Olympics 2016: Latest news and today's key events and times

Daily guide featuring everything from the stars of Team GB to the rules of water polo and the Olympic cycling schedule

Team GB remain second in the Olympic medals table heading into the final few days of competition in Rio. After a day off on day 12 the nation's athletes were back on the podium on day 13, picking up three golds, two silvers and bronze.

And there is the guarantee of more to come today, with the women's hockey team in action against Netherlands for gold.

Here's what else to look out for tonight, as Usain Bolt looks to complete the 'triple-triple'

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  • Golf: Charley Hull starts third round two shots off lead
  • Equestrian: Jumping final feat. Ben Skelton & Nick Maher, from 2pm
  • Boxing: Men's super-heavyweight semi-finals, Joe Joyce vs Ivan Dychko. 7.15pm
  • BMX: Women's final, 7pm
  • BMX: Men's final, 7.15pm
  • Diving: 10m platform preliminaries feat. Tom Daley. 8pm
  • Hockey: Wone's final, Team GB vs Netherlands. 9pm
  • Football: Women's final, Sweden vs Germany. 9.30pm
  • Modern pentathlon: Women's running/shooting race. 10pm
  • Athletics: Men's 4x100m relay final

Olympics 2016 diary: More gold for Usain Bolt and Team GB

19 August

The medals kept on coming for Team GB on day 13 of the Rio Olympics, with three more golds, two silvers and a bronze to add to the nation's amazing tally.

Elsewhere Usain Bolt won his sixth individual Olympic gold medal as he cantered to victory in the 200m final, he is now one race away from a historic 'treble treble' - victory in the 100m, 200m and relay in three successive Games.

Here's how the action panned out:

Olympics day 13 preview

18 August

After a quiet day 12 there should be more medals for Team GB on day 13, with the postponed medal race in the women's 470 class set to see Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark win gold, provided they finish.

It is another big night on the track with Usain Bolt going for his second medal of the Games in the final of the men's 200m, a race in which he was pledged to try and break the world record.

  • Badminton: Men’s doubles, bronze-medal match feat. Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge. 2.10pm
  • Taekwando: Women's 57kg begions 2.30pm, final at 3am
  • Triathlon: Men's race feat. Alistair and Johnny Brownlee. 3pm
  • Diving: Women's 10m platform feat. Tonia Couch. Semi-final 2pm, final 8pm
  • Sailing: Women’s 470 medal race feat. Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark. 5.05pm
  • Boxing: Women's fly-weight semi-final feat. Nicola Adams. 6pm
  • Athletics: Women's 400m final feat. Eilidh Doyle. 2.15am
  • Athletics: Men's 200m final feat. Adam Gemili and Usain Bolt. 2.30am

Olympics 2016 diary: Bolt, Neymar and Team GB stars eye gold

It was a quiet day for Team GB at Rio on Wednesday after the success of Tuesday with no medals added to their tally on day 12 (as was the case at the 2012 Games). But they remain second overall in the medal table, just ahead of China, who have drawn level with Britain's gold medal haul but have won four fewer silvers.

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(Image credit: PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images)

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny: Perfectly ordinary Olympians

17 August

After their record-breaking achievements in Rio, everyone is talking about Team GB's golden couple Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.

Between them, they have won ten Olympic gold medals and have established themselves as two of the most successful Olympians the UK has ever produced.

But the two cyclists offer little for the gossip columnists to write about beyond Trott's interest in fashion and ability to put her hair in braids. Kenny, by his own admission, is a "miserable sod".

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(Image credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Olympics day 12 preview

17 August

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny were the toast of Team GB on day 11 of the 2016 Olympics in Rio as they each claimed a gold to become the most successful male and female Olympians the country has ever produced.

They won gold, along with sailor Giles Scott. And there were more medals for cyclists Becky James (silver) and Katy Marchant (bronze), diver Jack Laugher (silver), gymnasts Amy Tinkler and Nile Wilson and boxer Joshua Buatsi (all bronze).

