Simone Biles made her return to the Olympic arena on day two of the Paris 2024 Games.
The rain which marked the start of this summer’s Games has gone, with the sun now shining in the French capital.
And the stars also came out on Sunday morning to see the most decorated gymnast in history make her much-anticipated return.
After pulling out of several events at the Tokyo Games in 2021 because of the ‘twisties’ – a disorientating mental block – Biles started her third Olympic campaign in style.
There were early exits for two British athletes but rower Helen Glover, one of GB’s flagbearers along with Tom Daley, made a positive start to her quest for a third Olympic gold.
Meanwhile, a planned triathlon training session had to be cancelled due to pollution in the River Seine.
Biles brilliance on big-stage return
After her struggles in Tokyo, Simone Biles made a dazzling Olympic return with a stunning beam routine in gymnastics qualifying.
There were some concerns over the four-time Olympic champion as, after producing another impressive performance on the floor, she appeared to be limping.
The 27-year-old came back out for the vault with some heavy strapping to her left ankle but came through that routine – and the final apparatus – unscathed and finished top of the all-around standings with three sub-divisions to go.
US coach Cecile Landi later told reporters Biles had “just a little pain in her calf”.
Rapper Snoop Dogg, who is part of the coverage team for American broadcaster NBC, and singer Ariana Grande were at the Bercy Arena to cheer on their compatriot, as was film star Tom Cruise who delighted fans by posing for pictures.
Heartbreak for GB pair
British judoka Chelsie Giles won bronze at Tokyo and had a bye to the second round in Paris, but she suffered a surprise exit.
The 27-year-old was in tears as she spoke to the BBC after a golden score defeat by Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta.
There was also disappointment for Rosie Eccles in the boxing as she fell at the first hurdle, suffering a split-decision loss to Poland’s Aneta Rygielska.
And just a couple of hours before his first-round match in the tennis, British number two Cameron Norrie withdrew from the men’s singles because of injury.
Glover features among dominant GB rowers
Helen Glover won gold in the women’s coxless pairs in 2012 and 2016, before narrowly missing out on the podium after making an unexpected return for the Tokyo Games.
This time the 38-year-old mother of three is competing in the women’s four event with Rebecca Shorten, Esme Booth and Sam Redgrave.
They are favourites for gold after winning two World Cups and the European Championships, and they eased through to the final during a dominant day for GB’s rowers in Vaires-sur-Marne.
Van de Velde booed on Olympic debut
Steven van de Velde’s inclusion in the Netherlands team has been criticised by women’s and safeguarding groups.
The beach volleyball player was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after admitting three counts of rape against a 12-year-old British girl.
An online petition calling for the 29-year-old to be banned from the Olympics had received 90,000 signatures before he made his debut at the Games on Sunday.
There was a mixed reaction, with audible boos, as he and partner Matthew Immers were introduced to the crowd at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
The Dutch pair are ranked 10th in the world, but lost 2-1 to Italy’s Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula, ranked 25th.
Seine swimming session cancelled
Heavy rain led to Saturday’s skateboarding being postponed until Monday, but with the sun out in Paris, the women’s street skateboarding competition got under way on Sunday morning.
However, a proposed familiarisation for triathletes swimming in the River Seine had to be cancelled.
Tests showed the recent rain had resulted in the water quality dropping below an acceptable standard.
Given the improved weather, organisers said they are “confident” the Seine will be deemed clean enough before the start of the triathlon competitions on Tuesday.
