Heptathlon gold for Belgium, as omnium cyclist moves into second place

The heptathlon combines seven track and field events, including hurdles, high jump and an 800m race. Thiam (pictured) was not a favourite to win the gold, only hoping, she said, to place in the top eight. “I still can’t believe it,” she said. “I didn’t come here expecting a medal; that didn’t occur to me at all. It’s crazy.”

Belgium’s resurgent men’s hockey squad, meanwhile, will play the Netherlands in the semi-finals today for a place in Thursday’s final against either Argentina or Germany. The team reached the last four for the first time in 96 years after coming back from a goal down to beat eight-time gold medallists India 3-1 in the quarter finals on Sunday.

In the women’s omnium, Flemish cyclist Jolien D’hoore is currently in second place, behind the UK’s Laura Trott at the halfway point. The omnium – like the heptathlon, a multi-discipline event – is due to finish today with three races.

Finally, Evi Van Acker is in fourth place in the Laser Radial class sailing, which also finishes today. Van Acker, a bronze medallist in London four years ago, may have gotten sick from the polluted waters of Rio’s Guanabara Bay: The 30-year-old contracted a severe intestinal infection from dysentery-causing bacteria while training there in early July, disrupting her preparations for the Games.

Photo: Benoit Doppagne/Belga