What to watch at Olympics today: Track and field picks up, while Léon Marchand returns to the pool

Has it already been a week since the parade of boats along the River Seine? Or Celine Dion singing at the Eiffel Tower?

The Olympics are already nearing the halfway point, with Friday bringing the brief overlap of swimming and track and field. Team events continue, with men’s soccer beginning its quarterfinals. And BMX racing — one of the more exciting events to watch — has its day.

As week two of the Olympics begins, here’s what we’re following.

Events to watch

Track medals begin with men’s 10,000 meters

Time: 3:20 p.m. ET, 9:20 p.m. in Paris
TV: Peacock

What to watch: The first medals of the athletics schedule were handed out Thursday, when Ecuador’s Brian Pintado and China’s Yang Jiayu won the men’s and women’s 20-kilometer race walks, respectively.

The first medals handed out on the track of the Stade de France will come Friday, when endurance is critical in the men’s 10,000-meter race.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is the world record holder in the 10,000 meters and is a three-time world champion in the race. But in Tokyo, Cheptegei finished second to Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega. Cheptegei’s Ugandan compatriot, Jacob Kiplimo, is the reigning world cross country champion and another contender.

Several other track and field events begin Friday. The women’s 5,000-meter heats start at 12:10 p.m. ET, with world-record holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia in the mix. The women’s 800-meter first round begins at 1:45 p.m. ET with Americans Nia Akins, Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker racing to qualify for the semifinals after reigning gold medalist Athing Mu failed to qualify in this event.

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Marchand, Smith eye more medals

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET, 8:36 p.m. in Paris
TV: NBC and Peacock

What to watch: Three finals are in the pool Friday at La Defense Arena: the speedy 50-meter men’s freestyle, the women’s 200m backstroke and the men’s 200m individual medley.

American Regan Smith won silver in the 100m backstroke with a time of 57.66 and is a past world champion in the 200m backstroke. Expect Smith to be in medal contention with Australian Kaylee McKeown, who set an Olympic record in the 100m backstroke.

Léon Marchand continues to captivate France with his epic performances. The Frenchman won two gold medals on the same night Wednesday: the 200m butterfly and the 200m breaststroke. He is just one of four male swimmers in Olympic history to win three or more individual swimming gold medals.

Marchand will look to add to his medal haul in the 200m IM, an event he became world champion in during the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.

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Canada concludes group stage in men’s basketball

Canada is looking to complete an undefeated group stage with a win over Spain. (Photo: Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

Time: 11:15 a.m. ET, 5:15 p.m. in Paris
TV: Peacock

What to watch: Canada enters its final group stage game 2-0. It is through to the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2000 Games in Sydney.

But finishing with a win against Spain on Friday would mean the Canadians win the group. A win or loss could alter their quarterfinal opponent and potential path to a medal.

RJ Barrett, the Toronto Raptors guard, has been Canada’s best player through two games, averaging 23.5 points per game on 59.3 percent shooting from the floor. Canada is one of a handful of countries that could challenge the U.S., the reigning Olympic gold medalist in men’s basketball.

Spain enters this matchup with three points, tied with Australia, and in need of a win to advance to the knockout round.

Hold on tight for BMX finals

Time: 3:35 p.m. ET, 9:35 p.m. in Paris (men); 3:50 p.m. ET, 9:50 p.m. in Paris (women)
TV: Peacock

What to watch: One race for the podium. That’s what is on the line for BMX cyclists in the men’s and women’s races.

The bikers start atop an 8-meter high hill. They launch out of the gate and complete a 400-meter track. It’s one of the most thrilling events of the Games and this will be no different at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium in Montigny-le-Bretonneux.

The field for the men’s and women’s events begins at 24. By the final, it’s reduced to eight.

U.S.-Morocco, Argentina–France in men’s soccer quarters

Time: 9 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. in Paris (U.S.-Morocco); 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. in Paris (Argentina-France)
TV: Telemundo and Peacock

What to watch: For the first time since 2000, the United States men’s soccer team has advanced to the knockout stage. The Americans will take on Morocco, which topped a group that included Argentina. The U.S. has never medaled in men’s soccer at the Games.

Meanwhile, Argentina and France entered the Olympic men’s soccer tournament among the favorites for gold.

The two countries met in the World Cup final, producing one of the greatest championship matches in soccer history. Argentina beat France in penalty kicks, giving Lionel Messi his first World Cup title.

It might be under-23 squads playing in the Olympics, but it will still be a must-watch. France enters this game having not given up a goal this tournament. Coached by Thierry Henry, France is led by strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Argentina finished second in the group stage. It has four members of the 2022 World Cup roster on the team, including Julian Alvarez and Nicolás Otamendi.

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Thursday highlight

Stop what you’re doing right NOW and watch Simone Biles on floor! 🐐 #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yAKPJ9PVEh

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2024

Simone Biles continues to make her case in the GOAT debate. The gymnastics superstar won her second Olympic all-around gold medal Thursday, becoming just the third woman to achieve the feat and the first double winner in 56 years.

It marked Biles’ sixth Olympic gold — the most of any U.S. gymnast.

Brazil’s Rebecca Andrade claimed silver and the United States’ Suni Lee, who won Olympic gold in the event at the Tokyo Games, took bronze.