2024 Olympics Day 11 Recap: Canada claims another gold in hammer throw, Canadian men's basketball team upset by France, as De Grasse's coach is embroiled in a sexual-abuse scandal

Team Canada had an up-and-down day in Paris, one filled with crushing losses, another scandal involving a coach, and a historic gold medal

Kyle Cantlon
·Writer
·9 min read
Camryn Rogers wins another gold for Canada in hammer throw, The Canadian men’s basketball team’s medal hopes are crushed with a loss to France, while Andre De Grasse’s coach is embroiled in a sexual-abuse scandal. (Photo credit: Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesMarvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images, AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

While the watching experience and timing for the 2024 Paris Olympics isn't quite as challenging for Canadian viewers as it was for Tokyo 2020 or Beijing 2022, a good chunk of action during these Games happens when plenty of Canadians are fast asleep.

Whether you were crushing some zzz's, busy at work, had family activities to partake in or just didn't have a chance to tune in, we have you covered throughout these Olympics from start to finish, with Team Canada currently sitting at 18 medals.

Here's what you may have missed on Day 11, including another gold medal in hammer throw, the Canadian men's basketball team's tournament coming to an end, and an alleged sexual-abuse scandal that got Andre De Grasse's coach kicked out of the Olympics.

Camryn Rogers, of Canada, celebrates after winning the women's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Camryn Rogers, of Canada, celebrates after winning the women's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Canada is now a legitimate hammer-throw powerhouse as Camryn Rogers secured the gold medal in the women's final on Tuesday, becoming the first Canadian woman to ever earn an Olympic medal in the event.

The triumph comes just days after Ethan Katzberg claimed gold in the men's event on Sunday. With Rogers' gold-medal win, Canada is now just the third country to win gold in both men's and women's hammer throw in a single Olympic Games.

Rogers had a gold-winning toss of 76.97 metres, while Annette Echikunwoke of the United States earned the silver medal (75.48) and China's Zhao Jie took bronze (74.27).

Rogers already made history in Tokyo when she made her Olympic debut in 2021, becoming the first Canadian woman to ever make an Olympic final in hammer throw, finishing fifth.

The Richmond, B.C., native — who is the world's top-ranked hammer thrower — entered the Paris Games having earned a silver medal at the 2022 world championships and gold at the 2023 worlds. She's also the first and only Canadian woman ever to medal at worlds in the hammer throw.

Canadian Olympics fans are pretty excited about Rogers' gold-medal performance.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 06: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada reacts during the Men's Basketball Quarterfinal match between France and Canada on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 06: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada reacts during the Men's Basketball Quarterfinal match between France and Canada on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

When France's Evan Fournier hit a dagger from just inside half court with less than a minute remaining to put France up by 10, Canada's hopes of medalling in men's basketball were effectively dashed.

The Canadian men's basketball team suffered a crushing defeat on Tuesday afternoon, dropping its quarterfinal match against France 82-73.

France, which struggled in group play, put up its best effort of the tournament while Canada, after cruising through the group stage with three wins, had easily its worst outing of the Paris Games.

Despite an unusual amount of missed free throws from the NBA star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for Canada with 27 points, while Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett put up 16 in the loss. No other Canadian player had double-digit points as the supporting cast struggled mightily in front of a raucous French crowd.

Star point guard Jamal Murray also had another tough night for Canada.

Guerschon Yabusel and Isaïa Cordinier led a balanced France attack with 22 and 20 points, respectively, while Evan Fournier went 3-of-6 from downtown en route to 15 points — many of them timely as Canada failed to get within five points despite a late-game push.

Canada secured the top spot in a tough Group A after defeating Spain last week to go a perfect 3-0 in group play, which also included wins over Greece and Australia. The team looked to be rolling heading into the knockout round, making Tuesday's loss all the more heartbreaking.

Many fans took to Twitter to voice their disappointment, some over Canada's play and some over the officiating, after France got 42 free-throw attempts compared to Canada's 25.

FILE - