 now to the Ruskies.
Alemu Bekele, the man with the loose laces in the marathon, appears to have jibbed it in - he’s wandering by the road side, perhaps not just because of his errant shoe ties.
A result in that wrestlin’ - the Russian Ramonov beats Navruzov by ‘technical superiority’, the way we all like to live our lives, presumably. He’ll be in the gold medal match, where he’ll be up against either Frank Chamizo Marquez from Italy or Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan.
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Another drop-out in the marathon, and it’s the first big one: Tesfaye Abera of Ethiopia is done, out and looking in a fairly bad way on the grass by the road.
Not entirely sure why, but this couldn’t have helped...
Callum Hawkins checks his watch at 24km. He's moved to the front again #Rio2016
— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) August 21, 2016
In better news for Ethiopia, Lemi Berhanu leads at the 25km mark (about 15.5miles) in 1:08:12.
We’re into the semi-finals of the freestyle wrestling: first up it’s Uzbekistan’s Ikhtiyor Navruzov v Soslan Ramonov of Russia in the 65kg class.
Shoelace drama in the marathon: Bahrain’s Alemu Bekele stops to tie his shoes up, but just moments later they have come undone again. Could be spectacular if he steps on his lace and stacks it.
Ah, another drop-out in the marathon and it’s rather a shame, as Tsegai Tewlede is now sat by the side of the road. He’s suffered from plantar fasciitis, which is an absolute bastard for an athlete since probably the most reliable form of treatment is simple rest.
In the handball, the Germans are wearing black shirts which...well, I would’ve made another choice.
Just starting now is the bronze medal match in the men’s handball - and it’s a grudge match, as Poland take on Germany.
Woof. Russia are fully in control of the men’s volleyball bronze medal match, having just added the second set to the first in their tally, 25-21 over the land of the free and the home of the brave. The USA will have to go some to retrieve this one - it’s best of five sets.
Calum Hawkins leading the marathon, as they go through ten miles in around 50.18 - a steady old pace, that. None of them look remotely tired, which is obviously quite, quite absurd. That leading group is still pretty massive, so while it’s lovely that the Scot is up top, it remains basically meaningless.
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A drop-out in the marathon - Italy’s Daniele Meucci has dropped out, and it looks like that was an injury (possibly ankle) rather than anything else.
And that’s a volleyball: Russia have taken the first set of the men’s bronze medal match, 25-23 against the U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
The marathon is coming up to around the five mile mark and nobody has really broken free yet. It’s all a fairly steady pace in the rain, and they’ve just run through that water spray that was absolutely vital in earlier road races (like the 50km walk when I’m amazed more people didn’t keel over) but given it’s hoying down with rain, is slightly superfluous this time. Abraham Niyonkuru of Burundi is nominally leading, but that’s essentially meaningless at this stage.
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If you’re not familiar with Tewelde, his story is pretty remarkable. Here’s Sean Ingle’s piece with him, and the Hawkins brothers, from May:
Tsegai Tewelde bears the scars on his forehead from a landmine that exploded next to him when he was eight, killing his friend and wounding him in five places. The Eritrea-born athlete has rarely stopped running since. He claimed asylum in Scotland in 2008 after authorities ruled he was likely to face persecution back home. And in his first marathon, he summoned a performance of immense willpower to run 2:12:23 – a time good enough to qualify for the British Olympic team this summer.
When asked what it meant to be representing his new country, the 25-year-old began to gently sob. “I had a bomb accident when I was eight years old,” he said. “I had a serious injury, five places on my body, scar on my head. I’m feeling very, very tired after the race but I got through it. I will try my best for Rio.”
It is not uncommon for Tewelde and his group of five other Eritreans, who claimed asylum after competing in the world cross-country championships because they faced being conscripted into the army and being beaten, to be seen running along the Clyde in Glasgow fuelled by a diet of macaroni, meat, fruit and black tea with six spoonfuls of sugar. But he was not on British Athletics’ radar until Sunday’s life-altering performance.
