COVID-Hit Lyles Misses Out on a Double, US Team Breaks 100-Medal Mark

Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (2ndL) crosses the finish line ahead of US' Noah Lyles (R) to win the men's 200m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (2ndL) crosses the finish line ahead of US' Noah Lyles (R) to win the men's 200m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
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COVID-Hit Lyles Misses Out on a Double, US Team Breaks 100-Medal Mark

Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (2ndL) crosses the finish line ahead of US' Noah Lyles (R) to win the men's 200m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (2ndL) crosses the finish line ahead of US' Noah Lyles (R) to win the men's 200m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (AFP)

Sprinter Noah Lyles revealed he had COVID-19 after missing out on another gold medal for the United States at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Elsewhere, French basketball star Victor Wembanyama moved closer to his dream of a first gold after helping Les Bleus beat Germany to set up a dream final against the US team after the Americans edged Serbia 95-91.

On the same Stade de France track where he won the historically close 100 meters by five thousandths of a second, Lyles was third behind gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and US teammate Kenneth Bednarek.

Medics tended to a tired-looking Lyles and took him off in a wheelchair. Wearing a mask as he spoke with reporters, Lyles later said he had COVID.

“It definitely affected my performance,” said Lyles, adding that he tested positive early Tuesday morning but was cleared to compete. The US track federation said it and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee adhered to all Olympic and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Over at Bercy Arena, with former NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker watching their respective countrymen, France held on to win 73-69.

Wembanyama, the NBA rookie of the year, clenched his fists at the buzzer and teammate Evan Fournier jubilantly threw the ball into the crowd.

The 20-year-old star didn't play three years ago in Tokyo, when the French lost the final to the US. They meet again Saturday, when Wembanyama hopes to give France its first Olympic gold in men's or women's basketball.

Highlights of what happened on Day 13 of the Paris Olympics:

Curry leads semifinal fightback against Serbia

LeBron James had a triple double and Steph Curry scored 36 points as the American men rallied from 17 points down.

The US faced an 11-point halftime deficit — the biggest successfully overcome by an American team since NBA players were added to the Olympic mix in 1992 — and again trailed the Serbs by 11 with just over seven minutes left.

Serbian players fell on their backs at the buzzer after coming so close.

It was a far cry from their group opener when the US rolled to a 110-84 win.

US team gets a world record, breaks the 100-medal mark

The United States now has more golds and more overall medals than any other nation.

With three days left of competition, American athletes total 30 golds for 103 medals overall.

The US went 1-2 in the women's 400 hurdles with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaking her own world record in a time of 50.37 seconds, and Anna Cockrell taking the silver.

Grant Holloway followed up with gold in the men's 110 hurdles in 12.99, beating countryman Daniel Roberts.

Also, Long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall won the women's long jump with Jasmine Moore taking the bronze behind Germany's Malaika Mihambo.

China’s diving double ends with tears

China claimed its sixth gold medal in diving at the Paris Games with defending champion Xie Siyi winning the 3-meter springboard.

The Chinese made it a podium 1-2 as Wang Zongyuan took the silver ahead of Mexico’s Osmar Olvera Ibarra.

Wang was in tears afterward.

He hadn’t lost a major diving competition in the event since finishing behind teammate Xie at the Tokyo Olympics. After that silver, Wang won three straight world championship titles.

“It is regrettable I lost,” Wang said through an interpreter. “I must learn to accept any failure and my response is to make a greater effort to improve myself.”

Another world record but no gold

American Sam Watson left the Games with another world record to his name but didn't get the gold medal.

The 18-year-old Watson broke sport climbing's speed world record on Thursday for the second time at the Paris Games, but that came in the fight for bronze.

Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia won gold in 4.75 seconds in the final.

Charron lifts for another medal Maude Charron raised Canada's flag at the opening ceremony for the Paris Games and lifted up another medal in weightlifting.

Charron took the silver medal in the 59-kilogram category to add to her gold in the 64-kilogram competition at the Tokyo Games.

Rahimi stars as Morocco gets bronze

Football-mad Morocco fans finally have an Olympic medal to celebrate after routing African rival Egypt 6-0 for the bronze.

Soufiane Rahimi scored twice and the Casablanca-born striker will surely become a household name back home after netting an impressive eight goals in the tournament.

He was comfortably the leading scorer ahead of Friday's final between Spain and 1984 Olympic champion France.

Morocco won the African Cup of Nations title in 1976.

Dutch end long wait for gold in men's field hockey

Duco Telgenkamp scored the golden goal in the shootout to give the Netherlands a 2-1 victory over Germany.

