Novak Djokovic overcame a gritty Rafael Nadal comeback Monday in probably the last chapter of their epic tennis rivalry at the Paris Olympics, where British diver Tom Daley grabbed his fifth medal in five Games.

In the pool, Canada’s Summer McIntosh launched her bid for 400m medley gold in the morning session, with Australian Ariarne Titmus hotly tipped to win her second swimming gold later in the day.

With fans basking under glorious blue Paris skies, a happy contrast to the soggy opening ceremony only three days ago, golds are up for grabs in 11 sports.

As forecasters issued a heat warning for Paris and surrounding areas, the hottest ticket in town was at Roland Garros, where Djokovic and Nadal clashed for a 60th time.

Coming into the match, Djokovic held a razor-thin 30-29 edge in their rivalry but the Spaniard had always ruled the roost on the clay in the French capital down the years.

Age and injuries have caught up with the Spanish great however and he had warned before the match he would struggle to be competitive with Djovokic.

That proved painfully prescient in the first set as the ruthless Serb dispatched the former king of clay 6-1.

But Nadal rolled back the years in the second set, roared on by a packed Roland Garros crowd, fighting back from 4-0 down to 4-4 with two breaks of serve.

Djovokic found an extra gear at the end to claim a 6-1, 6-4 victory, the two tennis legends embracing at the net and Nadal waving to the Roland Garros faithful.

•⁠ ⁠’Goofy Tassie girl’ – 

Another electric night of swimming action is expected, with Titmus bidding to add the 200m freestyle crown to her dominant 400m triumph on Saturday, when she blew away rivals McIntosh and Katie Ledecky to retain her title.

The 23-year-old Titmus is favourite at 200m — she is reigning champion and world record-holder.

Her biggest threat is fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, who boasted the fastest time ever until Titmus smashed it in June.

Monday’s other swimming finals are women’s 400m individual medley, men’s 200m freestyle, men’s 100m backstroke and women’s 100m breaststroke.

•⁠ ⁠’It’s very sad’ – 

In diving, Daley took an emotional silver medal with partner Noah Williams in the men’s synchronised 10m platform behind China’s Lian Junjie and Yang Hao.

Williams choked back tears as he recalled his former coach Dave Jenkins, who died in 2021 after the last Olympics in Tokyo.

Daley, whose father Rob died of cancer in 2011, told the BBC: “I’ve never seen Noah cry in my whole life, I know how much today mean to him.

“It’s very sad Dave is not here, but I know Dave and my dad would both be so proud to see us here today.”

The Olympic men’s triathlon was postponed just hours before it was due to get under way on Tuesday after last-ditch water quality tests in the River Seine revealed unhealthy pollution levels, organisers said.‎

In a blow to Olympic officials who have repeatedly vowed that the Seine would be safe for athletes to swim in, organisers said the men’s event would be delayed by 24 hours and take place immediately after the women’s race on Wednesday.

A joint statement from Paris 2024 and World Triathlon blamed the excessive pollution on the heavy rain that deluged the French capital on Friday and Saturday.

“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes,” the statement said after a meeting held at 3:30am local time (0130 GMT).

“The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.

“Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control … can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons.”

Organisers had already cancelled training sessions in the Seine scheduled for Sunday and Monday because of unsafe pollution levels caused by last week’s rain.

But they had expressed confidence that the pollution would drop in time for Tuesday’s race given the bright, sunny conditions in Paris this week which helps keep bacteria levels down.

French authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) over the last decade to clean up the Seine, including in major new water treatment and storage facilities in and around Paris.

But heavy downpours still overwhelm the city’s underground drains and sewage system, leading to untreated effluent being released into the waterway.

After an exceptionally wet spring and start to summer, the Seine had been consistently failing water tests until the beginning of July, causing a major headache for Paris 2024 organisers.

Levels of the E.Coli bacteria — an indicator of faecal matter

— were sometimes 10 times higher than authorised limits.

The triathlon is the first Olympic event scheduled to take place in the river, before marathon swimming in the second week of the Games.

D’Tigress of Nigeria head coach, Rena Wakama, has revealed how her team managed to secure a stunning 75-62 victory over the highly ranked Australian team in their opening game of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The African champions surprised the basketball world with their impressive performance against Australia, who are ranked third globally. The win has been described as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far.

Wakama expressed her pride and excitement following the match. “I have a wave of emotions. I am so proud and excited for this group. I’ve got a lot of girls that are hungry and shocked the world,” she said.

The coach attributed the victory to the team’s resilience and determination. “We are tough. It’s in our DNA, it’s who we are – we don’t back down and I just want to bring a lot of energy and passion,” Wakama added.

Rena Wakama tutored D’Tigress will next face Canada in their second group game before concluding the group stage with a match against the host nation, France. The team’s performance against Australia has raised hopes and expectations for their upcoming matches.

Australia’s Alanna Smith Reacts to the Loss

In response to the defeat, Australia’s Alanna Smith acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “We turned the ball over way too much and we were not ready to step up to the physicality of the game. Turning the ball over, though, was the crux of the game,” she said.

The Australian team will need to address these issues as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

In a historic moment for Nigerian basketball, Rena Wakama, the head coach of the D’Tigress, has achieved a remarkable feat by guiding Nigeria to a 75-62 victory over world number three Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 29, 2024.

Wakama’s triumph is not only significant for its immediate impact but also for its place in the annals of D’Tigress history. The victory marks Nigeria’s first win at the Olympics in 20 years, underscoring Wakama’s profound influence on the team.

Who is Rena Wakama?

Early Life and Career

Rena Wakama is a native of Okrika in Rivers State, Nigeria who was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, the United States on April 11, 1992.

Rena Wakama’s father is known as Johnson Wakama and her mother’s name is Rosana Oba.

She graduated from Western Carolina University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation. During her days at the University, Wakama served with the school’s women’s basketball team, known as “Catamounts.”

Rena Wakama was introduced to basketball at a young age by her cousin, Onimisi Aiyede. Her passion for the sport grew as she played through high school and then at the University of Western Carolina (WSU), where she was a standout player for the Catamounts.

Wakama’s playing career, though brief, included a stint with the D’Tigress and First Bank in Nigeria. Her real calling, however, emerged in coaching. After a brief period with Manhattan College, she transitioned to coaching roles that would eventually lead her to the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).

Coaching Journey

Wakama’s appointment as the head coach of the D’Tigress came in June 2023, just a month before the Women’s Afrobasket tournament in Rwanda. Despite skepticism and criticism about her relative inexperience compared to her predecessor, Otis Hughley, Wakama embraced the challenge with determination.

Her appointment was followed by open tryouts across major cities to scout new talent, leading to a significant reshuffling of the team. With several key players retiring or not making the squad, Wakama was tasked with building a competitive team from a depleted roster.

Afrobasket Triumph

Against the odds, Wakama led the D’Tigress to victory at the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket, making history as the first female coach to win the tournament since its inception in 1966. Under her leadership, Nigeria defeated Senegal 84-74 in the final, securing their place as the only team to win the Afrobasket title four times in a row.

Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris 2024 Olympics presented a new challenge. Nigeria’s opening game against Australia a team ranked third globally, was a test of resilience and strategy.

After trailing by eight points in the first quarter, Wakama’s tactical adjustments helped the team turn the tide. With a standout performance by Ezinne Kalu, who scored 19 points, Nigeria took control and held off a fierce comeback attempt by Australia.

Legacy and Impact

Aged 32, Wakama’s achievements with the D’Tigress have redefined Nigerian women’s basketball. Her ability to galvanize a team under pressure and achieve historic victories has cemented her legacy as one of the sport’s most influential figures.