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Tom Bell

A highlight of day eight was always going to be Zheng Qinwen’s attempt to win China’s first Olympic gold in singles tennis.
She managed it, beating Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday’s final in Paris around the time many people in her homeland’s time zone were hitting the hay.
But what those back in China probably did not see or hear was her message later as she reflected on the achievement, which is where we shall start in recapping events overnight.
Around the time Zheng spoke, there were also seismic events in the Stade de France, La Defense Arena and the Bercy Arena.
Here’s what you missed if you slept through it.
Zheng follows Li
Before Paris, the Chinese player who went closest to winning an Olympic singles medal was Li Na – like Zheng, a Hubei native, and a role model to her. Now Zheng is promising to carry the torch.
“Li Na was an inspiration for me and I always wanted to become one of the players who could inspire young kids, to make them love tennis,” Zheng said.
Well aware of the potential impact of her triumph in China, Zheng also paid tribute to the sacrifices of her parents in pushing her on to an achievement she said represented a pinnacle for a Chinese player.

“Finally, I can to say to my family, to my father, ‘Come on, I just made history,’” Zheng said. “In future, if I lose, I will say this to him.
“He treats the Olympic Games with more importance than any other event. I think all the Chinese fans think the same, me included.”
Sha’Carri denied in 100m
The women’s 100 metres final featured Sha’Carri Richardson, the American with the lively personality, spectacular nails and a sizeable monkey to get off her back.
Three years ago, she won the US trials only to test positive for marijuana, for which the United States Anti-Doping Agency ruled her ineligible to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
Now world champion, the 24-year-old made it this time, but her coronation was to be denied by Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia.
Alfred had served notice in the semi-final, qualifying fastest and leaving a sluggish Richardson trailing.
In the main event, she thundered out of the blocks again and powered clear to win in 10.72 seconds. Richardson, wearing an almost resigned look, took silver in 10.87, with Melissa Jefferson of the US earning bronze in 10.92.
Irish pommel horse guy
US gymnast Simone Biles shone again on the vault to claim her third gold of these Games and seventh of her career, ahead of Tokyo champion Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who has been running her close for the past week.
But many of you will have been awake for that.
A little later, Rhys McClenaghan won Ireland’s first ever Olympic gymnastics medal, a gold, in the men’s pommel horse competition.
Stephen Nedoroscik – the American who has become known on social media as “the pommel horse guy”, and compared to Clark Kent – removed his glasses to do his thing and was soon seeing bronze.

That meant Max Whitlock, the British pommel horse guy who was Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 champion, was edged off the podium in his last event before he retires.
The third gold for Ireland in Paris made it the country’s most successful Olympics.
“I’ve accomplished a lifelong dream,” winning pommel horse guy McClenaghan said, as Irish music played from the Bercy Arena speakers.
History for Ledecky
Twice more atop the podium for Biles would draw her level with former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina on nine golds. No woman in any sport has more, but also up to nine later last night was Katie Ledecky, after a clash of titans in the women’s 800 metres freestyle final.
If there was anyone who could challenge her, it was the formidable Ariane Titmus of Australia, the 400m champion in Paris last weekend.

Titmus stayed close enough to keep it interesting, but it was still a comfortable gold – if that’s the way to describe this draining eight-minute race – for the peerless Ledecky.
She also matched Michael Phelps, her fellow American, by winning the same Olympic event four Games on the trot.
Titmus looked happy with her silver, because that’s what the rest were fighting for.
‘Not the best’
There were three fighting for gold, though, in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, with the Americans, Chinese and Australians neck, neck and neck.
It ended with the US and China both going under Great Britain’s old world record of 3:37.58.
The US’ Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske touched first in 3:37.43, just ahead of the 3:37.55 of China’s Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan.
Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, Joshua Yong, Matthew Temple and Mollie O’Callaghan won bronze in 3:38.76.
This time silver was less welcome. “It’s good, but not the best,” Zhang admitted, holding her fourth medal, none of them gold, of these Games. “Next time, we’ll try for gold.”
As Zheng Qinwen now knows, it’s priceless.


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

While you were sleeping: 5 things to know after Zheng’s Olympic gold and Ledecky’s ninth

Zheng Qinwen celebrates with a Chinese flag after winning gold. Photo: Reuters

Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia (centre) wins the 100m final ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson (left). Photo: AP

Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland in full flight in the men’s pommel horse final. Photo: Reuters

Katie Ledecky (left) celebrates with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus after winning the 800m freestyle final. Photo: AFP

Paris Olympics: Zheng Qinwen aims to inspire Chinese girls after historic tennis gold

Gold medallist Qinwen Zheng of China poses with her medal. Photo: Reuters

Qinwen Zheng of China celebrates after winning gold against Donna Vekic of Croatia. Photo: Reuters

The 21-year-old Zheng became the first Asian player to win an Olympic singles title when she overpowered Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday’s gold medal match in Paris. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen toppled Donna Vekic (left) and Iga Swiatek (right) to win the Olympic title. Photo: AFP

Paris Olympics: France v Argentina descends into chaos with 30-man brawl at full-time

There was no love lost between the France and Argentina players during the Paris Olympics quarter-final clash. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: Viktor Axelsen, battling to retain badminton gold, also a smash in Mandarin

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen has fans in China, and it’s not just because of his exploits on the badminton court. Photo: Reuters

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Paris Olympics 2024

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Sha’Carri Richardson is denied in 100 metres final, while an Irish gymnast makes this his nation’s most successful Games ever


Sha’Carri Richardson is denied in 100 metres final, while an Irish gymnast makes this his nation’s most successful Games ever.


While you were sleeping