It was the Netherlands’ first gold in men’s hockey at the Olympics since 2000 and third in the country’s history.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored both goals as India beat Spain 2-1 for a second straight bronze, after beating Germany at the Tokyo Games.

French get gold, Portugal a rare medal

Track cyclist Benjamin Thomas overcame a crash in the men's omnium race to give France its 14th gold medal of the Paris Games.

Thomas held off Iúri Leitão, whose silver medal was only Portugal's second medal so far — compared to 54 for the French.

Also, world champion Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand won the Olympic title in the women’s keirin.

Nadeem gets Pakistan's first medal with an Olympic record

Arshad Nadeem got Pakistan's first medal of the Paris Games in style by setting an Olympic record in javelin.

Nadeem's throw of 92.97 meters beat Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen's mark of 90.57 from the 2008 Games in Beijing.



Malinin Made History with His Olympic Backflip, but Some Say the Glory Was Owed to a Black Skater

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Team Event - Men Single Skating - Free Skating - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 08, 2026. Ilia Malinin of United States performs during the men's single free skating. (Reuters)
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Team Event - Men Single Skating - Free Skating - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 08, 2026. Ilia Malinin of United States performs during the men's single free skating. (Reuters)
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Malinin Made History with His Olympic Backflip, but Some Say the Glory Was Owed to a Black Skater

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Team Event - Men Single Skating - Free Skating - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 08, 2026. Ilia Malinin of United States performs during the men's single free skating. (Reuters)
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Team Event - Men Single Skating - Free Skating - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 08, 2026. Ilia Malinin of United States performs during the men's single free skating. (Reuters)

Ilia Malinin, the US figure skater, became the first person to legally land a backflip on one skate in the Olympics although one trailblazing woman pulled it off when the move was still forbidden.

The 21-year-old from Virginia delivered a crucial free skate on Sunday night for the winning American team, filled with his trademark quadruple jumps, and punctuated the gold medal-clinching performance with his dramatic backflip.

It’s a move known today as “the Bonaly flip” — named for France’s Surya Bonaly.

Nevertheless, it is Malinin getting showered with praise, prompting many on social media to lament the way his achievement has eclipsed that of Bonaly, who is Black, and wondering if that is due to the color of her skin.

Ari Lu, 49, was among those on TikTok saying the figure skating world owed Bonaly an apology. Where Malinin is praised for his athleticism, Bonaly was judged, she told The Associated Press in a text message on Monday.

“Something a Black person used to be derided for is now celebrated when done by a white person,” said Lu, who is Black herself. She added that critiques of Bonaly at the time appeared related to her appearance rather than her skills.

A ban, and a backflip to end a career

The first person to pull off a backflip at the Olympics was former US champion Terry Kubicka, in 1976, and he landed on two skates. The International Skating Union swiftly banned the backflip, considering it too dangerous.

Over 20 years later, at the 1998 Nagano Games, France’s Surya Bonaly flouted the rules and executed a backflip, this time landing on a single blade — an exclamation point to mark her final performance as a professional figure skater. The crowd cheered, and one television commentator exclaimed, “I think she's done that because she wants to, because it's not allowed. So good on her.”

Bonaly knew the move meant judges would dock her points, but she did it anyway. The moment would cement her legacy as a Black athlete in a sport that historically has lacked diversity.

New rules allow for the backflip's return

For decades, Bonaly’s thrilling move could only be witnessed at exhibitions. That changed two years ago, when the ISU lifted its ban in a bid to make the sport more exciting and popular among younger fans.

Malinin, who is known for his high-flying jumps, soon put the backflip into his choreographed sequences for competitions. And on Sunday it was a part of a gold medal-winning free skate.

Bonaly, for her part, ended her professional career with a 10th place finish. Some argue the punishment of Bonaly back then and praise of Malinin today underscores a double standard that still exists in the figure skating world.

In a telephone interview from Minnesota, Bonaly told the AP on Monday that it was great to see someone do the backflip on Olympic ice, because skating needs to be taken to an upper level.

Regarding the criticism she received during her career, Bonaly said she was “born too early,” arriving on the Olympic scene at a time when people weren't used to seeing something different or didn’t have open minds.

“I broke ice for other skaters,” Bonaly said. “Now everything is different. People welcome anyone as long as they are good and that is what life is about.”

Bonaly's legacy

Before Bonaly there was Mabel Fairbanks, whose Olympic dreams were dashed by racist exclusion from US Figure Skating in the 1930s, and also Debi Thomas, the first African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. They and others have paved the road for more representation in the sport.

But there are still few professional Black figure skaters, and none competing for the US this year; popular skater Starr Andrews failed to make the team, finishing seventh at nationals. The team does include five Asian American skaters.

