Olympics 2012: Live Report

0948 GMT: More details from Rob Smith on those women's 200m butterfly heats.

He says: "American Kathleen Hersey, 12th-ranked heading into the Olympics, finished the fastest qualifier in the heats of the women's 200m butterfly in 2m06.41secs.

"Hersey showed out from China's world champion Jiao Liuyang (2:07.15) and Britain's Jemma Lowe (2:07.64), which brought a huge roar from the home crowd at the Aquatics Centre.

"China's world record holder and Olympic champion Liu Zige was 11th ahead of Australia's Jessicah Schipper."

0943 GMT: Fastest qualifier for the semi-finals in the women's 200m butterfly is US's Kathleen Hersey.

0935 GMT: We're now on to the women's 200m butterfly heats at the aquatic centre.

0928 GMT: More details on the men's 100m freestyle heats. Rob adds: "Brazilian world record holder Cesar Cielo was 10th fastest with 48.67secs with Frenchman Yannick Agnel, bidding for the sprint double at the Olympics, equal 12th fastest with Australian James Roberts in 48.93secs."

0925 GMT: SWIMMING: News now from the heats for the men's 100m freestyle. AFP's Rob Smith reports: "American Nathan Adrian was fastest in the opening heats of the men's 100m freestyle in 48.19secs with Australian world champion James Magnussen fourth-quickest into the top-16 semi-finals tonight."

0920 GMT: Ye is in contention for a second gold in the 200m individual medley later on.

Jiang Zhixue, head of anti-doping at China's General Administration of Sport, told Xinhua news agency that Chinese swimmers had faced nearly 100 drug tests since arriving in London.

He added: "I think it is not proper to single Chinese swimmers out once they produce good results. Some people are just biased. We never questioned Michael Phelps when he bagged eight gold medals in Beijing."

0911 GMT: The debate over Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen's world record performance in the 400m individual medley continues this morning.

John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, has told The Guardian newspaper: "History in our sport will tell you that every time we see something, and I will put quotation marks around this, 'unbelievable', history shows us that it turns out later on there was doping involved."

But the 16-year-old has denied any wrong-doing and others are coming out to voice support.

Britain's former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards said on Twitter: "I feel very uneasy about accusations being leveled at Ye Shiwen -- she's 16! I'd prefer to believe in brilliance until proven otherwise...

"In a country as populous as China, untapped potential mind blowing. Ye Shiwen may be simple Beijing legacy."

0845 GMT: The bad British weather has returned after several says of sunshine. AFP's Guy Jackson reports seeing lots of spectators huddling for warmth in the drizzle around the Olympic Park's Riverbank hockey area.

British spirits have also been dampened by the lack of a gold medal for the home team so far. Today's front page headline on the country's biggest-selling paper, The Sun, says: "Wanted Gold Medal... please can we have just one gold. Any sport. We're not bothered."

0831 GMT: Some news just in from British police. They have arrested a teenager over a tweet sent to British diver Tom Daley who, along with his partner, failed to win a medal in yesterday's 10m synchronised platform diving despite high hopes.

The tweet accused Daley of letting down his father, who died of cancer last year.

Daley later retweeted it to his own followers, saying: "After giving it my all... you get idiots sending me this..."

0820 GMT: Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber has just tweeted his support for Franklin after her success last night winning the women's 100m backstroke.

The Canadian singer wrote: "heard @FranklinMissy is a fan of mine. now im a fan of hers too. CONGRATS on winning GOLD! #muchlove".

If that doesn't give the 17-year-old a boost before her showdown with Muffat, I don't know what will!

0815 GMT: Here is a rundown of some of the main events to look out for today:

+ Magnussen begins his bid for Olympic Games 100m freestyle gold (from 0900 GMT)

+ Victory in the 200m butterfly would make Phelps the first man to win the same swimming event at three straight Games (from 1730 GMT)

+ Franklin goes head-to-head with France's Camille Muffat, who has already won gold in the 400m freestyle, in the women's 200m final (from 1830 GMT)

+ Eventing team and individual golds to be decided with Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, going for gold (from 0930 GMT)

WELCOME TO AFP'S Live Report on the 2012 London Olympics on Tuesday July 31. It's a grey and gloomy day in London but there is plenty of sporting action ahead to brighten things up.

Yesterday saw victory for China in events including artistic gymnastics and diving. The US's Missy Franklin grabbed gold in the women's 100m backstroke but Ryan Lochte failed to win a medal in the men's 200m freestyle won by Yannick Agnel of France.

There is more action poolside today as the US's Michael Phelps tries for his first gold in the 200m butterfly and Australia's James Magnussen starts his bid for the 100m freestyle title. Stay with us for all the action.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/olympics-2012-live-report-080304084--oly.html

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