Rio 2016 Wednesday 10th preview: Willis set to follow Peaty lead in breaststroke tilt as GB gymnasts target Uchimura

The 2016 Olympic Games is well underway with the world’s best athletes battling it out for medals. Here are the most fascinating events happening on the first Wednesday in Rio, Brazil.

ONES TO WATCH:

Andrew Willis will be hoping to follow fellow Briton Adam Peaty’s gold medal path in the breaststroke when he lines up in the men’s 200m. The 25-year-old is in a rich vein of form presently and he could pose a serious threat to pre-event favourites Josh Prenot and German Marco Koch (THURSDAY 02.03 BST).

THE MAIN EVENT:

GYMNASTICS - MEN’S INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND (WEDNESDAY 20.00 BST)

If anyone saw how Japan came back from the brink to win gold in the men’s team final, then they will know all about Kohei Uchimura. The 27-year-old helped to spark their title charge and he is favourite for the individual all-around competition too. The six-time world champion claimed gold from Germany’s Marcel Nguyen and American Danell Leyva four years ago in London with Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev, Russian David Belyavskiy and Briton Nile Wilson tipped to run him close this time around.

THE RIVALRY:

CYCLING - MEN’S INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL (WEDNESDAY 14.00 BST)

Belgium and Holland triumphed in the two controversial road race events that helped launch this year’s Olympic Games with Holland set to figure again in the men’s time trial thanks to Tom Dumoulin. He is nursing a broken wrist that he sustained in the Tour de France, where he won two stages, nevertheless his rivalry with London 2012 silver medallist Tony Martin and bronze medallist Chris Froome will have cycling fans on the edge of their seats. The 55km course should favour the climbers more in Rio.

THE UNDERDOG:

BASKETBALL - MEN’S PRELIMINARY ROUND (WEDNESDAY 23.00 BST)

Every men’s American basketball team that enters an Olympics will always draw comparisons with the 1992 Dream Team of Jordan, Magic, Bird et al, however this year big names are missing for the favourites. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has to do without LeBron James and Steph Curry to name but two with new Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant leading the team. Australia might not have the same calibre of player on paper, but in San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills they have an infectious whirlwind who has already led the Boomers to wins over France and Serbia alongside Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut.

THE REDEMPTION:

CANOE SLALOM - MEN’S KAYAK K1 (WEDNESDAY 17.30 BST)

Some of the world’s best paddlers on current form didn’t even make it to Rio, such is the strength in depth in the men’s K1 at the moment. German Hannes Aigner won bronze at London 2012, so he will be eager to convert that into gold this time around after qualifying third. Italian Giovanni De Gennaro qualified first and Briton Joseph Clarke second with Brazilian Pedro Da Silva and Frenchman Sebastien Combot also set to push hard for the medal placings.

Stay tuned for daily previews throughout all the Olympic Games in Rio.

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