Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Skateboarding Training Session - Ariake Urban Sports Park, Tokyo, Japan - July 24, 2021 Aori Nishimura of Japan in action during training. (Photo: Reuters)   

Skaters from Brazil and Japan are set to dominate the women's street skateboarding event at the Olympics on Monday (Jul 26), with hopes that Tokyo's own Aori Nishimura would bring home a second skateboarding gold for the host nation.

Monday's event will begin with 20 skaters competing in four heats of runs and tricks, with the highest scoring top eight athletes advancing to the finals. Japan's Yuto Horigome made history on Sunday by winning the first gold medal of skateboarding at the Olympics, landing a series of technical tricks while braving Tokyo's relentless heat.

* Katie Ledecky can become a six-times Olympic gold medallist on Monday (Jul 26) if the American wins her long-awaited 400m freestyle showdown with Australia's world champion Ariarne Titmus. The big duel of the Tokyo pool will be one highlight of a morning that is also likely to see Adam Peaty take the 100m breaststroke gold and make history as the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title.

* World record holder Kaylee McKeown was the fastest qualifier in the women's 100m backstroke at the Tokyo Games on Sunday (Jul 25), setting a new Olympic record with her time of 57.88 seconds. McKeown's effort in the sixth heat was the third time the Olympic record had fallen during the session after Kylie Masse of Canada and American Regan Masse also broke it.

* Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka powered through her opening match at the Tokyo Games on Sunday (Jul 25). Osaka, who is aiming to become only the fourth singles player since 1988 to win Olympic gold on home soil, admitted to having the jitters but showed no signs of pressure in dismantling China's Zheng Saisai 6-1 6-4 on centre court.

* The Simone Biles show got underway at the Tokyo Games on Sunday (Jul 25), but it did not live up to advance billing as the American's Olympics campaign experienced a rocky start. Biles was expected to launch an all-out assault on the podium and record books in Tokyo but might not even match her five-medal effort at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with the 24-year-old in danger of missing out on the finals of two individual apparatus, the beam and asymmetric bars.

* Defending women's champions China were upset in straight sets by Turkey in their Olympic Pool B opener on Sunday, going down 25-21 25-14 25-14 at the Ariake Arena. China, who have won six Olympic medals in women's volleyball including three gold, were overpowered by the Turks for whom Ebrar Karakurt led the way with 18 points while three others finished in double figures.

* Damian Lillard said the US men's basketball team is not going to panic after losing to France on Sunday (Jul 25) , an upset that has raised questions about whether the favourites can win a fourth consecutive Olympic gold. Team USA gave up a late lead en route to a 83-76 loss after poor shooting performances by Lillard, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

* Norway began their quest for a record-equalling third Olympic gold medal in women's handball with a 39-27 victory over Asian powerhouse South Korea on Sunday (Jul 25), while Brazil frustrated the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in a 24-24 draw.

* German world number one Isabell Werth and her two team mates topped each of their three groups at the Olympic equestrian dressage qualifiers on Sunday (Jul 25) to make Tuesday's team final ahead of the UK and Denmark. Team dressage medals will be awarded on Tuesday and individual dressage medals on Wednesday, with the three countries strong contenders in both.

Reuters