ReutersOlympics-Athletics-World record holder Harrison on course for gold dash
American Kendra Harrison stayed on course to become the first world record holder to win Olympic gold in the women's 100 metres hurdles in 33 years by safely qualifying through her heats on Saturday. Bulgaria's Yordanka Donkova held the world record when she triumphed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the feat has not been repeated since. A few weeks after failing to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games at the U.S. Olympic trials, Harrison set the world record of 12.20 in London.
ReutersOlympics-Athletics-Contenders for men's 800m qualify comfortably for semis
Contenders for the men's 800 metres qualified comfortably to the semifinals on Saturday, as they began their mission to become the new Olympic champion amidst the oppressive heat at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium. A new winner is set to emerge in Tokyo for the first time since 2012, after double Olympic gold medallist Kenyan David Rudisha's persistent injuries denied him the chance to defend his title, kicking the race wide open. Botswana's 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos, who boasts this year's world leading time of 1:42.91, advanced to Sunday's semifinals by winning his heat with a 1:45.04.
ReutersOlympics-Triathlon-Inspired Yee remembers gift from 'legend' Luis nine years ago
Frenchman Vincent Luis said that he had no regrets about a moment of kindness that helped inspire Alex Yee to follow his triathlon dream after the young Briton ran away from him to secure gold for Britain in the mixed relay on Saturday. Luis's French team finished third behind the United States and as the double world champion shared the stage for a post-race press conference he shared the tale. "In 2012 I was asked by a friend if I could give a gift to a young guy starting triathlon and it was Alex," Luis said.
ReutersOlympics-Equestrian-German birthday boy Jung takes eventing lead
TOKYO (Reuters) -Germany's Michael Jung laid a solid foundation to defend his eventing gold medals from Rio and London, beating world number one Oliver Townend of Britain to an early lead after the dressage phase of the three-test discipline. "Now is definitely not a time to rest, we have to focus, ignore everything else and ride as if we were middling in this competition, we will have to fight properly," said Jung, who was the first eventing rider to hold top titles from the Olympic, World and European competitions at the same time. China's Alex Hua Tian came third individually, with Britain headed for team gold, Germany silver and New Zealand bronze at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park, also the venue for the equestrian events the last time the Olympics took place in Tokyo in 1964.
