Olympics Today: Sunday’s Schedule and Highlights Plus Day Eight Recap

Your need-to-know guide on day nine of the Olympics.

It was a super(ish) Saturday at the Rio Olympics, with plenty of medals and a few disappointments along the way.

Here’s what you need to know...

Rio 2016 Day Eight Highlights

  • Mo Farah retained the gold for Team GB in the 10,000m - despite giving fans a nasty fright when he fell over during the race. Farah thrilled the crowd, however, by springing up again and going on to glory. This is the runner’s third Olympic gold, the first British track and field athlete to achieve the feat.

If Mo Farah isn't inspiration to get up when you fall down, then I don't know what is. #stillgotthegold pic.twitter.com/obKBDuCQBt

— Anna Pierce (@theannapierce) August 14, 2016
  • Jessica Ennis-Hill claimed silver in the women’s heptathlon, despite winning her final event. Although the 2012 gold medallist won the 800m, it wasn’t enough to stop Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam from taking the title.

  • Greg Rutherford took bronze in the long jump but said he was “gutted” not to equal his gold medal success of London 2012.

  • In the velodrome, Laura Trott became the first British woman to win three Olympic gold medals.She and teammates Joanna Rowsell-Shand, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald claimed victory in the team pursuit in a new world record of four minutes 10.236 seconds.

Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker following their gold medal in the Women's Team Pursuit
Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker following their gold medal in the Women's Team Pursuit
David Davies/PA Wire
  • There was more cycling success in the keirin as Becky James won her first Olympic medal taking the silver.

  • Britain is also guaranteed both gold and silver in the men’s sprint after defending champion Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner both reached tonight’s final.

  • There was much to be pleased about on the rowing lake too. Great Britain’s men’s eight won gold, reclaiming the Olympic title for the first time since the Sydney competition 16 years ago.

  • Meanwhile GB’s women’s eight won their first Olympic medal, taking silver.

The women's eights team pose with their silvers
The women's eights team pose with their silvers
Christian Petersen via Getty Images
  • Adam Peaty added another medal to the cabinet, winning silver in the 4x100m medley relay.

  • Andy Murray guaranteed himself a medal by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the semi-final of the men’s singles. He will face Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the final.

  • Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will head into the final round of the first Olympic golf competition since 1904 in the gold and silver medal positions.

  • Adam Phelps wrapped up his Olympic career with ― you guessed it ― yet another gold medal, this time in the 4x100 medley relay.

The Mystery Of The Green Diving Pool Is Finally Solved

The mystery behind the Rio Olympics’ unsightly, swamp-green pool water appears to be finally solved. The explanation, however, is nothing short of bizarre.

During a press conference Saturday, Rio 2016 officials said that on 5 August, someone accidentally dumped 160 litres of hydrogen peroxide ― the stuff you use to clean scrapes and burns ― into two pools at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre, reported The New York Times. The mishap neutralised the chlorine’s ability to kill organics.

The diving pool turned a murky shade of green
The diving pool turned a murky shade of green
Matt Dunham/AP

Hydrogen peroxide is reportedly effective at cleaning pools, but not when used together with chlorine.

So there we go.

That Moment When You Pretend You Were Never Trying To Hit The Ball Anyway

When French tennis player Gael Monfils hit the ball into the net during his match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori, he had this rather unusual reaction...

Drop and give me 20!

That'll teach Gael Monfils not to hit the net again...https://t.co/C0KgOve4ts #Rio2016 https://t.co/w1vdWIioIE

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 12, 2016

Mildly Awkward Relationship Of The Games

If you’ve been watching any of the BBC’s coverage of the Olympics, you’ll probably have seen John Inverdale and Sir Steve Redgrave presenting the rowing.

But it seems like things have been getting a little tense between the veteran sports presenter and the Olympic rowing champion.

Steve Redgrave gone AWOL from the rowing coverage pic.twitter.com/BJIivt1R8z

— Chris Calver (@calvmeister3000) August 11, 2016

We've seen Redgrave shake water over Inverdale, scold him and even appear to walk off at one point.

Read the full story here.

And The Most Inspired Sports Fan Award Goes To...

This guy, who is probably the next Michael Phelps...

Me after I watch the olympics pic.twitter.com/7xjXnPNwsV

— Cause We're Comedy (@CauseWereComedy) August 14, 2016

Medal Table At Close Of Day Eight

Team GB Ones to Watch On Day Nine

All times are in UK time.

  • London 2012 gold medallist Justin Kenny faces fellow GB cyclist Adam Skinner for the final of the men’s sprint from 9.04pm.

  • Louis Smith and Max Whitlock will be competing in the men’s pommel horse final from 7.29pm. Whitlock will also compete in the floor event from 6pm.

  • Andy Murray will be defending his London 2012 title against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the men’s singles final from 4pm.

  • Ryder Cup partners Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will compete in the final of the men’s golf final from 11am.

The Best Of The Rest

  • The men’s 100m will see Jamaica’s Usain Bolt face US rival Justin Gatlin at 2.25am.

We’ll be rounding up the win, fails and funniest moments of each day at the Rio 2016 Olympics. You can find it online or sign up for the Daily Brief email here.

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