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On the second day of the Paris Olympics, 13 medal events take place but the focus will largely be on Simone Biles in gymnastics. read more
 "Simone Biles debuts, Team USA in basketball, Peaty eyes landmark - what to watch on Day 2")
Simone Biles of the United States practices during a gymnastics training session at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics. AP
Paris Olympics will celebrate new (or repeat) champions on Day 2 of the Summer Games on Sunday with 13 medals events on offer. Among Olympic champions to be crowned will be archers, mountain bikers, slalom canoeists and skateboarders.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
The highlight of the day, however, will be Simone Biles who makes her eagerly anticipated first appearance while British breaststroke king Adam Peaty aims to emulate Michael Phelps in the swimming pool.
On the basketball court, Team USA will launch their bid for a fifth successive men’s title against Serbia, who can call upon three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 28, 2024But there are serious questions over Rafael Nadal’s participation in the tennis singles at Roland Garros after he teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz to win their men’s doubles opener.
After rain marred the opening ceremony and Day 1, organisers will be heartened by a forecast of sunny and dry weather for day two.
Simone Biles in focus
Biles, who won four golds at the 2016 Rio Olympics, withdrew from multiple events at the Tokyo Games as she battled the disorientating condition that gymnasts call “twisties”.
She still went home with a silver and bronze and won plaudits by talking openly about mental health struggles.
After taking two years out, Biles made a triumphant comeback at the US Classics last year. That was followed up by four world titles to take her tally to an astonishing 23.
The United States team are eager to take the pressure off Biles, 27.
Women’s team technical leader Chellsie Memmel said Biles must not feel they are “relying” on her.
“I don’t say, ‘You are keeping us all together, we’re relying on you and you alone’,” Memmel said on the eve of the Games.
USA begin basketball gold defence
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and their squad of US stars begin their medal defense against Nikola Jokic and Serbia.
The US team are looking for a fifth straight gold medal. They beat Serbia 105-79 in an exhibition game earlier this month. Kevin Durant is dealing with a calf strain, but the team is hopeful he will play.
Peaty vs Qin
The swimming competition started in electric style on Saturday with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus defending her women’s 400m freestyle crown.
Three golds are up for grabs on Sunday: men’s 400m individual medley, women’s 100m butterfly and men’s 100m breaststroke.
The 100m breaststroke has all the makings of a thriller, pitting defending champion Peaty against China’s world champion Qin Haiyang.
World record-holder Peaty is trying to match Michael Phelps and win a third straight gold medal in the same event.
The 29-year-old Peaty, who has struggled with depression, said after Saturday’s heats that he was feeling calm.
“If anything too relaxed in the sense of, it doesn’t feel like we’re here at the moment,” he said.
Qin, the 200m world record-holder, was reportedly among the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug in late 2020 to early 2021.
He and Chinese swimming chiefs have denied wrongdoing, saying they tested positive after inadvertently consuming tainted food during domestic competition.
La Defense Arena will crank up the noise for the men’s 400m individual medley, where France’s great swimming hope Leon Marchand – nicknamed “the shrimp” – will be favourite for gold.
Uncertainty over Nadal
Nadal is still listed to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic lying in wait, but the 14-time French Open champion, who has a thigh injury, said: “I don’t know if I am going to play tomorrow or not.”
Also on schedule in tennis on the second day are Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, USA’s Coco Gauff and defending Olympics champion Alexander Zverev of Germany.
France vs Canada in women’s football blockbuster
The second women’s football matchday sees France face Canada in Group A, with a spot in the knockout stages up for grabs for the hosts.
Tokyo gold medal winners Canada will be reeling from a six-point deduction from global governing body FIFA and a one-year suspension for coach Bev Priestman as part of the fallout from a drone spying scandal.
The deduction puts a serious dent in Canada’s chances of progressing from the group.
Elsewhere…
Beach volleyball will come under the spotlight when convicted rapist Steven van de Velde plays for the Netherlands.
He was convicted in 2016 of raping an underage girl and sentenced to four years in prison.
The Netherlands’ decision to pick the 29-year-old sparked outrage and he is not staying at the athletes’ village.
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English (US) ·