By — Andrew Dampf, Associated Press Andrew Dampf, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/photos-and-takeaways-from-paris-olympics-day-5 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos and takeaways from Paris Olympics Day 5 World Jul 31, 2024 8:02 PM EDT PARIS (AP) — Katie Ledecky gritted her teeth and flexed her left arm atop the lane rope. There was plenty of splashing, too, by one of the most accomplished swimmers to ever dive into the pool. Scroll down for more photos. Ledecky dominated the 1,500-meter freestyle at the Paris Games on Wednesday for her eighth Olympic gold medal and 12th medal overall. Katie Ledecky in action at the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle final, at the Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Marko Djurica/Reuters And that might not even have been the most impressive performance on a big night in the pool. France’s Léon Marchand completed one of the most audacious doubles in swimming history by winning the 200 butterfly and the 200 breaststroke about two hours apart. Leon Marchand of France competes in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final, at the Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters There was also a world record in the 100 freestyle as Pan Zhanle of China lowered his own mark. Triathlon success An ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine River paid off when the swimming portions of the Paris Olympics triathlons were finally held in the waterway Wednesday. READ MORE: Olympic organizers to triathletes: Come on in, the Seine water is fine After a couple of canceled swim practices and a day’s delay because of the river’s water quality, the women’s and men’s events finished in spectacular fashion — on the Pont Alexandre III bridge with the Eiffel Tower in the background. A general view as athletes dive into the Seine River at the start of the men’s triathlon during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Grand Palais-Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Andrew Nelles/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters “It’s magical,” said newly minted gold medalist Cassandre Beaugrand of France. “It’s the best route we’ve had in a long time and I know all the other athletes feel the same.” Beaugrand navigated slippery roads that turned the cycling portion into a series of spills following an early morning rain. Cassandre Beaugrand of France in action before crossing the line to win the gold medal in the women’s individual triathlon, in Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters The men’s triathlon, which started less than an hour after the women finished, there was plenty of stifling heat and humidity to deal with as the sun came out in full force. Alex Yee of Britain used a burst at the end to catch and pass Hayden Wilde of New Zealand to win the gold medal by six seconds. U.S. men beat South Sudan in basketball The U.S. men’s basketball team had an easier time with South Sudan in the rematch than it did when the teams first met a couple of weeks ago. The U.S. clinched a trip to the quarterfinals with a 103-86 victory. LeBron James scores a basket at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneve-d’Ascq, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Mark J. Terrill/Pool via Reuters Guatemala’s gold A spinal injury ended Adriana Ruano’s Olympic dream as a gymnast. She came back as a shooter and won Guatemala’s first Olympic gold medal. Ruano was training for the 2011 world championships in gymnastics, a qualifier for the London Olympics the following year, when she felt pain in her back. Gold medalist Adriana Ruano Oliva of Guatemala, left, is congratulated by silver medalist Silvana Maria Stanco of Italy, at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Amr Alfiky/Reuters An MRI showed the then-16-year-old had six damaged vertebrae — a career-ending injury — and Ruano’s doctor recommended she take up shooting if she wanted to stay in sports without aggravating her injured back. That advice paid off Wednesday as Ruano won gold in the women’s trap with an Olympic-record score of 45 out of 50. Djokovic still chasing gold Novak Djokovic is three wins away from earning the only big title he lacks. Djokovic needed a bit of time to assert himself before taking control with a five-game run for a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Dominik Koepfer of Germany, reaching the singles quarterfinals for the fourth time at the Summer Games. Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his match against Dominik Koepfer of Germany, at Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Claudia Greco/Reuters A gold medal is pretty much the only accomplishment of significance missing from the resume of Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia who has won a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles and spent more weeks at No. 1 than anyone in the history of the computerized tennis rankings. Djokovic next faces Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rafael Nadal’s Paris Games ended when he and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated in the men’s doubles quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to the fourth-seeded American duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. More photos from Day 5 Charlie Senior of Australia in action against Vasile Usturoi of Belgium, at North Paris Arena, Villepinte, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters Judo athlete Gabriella Willems of Belgium in action against Miriam Butkereit of Germany, at Champ de Mars Arena, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Clemence Vieira of France in action in the United States vs France beach volleyball match, at Eiffel Tower Stadium, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters Sofia Polcanova of Austria in action during her round of 16 match against Bernadette Szocs of Romania, at South Paris Arena 4, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters Elena Lilik of Germany reacts after competing in the women’s canoe single final, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium – Whitewater, Vaires-sur-Marne, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Molly Darlington/Reuters General view of Mar Molne Magrina of Spain during the women’s trap final, Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Amr