It’s absolutely yazzing it down in Rio, and while the runners in the men’s marathon all look like they could do with a poncho on the starting line, presumably they’ll be reasonably happy with this weather - preferable to 35 degree heat, anyway.
As mentioned Eliud Kipchoge is the fave, but also up there will be Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich and Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, while USA’s Galen Rupp is also there and British interest is taken care of by Tsegai Tewelde, Eritrean-born but who claimed political asylum eight years ago, while at a cross country meeting in Edinburgh, and brothers Callum and Derek Hawkins.
And they’re away!
The men’s marathon is about to start, as is the bronze medal match in the men’s volleyball. The USA’s tall chaps will be whacking a Wilson towards Russia’s tall chaps shortly.
If you missed it, Ryan Lochte has taken another swing at apologising for all that weird guff in the petrol station. On reflection he probably should’ve just bought a Ginsters and gone home.
Sounds like everyone’s a bit groggy in Rio...
Tipping with rain, media transport network has shut down and a hungover Rio is breathing a sigh of relief. Must be closing ceremony day.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 21, 2016
Some results from the men’s 65kg freestyle wrasslin’ qualifiers, here:
- Borislav Stefanov Novachkov (Bulgaria) 10-7 Meisam Abolfazl Naziri (Iran)
- Yogeshwar Dutt (India) 0-3 Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia)
- Katai Yeerlanbieke (China) 6-1 Sahit Prizreni (Australia)
- Haislan Antonio Veranes Garcia (Canada) 1-7 Soslan Ramonov (Russia)
- Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier (Cuba) 4-4 Mustafa Kaya (Turkey) - Cuba win by fall
Pictures! Gertcha pictures. Have another look at the best pictures from yesterday at the Games, including this one, of Korea’s Yeon Jae Son - or ‘Ol’ Red Ball Heed’ as she was almost certainly called at school - in the women’s individual rhythmic gymnastics final.
You can understand Lynsey Sharp being frustrated and upset, but genetic and athletic advantage is pretty much what elite sport is about. Even if you accept that Caster Semenya’s naturally occurring high levels of testosterone are definitely what makes her the best 800m runner in the world, forcing her to suppress these is a bit like asking Michael Phelps to shorten his arms.
Sharp told the BBC after the race: “I have tried to avoid the issue all year. You can see how emotional it all was. We know how each other feels. It is out of our control and how much we rely on people at the top sorting it out. The public can see how difficult it is with the change of rule but all we can do is give it our best.
“I was coming down the home straight, we were not far away and you can see how close it is. That is encouraging. We will work hard and aim to come back even stronger.”
With the greatest of respect to the wrestling, the first ‘big’ event of the day is probably the men’s marathon, which starts at about 09.30 local time - that’s in about 50 minutes. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge will be the favourite, having won the London marathon in a course record time.
Updated
More on Daniel’s earlier debate about which athletes are the rock hardest...:
@NickMiller79 on tennis v jockies - cut off age much later for j's than it is for tennis or cycling. Tennis are hardest athletes for sure.
— Leo Mitchell (@leojameselliot) August 21, 2016
The first action of the day is about to start - it’s the men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling qualifiers. Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan is the defending champ and probably favourite for this one, and he’ll be grapplin’ at about 12.54.
Here’s how the press in Brazil reacted to their gold medal, proof positive that something can be a monumental achievement but people can still overreact enormously to it.
Afternoon all. Thoughts, musings, jokes, stories, memories, more favourites of the games in general - anything at all, really: send to Nick.Miller@theGuardian.com or tweet @NickMiller79.
And Nick Miller is here to take you through it - thanks all for your company and comments, all much appreciated.
Namely, the wrestling which gets going in just over half and hour, and in just over an hour-and-a-half, we’ve got the men’s marathon.
Anyway, we’re not far off some sport!
