Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won the men's marathon on Saturday while setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2hr 06min 26sec.
With the US and China tied for first place in the gold medal count on the penultimate day of the Games, France's men's basketball team, armed with star Victor Wembanyama, prepared to face a talent-loaded US team featuring LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola broke the Olympic record to win the men's marathon on Saturday as Victor Wembanyama's France looked to topple the mighty USA in a dream basketball final.
Tola, the 2022 world champion, dominated the marathon on the sun-drenched streets from central Paris to Versailles as Eliud Kipchoge's bid for a third straight gold went up in smoke.
The race kicked off the penultimate day of sporting action, with eight medals up for grabs in the final session of track and field and China chasing a clean sweep of golds in diving and table tennis.
The United States and China are neck-and-neck at the top of the medals table, with 33 golds apiece.
Tola delivered a masterclass in solo front running to clock a time of 2hr 06min 26sec, 21 seconds clear of Belgium's Bashir Abdi, the bronze medallist from Tokyo, with Kenya's Benson Kipruto taking bronze.
"I'm happy today. I was 2022 world champion and now I'm Olympic champion," said Tola.
"It's the greatest day in my life. This was my goal."
Former world record holder Kipchoge, the 39-year-old Kenyan who won golds in the 2016 Rio Games and in Tokyo in 2021, pulled up late in the race.
In scenes captured by an AFP reporter in the crowd, Kipchoge turned to fans and handed over his shoes, bib and socks to supporters, receiving a rapturous reception.
France target mighty USA
The star-studded US basketball team, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry, were made to sweat by Serbia in Thursday's semi-final before an exhilarating fourth-quarter comeback, with Curry scoring 36 points.
The four-time defending champions will be favourites to beat France in a repeat of the gold medal match at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
But James, going for his third Olympic gold, knows it is unlikely to get any easier against the host nation, who can boast NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama.
"Super competitive. Obviously, this is Wemby's (Wembanyama's) first Olympics, but that team has been playing together for quite a while," he said.
"They've been feeding off the crowd, so we look forward to that match-up."
The Stade de France will play host to a packed programme of athletics later Saturday, with the United States seeking to extend their dominance.
Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi shared high jump gold in one of the most memorable moments of the Tokyo Games.
But this time both come into the competition with questions over their fitness.
Tamberi was pictured in hospital this week complaining of a high temperature and kidney pain, while Barshim appeared to injure his left calf during qualifying.
Reigning world champion Tamberi, who has jumped a highest of 2.37 metres in 2024, wants his rival alongside him.
"I hope he will be fine by Saturday," said the Italian. "I need him on the field. I have to be fit myself but I want him to be there in the competition."
The men's 800m and 5,000m finals and the women's 100m hurdles and 1,500m finals also feature in the programme, with the 4x400m relays closing the show.
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