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PARIS OLYMPICS 2024: What you need to know right now

PARIS: Simone Biles will be chasing a sixth Olympic gold medal when she competes in the women's gymnastics all-around final on Thursday.

That's after Leon Marchand won an unprecedented two Olympic finals on the same night in the pool on Wednesday, delighting a rapturous home crowd and securing his status as France's face of the Games so far.

A total of 18 gold medals are up for grabs on Thursday.

Here's what you need to know about the Olympics on Thursday.

MARVELLOUS MARCHAND

France's Olympic star Marchand completed an unprecedented 200 metres breaststroke and butterfly double on Wednesday, winning his third gold of the Paris Games and raising the roof at a rocking La Defense Arena.

Katie Ledecky won her 12th Olympic medal after blitzing the rest of the field in the 1,500 metres freestyle.

SIXTH GOLD FOR BILES?

Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all-time, made her much-anticipated return to the Olympic stage on Sunday. The American aims for her second gold medal of the Paris Olympics in the women's gymnastics all-around final at 6.15 pm (16:15 GMT).

18 GOLD

There are a total of 18 gold medals up for grabs on Thursday, including in rowing, swimming, judo, sailing, athletics and shooting.

PINTADO BLAZES TO 20KM RACE WALK WIN

Brian Pintado of Ecuador pulled away from the field over the final kilometre to capture gold in the men's 20km race walk, crossing the finish line in a time of one hour 18 minutes and 55 seconds.

RIFLE MEDAL

China's Liu Yukun

won the gold

in the men's 50 metre rifle three positions. Ukraine's Serhiy Kulish won the silver, and India's Swapnil Kusale took bronze.

MORE SWIMMING

Four medals are at stake at La Defense Arena including the women's 200 metres butterfly, the men's 200 backstroke and the women's 200 breaststroke.

The marquee event of the day is the women's 4x200 freestyle relay, with the heats in the morning session followed by the final in the evening.

ACTION-PACKED DAY AT 3x3 BASKETBALL

No fewer than 16 matches, two per team, will be played during the third day of the pool stage of the 3x3 basketball tournament.

DOPING ROW

China's anti-doping agency (CHINADA) has accused the New York Times of politicising doping issues and said the publication was trying to "affect the psychology" of Chinese athletes at the Paris Olympics.

The Times reported on Tuesday that two Chinese swimmers in 2022 tested positive for a banned steroid but had provisional suspensions lifted when the results were blamed on contaminated food.

SURF IS BACK?

Competition in Tahiti is likely to resume on Thursday after storm delays.

OLYMPIC FEVER

Stadiums are packed. Crowds are going wild, chanting, applauding, supporting the home team. The French are also tuning in by the millions to watch the Games on TV. After months of doom and gloom, Olympic fever has caught on in France.

OLYMPIC BAGPIPES

The Paris Olympics have revealed a new endurance sport of sorts,

bagpipe-busking

from Melbourne to Paris. Skateboarding and its array of tricks like the half pipe may be hitting the Paris 2024 streets for the first time, but a lone bagpiper was looking to win over the crowds in the French capital.-- Reuters

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