Ah, excellent - Rob Marriott is back: “Jockey exposition,” he begins. “Jockeys have to stay in control of a large, powerful animal at very high speeds, which requires an extraordinary degree of skill, balance, and strength. They suffer horrible injuries, and genuinely risk their lives for their sport. They compete in a huge number of events, hundreds of races a year. And they manage to do all this, despite being obliged to starve themselves half to death for most of their adult lives.
Trust me. Jockeys are ridiculous athletes, bordering on superhuman. And if they can control a charging horse while risking great injury a few times every day, you definitely wouldn’t want to pick a fight with one. The rest of us would be pushovers compared to what they deal with in their job.”
You’ve forgotten how handy I am, but yes, I’m convinced.
“3rd set of Nadal vs Del Potro,” says Alistair Walker as to his Games highlight. “Other than Van Niekerk, and all things Simone Biles, maybe the best quality bit of sport I saw.”
Del Potro’s comeback is just so refreshing - men’s tennis is desperate for someone “new”.
“Have I just come across very anti-Bolt?” asks Michael. “Assuming, as is a pretty safe bet, he is desperate for my validation, I should point out that I don’t really believe he is faking, that his achievements are not without sacrifice, or that his personal glee and the whole caboodle that comes with him is not brilliant. It’s just that he is so superhuman it separates him from even the perfect specimens of humanity who can just about sneak a medal in a niche sport.”
Not at all.
“Also, returns the belowmentioned Michael, “possibly more exciting” who’s the least hardcore? Any way you do this is wildly insulting to incredibly focused and dedicated athletes while I ponder how many spare not he’s I have on my belt, but anyway. Arguably would it be a Bolt or perhaps even a Neymar? Ignoring the financial elements, and assuming everyone has to train, diet etc, those appear to me to be the ones who can rely most on some innate skill and/or physical advantage. Maybe actually it’ll be the keen eye and steady hand of one of the [ahem] less athletic disciplines like shooting or archery, but I still feel that needs a ludicrous focus that simple inbuilt skill wot be enough for.”
You don’t get to where Bolt and Neymar are without putting yourself through it. Lots of gipping at training for Bolt, for sure. I’d say the innate talent, allied to his laidback character, manifests more in how he handles pressure.
“Much as I thoroughly enjoyed Bolt doing what Bolt does like he rest of the world,” emails Michael Hunt, “my vote would go for pretty much any other gold medalist, almost all bronze medalist and a good number of the silvers at the point of realisation. One thing that occasionally steers me back to football is when you see someone genuinely joyful at scoring a goal for instance, rather than striking a pose and expecting everyone to come praise them. Just before Bolt’s triple for instance the pole vault saw at least 2 of the 3 medalists shrieking uncontrollably at what could be the high point of their careers. For all the training and hype, Farah doesn’t cross the line with the demeanor of someone who believes the gold is his by right. Coddled and overcompensated though many may be, seeing genuine happiness still has a habit of getting to me.”
Disagree with what you say about Bolt, who isn’t faking it - he is how you see him - but yes, genuine happiness is amazing.
Oh, and I’d be keen for some jockey exposition.
“I have the greatest respect for the incredible stamina of the modern professional tennis player,” says Rob Marriott. “But how many of them would keep going with a broken pelvis, like Geraint Thomas did in the 2013 Tour de France? There’s your answer, then. Can’t beat a cyclist for being totally nails. Except possibly a jockey. Never pick a fight with a jockey.”
Heh - I guess I lean towards tennisers because of the skill level, whereas cyclists, more or less, can just focus on the pain (or not the pain).
Which, of course, is where England played Italy in the 2012 World Cup - Roy Hodgson wasn’t keen, and, Arthur Virgilio, the mayor of Manaus, memorably responded thusly:
“We would also prefer that England doesn’t come. We hope to get a better team and a coach who is more sensible and polite. He’s one of the few people in the world who is not curious about the Amazon, who doesn’t want to know about Manaus.”
“To make excuses shows lack of enthusiasm and self-confidence,” Virgilio said. “Fortunately the English people are different than Mr Hodgson. It’s polite to be able to value what is beautiful. And nothing is more beautiful than Amazonia, [the state of] Amazonas, and Manaus.”
