Olympic 2016 Results: Sunday's Live Updating Medal Count and Standings
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is a man that’s long relished the spotlight, and the focus of the sporting world will be on him once again on Sunday.
That’s because the blue ribbon event of the 2016 Olympics will be held, with Bolt the favourite for glory in the men’s 100-metre final. The 29-year-old is on the hunt for his third gold in a row in this event, although the frenetic nature of the races means that’s an accolade that’s far from guaranteed, even for a man of his considerable talent.
Away from the athletics, there’s a jam-packed Sunday in store, with medals up for grabs in the track cycling and the men’s golf event. Here’s a look ahead at what’s to come and the live medals table from Rio de Janeiro.
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Bolt Set to Star on Sunday
At what is poised to be the final Games of Bolt’s career, the 29-year-old has a chance to become the first man in history to win the 100-metre sprint in the competition on three occasions. He’s currently level with the great Carl Lewis after wins in 2008 and 2012.
The Olympic Stadium in Rio will be delighted should he accomplish that astonishing feat. In Brazil, as is the case for much of the world, the crowds have revelled in Bolt’s relaxed approach to racing and the conviction with which he’s performed so far.
As the Guardian’s Owen Gibson noted, the Jamaican has caused a stir with a lot of the press too:
It’ll be serious business for Bolt come Sunday night, though, with plenty of competitors keen to knock him off his pedestal. The most likely sprint star to do so is the United States’ Justin Gatlin, who isn’t quite as popular with the neutral; he served a four-year ban from 2006 after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances.
Aside from the main event of the evening, there are plenty of other fascinating battles set to pan out on the track. Indeed, the men’s 400-metre final is always a thrilling watch, with Grenada’s Kirani James, Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and America’s LaShawn Merritt all well-fancied.
James is the reigning Olympic champion. As noted by the FloTrack Twitter feed, he has produced some blistering times with plenty in the tank en route to the final:
Elsewhere, men’s golf is set to come to a fascinating conclusion, with Great Britain’s Justin Rose and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson the two favourites for the gold.
Rose shot a brilliant 65 on Saturday to move into the lead ahead of the final round. He’s 12-under par for the tournament, although Open champion Stenson is looming ominously, just one back. Despite his excellent performance on Day 3, Rose revealed on Twitter the course was providing a significant test:
The velodrome has been home to some of the most gripping racing at the Olympics so far, and that’s a trend set to continue on Sunday.
Great Britain have enjoyed plenty of success so far in the track cycling and will do so again in the men’s sprint. That’s because compatriots Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner are to fight it out for gold in the individual sprint final.
Having both been part of the successful team sprint win earlier in the week, expect allegiances to be temporarily put aside and a pulsating battle to ensue. The best-of-three format of these finals always adds an exciting dimension to the action as well.
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