Team GB now has 50 medals and sits above China in the medals table and has surpassed its target for the Games with five days remaining. Here's what to look out for today, including another gold in the sailing:

  • Women's golf begins 12pm
  • Athletics: Men's 5,000m heats feat. Mo Farah, 2.05pm
  • Women's sailing: Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark will win gold in the 470 class if they finish. 5.05pm
  • Women's hockey, semi-finals: Team GB vs New Zealand, 9pm.
  • Boxing: Savannah Marshall vs Nouchka Fontijn, women's middleweight quater-final. 7.15pm
  • Athletics: Men;'s 200m semi-finals feat. Usain Bolt. 2am
  • Athletics: Women's 200m final feat. Dafne Schippers. 2.30am
  • Athletics: Women's 100m hurdles final. 2.55am

Olympics 2016 virals: Laura Trott and Jason Kenny sexism storm

17 August

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny may be the golden couple of the Olympics, but the issue of who makes dinner sparked a sexism row in the wake of their triumphs in the velodrome on Tuesday night. BBC commentator Chris Boardman was lambasted after Kenny won the keirin event for saying the cyclist appeared unfazed while his fiancee, who had earlier won the omnium, was in tears.

"She's doing the emotion for both of them really, isn't it?" he said. "He's looking at her going, 'What's for tea?'"

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(Image credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Olympics 2016: Kenny and Trott drive Team GB to 50 medals

16 August

After being tasked with winning 48 medals in Brazil, one more than they managed in Beijing in 2008, Team GB have swept past that target and they are now aiming to match the 65 medals they won in 2012.

Here's how the action panned out on day 11:

Olympics day 11 preview

16 August

The medals kept on coming for Team GB on day ten of the Olympics, as Charlotte Dujardin claimed dressage gold, cyclist Mark Cavendish won silver in the omnium and Sophie Hitchon took a surprise bronze in the hammer throw.

There could be even more success today with several medals up for grabs at the velodrome. Here's what to look out for:

  • Badminton: Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge vs Zhang Nan and Fu Haifeng of China in the doubles semi-finals. 2.40pm.
  • Boxing: Nicola Adams vs Tetyana Kob, 3pm.
  • Athletics: Men's 200m heats begin at 3.50pm, Usain Bolt runs at 4.46pm.
  • Sailing: Gold medal winner Giles Scott in final Finn race from 6.35pm.
  • Cycling: Women’s omnium feat Laura Trott. Time trial begins at 2.57pm and the points race at 9.05pm.
  • Cycling: Women's sprint feat. Becky James and Katy Marchant. Final at 9.44pm.
  • Cycling: Men's keirin final, feat Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner, 10.20pm.
  • Diving: Men's 3m diving, feat Jack Laugher. Final at 10pm

Olympics 2016 diary: Gold for Dujardin, silver for Cavendish

16 August

After the drama of Sunday, Britain's most succesful day at the Olympics since the 1920 Games, Monday was mellower for Team GB. Nonetheless there were still more medals to add to the collection, bumping the total up to 41, one more than this point in the 2012 Games.

Caster Semenya: ANC Women's League hits out at critics

15 August

South Africa's ANC Women's League has hit out at the latest "unwarranted gender analysis" of Olympics runner Caster Semenya.

The 25-year-old became the first person to win all three of the 400m, 800m and 1500m titles at the South African National Championships this year and is expected to dominate the Olympics 800m race later this week. However, she has long faced scrutiny over her gender.

Usain Bolt: A 'modern Muhammad Ali' who has saved athletics

15 August

There was plenty to shout about on day nine of the Olympics as Team GB registered five golds and athletics heralded the arrival of a new star in the form of South African 400m runner Wayde van Niekerk, who beat Michael Johnson's 17-year-old world record.

But above it all towered the figure of Usain Bolt.

The Jamaican superstar sauntered to a third straight 100m title and laid the foundations of what could be an historic "triple-triple" - winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays at three consecutive Olympics.

Usain Bolt 2016 Olympic 100m final Rio

(Image credit: Getty)

Olympics day ten preview

15 August

After a sensational weekend for Team GB, with eight gold medals won on Saturday and Sunday with the promise of more to come.

Today promises to be a quieter day than 'Sensational Sunday' but there will still be plenty of action involving athletes from Team GB going for medals.

  • Women's 10km marathon swim, 1pm
  • Athletics: Men's 880m final, 2.25am
  • Equestrian: Women's dressage freestyle, feat Charlotte Dujardin, 2pm
  • Cycling: Omnium day two feat Mark Cavendish. Points race begins at 9.23pm
  • Hockey; England vs Spain in the women's quarter-final, 10pm

Olympics 2016 diary: Whitlock, Murray, Kenny and Rose win gold

15 August

It's been hailed as Sensational Sunday - a day of Olympic success to rival Super Saturday four years ago in London.

Team GB didn't quite manage the six gold medals it achieved in 2012, but a haul of five golds and three silvers made it one of the greatest ever days for UK sport.