“The reason Nigeria wasn’t there for the bronze medal,” emails Espen Brommen, “was that their game was at a different stadium, the Amazonian arena or whatever it’s called.”
Ah yes, it was in Belo Horizonte. Amazonian Arena is in Manaus.
“Annemiek van Vleuten showed that sport is unmanageable, brutal and capricious and that all competitors deserve respect,” tweets Gary Naylor.
And consideration in the first instance.
“Gut-wrenching though Lutalo Muhammad’s defeat was in the Taekwondo,” emails Philip Sutcliffe, “I like to think what that last second victory must have meant to Cheick Sallah Cisse and the people of Ivory Coast. Since victors are defined by their opposition, if I was Lutalo I would head for Ivory Coast for a holiday, I’m sure he would get a fantastic welcome!”
“Still thinking about my favourite moment,” emails Lizz Poulter, “but in the meantime, do you know why Nigeria weren’t presented with their bronze medals after the football final? The third-placed team was at the hockey presentation, and last night’s ceremony made the football seem less Olympic somehow, and more like all the cup matches we ever watch.”
I’ve no idea I’m afraid. Maybe they’d gone home? Anyone?
And back to the hardest athletes, Mike says: “They are all solid. Triathletes are particularly impressive but the gymnasts must be top of the bunch. Nails and artistic.”
Yes, they are something else – though I wonder about their endurance.
“Triathlon’s run the way it is,” emails Pet, “i.e. most dangerous event first, then 2nd most dangerous, then safest, so as athletes tire and start cramping they’re just running along a road. Hope that helps!”
Yes, it does help, and yes, that makes a fair bit of sense. State of those what do it.
Amidst all this indulgent celebration, we need to sober up with the stuff that, in the end, is more significant. You’re going to have to read this, I’m afraid.
Back to the hardest athletes question, @judeinlondon tweets “surely boxers”; I’d say if were talking pros, them, MMA fighters and tennisers are at the top. But not sure three rounds of amateur compares to what Murray and Del Potro put themselves through.
We’ve had a fair bit of chat on last night’s football, so why not have a shifty at Barney Ronay’s report?
Ann Love’s son reckons Fiji winning the Rugby 7s was the highlight - and it was a belter. There’s something special about final kickings - Graf-Zvereva at Roland Garros in 1988, Nadal-Federer at Roland Garros in 2008, the 1999 cricket World Cup final and ilk; equal parts wonder and terror.
That reminded me of Sanyoung Park coming back from four match points down to beat Geza Imre in the fencing.
“Kaori Icho winning the 58 kg freestyle wrestling in the last seconds,” tweets Peter Brown. “4 golds in 4 games, done by no other female Olympian.”
Love this one from @FierceChilly: “The O’Donovan brothers explaining their strategy: ‘Just A to B as fast as you can go. Close the eyes and pull like a dog.’”
@DanielHarris Loved all! Fav moment was watching gymnastics&heptathlon with my 6 yr old - inspiring a generation! :) pic.twitter.com/herPMl2thc
— Charlotte Jones (@Charlotte_jones) August 21, 2016
James Carroll has gone for the women’s 5,000m heats, when Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand helped Abby D’Agostino of USA to the finish line, after the pair collided and fell.
“The outpouring of emotion when Brazil won the men’s football last night,” tweets Alex Burd (see what I did there?). “Men’s cycling road race was full of drama also.”
Updated
Elgordo1 tweets to recall Bryony Page’s surprise trampolining silver, and the joy that brought her, also referencing Max Whitlock.
“Monica Puig winning Puerto Rico’s first ever gold medal,” tweets Mike Gibbons.
That was incredible, her stuffing of Garbine Muguruza similarly so.
This is why the people who run sport get away with it; it’s just all so brilliant.
“The dive to win the 400m (women’s),” tweets Keejay.
That was so, so good.
“Simone Manuel winning the women’s 100m freestyle swim,” tweets @judeinlondon.
