German champions meet the "Alien", riders in a golden mood
9 AM: Germany's volleyball team faces Argentina in a crucial match. "This is a real final for us, and that's what makes it most exciting," said middle blocker Anton Brehme. After a close 2:3 thriller against the USA, the DVV team is ready for their first "final," with their form in good shape. "I think with this performance, we can cause many teams a lot of problems," said captain Lukas Kampa. Star player Georg Grozer promised, "We'll go back onto the court against Argentina with a strong will."
10:05 AM, Men's Decathlon, 100m: The search for the "King of Athletes" begins as the decathletes start their competition. Leo Neugebauer is the gold favorite, having improved his German record to 8961 points in early June. Other competitors like former world champion Niklas Kaul, Tokyo Olympics winner Damian Warner, or European champion Johannes Erm are under more pressure. Meanwhile, there's drama with France's national hero, world record holder Kevin Mayer, who has withdrawn from the Olympic decathlon.
10:30 AM: Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser visits the German House to further promote Germany's 2040 Olympic bid. The SPD politician will sign the declaration of intent on behalf of the federal government.
2 PM, Equestrian/Spring: After Michael Jung's gold in eventing, Germany could win another gold in show jumping. The trio led by vice-European champion Philipp Weishaupt qualified without any faults, making them the only team to do so. "We've achieved our first goal," said coach Otto Becker. "Everyone presented well, but we haven't won anything yet." All teams start from zero on Friday, with ten teams qualifying for the final. "There's no other Olympic sport where it's as open as show jumping," said Weishaupt.
4 PM, Men's Handball: After losing to Croatia, Germany's handball team aims to get back on track against two-time European champion Spain. A third win could improve their position for a potential quarterfinal.
9 PM, Men's Basketball: After wins against Japan and Brazil, Dennis Schröder and his team now aim for the group win against host France and teenage sensation Victor Wembanyama. "It's going to be a tough game for us," said Dennis Schröder on Eurosport. But if they play their game, the captain believes they can beat any opponent: "We have many strong characters in the locker room. I believe we're made for these moments."
The Man of the Moment is "Wemby" - 2.24 meters tall, exceptional, hope-bearer, basketball star. It quickly becomes clear what burden the 20-year-old carries on his shoulders. The world champions seem to know what to expect. "He's so tall and can move like me," said Dennis Schröder about Wembanyama: "He can shoot better, is more agile. He's simply incredible." The young Frenchman combines his enormous height, with a wingspan of 2.42 meters, with speed and agility usually only seen in point guards on the court. It's no wonder, then, that Wembanyama regularly leaves his competitors in awe. LeBron James once called him an "alien", for Stephen Curry he's the "perfect player", and Kevin Durant hailed him as the "embodiment of the evolution of basketball".
Broadcast Coverage
ARD will broadcast from 9:05 AM to midnight. Eurosport begins with "Bonjour Paris" at 8 AM, with live broadcasts going until 11:15 PM. Additionally, the competitions can be viewed in individual streams on sportschau.de, zdf.de/sport, and the Discovery+ platform.
Today's Decisions
Equestrian/Springing14:00: Team, Final
Swimming11:00: Diving - Synchronized Springboard 3m, Men20:30: 50m Freestyle, Men, Final20:36: 200m Backstroke, Women, Final20:43: 200m Individual Medley, Men, Final
Cycling/BMX21:35: BMX, Men, Final11:50: BMX, Women, Final
Rowing11:30: Men's Pair, Final11:42: Women's Pair, Final12:02: Men's Lightweight Double Sculls, Final12:22: Women's Lightweight Double Sculls, Final
Fencing20:30: Men's Team Épée, Final
Shooting09:30: Women's 10m Air Rifle, Final
Sailing16:03: Women's IQFoil16:23: Men's IQFoil
Gymnastics12:00: Women's Trampoline, Final18:00: Men's Trampoline, Final
Tennis19:00: Mixed Doubles, Final
Athletics21:20: Men's 10,000m
Badminton16:10: Mixed Doubles, Final
Judo17:38: Women's +78kg, Final18:09: Men's +100kg, Final
Archery16:43: Mixed Team, Final
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris are eagerly anticipated by many athletes, including Germany's handball team, who aim to improve their position against Spain in the 4 PM match. Additionally, the competition in men's decathlon starts at 10:05 AM, with German athlete Leo Neugebauer being the gold favorite.