Olympic 2016 virals: Green pool mystery and Whitlock vs Smith

15 August

Has the mystery of the diving pool been solved? Do Team GB gynmastics medallists get on? And is the picture of Usain Bolt the iconic image of the Games?

See more

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte robbed at gunpoint in Rio

15 August

Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte has confirmed he was robbed at gunpoint in Rio after Games organisers initially denied the story.

The US swimmer was returning to the Olympic village in a taxi with three team-mates in the early hours of Sunday when the incident took place.

Olympics 2016 day seven preview

12 August

It was another great day for Team GB at Rio 2016 as the British track cycling juggernaut rolled into town and Katherine Grainger established herself as the country's greatest female Olympian, as she claimed her fifth rowing medal.

Team GB's sevens side will not be happy with the way their tournament ended, beaten 43-7 by Fiji, but a silver medal will make up for it. Andy Murray continued his progress in the men's singles and mixed doubles, with Heather Watson, although there was disappointment for his brother, Jamie, and Johanna Konta who bowed out of the Olympics.

With the Games entering it's second week the athletics gets underway on day seven, and Bradley Wiggins goes for gold on the track. Here's what to watch out for:

  • Shooting: Skeet feat. Amber Hill - qualification from 1pm
  • Athletics: Women's heptathlon - 100m hurdles from 1.35pm
  • Equestrian: Team dressage feat. Charlotte Dujardin, 2pm
  • Rowing: Women's coxless pair final feat. Helen Stanning and Heather Glover, 3.06pm
  • Rowing: Men's coxless four final, 3.27pm.
  • Cycling: Men's team pursuit final feat. Bradley Wiggins, 8:52pm
  • Swimming: Men's 100m butterfly final, 2.12am
  • Swimming: Women's 800m freestyle final feat. Jaz Carlin, 2.20am

Olympics 2016: What time is the men's 100m athletics final?

Key dates and times for the big stars of Rio, including Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill as the athletics programme gets underway.

Usain Bolt

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Olympics 2016 diary: Joy for Grainger, cyclists win gold

Britain reaped several more Olympic medals in Rio on Thursday, claiming four in total to take the Team GB tally to 16 so far, one more ahead of their 2012 haul at the same stage of the Games.

More importantly, after a week of competition Team GB is eighth in the table - ahead of both Germany and France.

Katherine Grainger

Olympics day six preview

11 August

Britain enjoyed its best day of the Games so far on Wednesday with a haul of six medals, including two golds.

First, Joe Clarke took a brilliant gold in the kayak K1 thanks to a nerveless final run. The 23-year-old from Staffordshire had qualified third fastest for the final but he saved his best for last, posting a time of 88.53 seconds on the 250m white-water course to take first place.

Then later that evening Team GB won their first diving gold in Olympic history after a stunning performance by Jack Laugher and Chris Mears in the men's synchronised 3m springboard. Added to their to Commonwealth and European crowns, it underlines their dominance in an event traditionally ruled by the Chinese.

There were also bronze medals fro Chris froome in the time trial, Max Whitlock in gymastics, shooter Steven Scott and judoka Sally Conway.

The medal rush took Team GB to ninth in the table and puts them two ahead of their medal tally at the same stage of the 2012 Games.

Here's what to watch out for on day six, with plenty of rowing action after yesterday's postponement and the start of the track cycling competition:

  • Men's golf, featuring Justin Rose and Danny Willett
  • Equestrian: Dressage from 2pm
  • Rowing: Men's coxless four final, 2.12pm
  • Rowing: Men's coxless pair final, 2.44pm
  • Rowing: Women's double sculls final, 3.04pm
  • Rowing: Men's double sculls final, 3.24pm
  • Tennis: Murray v Fognini (4.30pm) and Konta v Kerber (6pm)
  • Canoeing: Men's double final, 6.15pm
  • Gymnastics: Women's individual all-round feat. Ellie Downie, 8pm
  • Cycling: Men's team sprint final, 10.25pm
  • Swimming: Women’s 200m breaststroke final, 2.17am,
  • Swimming: Men's 200m individual medley, 3.01am.

Olympics 2016 virals: Did GB swimmer mock Michael Phelps?

A swimmer from Team GB appears to have been caught on camera bowing down to swimmer Michael Phelps, but was he being sarcastic?

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Here's what's trending from Rio:

Olympics 2016 diary: Clarke, Laugher and Mears win golds

10 August

Britain enjoyed its best day of the Games so far on Wednesday with a haul of six medals, including two golds. The medal rush took Team GB to ninth in the table and puts them two ahead of their medal tally at the same stage of the 2012 Games.

