Saturday’s Rio 2016 menu is loaded with treats including a first look at the fastest man on Earth and probably the last Olympic glimpse of a swimming legend.
The action comes thick and fast with medal events in athletics, swimming and track cycling — and they feature some of the biggest global sporting stars.
World records have tumbled in the swimming pool, most notably with Michael Phelps and his incredible medal haul, and in the velodrome. But with attention turning to the track, perhaps it’s time for some runners to get in the record books.
There are medal games in the tennis — including the women’s singles competition, this time without defending champion Serena Williams — boxing, fencing, rowing, shooting and weightlifting.
The US is way out in front in the medal table with China right behind, and to date there’s a good showing from Japan and Australia.
With all the medal contests in the next 48 hours, there’s a good chance the top 10 will be reshuffled by the end of the weekend.
Here are some of the exciting highlights worth catching on Saturday as Rio 2016 goes into the second week of competition.
Athletics
Usain Bolt will begin his attempt to gain the incredible “Triple-Triple” — Olympic sprint titles in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the relay. He already has those gold medals from Beijing in 2008 and London 2012, but can he repeat the feat at Rio? As the 100 meters heats begin, American Justin Gatlin and fellow Jamaican Johan Blake will try to rain on Bolt’s parade.
Mo Farah, one of the track stars from London, is also aiming for multiple accolades. He is the defending Olympic champion over 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters and wants the titles again in Rio. He has already notched up victories over those distances at three successive World Championships — the “Triple-Double.”
Farah will start in the longer distance Saturday but faces a challenge from strong Kenyan and Ethiopian teams. The main threat to Farah will likely come from Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor who beat the Briton in a half marathon earlier in the year.
Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce could actually beat Bolt to a sprinting landmark if she can win the 100 meters gold. If successful, it will be her third successive Olympic title over 100 meters with her final coming a day ahead of the men’s gold medal race at the same distance.
Dutch star Dafne Schippers Americans English Gardner and Tori Bowie as well as Jamaican compatriot Elaine Thompson will present a stern test to her Fraser-Pryce’s title hopes.
More superstars will be fighting for glory Saturday when Jessica Ennis-Hill tries to repeat her London 2012 success in the final event of the heptathlon — the 800 meters run. Expect a strong showing from Canadian all-rounder Brianne Theisen-Eaton and another young Briton, Katarina Johnson-Thompson as the grueling seven-event contest reaches a climax.
But the excitement doesn’t end there — there’s also the men’s long jump and discus finals.
Farah, Ennis-Hill and long jumper Greg Rutherford made up the British trio who won gold at London 2012 within an hour of each other. They will all be hoping to repeat that “Super Saturday” success.
There will be heats in other events including the men’s pole vault, the women’s 400 meters and the men’s 800 meters.
Swimming
Given his astonishing performances and a come-back from retirement, you wouldn’t be surprised if Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, reappears at Tokyo in 2020. But for now at least, Saturday will be your last chance to see the great man in the pool.
Phelps is expected to line up for the US team in the swimming finale — the 4 x 100 meters medley relay — and likely add to his unrivaled haul of medals in this his fifth Olympic Games. The event has been won by the American team at every games since its introduction in 1992.
It’s also the medley final for the women. Watch out for Australians Cate Campbell and Emily Seebohm, and American Lilly King if they start.
Ahead of the medleys there are two other finals to close the Rio swimming pool events — in the women’s 50 meters freestyle and the men’s 1500 meters freestyle.
Track cycling
British cyclists dominated the track in the 2012 Games but struggled to match those successes in the intervening years.
But they look to be back. Great Britain’s women smashed the team pursuit world record on the opening day of track cycling Thursday and will be looking to retain the title they won in London. Then the men’s team won sprint gold against New Zealand, setting an Olympic record in the process.
The GB women pursuit team will be matched against the Canadians in the next stage of the battle for gold and the US will meet Australia. Poland, China, Italy and New Zealand are also still in the hunt.
In the women’s keirin, Australian veteran and triple world champion in this event, Anna Mears, will be the one to beat. GB’s Becky James and German Kristina Vogel (both keirin world champions) are expected to feature.
It’s also the men’s sprint semi-finals Saturday. Gregory Bauge (France), Sam Webster (New Zealand) and Theo Bos (Netherlands) are among those hoping to deny GB’s Jason Kenny of any more podiums.
Trampoline gymnastics
Artistic gymnasts are enjoying a two-day break after a truly punishing schedule in which US sensation Simone Biles became all-round women’s champion and could yet add to her titles in Rio.
But gymnasts are in action elsewhere — this time it’s the turn of the men on the trampoline. The qualifiers and the final take place Saturday.
The event was introduced at the Sydney Games in 2000. Athletes can bounce up to eight meters (26 feet) as they perform their routines.
China is strong in this contest with both Dong Dong and Lei Gao on the start list but watch out for Russians Andrey Yudin and Dmitrii Ushakov.
