31 Jul 2024

Paris Olympics: It's good as gold for the Black Ferns, Simone Biles

12:44 pm on 31 July 2024
New Zealand's players perform a haka as they celebrate with their gold medals during the victory ceremony following the women's gold medal rugby sevens match between New Zealand and Canada during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 30, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

The haka sounded throughout the Stade de France in Paris after the gold medal presentation for the Black Ferns. Photo: AFP / Carl de Souza

The women's sevens team has joined an elite group of Kiwi sportspeople - back to back champions at the Olympics.

They successfully defended their title won at the Tokyo Olympics with a 19-12 win over surprise finalists Canada.

Retiring legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe says she was "terrible" but she was still grateful she could go out on a high.

Here's a look at the day's highlights both for New Zealand (on the medal table at last) and other prominent athletes from around the globe.

Sarah Hirini and Michaela Blyde on the dias. New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Sarah Hirini and Michaela Blyde on the dais in Paris. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe haka after New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe doing the victory haka after the medal presentation. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

The full squad joined in the haka at the Stade de France in Paris. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Time to celebrate. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

New Zealand v Canada, Rugby Sevens - Women’s gold medal match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday 30 July 2024. 
Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

It's the final time some of these players will wear the fern. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz

Australia's Maddison Levi (R) and Australia's Isabella Nasser (L) react after the women's semi-final rugby sevens match between Canada and Australia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 30, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

It wasn't such a happy morning for the Australians - defeat in the semifinal and the playoff for bronze. Photo: AFP / Carl de Souza

In gymnastics, Simone Biles clinched her fifth Olympic gold medal as she made a triumphant return to the women's gymnastics team final at the Paris Games.

After helping her team secure the gold medal - Italy got the silver and Brazil the bronze - Biles gave the food at the Olympics Village the thumbs down.

US' Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Simone Biles in full flight at the Bercy Arena in Paris. Photo: AFP

US' Simone Biles celebrates after team USA won the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024.

Simone Biles celebrates after team USA won the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on 30 July, 2024. Photo: AFP

Brazil's Rebeca Andrade looks on during the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP)

Brazil's Rebeca Andrade looks on during the artistic gymnastics women's team final. Photo: AFP / Loic Venance

Members of the United States celebrate during an award ceremony of the women's artistic gymnastics team in the Paris Olympics at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. U.S. Team won the event to claim gold medal.( The Yomiuri Shimbun ) (Photo by Kaname Muto / Yomiuri / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP)

Members of the USA team after being presented with their medals. Photo: AFP

Single scullers impressive

Reigning Olympic champion Emma Twigg eased into the single sculls semi-finals at the Paris Games, leading the way as all four New Zealand sculling crews advanced on day three of the regatta.

Twigg broke away at the mid-point of her women's single sculls quarter-final to win comfortably at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

As the temperature rose, New Zealand enjoyed more success in the men's single sculls when Thomas Mackintosh secured a win in the lead-off men's quarter-final.

New Zealand's Emma Twigg competes in the women's single sculls quarterfinals rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Emma Twigg is through to the semifinals of the single sculls. Photo: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP

Tom Mackintosh.

And Thomas Mackintosh also looked sharp in advancing to the semis. Photo: photosport

New Zealand's Brooke Francis (L) and New Zealand's Lucy Spoors compete in the women's double sculls semifinal A/B rowing competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Centre in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)

Brooke Francis (L) and New Zealand's Lucy Spoors compete in the women's double sculls semifinal at Paris. Photo: OLIVIER MORIN / AFP

Finn Butcher. New Zealand Canoe Slalom paddler.

Finn Butcher is through to the semifinal in the canoe slalom, impressing his biggest fan, his nana who stayed up much of the night to watch in Ophir in central Otago. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (R) and Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) react to beating Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor and Netherlands' Wesley Koolhof in their men's doubles second round tennis match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 30, 2024. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP)

Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcararaz from Spain embrace after their win over a Dutch pair in the men's doubles played at Roland Garros. Photo: AFP / Martin Bernetti

Gold medallist  Ireland's Daniel Wiffen poses with his medal follwoing the men's 800m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP)

Gold medallist Ireland's Daniel Wiffen poses with his medal after the men's 800m freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre. Photo: AFP / Francois-Xavier Marit

(L to R) United States' SMITH Regan, silver, Australia's McKEOWN Kaylee, gold, and United States' BERKOFF Katharine, bronze, attend an award ceremony of the women's swimming 100m backstroke in the Paris Olympics at the Paris la Defense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 30, 2024.( The Yomiuri Shimbun ) (Photo by Takumi Harada / Yomiuri / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP)

From left: Regan Smith of the USA, silver, Australia's Kaylee McKeown, gold, and Katharine Berkoff, bronze, attend the award ceremony of the women's swimming 100m backstroke. Photo: AFP / Yomiuri

Windsurfers compete in front of a ferris wheel in Race 3 of the men’s IQFoil windsurfing event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games sailing competition at the Roucas-Blanc Marina in Marseille on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Christophe SIMON / AFP)

Windsurfers compete in race 3 of the men's IQFoil windsurfing event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games sailing competition at the Roucas-Blanc Marina in Marseille on July 30, 2024. Photo: AFP / Christophe Simon

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