Olympics: Belgium on track for two historic medals in heptathlon
With six out of seven events completed, Nafi Thiam is on course for her third consecutive Olympic gold medal. Teammate Noor Vidts, meanwhile, is the favourite in a tight race for bronze.
Thiam is in first place with 5,924 points after a dominant performance in the javelin. The battle for gold is between her and Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who is 121 points behind.
The British athlete is usually stronger in the 800m, the decisive event of the heptathlon, but will need to finish around 8 seconds faster than Thiam to deny her gold.
If Thiam becomes Olympic champion in Paris, she will become the first heptathlete in history to win three consecutive gold medals after her successes in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.
Vidts aims for bronze
28-year-old Vidts is on course for a bronze medal after some excellent performances. She threw three personal bests in the javelin and currently sits fourth in the standings with 5,689 points.
As with Thiam, the 800m will decide the bronze medal race. She is currently five points behind third-placed Annik Kaelin of Switzerland, but on paper the Belgian is the better runner. American Anna Hall, meanwhile, is 122 points behind Vidts and will need a fantastic time to win a medal.
It would be Vidts' first Olympic medal, after finishing just off the podium in fourth place in Tokyo.
The 800m will take place on Friday evening at 20.25.
© BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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