PARIS: There are 23 gold medals up for grabs at the
Olympics on Wednesday, the bulk of them being given out in athletics and others in sailing, artistic swimming, boxing, skateboarding and speed climbing, among other sports.
Here's what you need to know about the Olympics on Wednesday:
MARATHON SWIMMING
The familiarisation session for the marathon swimming event in the Seine river went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday as water quality tests met thresholds, after being cancelled on Tuesday due to concerns over water pollution.
The Seine's water quality issues proved a headache for organisers during the triathlon events, with familiarisation sessions cancelled and the men's race postponed by 24 hours.
NOT A JOKE
When Jacky Godoffe floated the idea of setting a fixed route for competitive speed climbing to the sport's international governing body in 2004 it was laughed off as a joke.
Fast-forward 20 years and the universal route that the trailblazing French climber conceived then will mark a moment in history at the Paris Games, becoming the stage for the first-ever Olympic medals to be handed out in speed climbing.
WEIGHT
Indian wrestler
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified before the women's 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday after failing to make weight, the Indian Olympic Association said.
Phogat had been set to lock horns with Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal.
CHINA ARREST
Beijing police have arrested a woman suspected of posting defamatory comments on social media about Chinese athletes and coaches following the table tennis women's singles final at the Paris Olympics, the police said.
GOAT IN THE BOAT
New Zealand paddler Lisa Carrington, known back home as the "
GOAT in the boat
" (Greatest Of All Time) and her country's most successful Olympian, gets her quest for an individual kayak sprint gold under way at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
PALMER TAKES ON U.S. TRIO
Australia's Keegan Palmer aims to become the first back-to-back gold medallist in Park skateboarding but faces competition from the American trio of world number one Tate Carew, Gavin Bottger and Tom Schaar at the iconic Place de la Concorde.
U.S. DOUBLE IN GOLF?
The women's Olympic golf competition starts at Le Golf National, with world number one Nelly Korda heading a 60-strong field as she tries to defend her Tokyo title and complete a U.S. sweep after Scottie Scheffler won the men's tournament.
RACE OF THE GAMES?
American Cole Hocker delivered one of the all-time Olympic shocks when he won the 1,500 metres gold with a stunning finish to blast past British world champion Josh Kerr as defending champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen faded to fourth.
He was part of a great night for the United States on the track, with Gabby Thomas finally claiming the global title she has promised for so long in the 200 metres.
ALGERIA'S KHELIF INTO BOXING FINAL
Algeria fans flocked to the match to support Imane Khelif on Tuesday as she beat Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng by unanimous decision in a welterweight semi-final fight.
Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 worlds, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been thrust into the spotlight at the Olympics as part of a gender row that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.-- Reuters