Jack Laugher and Chris Mears

Olympics 2016: Day five preview

Day four of the Rio Olympics saw Team GB win two more medals in the pool, but they missed out elsewhere as William Fox-Pitt finished 12th in the eventing, David Florence saw his chances of a medal go up in smoke in the canoe slalom and and the women's diving and gynmastics teams finished fifth in their finals.

But Team GB fared better in the tennis and rugby sevens on a day when there were shocks in both sports. Andy Murray and Johanna Konta made it through to the next round and Team GB's rugby players won both their games, but Serena Williams was knocked out and favourites New Zealand lost to Japan at sevens.

Here are the key events and Uk timings for day five:

  • Women's cycling time trial: Emma Pooley (12.30pm)
  • Men's rowing, quadruple sculls final (12.30pm)
  • Double trap shooting: Tim Kneale and Steve Scott (1pm)
  • Men's cycling time trial: Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas (2pm)
  • Women's weightlifting 69kg: Rebekah Tiler (2pm)
  • Rugby sevens: New Zealand vs Team GB (4.30pm)
  • Men's gymnastics, individual all-round: Max Whitlock (8pm)
  • Men's 3m synchronised springboard diving: Jack Laugher and Chris Mears (8pm)
  • Men's 100m freestyle final (3am)

Olympic virals: Usain Bolt makes an entrance and Phelps looks mean

9 August

The Olympics isn't just about what happens on the field of sporting combat; it has also become a media juggernaut. Here's what is trending after day three of the Games in Rio:

Usain Bolt

Sun Yang: China vs Australia Olympic doping row gets nasty

9 August

The Olympics is supposed to foster goodwill between nations, but it has precipitated what could become a major diplomatic row between China and Australia revolving around controversial swimmer Sun Yang.

The spat blew up after swimmer Mack Horton made it clear he did not believe that Sun, who served a three-month suspension for using a banned stimulant two years ago, should be at the Games and escalated after the Australian won gold in the 400m freestyle final.

Now it has escalated with the media in both countries taking pot shots at each other.

Sun Yang of China and Mack Horton of Australia

(Image credit: Adam Pretty / Getty)

Olympics 2016 day four preview

9 August

Day three of the Rio Olympics saw more medals for Team GB but it was a case of what could have been for other British athletes - swimmer James Guy, the men's gymnastics team and the women's rugby sevens team - who were cursed to finish in fourth.

Meanwhile there was controversy at the pool as swimmers with doping convictions were booed as they received medals. Sun Yang of China was jeered after winning gold in the men's 200m freestyle and Russian Yuliya Efimova got the bum's rush before winning silver in the 100m breast stroke.

After four medals in two days, Team GB will hope for more medals on day four at the Rio Olympics. Here are the day's key events and timings:

  • Equestrian team event - jumping (2pm)
  • Women's 200m freestyle semi-finals (2pm)
  • Men's rugby sevens: Team GB opening match vs Kenya (4pm)
  • Tennis feat Andy Murray (4.15pm) and Johanna Konta (4.30pm)
  • Men's Canoe Slalom semi-finals: David Florence (5:30pm)
  • Women's gymnastics team final (8pm)
  • Women’s 10m Synchronised diving final: Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson (8pm)
  • Women's 200m individual medley final: Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (3.20am)

Adam Peaty: Five things you didn't know about Team GB hero

8 August

Team GB has its first gold medal of the Rio Olympics and a new hero - world record-breaking swimmer Adam Peaty.

The 21-year-old from Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, was the favourite to win the event, but the manner in which he obliterated the opposition and the world record has made him a star. He finished more than 1.5 seconds in front of Cameron van der Burgh, who took silver, and while at Rio has taken 0.79 seconds off his own world record.

Five things you might not know about the Olympic champion:

Adam Peaty

Olympics 2016 day three preview

8 August

Team GB claimed its first medals of the Olympics on day two of competition in Rio, with a gold medal for Adam Peaty in the 100m breast stroke and a silver for Jazz Carlin in the 400m freestyle.

There is the hope of more silverware on day three with James Guy in action in the pool, Britain's male gymnasts going for glory in the team event and Tom Daley taking part in the 10m synchronised diving competition.

Team GBs rowers will also be in action, weather permitting, and the women's rugby sevens team are also in with the chance of a medal.

