The Albany Gazette - Biles stuns on Olympic return, swimming awaits blockbuster duel

Hollywood star Tom Cruise and pop stars Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande were among a host of A-listers crowded into a packed Bercy Arena as US superstar Biles began her quest for Olympic gymnastics redemption.

The 27-year-old four-time Olympic champion, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast in history, entered the arena to a standing ovation and a deafening roar greeted her introduction.

The American star acknowledged the support with a wave and she blew a kiss to the crowd after her image was flashed up on a giant scoreboard.

Biles opened her qualifying with a sublime performance on the beam and impressed in her floor routine after tweaking her left calf while warming up.

With two of the five qualifying sessions complete Biles topped the all-around standings with 59.566 points.

The 23-time world champion is competing in Paris three years after her campaign at the Tokyo Olympics unravelled due to a disorientating condition gymnasts call "twisties".

She still went home with a silver and bronze and was lauded for speaking openly about her mental health struggles.

- Swimming duel -

Biles's return was one of the highlights of a day two schedule with 13 gold medals up for grabs.

All eyes will be on the battle for gold in the swimming pool at La Defense Arena, where Britain's Adam Peaty faces a duel with China's world champion Qin Haiyang in the 100m breaststroke.

World record-holder Peaty is trying to match swimming great Michael Phelps and win a third straight gold medal in the same event in a clash with Qin that is laced with intrigue.

Qin, the 200m world record-holder, was among the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug in late 2020 to early 2021.

Chinese swimming chiefs have denied wrongdoing, saying the swimmers tested positive after inadvertently consuming tainted food during domestic competition.

France's great swimming hope Leon Marchand will chase glory in the men's 400m individual medley, while the women's 100m butterfly title is also on the line.

In other action, the United States' star-studded basketball squad spearheaded by LeBron James and Stephen Curry will launch their quest for a fifth straight gold medal against Serbia, who are led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

- Nadal returns -

In tennis, Spanish great Rafael Nadal shrugged off injury fears to face Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in the men's singles, with Novak Djokovic lying in wait for the winner.

After the rain-sodden start to the Games on Saturday, Paris awoke on Sunday to blue skies and sunshine, with a heatwave forecast on its way.

At the beach volleyball fans booed Dutch player Steven van der Velde, a convicted rapist who was controversially selected for the Olympics despite his criminal past.

Van der Velde was convicted in 2016 of raping an underage girl and sentenced to four years in prison.

The Netherlands' decision to pick the 29-year-old sparked outrage in the lead-up to the Games and he is not staying at the athletes' village.

Van der Velde's teammate Matthew Immers spoke out in support of his colleague after the Dutch pair lost 15-13 to Italy.

"What is in the past is in the past, and he had his punishment," Immers said.

On the other side of the world, the surfing competition began in Tahiti, with competitors facing the majestic Southern Ocean waves, which when they explode on the reef produce the fearsome Teahupo'o.

Roughly translated as "sever the head" or "place of skulls", the wall of water features in the chart of the top 10 deadliest waves in the world.

"You've really got to face your fears, there's no hiding out there," said Australia's Molly Picklum.

Australia and China led the early medal standings but France were in third place after Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won the women's mountain bike cross-country race to claim the host nation's second gold.

(L.Thomas--TAG)