France aims to beat American basketball stars in Olympic final

Text size

France, led by the imposing Victor Wembanyama, will be aiming to dethrone the mighty US in the final of the Olympic basketball tournament on Saturday, when the athletics competition concludes in Paris.

The women’s golf tournament has concluded with two-time medallist Lydia Ko and Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux in pole position, while the US will take on Marta’s Brazil in the women’s soccer final.

The US basketball team, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, was beaten hard by Serbia in the semi-finals on Thursday, before making a spectacular comeback in the fourth quarter, with Curry scoring 36 points.

The four-time reigning champions are favourites to beat France in a repeat of the battle for the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

But James, who is seeking his third Olympic gold medal, knows it likely won’t be any easier against the host nation, which boasts NBA Rookie of the Year honors Wembanyama.

“Super competitive. Obviously this is Wemby’s (Wembanyama’s) first Olympics, but that team has been playing together for a while,” he said.

“They had a good time with the crowd, so we’re looking forward to that game.”

On the final evening of the athletics competition at the Stade de France, eight gold medals are up for grabs, while the men’s marathon takes to the streets of Paris.

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi shared the gold medal in the high jump, one of the most memorable moments of the Tokyo Olympics.

But this time they both come to the match with questions about their fitness.

Tamberi was admitted to hospital this week with high fever and kidney pain, while Barshim appeared to have injured his left calf during qualifying.

Reigning world champion Tamberi, who jumped the highest distance of 2.37 meters in 2024, wants his rival on his side.

“I hope he’ll be completely fine on Saturday,” the Italian said. “I need him on the pitch. I have to be fit myself, but I want him to be there in the league.”

The Stade de France will also host the finals of the men’s 800 and 5,000 metres, and the finals of the women’s 100 metres hurdles and 1,500 metres. The show will conclude with the 4×400 metres relay.

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge is aiming to become the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic marathon titles, but faces stiff competition from the likes of fellow countryman Benson Kipruto and Ugandan world champion Victor Kiplangat.

The United States women’s national soccer team won four of the first five Olympic women’s titles after the competition was introduced in 1996, but has not won gold since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The team is reviving under new coach Emma Hayes, the England coach who won a pile of medals during her time as Chelsea manager.

En route to the final, they were inspired by the attacking trio of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman.

The Brazilians will attempt a third lucky win after losing to the same opponents in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

The 38-year-old Brazilian Marta is competing in her sixth and probably last Olympic Games. She hopes to win gold in addition to her two silver medals.

“Marta has changed the game of football all over the world,” American star Rodman said of Marta, who spent much of her club career in the United States.

“She’s such a talented football player, but also a great person. I’ve always looked up to her. She has a legacy that will last forever, but we want that gold.”

At Le Golf National, New Zealand’s Ko is on nine under par with one round to go, level with number 137 on the rankings, Metraux, who ended her round impressively with an eagle in 18th place.

China is chasing one more gold medal in diving, bringing the total to eight. The men’s 10m platform rounds out the competition.

jw/mw