Yes, that was fantastic. Sport, eh.
Back to moments of the Olympics, Carrie Dunn tweets the Murray-Del Potro hug.
That was maybe the best battle I’ve seen these last two weeks. Del Potro was also incredible in beating Novak Djokovic, whose tears after that defeat showed what a gold medal means.
Is there a more compelling sportsman in the world than Nicola Adams; someone whose love for what they do is so contagious and inspiring?
Updated
Who’s your favourite favourite? Nicola Adams is just the best, and here’s the brilliant Kevin Mitchell telling you about her.
Some absolutely beautiful pictures of Neymar and pals here. Wade in!
And another question: would triathlons go differently if the events were in a different order? Is there a reason they go swim-bike-run?
Which is the most tiring Olympic event? Or, put another way, who are the hardest athletes in the world? I imagine this will be controversial, but my immediate response is tennis players: having to do what they do - employ amazing skill - while being as tired as they are - is beyond “simple” endurance. Shuttles are harder than constant exertion, I’d say.
Updated
This is a brilliant paragraph from Andy Bull on Caster Semenya:
“Unlike Coe, Semenya had refused to speak all week. She has grown sick of the scrutiny. But winners are obliged to give press conferences, so on Saturday night she had no choice. She was so eloquent those listening could be forgiven for wondering why she hadn’t done it more before, until they remembered Semenya never asked to be put in this position, and that her body is no one’s business but her own.”
Read the rest of the piece here:
“Isn’t the danger with this win that it makes Brazil even more Neymar and pals?” emails Michael Hunt. “Throughout the World Cup the team as much as the country (and more than one interested sponsor) went about building this kid up as being the single heroic focal point of the team, then when he got injured they held up shirts like he was a fallen comrade and a team of bona fide superstars proceeded to be gutted live on TV for the world to watch. Now a group of largely unknowns (in euro-centric terms) plus Neymar come to the later stages of an international football tournament in Brazil and Neymar wins it.
I suppose a helpful counterpoint is Portugal who did alright once their totemic figurehead wasn’t there to do the heavy lifting in the end.”
I sort of agree with the first paragraph - the behaviour when Neymar got injured was even more bizarre than when David Beckham did his “metatarsal” and Uri Geller tried healing him. But Portugal were only there because of their totemic figurehead, and he was still on the sideline coaching them. Which isn’t to say they didn’t do well without him, just that totemic figureheads are often totemic figurehead for a good reason.
So this is pretty weird. USA’s Paul Chelimo finished second to Mo Farah, before being disqualified - information relayed to him on live TV. It’s a beautiful thing!
He was, though, later reinstated.
Which is to say that Brazil stuck Neymar in to try and make sure that they won, but does it really alter the parlous state of the game there? On the other hand, what good does not sticking Neymar in and not winning do?
So, this Brazil football win; balm or misdirection?
Congrats to Brasil football team on winning gold #Rio2016 @neymarjr pic.twitter.com/gEeGej70st
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 20, 2016
And then there’s the splendiferous Allyson Felix, who anchored USA to 4x400m victory, winning her sixth individual gold in the process. Anyone know who got the bronze?
Read Owen Gibson to find out.
For those of you in the European capital of medalling and podiumming UK, this doc on Farah is brilliant in capturing the sacrifice required to achieve that kind of glory. And it looks beautiful, too.
There is so much stuff to read that I don’t even know where to start, but let’s start with this:
Gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m, in consecutive games; really. Really.
The BBC’s Mike Costello is just the best radio commentator - commentator - that there is. Here’s yet another virtuoso performance calling Mo Farah home - and arguably, he’s even better at doing boxing.
Spine-tingling
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) August 21, 2016
Mike Costello commentates on Farah's 5,000m win https://t.co/4fbEdGR6z2 https://t.co/wLhO9G6Dr1
So, as per Claire’s briefing below, we’ve got a good few things left to tickle us today. In particular, I heartily recommend Joe Joyce of GB v Tony Yoko of France in the final of the men’s super-heavyweight boxing. Yoko beat Joyce recently and is a beautiful fighter to watch, but Joyce has a decent shot at him. In short, both are wellard.
