A look at five things to know from Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics

PARIS — From women's rugby to tennis triumphs and the high-energy 3x3 hoops, here are five things to know from Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Games:

MAUL OF FAME GAMES

The clock finally struck 12 on rugby's Cinderella act in Paris, but the underdog Canadians have a silver medal to show for their superb efforts in women's rugby sevens. After stunning France 19-14 in the quarterfinals and shocking Australia 21-12 in the semis, Canada met its match in the final, losing 19-12 to the powerful squad from New Zealand. It was Canada's best-ever showing at the Olympics. Canada’s previous best finish in rugby sevens was bronze at the Rio Games where the discipline debuted in 2016. The United States won the bronze with a last-second try and conversion to edge Australia 14-12.

NOTHING BUT NET FOR SISTER ACT

Edmonton sister-act Katherine and Michelle Plouffe made their presence (and height) felt at the Olympic women's 3x3 basketball tournament, combining for 18 points and eight rebounds, as Canada dunked Australia 22-14 in its opening-round game. Katherine Plouffe had a game-high 10 points and three rebounds, while Michelle Plouffe had five rebounds and eight points. Teammates Paige Crozon of Humboldt, Sask., (four points, four rebounds) and Kacie Bosch of Lethbridge, Alta., (two rebounds), helped Canada shoot 8-of-13 from the field and 4-for-11 from two-point range. Canada plays China on Wednesday.

G'DAY AGAINST AUSSIES

Canadian athletes had a g'day on head-to-head competition against the land Down Under. Led by RJ Barrett's game-high 24 points, Canada's men's basketball team improved to 2-0 with a 93-83 victory over Australia. Along with the wins in rugby sevens and 3x3 hoops, Canada went 3-for-3 against its Commonwealth cousin.

FELIX ADVANCES, LEYLAH BOUNCED

Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal beat the intense heat and Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-0, 6-1 in a second-round singles match to advance, but Leylah Annie Fernandez of Laval, Que., wasn't as fortunate, dropping her third-round match to Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-3. Fernandez's Olympic experience lives on, as she is slated to play a second-round doubles match alongside Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski later this week.

HOW GREAT THOU ART

Canada's women's artistic gymnastics team matched its best-ever Olympic result with a fifth-place finish. Led by four-time Olympian Ellie Black of Halifax, Canada was competing in the team final for the first time since the 2012 London Games. The team of Black, Ava Stewart, Cassie Lee, Aurelie Tran and Shallon Olsen finished with a combined score of 162.432. The American team led by Simone Biles cruised to the gold medal with 171.296 points, with Italy taking silver and Brazil earning bronze.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2024.

The Canadian Press