China gets first Paris swimming gold with Pan smashing world record amid ongoing doping tensions

The Republic of China went into the sixth day of the Paris Olympics having finished Day Five at the top of the medal table after numerous Chinese athletes secured spots on podiums across various events. 

The swimming, however, was a glaring exception and on Thursday Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle took Olympic gold after breaking the world record in the 100m freestyle.

The 19-year-old's incredible performance at the La Défense pool on Day Six comes amid tensions over the doping case in which 23 Chinese swimmers were cleared after testing positive for the banned substance Trimetazidine in 2021, some of whom went on to win golds at the Tokyo Games.

Already a sensitive topic, with a persistent public feud between The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) going back months, tensions then flared further when it was announced that 11 of those 23 swimmers would be competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Consequently, it wasn't long until doubts over the legitimacy of Pan Zhanle's win were voiced with Australian Olympian-turned-swimming coach Brett Hawke declaring it "not humanly possible".

Pan Zhanle's 100m freestyle swim of 46.40 seconds shaved 0.40 seconds off his previous world record of 46.80 which was set at the World Championships in Doha in February.

"That's not real, you don't beat that field, Kyle Chalmers, David Popovici, Jack Alexy, you don't beat those guys by one full body length in 100 freestyle. That's not humanly possible, okay" said Brett Hawke.

A gender controversy comes to the fore 

Having gathered steam in the last few days, the controversy involving two boxers who previously failed gender tests reached a boiling point today with numerous statements released by involved parties. 

Boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu Ting of Taiwan are competing in different women's boxing events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games but were disqualified from the Women's World Championships last year for failing gender eligibility tests.

The decision to let them participate in Paris caused commotion with the two athletes recently coming under fire on social media resulting in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) releasing a statement on Wednesday warning against the amassing outcry turning into a "witch-hunt".

Today the controversy took another turn as Khelif had her first fight of the competition and forced a withdrawal from Italy's Angela Carini in just 46 seconds who afterwards said "I had to preserve my life."

It has sparked reactions from all sides with BBC Boxing Analyst Steve Bunch calling it "an absolute disaster".

"I think it has hurt Olympic boxing at a crucial time where its future is still being discussed. It's an absolute disaster," said Bunce. However, he also went on to say "What's interesting is in the build-up to the fight, some of her old opponents, good fighters, world champions and European champions, have said she [Khelif] is not a cheat."

"Carini, I feel for her absolutely, but you have to feel a little bit for Khelif, she's stuck in the middle of something here that's absolutely devastating and it's not over yet," he finished.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni weighed in saying “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions … from my point of view it was not an even contest.”

Murray follows Nadal out the door

Day Five of the Paris 2024 Olympics witnessed what is likely to be Rafa Nadal's final farewell at the Roland Garros. Having lost to his longtime rival Novak Djokovic in their 60th head-to-head clash on Monday, the Spaniard today crashed out in the Men's Doubles alongside partner and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz.

Afterwards, the 14-time French Open champion, who is immortalised with a statue at Roland Garros admitted that it was probably his last time playing there.

Today, it was Andy Murray's turn to bid farewell to his fans. A hopeful swansong was cut short as he and doubles partner Dan Evans lost a straight-set defeat to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in the Olympic men's doubles quarter-finals.

The two-time Olympic singles champion had already confirmed before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that this was to be his final event before retiring and so an emotional Murray said his farewells to fans who chanted his name in return.

"I'm proud of my career, my achievements and what I put into the sport," said Murray. "I'm glad I got to go out here at the Olympics and finish on my terms because at times in the last few years that wasn't a certainty."

The Simone Biles Show

Simone Biles has been the talk of the town at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games turning everything she touches to gold. 

Having dazzled on her long-awaited return to the Olympic stage on Day Two of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the 27-year-old gymnastics icon then wowed crowds again Tuesday as she delivered excellent bars and beam routines to collect gold in the Women's Artistic Team All-Around alongside Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee.

The world's most decorated gymnast, with 37 world and Olympic medals then today scored 171.296 points across the four apparatuses securing the gold medal in the Women's Artistic Individual All-Around. 

The win makes her the first woman to win two Olympic All-Around Titles since Vera Caslavska in 1964 and 1968.

So, who's at the top of the medal table at the end of Day Six?

At the end of Day Six at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the People's Republic of China has remained at the top of the medal table with eleven golds, seven silvers and six bronzes.

Behind them now sits the United States of America with nine golds. 15 silvers and 13 bronzes make up a grand total of 37 medals, ten more than the next most held by France. 

The host nation is hot on the heels of Team USA, however, with one less gold than Team USA along with eleven silvers and eight bronzes earning them the third spot. 

Australia, meanwhile, has overtaken Japan on Day Six but both have eight golds and find themselves in fourth and fifth respectively.

An incredible Day Six for Team USA means Team GB have fallen a place into sixth with six golds, seven silvers and seven bronzes. 

Republic of Korea also have six golds but their three silvers and three bronzes mean they place behind Team GB in seventh while Italy are Canada are in eighth and ninth with five golds and three golds respectively. 

Germany and Netherlands are joint tenth with two golds apiece.

Bring on Day Six!