Here’s Tim Lewis with some thoughts on the wider impact of Team GB’s Olympic success. The problem, I guess, is that this stuff lasts longer in memory than in reality.
Updated
Talking of Mo, does he have the greatest kick in distance-running history? I get that still, the level of competition isn’t what it’s been in the past, but do we still think Haile Gebrselassie or whoever would just run the finish out of him? I’m not at all sure.
At last, something Simone Biles isn’t good at: knowing someone who can take a photo - are people now calling these selfies? - without making it seem like they’re in a cherry picker.
had the pleasure of meeting the greatest, Mo Farah • btw we fangirled over each other. hehe pic.twitter.com/xTkpZC9slR
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 21, 2016
Team GB will be parading themselves at the closing ceremony wearing trainers - defined in the broadest possible terms, says the 80s/90s-kid stickler - which flash red, white and blue. You can marvel at them here, modelled by Nile Wilson.
Back to that Van Niekerk run, it’s funny that the amazing Usain Bolt was upstaged in winning the 200m in London and Rio - by the also-amazing David Rudisha in 2012. I also wonder what Van Niekerk might do at the shorter distance - his speed endurance - yes, I have pinched that phrase off Michael Johnson like I’ve experienced, what of it? - is off the scale. And that was the most bizarre aspect of the race - waiting for the slowdown that never came.
A party I would like to attend:
Amazing welcome for us. #Fiji7s @Rio2016_en pic.twitter.com/IRuDpS7tYA
— Ben Ryan Fiji 7s (@benjaminryan) August 21, 2016
“An early morning query for you,” begins Martin Scott “With Team GB yesterday exceeding their medal tally from London 2012, does that mean they are the first host nation to exceed their medal tally in the following Games?”
I believe so. Not to say I’ve counted – verily I have not – but fairly certain I heard precisely that on BBC’s Olympic Breakfast a little earlier, presented with complete objectivity of course.
Updated
Aaaaaanyway, send in your votes and thoughts, however anecdotal or ephemeral, to daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com, or tweet @DanielHarris.
So, what’s your favourite moment of the Games? Does “Games” necessarily take a capital letter?
Toss-up for mine: Wade van Niekerk winning the 400m, and Rafaela Silva winning the judo 57kg.
I am, though, a ridiculous Brasilophile.
Updated
And now, the end is near, and so we face, the thought that tomorrow we won’t have Olympics all day and all night and have to return to our normal lives without their punctuation and elevation by elite sport.
That scans, doesn’t it?
Updated
Day 16 briefing
Welcome to what is the last day of sporting in this round of Olympics (we have to wait till 7 September for the Paralympics) ahead of the closing ceremony. It’s also Usain Bolt’s 30th birthday: feliz aniversário, old man. You can follow all the celebrations to the last firework on the Olympics live blog. But first: your daily catch-up.
The big picture
Celebrations, too, for Team GB, and not just for Mo Farah’s double double. That 5,000m gold took Britain to a 2012-equalling 65 medals. Bronze in the women’s 4x400m relay took them past it. Sixty-seven with a guaranteed gold or silver for Joe Joyce in today’s super-heavyweight boxing final will cement Rio as Britain’s most successful Olympics since 1908 (a rather different affair to the modern Games, although the pool turned green then too).
South Africa’s Caster Semenya won the women’s 800m in cool style, brushing aside athletics chief Sebastian Coe’s decision to choose a moment two hours before her race to repeat that the IAAF will challenge a ruling allowing her to compete without taking drugs to suppress her testosterone levels. Timing is everything.
Today’s competitors will hopefully have grabbed at least a little sleep as Rio went wild during – multiply that by 10 following – the host country’s penalty shoot-out against Germany in the men’s football final at the Maracanã. It was 1-1 at 90 minutes. It was 4-4 on penalties until Brazil goalkeeper Weverton saved one. Then it was Neymar, and it was in, and it was all over. Read Barney Ronay’s match report here.