Alfiky/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Andrew Dampf, Associated Press Andrew Dampf, Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — Katie Ledecky gritted her teeth and flexed her left arm atop the lane rope. There was plenty of splashing, too, by one of the most accomplished swimmers to ever dive into the pool. Scroll down for more photos. Ledecky dominated the 1,500-meter freestyle at the Paris Games on Wednesday for her eighth Olympic gold medal and 12th medal overall. Katie Ledecky in action at the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle final, at the Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Marko Djurica/Reuters And that might not even have been the most impressive performance on a big night in the pool. France’s Léon Marchand completed one of the most audacious doubles in swimming history by winning the 200 butterfly and the 200 breaststroke about two hours apart. Leon Marchand of France competes in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final, at the Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters There was also a world record in the 100 freestyle as Pan Zhanle of China lowered his own mark. Triathlon success An ambitious plan to clean up the long-polluted Seine River paid off when the swimming portions of the Paris Olympics triathlons were finally held in the waterway Wednesday. READ MORE: Olympic organizers to triathletes: Come on in, the Seine water is fine After a couple of canceled swim practices and a day’s delay because of the river’s water quality, the women’s and men’s events finished in spectacular fashion — on the Pont Alexandre III bridge with the Eiffel Tower in the background. A general view as athletes dive into the Seine River at the start of the men’s triathlon during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Grand Palais-Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Andrew Nelles/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters “It’s magical,” said newly minted gold medalist Cassandre Beaugrand of France. “It’s the best route we’ve had in a long time and I know all the other athletes feel the same.” Beaugrand navigated slippery roads that turned the cycling portion into a series of spills following an early morning rain. Cassandre Beaugrand of France in action before crossing the line to win the gold medal in the women’s individual triathlon, in Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters The men’s triathlon, which started less than an hour after the women finished, there was plenty of stifling heat and humidity to deal with as the sun came out in full force. Alex Yee of Britain used a burst at the end to catch and pass Hayden Wilde of New Zealand to win the gold medal by six seconds. U.S. men beat South Sudan in basketball The U.S. men’s basketball team had an easier time with South Sudan in the rematch than it did when the teams first met a couple of weeks ago. The U.S. clinched a trip to the quarterfinals with a 103-86 victory. LeBron James scores a basket at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneve-d’Ascq, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Mark J. Terrill/Pool via Reuters Guatemala’s gold A spinal injury ended Adriana Ruano’s Olympic dream as a gymnast. She came back as a shooter and won Guatemala’s first Olympic gold medal. Ruano was training for the 2011 world championships in gymnastics, a qualifier for the London Olympics the following year, when she felt pain in her back. Gold medalist Adriana Ruano Oliva of Guatemala, left, is congratulated by silver medalist Silvana Maria Stanco of Italy, at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Amr Alfiky/Reuters An MRI showed the then-16-year-old had six damaged vertebrae — a career-ending injury — and Ruano’s doctor recommended she take up shooting if she wanted to stay in sports without aggravating her injured back. That advice paid off Wednesday as Ruano won gold in the women’s trap with an Olympic-record score of 45 out of 50. Djokovic still chasing gold Novak Djokovic is three wins away from earning the only big title he lacks. Djokovic needed a bit of time to assert himself before taking control with a five-game run for a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Dominik Koepfer of Germany, reaching the singles quarterfinals for the fourth time at the Summer Games. Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his match against Dominik Koepfer of Germany, at Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Claudia Greco/Reuters A gold medal is pretty much the only accomplishment of significance missing from the resume of Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia who has won a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles and spent more weeks at No. 1 than anyone in the history of the computerized tennis rankings. Djokovic next faces Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rafael Nadal’s Paris Games ended when he and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated in the men’s doubles quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to the fourth-seeded American duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. More photos from Day 5 Charlie Senior of Australia in action against Vasile Usturoi of Belgium, at North Paris Arena, Villepinte, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters Judo athlete Gabriella Willems of Belgium in action against Miriam Butkereit of Germany, at Champ de Mars Arena, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Clemence Vieira of France in action in the United States vs France beach volleyball match, at Eiffel Tower Stadium, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters Sofia Polcanova of Austria in action during her round of 16 match against Bernadette Szocs of Romania, at South Paris Arena 4, Paris, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters Elena Lilik of Germany reacts after competing in the women’s canoe single final, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium – Whitewater, Vaires-sur-Marne, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Molly Darlington/Reuters General view of Mar Molne Magrina of Spain during the women’s trap final, Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France, July 31, 2024. Photo by Amr Alfiky/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now