RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — It’s day 12 of the Rio Olympic Games and there are 16 gold medals up for grabs in nine different sports.
After a compelling finish to the men’s golf competition, expect an above-par women’s event with all but one of the top-10 players in the world teeing off Wednesday.
Inside Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Stadium, Elaine Thompson is hoping to be the first Jamaican to add a 200-meter title to her 100-meter crown before you know who …
Women’s golf tees off
Who will join Justin Rose as golf’s first Olympic champion in 116 years?
After a gripping men’s event crowned Rose the winner at the very last hole, the women’s golf tournament tees off with nine of the world top-10 players going for gold.
Ha-Na Jang is the unlucky world No. 10 who failed to be picked because of the huge strength in depth in Korean golf.
The Republic of Korea have an incredibly strong quartet in Rio with seven-time major winner Inbee Park leading the pack.
However, it’s New Zealand teenager, and world No.1 Lydia Ko who is favorite for the title.
American top-10 players Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis are also among the 60 starters for the first round.
Thompson targets sprint double
Elaine Thompson can get a head start on Usain Bolt by becoming the first Jamaican to win a sprint double in Rio.
Fresh from winning the 100m title, Thompson goes for 200m gold aiming to better the silver she won at the 2015 World Championships.
It’s more of a marathon than a sprint for the decathletes who begin their quest for silverware on day 12.
American world No.1 Ashton Eaton is defending the title he won at London 2012 as the 10-event competition kicks off with the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m.
There was a slight blip in the champion’s preparations when he took to social media to defend himself from criticism after he was pictured wearing a Canada cap to support his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who took bronze in the women’s heptathlon.
Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi has a few hurdles to jump if he’s to also protect the 3,000m steeplechase title he has won at London 2012.
Countryman and world No.1 Conseslus Kipruto will provide a tough challenge to the reigning world champion as he has the top three times in the world this year.
Castor Semenya returns to the spotlight Wednesday as she gets her 800m competition up and running.
In 2009 the South African won the world title at the age of 18 and immediately faced widespread scrutiny over her sex. Track and field’s governing body, the IAAF, eventually submitted her to a gender test.
Semenya was subsequently found to have unnaturally high levels of testosterone.
The women’s long jump and 100-meter hurdles complete the track and field finals on Wednesday.
Time up for table tennis
It’s almost time to put away our Olympic bat and balls as the table tennis concludes on day 12 with the men’s team medal matches.
It’s no surprise to see defending champions China contest the gold medal match against Japan while South Korea and Germany go head-to-head for the bronze.
World No.1 Ma Long teams up with Zhang Jike, the man he beat to win singles gold, for China. The nation is a table tennis powerhouse winning all but four gold medals since the sport joined the Olympic roster in 1988.
