2024 Olympics live updates: Day 1 of the Summer Games kicks off, USA wins first medal in diving 

Badminton can often be a fast and frantic game, requiring lightning-speed reflexes and incredible hand-eye coordination. It is also one of the few sports the U.S. has never medalled in.

Team USA pair Jannie Gai and Vinson Chiu got their mixed doubles campaign underway earlier this morning but were beaten by Chinese medal contenders Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe, who were at the top of their game in this frenetic point from this morning’s match.

U.S. swimmer Torri Huske has made a strong start in her bid for Olympic gold in the 100-meter Butterfly event, producing a solid display to take first place in heat 3 and move through to the semi-final round later today.

The 2022 world champion is among the favorites to take gold in the final, which takes place tomorrow.

But she faces stiff competition from compatriot and world record holder Gretchen Walsh.

The first of the 329 gold medals of these Games has been won by China, who claimed victory in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event.

Chinese paring Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao, the reigning world champions in this event, beat out South Korea in the gold medal match.

Kazakhstan took bronze to round off the first podium of the 2024 Olympics.

You may know Frederick Richard from TikTok, but if not, he’s making his Olympic debut on the mat in Paris.

After coming in second at the U.S. Gymnastics championships and first at the Olympic trials, Richard is a welcome addition to a men’s gymnastics team that is looking to medal for the first time since 2008.

Returning to the mat is Brody Malone, who suffered a nearly-career-ending injury to his knee last March but is full steam ahead into Paris and hoping to take home a medal on his best apparatus: High bar.

“You never really know how bad you want something until you have it taken away from you,” Malone said. “And that is exactly how this ended up working out.”

For those who caught last night’s opening ceremony, you may have noticed the torrential rain pouring down on Paris.

And due to the adverse weather, organizers have pushed back the men’s street skateboarding event originally scheduled to start this morning at the iconic Place de la Concorde, Paris’ largest public square where half-pipes, skate ramps and grind rails set up for the games are still soaking wet and slippery.

The event has been postponed until Monday, July 29. 

Crowds will have to wait to see Japan’s 14-year-old skateboarding sensation Ginwoo Onodera, who is among the favorites for a medal in Paris. 

Since the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Shooting has had the honor of awarding the first set of medals of the Games, and Paris will be no exception.

The medal matches of the 10-meter mixed team air rifle final get underway at 4:30ET, and the first gold of the Games will go to either China or South Korea — they topped the order in Saturday morning’s qualifying round to progress to the gold medal match with Kazakhstan and Germany set to compete for bronze.

Day 1 will see 13 sets of medals handed out across seven sports, with diving, road cycling and rugby sevens among those to be awarded before tonight’s box-office action in the pool.

Let the Games begin! Day 1 of the 33rd Olympiad got underway bright and early this morning, with Badminton the first sport to begin over at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena.

Team USA’s Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai started their mixed doubles campaign but were comfortably beaten by Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe of China, who are among the gold medal favorites in the event.

Plenty of other sports are also already underway this morning in Paris — the dressage events in equestrian have begun in the stunning surroundings of Versailles while athletes competing in the prelims of rowing, volleyball and handball have also had early wake-up calls.

For an opponent standing across the badminton net from twin sisters Kerry and Annie Xu, it would be hard to strategize the weaknesses and strengths of each in the heat of battle.

“Very hard for the opponent to say ‘Hey, which one is not good today,’” laughed coach Harry Tan.

Though the sisters are individuals in every respect, their play on the badminton court has become one of a singular force — that’s propelled them to a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the doubles category, even after a four-year layoff during which they barely touched a racket.

Read the full story here.

This year’s Olympic surfers aren’t heading to Paris.

Instead, they’ll catch waves in Tahiti and forgo the famed Olympic Village for a cruise ship stationed near their competition site.

It’s the first time Olympic athletes will spend the Games on this so-called floating Olympic Village.

That’s because the nearby village of Teahupo’o proved too small and lacking viable options for the incoming athletes, and the Paris Olympic committee requires all athletes to be housed within 45 minutes of their competition venue.

The Olympic surfers will live aboard the Aranui 5 and will each have their own private room, complete with a real bed and an ocean view, in addition to access to a fitness center, outdoor pool, library, spa and panoramic bar.

For American athletes, the first in a series of unforgettable moments at the Olympics Games in Paris is the Team USA Welcome Center where members get fitted for their official Ralph Lauren attire. TODAY’s Hoda Kotb walks through the experience and meets some of the athletes.