You should also know:
- South Korea’s Inbee Park wins women’s golf gold.
- Neymar gives Brazil first Olympic football gold – in pictures.
- Tearful Ryan Lochte sorry for ‘shenanigans’ at gas station.
- And for the inspired: how to become an Olympic athlete.
Team GB roundup
Did I mention Mo? Farah’s blitzing run to 5,000m victory made him only the second man (after Finland’s Lasse Virén in 1972 and 1976; file that away for a pub quiz) to win 5,000m and 10,000m golds in successive Games. Even in an Olympics littered with double doubles, and a triple treble, the thrill of Farah’s final kick takes some beating. “I hate to lose,” he said afterwards. How would he know?
Farah’s was the medal that took Team GB to a 2012-matching 65, but golds from Nicola Adams in the women’s flyweight boxing (a crown-retaining double for her, too) and Liam Heath in the men’s kayak single 200m were the stepping stones.
Bronzes for Bianca Walkden in the women’s +67kg taekwondo and Vicky Holland in the women’s triathlon also gave the team a leg-up, before the women’s 4x400m relay team of Eilidh Doyle, Anyika Onuora, a lightning Emily Diamond and Christine Ohuruogu shouldered GB over the top to end the day on 66 medals.
It’ll be 67 today, with a gold or silver promised to Joe Joyce in his super-heavyweight boxing final against France’s Tony Yoka. But it’ll be a close finish in the overall medal table, with China’s 26 golds bumping up against GB’s 27. Chen Aisen’s victory from the 10m platform helped China there, after Tom Daley took too literally the basic diving principle of starting at the top and ending at the bottom: he qualified in first place for the semi-finals, finished last and had to sit out a final he’d hoped to win.
- Martin Rooney irate as 4x400m team disqualified from final.
- Charley Hull misses out on bronze in women’s golf.
Team USA roundup
Still top of the table? Check. (As in yes, not go off and find out for yourself, but that link’s a handy one for those who want all the stats.) Five more golds, then: a clean sweep of the 4x400m relays; a pencilled-in-before-the-Games win for the women’s basketball team; a “who, what, hang on” victory for Matthew Centrowitz in the men’s 1500m; and a dominant women’s triathlon performance from Gwen Jorgensen.
The day before, Allyson Felix became the first woman in track and field history to win five golds. Now she has six, with some help from Natasha Hastings, Courtney Okolo and Phyllis Francis, in a relay so controlled by the US and Jamaican teams that they were practically running a separate race to the third-place chasers. The US men didn’t have such an easy run of it, pushed surprisingly hard by Botswana in the opening legs, then by a surging Jamaica at the close. Still, it was a fifth 4x400m double for the US, a record equalled only by … oh. Nobody.
Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo won, then lost, then was re-awarded silver in the men’s 5,000m behind Mo Farah after a disqualification was overturned; Shakur Stevenson boxed for gold but settled for silver in the men’s bantamweight final.
Bronzes for the women’s volleyball team, Jackie Galloway in the +67kg taekwondo, David Boudia in the men’s 10m platform diving, and J’den Cox in the men’s freestyle 86kg wrestling kept Team USA in an unassailable #1 with 116 medals, almost twice that of second-placed Britain.
There’s some men’s basketball today, too. Who’d bet against a 44th gold there?
Australia team roundup
It feels as if I’ve over-used “frustrating” in this part of the briefing. But it was another frustrating day. Medal hopes Emma Moffatt and Erin Densham ended sixth and 12th in the women’s triathlon. Modern pentathlete Max Esposito couldn’t match his sister Chloe’s gold and wound up seventh. 2012 winner Jacob Clear didn’t keep his crown in the men’s kayak four 1000m: he and paddle-mates Ken Wallace, Jordan Wood and Riley Fitzsimmons were pushed to fourth.