Malinin’s teammate, Amber Glenn, said that while she thinks backflips are fun and is interested in learning how to do one after she’s done competing, the three-time and reigning US champion does not plan to do them any time soon.

“I want to learn one once I’m done competing,” the 26-year-old Glenn said. “But the thought of practicing it on a warmup or in training, it just scares me.”

Both the ISU and the International Olympic Committee have apparently begun to embrace Bonaly's backflip, sometimes posting it to social media in conjunction with Bonaly's own account.

“Backflips on ice? No problem for figure skating icon Surya Bonaly!” says one from last May.

Another from November 2024 says: “Surya Bonaly’s backflip has been a topic of discussion, awe, and admiration for over two decades and continues to inspire young skaters to never give up on their dreams.”


Man City Eye Premier League Title Twist as Pressure Mounts on Frank and Howe

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Man City Eye Premier League Title Twist as Pressure Mounts on Frank and Howe

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 8, 2026. (AFP)

Manchester City can ramp up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by cutting the gap at the top to just three points when they face Fulham on Wednesday, a day before the Gunners travel to in-form Brentford.

Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men.

Another defeat damaged Liverpool's chances of Champions League qualification and Arne Slot's threadbare squad face another tough task in midweek away to Sunderland.

Tottenham and Newcastle are in even deeper trouble in the bottom half of the table, raising doubts over the future of respective managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe.

AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the midweek round of fixtures:

Can City provide title twist?

Bernardo Silva conceded even the City players thought the title race would have been all but over with had they not turned around a 1-0 deficit with six minutes remaining at Anfield.

The question now is whether a seismic win for Guardiola's side can be the launching pad towards another league title.

City have made a habit of finishing strongly in Guardiola's six title-winning seasons in England, but have won just two of their seven league games in 2026.

"We need to believe and to start winning games. This is what matters in the end," said Erling Haaland, who is demanding more of himself in the title run-in.

The Norwegian is the runaway leader for the Golden Boot but has scored just once from open play in his last 13 appearances.

"I haven't scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve," added Haaland.

With a favorable run of fixtures before Arsenal visit the Etihad in mid-April, City have the chance to really test the Gunners mettle in the run-in.

Mikel Arteta's men have bounced back from their own January wobble with four straight wins in all competitions.

But a buoyant Brentford that have lost just twice at home all season will provide a stiff test of Arsenal's title challenge.

Liverpool face tough trek to Sunderland

Last season's title winners look increasingly likely to miss out on the Champions League next season with Liverpool now four points adrift of the top five.

Worse could be still to come for Arne Slot as they travel to a Sunderland side boasting the only undefeated home record in the Premier League.

Already short of options due to a mounting injury list, the Reds will be without their star performer in a difficult season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late red card against City.

With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper easier tasks this week, Liverpool could find themselves cut further adrift to ramp up speculation on Slot's future.

Spurs 'desperate' to avoid relegation battle

It says much for the domination of the Champions League by English sides this season that both Tottenham and Newcastle cruised into the knockout stages but find themselves mired in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The sides meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe under the spotlight.

Frank admitted Spurs are the more "desperate", sitting just six points above the relegation zone in 15th.

The Dane has so far been handed a stay of execution despite repeated calls for his head by the Tottenham support.

Howe, by contrast, remains a much-loved figure on Tyneside having ended the club's 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by lifting the League Cup last season and twice delivering Champions League football to St. James' Park.

He insisted on Monday he remains the right man for the job for now.

But with England and Manchester United reportedly interested in the 48-year-old, Howe may feel he has taken Newcastle as far as he can come the end of the season.


Grealish’s Season Over After Undergoing Foot Surgery

 Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Grealish’s Season Over After Undergoing Foot Surgery

 Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - January 18, 2026 Everton's Jack Grealish shoots at goal as Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde and Ezri Konsa react. (Action Images via Reuters)

Everton midfielder Jack Grealish has confirmed his season is over after undergoing surgery on ​a stress fracture in his foot, dealing a major blow to his hopes of making England's squad for the World Cup.

The 30-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester City, suffered the ‌injury during ‌Everton's 1-0 Premier ‌League ⁠win ​against ‌Aston Villa last month.

Grealish made 22 appearances in all competitions for Everton this season, scoring twice and providing six assists, and his form had prompted suggestions he could ⁠earn a recall to the national ‌side.

"Didn't want the season ‍to end like ‍this but that's football, gutted," ‍he posted on social media.

"Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit. I know for sure ​I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before."

Grealish, ⁠who won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup with City, made his last appearance for England in October 2024 under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, ‌and the United States.