Here's the evening's TV schedule:

  • Women's coxless pair feat. Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in heat one (4.30pm)
  • Men's gymnastics team final (8pm)
  • Men's 10m synchronised diving final feat. Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow (8pm)
  • Women's hockey, Group B: Team GB vs India (10pm)
  • Women's rugby sevens final (11pm)
  • Men's 200m freestyle final feat. James Guy (2.21am)

Olympics 2016 diary - day two: Peaty wins gold, Djokovic crashes out

8 August

Day two of the Games saw Team GB claim two medals in the pool, while the womne's gymnastics team joined the men in the final of the team event, although Lizzie Armitstead could only finish fifth in the women's road race.

Rowing events were abandoned for the day because of high winds and there were a series of shocks in the tennis, with Novak Djokovic knocked out of the men's competition, along with the Williams sisters and the Murray brothers.

There were also two serious injuries to athletes as French gymnast Samir Ait Said suffered a horrific broken leg as he landed awkwardly after a vault, while cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten was put in intensive car after being taken to hospital with concussion and three fractures in her back following a crash.

Why has Russia been kicked out of Rio Paralympics?

8 August

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) yesterday imposed a blanket ban on Russian athletes at the Rio Paralympics because of their country's violations of international doping rules.

In a damning indictment of Russia's anti-doping programme, IPC president Sir Phillip Craven said the real tragedy was "not about athletes cheating a system, but about a state-run system that is cheating the athletes".

The IPC was congratulated by the British Paralympic Association for taking a "clear stand". In contrast, the International Olympic Committee faced criticism for banning only 118 of the 389-strong Russian team.

A report from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) last month found evidence that Russia's sports ministry manipulated urine samples provided by its athletes between 2011 and 2015.

Russia Flag Paralympics Flag

Olympic opening ceremony: Watch out for Trump and Gisele

5 August

After a troubled build-up, the 2016 Olympic Games finally get underway this evening with an opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium in Rio.

But after the Danny Boyle spectacular ahead of London 2012, featuring James Bond, the Queen, Sir Paul McCartney, Tim Berners-Lee and Mr Bean, what will the Brazilians serve up?

Something featuring Gisele Bundchen and a reference to Donald Trump, apparently. Here's everything you need to know.

Obscure Olympic sports: Water polo to Greco-Roman wrestling

5 August

Stars like Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis-Hill will illuminate the Olympics in Rio over the next fortnight, but what makes the Games different from other big sporting occasions is its breadth and scope.

The Olympics is also the only time most people are likely to stay up late to watch Greco-Roman wrestling or the modern pentathlon.

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(Image credit: Matt King/Getty Images)

Olympics 2016: What time are the equestrian events in Rio?

4 August

The three equestrian events - dressage, eventing and show jumping - are the only Olympic disciplines to feature animals and are also unusual as men and women compete against each other in the same competitions.

Team GB have experienced mixed fortunes on horseback. Between 1976 and 2008, the team won only one gold, but then scooped three golds, a silver and a bronze in London.

Charlotte Dujardin

Olympics 2016: What time are the Rio Team GB rowing finals?

4 August

The Olympic rowers at the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio will be gazed down upon by Christ the Redeemer, atop the nearby Corcovado mountain. The stunning venue will host 14 events, eight for men and six for women with rowers (athletes using one oar) and scullers (two oars) all competing over the same 2,000m course.

Assuming they can avoid illness Team GB's rowers are on course for another impressive medal haul in Rio, and will certainly want to maintain their proud record of having won at least one gold medal at every Olympics since 1984.

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(Image credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Protests, arrests and gang violence mar Olympic build-up

3 August

Angry protests have marred the Olympic torch rally in Rio de Janeiro.

The torch arrived in the city after a three-month tour of Brazil and was carried for its first few laps by Mayor Eduardo Paes.

However, hundreds of demonstrators angry at the high cost of hosting the Games attempted to disrupt the procession. Riot police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

A police spokesman said a group of people refused to leave a lane of the road left open for the torch, as had been agreed, and also blocked a street in one area.

Meanwhile, around 450 heavily armed police battled drug gangs to carry out dozens of arrest orders in the Alemao slum in the north of Rio, reports The Guardian.

Armed soldiers stood patrol on highways and on many corners throughout the city while violence flared throughout the north of the country.

More...

Olympics on TV: Clare Balding to host evening coverage

3 August

Clare Balding will be the face of Rio 2016 on British TV as she presents the BBC prime-time coverage.

The broadcaster aims to provide comprehensive live coverage on two TV channels and the iPlayer, with many more streams available on the website and on the red button. There will also be rolling coverage on the radio.

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