Ryan Gregson came home ninth in a peculiarly slow men’s 1500m field. Minjee Lee and Su-Hyun Oh faded in the women’s golf to seventh and 13th. The women’s 4x400m team came last in their final, but the young team – Jessica Thornton is still in her teens – said they’d be focusing on future victories.
Another medal-less day meant attention instead focused on what we’re apparently calling the “naughty nine”, although we’re definitely talking sub-Lochte levels of naughtiness. The nine athletes were accused of tampering with their official accreditation to grab seats for the Boomers’ – ultimately unsuccessful – bid to make it to the men’s basketball final, and have been fined AU$47,000.
Chef de mission Kitty Chiller said the group – cyclists Ashlee Ankudinoff and Melissa Hoskins, rugby sevens player Ed Jenkins, archers Alec Potts and Ryan Tyack, rowers Olympia Aldersey, Fiona Albert and Lucy Stephens, and hockey player Simon Orchard – were not at fault:
It’s unfortunately a practice that has been traditional not only in Australia but other countries as well for many Olympic Games, putting a sticker on your accreditation with another venue access code on it.
Stickers don’t seem an enormously hi-tech security measure. Perhaps that’s another thing to work on for Tokyo 2020.
Picture of the day
Neymar plus fans. No sign of the selfie from the other side on his Instagram account yet, but perhaps he’s busy.
Diary
All times below are local to Rio: here’s the full timetable tweaked for wherever you are. Or add four hours for UK, add 13 hours for eastern Australia; subtract one hour for east-coast US and four for west coast. And remember: this is the last time you have to do this (till the Paralympics start).
- The men’s marathon closes down the athletics: that starts at 9.30am.
- Rhythmic gymnastics all-arounds things off with the team final at 11.50am. Scoffers check here.
- Cycling is still going, with the men’s cross-country mountain bike gold to be won at 12.30pm.
- It’s the gold bout between Italy and Brazil in the men’s volleyball final at 1.15pm. The US play Russia for bronze at 9.30am.
- The men’s handball final is Denmark v France at 2pm. Poland and Germany scrap for third place at 10.30am.
- Boxing has four finals to dispense with: the women’s middleweight at 2pm (America’s Claressa Shields v Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands); the men’s flyweight at 2.15pm; the men’s light welterweight at 3pm; and the men’s super heavyweight – and GB’s final medal – at 3.15pm, when Joe Joyce takes on France’s Tony Yoka.
- There are two wrestling golds left: in the men’s freestyle 65kg and 97kg.
- The big sporting finale is the men’s basketball, which has Serbia up against ultimate favourites Team USA at 3.45pm; Australia will battle for bronze against Spain at 11.30am.
- And it’s lights out with the closing ceremony from 8pm.
Underdog of the day
She’s a three-time European high jump champion, but Ruth Beitia gambolled up to the bar knowing that Spain had never won an Olympic medal in women’s athletics. Nor has anyone as old as her – she’s 37, it’s a cruel world – ever won an Olympics jumping event. But she cleared 1.97m for gold, putting it down to “26 years of work and pulling hair out”, which not many of her rivals can claim. Not silver-medallist Mirela Demireva (aged 26), anyway.
Tweet of the day
Gold-winning Big Star – well, his rider, Britain’s Nick Skelton, is the one with the medal, for showjumping – is on his way back from Rio. Hoping those shipping containers are kitted out with some luxury hay.
Big Star is off home! #TwoHearts #Equestrian #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/2WuGAiveyH
— The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 21, 2016
If today were an actor
It would be Farah’s Four-set. I’m sorry. It’s been a long Olympics.
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My five favourite Olympic moments (in random order):
1) Usain Bolt working a stadium like The Rock.
2) Team GB winning the men's Team Cycling Pursuit
3) All silver medalists who were sincerely pleased with their achievement rather than seeing themselves as 'losers.'
4) The Ryan Lochte story. (truly, as much as we love to cheer, we equally love to boo a hubris-choked villain)
5) BBC's coverage; promoting British athletes, yet sincerely and equally praising the best efforts of the rest of the world. Sheer class.