Thailand’s Sopita Tanasan blew away the opposition to grab the first gold medal of the weightlifting competition at the Rio Games on Saturday.
The 21-year-old dominated the women’s 48kg, lifting 92kg in the snatch and 108kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 200kg to finish first in weightlifting’s lightest category in what was a strong day for Southeast Asia.
Pint-sized Sopita, who is a regular lifter in the 53kg class, grabbed the opportunity that came her after injury struck the hot Chinese favourite Hou Zhihui, to win with ease.
Scandal-hit Russia, still reeling after a massive doping scandal, got off the mark with Beslan Mudranova��s gold in the men’s 60kg judo.
Belgian Van Avermaet avoided a crash on the final descent and overhauled leader Rafal Majka with a powerful sprint in the final 100 metres, as he sped across the line to claim the gold medal in the 237.5km (147.5 miles) cycle race.
“It was the hardest day I’ve ever had in my life on a bike. It was a brutal, brutal, strange old race.” said Ireland’s Dan Martin, who finished at 13th, right behind the Tour de France winner Chris Froome.
Camille Grassineau, the French womens rugby player, scored the first try at Rio, and the first ever Olympic try in rugby’s sevens format, as France beat Spain 24-7.
Serbian rowers Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik were allowed to move onto the next round, after they turned turtle in choppy waters at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.
Zimbabwea��s Micheen Barbara Thornycroft stated that conditions were “probably the worst I’ve ever raced in.” “It was chaotic. It was anyone’s game, whoever could get their blades in and move. I was seeing everyone catching crabs and tipping,” she said.
The day’s most anguishing moment belonged to Samir Ait Said, the French gymnast, who suffered a horrific leg break while performing in the vault. The 26-year-old’s left leg folded beneath him as he landed badly during the men’s qualification event.
Yusra Mardini won her 100m-butterfly heat, but couldna��t make it to the semi-finals.
“Everything was amazing. It was the only thing I ever wanted was to compete in the Olympics,” said the 18-year-old Syrian refugee who was swimming for her life less than a year ago, and is representing the Games’ first ever refugee team.
