By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS (AP) — Simon Biles will again be one of the highlights of the 2024 Olympics on Saturday as she tries to win the vault event for her third gold medal in Paris.
Sha’Carri Richardson will go for her first Olympic medal in the women’s 100 meters, while in the pool Katie Ledecky will look to add another gold to her collection in the women’s 800-meter freestyle.
The U.S. women’s soccer team will be in action as well, taking on Japan, as will the U.S. men’s basketball team against Puerto Rico.
See the full schedule of events and read more on what to watch below:
Simone Biles back in action
After winning gold in the individual all-around and helping the U.S. dominant in team all-around to burnish her legacy, Biles will go for a third gold this Games in the vault final.
Biles is among the favorites again but should face a tough challenge from Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the defending Olympic champion in the event.
Medal for Sha’Carri Richardson?
Richardson missed the Tokyo Games because of a positive marijuana test at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials but now will get her chance to win a medal in the women’s 100 meters.
Richardson is the reigning world champion in the event, which could also include three-time Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica.
Tokyo gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah is absent at the Paris Games through injury, while Jamaica teammate Shericka Jackson announced that she would not compete in the event.
Katie Ledecky seeks another gold
With a victory in the women’s 800-meter freestyle, Ledecky would join fellow American Michael Phelps as the only swimmers — of any gender and from any country — to win four gold medals in the same event.
Ledecky will be an overwhelming favorite. She is the world record holder at the distance with a time of 8:04.79.
Boxing controversy
Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary plans to fight in the quarterfinals against Imane Khelif of Algeria in women’s boxing, even though the Hungarian Boxing Association said it was sending letters of protest to both the International Olympic Committee and Hungary’s Olympic committee.
Khelif and Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the 2023 world championships after they had already competed. The IBA ruled that Khelif and Lin failed unspecified gender eligibility tests but provided no documentation. Each fighter had competed in IBA events for several years.
Khelif’s first opponent in Paris, Angela Carini of Italy, quit their bout after 46 seconds. Her tearful reaction to abandoning the fight made international headlines, and Carini received a visit from Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
US women’s soccer in quarterfinals
The U.S. will take on Japan in the quarterfinals of women’s soccer.
The Americans won all three group-stage games for the first time since 2012 to finish atop Group B. Japan, the 2012 Olympic silver medalists, won Group C. The U.S. won the gold in 2012.
In the other women’s quarterfinals, France will face Brazil, Spain will play against Colombia and Canada will take on Germany. Canada advanced out of group play despite being docked six standings points for a drone scandal that has rocked the program.
US men’s hoops on the court
The United States men’s basketball team goes for its third consecutive victory when it faces winless Puerto Rico.
It will be the final group-stage game for the U.S., which is seeking the top seed ahead of the knockout rounds.
Women’s tennis finals
Either China or Croatia will earn its first singles gold medal in Olympic tennis with Zheng Qinwen playing Donna Vekic in women’s final.
This would be the biggest title for both players as neither Zheng nor Vekic has won Grand Slam.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
