After a tumultuous Friday, which started with a pre-dawn attack by saboteurs on France's high-speed train network, the focus now turns to gold medals and sporting excellence.

No fewer than 14 will be up for grabs as day one promises action across multiple sports, four golds in swimming, two each in cycling, fencing, and judo, and one each in diving, skateboarding, shooting, and rugby sevens.

The swimming gets off to a flying start at La Defense Arena where Australia's Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus bids to retain her 400 metres freestyle title against American Katie Ledecky, the 2016 Rio champion, and Canadian wunderkind Summer McIntosh.

Coming three years after Titmus beat Ledecky in a thriller at the Tokyo Games, the final could be Paris's candidate for "race of the century" if all three qualify.

--Reuters--