Rowing eight win Team GB’s eighth gold of Games GREIGH

ing his first appearance of the tournament in the opening rounds of the men’s 100m. The Jamaican showman, 29, coasted to victory in his heat in a time of 10.07 seconds.

And US swimmer Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time, was taking his final bow in the US team for the medley relay early this morning, having notched four golds and one silver in Rio. But while he has said he is retiring, mum Debbie hinted he may return for Tokyo 2020.

Distance runner Farah, 33, was aiming to win the 10,000m in his bid to seal his place as one of the greats by clinching the double-double with victories in that and the 5,000m.

Long- jumper Rutherford, 29, t he World, European and Commonwealth champion, said he was beingg inspired by a video of his 21-month1-monthold son Milo jumping mping up and down with a Union flag, saying he is cheering for Daddy and Team eam GB.

He tweeted: “One One of the best videos ever! I miss my boy and I’ll be watching this justt before I set off into the stadi- um.” Ennis-Hill, 30, was going for gold in the heptathlon – but her plans could be scuppered by British rival Katarina Mary Johnson-Thompson, 23, Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam.

Johnson-Thompson had a strong showing on the first day of the sevenevent competition, even breaking the British record in the high jump. Four of the seven events were completed on Friday with Ennis-Hill in second and Johnson-Thompson in third.

Stunning

Laura Trott, 24, was looking for her third gold in cycling after a stunning debut Olympics in 2012, where she came first in the omnium and team pursuit. She was in the team pursuit with Ciara Hor Horne, Elinor Barker, Ka Katie Archibald and Joa Joanna Rowsell-Shand. They po posted a world record time of four minutes 13.26 in qualificaqualif tion on Thursday with Sir Bradley Wiggins takin taking a record eighth med medal in the team pur pursuit. Wiggo, 36, paid tributetribut to his teammates as he prepared to celebrate – but told fans there would be no Brazilian cocktails. “I don’t drink,” he said, after sticking his tongue out on the medals podium.

Last night Andy Murray spoke of his desire for yet another gold as he beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori to reach a second consecutive Olympic final – with Rafa Nadal waiting for him.

He said: “When you’re competing for your country you feel a bit of extra responsibility. The goal is win gold.”

Meanwhile, questions were still being asked about the amount of empty seats at venues. In June, Judge Marcello Rubioli ruled Rio’s City Hall was not allowed to distribute 547,000 free tickets to Olympic and Paralympic events to children, public sector workers and the disabled.

Mayor Eduardo Paes had proposed to give 137,000 to public sector workers, 392,000 to pupils who achieved high marks and 18,000 to people with disabilities as more than a million remained unsold. But after an anonymous complaint, Judge Rubioli ruled the moves were illegal.

Rio’s city hall has elections later this year and it was feared the tickets were intended to win over voters.