PRESS PAUSE
Olympics 2024 chaos as event is DELAYED midway through due to technical issue and competitors complain
In remarkable scenes, the Olympic record was broken three times in a row
THE women's speed climbing was delayed after a technical issue caused huge controversy.
Kelly Piper vs Zhou Yafei were first up at Le Bourget today in a race to the top of the wall.
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The Chinese star flew up the left lane and thought she had touched the pressure pad first.
But she apparently did not make enough contact and the electronic timer failed to stop, allowing American Piper to claim a bizarre victory in just over seven seconds.
There was then more drama in the next race as again the timer on the left could not be stopped by the winner Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi.
Officials decided to delay the event and send a mechanic up the 15m climb to check if the equipment was working.
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During the 20 minute pause, it was announced that the two climbers would be given a solo attempt to register a fair time.
Zhou, who had complained to officials after being a victim of the tech malfunction, returned to the wall and it was well worth the wait.
She tapped the pad in just 6.54 seconds - that was not only a new personal best but it broke the Olympic record.
Made Rita, the other aggrieved star and reigning world champion, then beat Zhou's time, clocking 6.52 seconds.
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And the record kept being smashed in remarkable scenes as USA's Emma Hunt got to the top in 6.36 seconds.
Incredibly, the record was broken in three races in a row.
Team GB downgraded to Olympics bronze after 'balls up'
And the climbers were not done there, as just two races later Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw broke the world record, getting up the wall in 6.21 seconds.
It is just the second time climbing has been in the Games after it made it's debut in Tokyo.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY'S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Keely Hodgkinson is among the favourites to win gold in the women’s 800m final (8.45pm), three years on from silver in Tokyo.
Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin and Joe Clarke could secure a triple-header in the maiden Olympic kayak cross finals (3.55pm).
GB will hope to retain their triathlon mixed relay (7am) and the women’s cycling team sprint (6.55pm) offers a real medal chance on the opening day in the velodrome.
BRITS TO WATCH
The sport climbing gets underway with four Brits - Hamish McArthur and 19-year-old sensation Toby Roberts starting with their bouldering in the boulder and lead event (9am).
And the women’s hockey team face a nightmare quarter-final against the all-conquering Dutch (4.30pm).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis will try and break his own latest world record once again in the men’s paul vault final (6pm).
The men’s football reaches the semi-finals with hosts France facing Egypt (8pm) after Spain vs Morocco (5pm).
And this will be the last we see of Simone Biles in Paris. She is set to go in the women’s balance beam (11.30am) and floor finals (1.20pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day for both the 3x3 basketball and the surfing.
The 3x3 basketball finishes with the gold medal matches from 9pm at La Concorde.
Over in Tahiti, Gabriel Medina appeared to defy gravity with THAT incredible levitating photo and has a shot at gold today.
STATS MAD
0 - A rule change to the artistic swimming (formerly synchronised swimming) means men are now able to compete in the team event for the first time in Olympics history… but the new legislation only came in 18 months and precisely ZERO males were selected.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
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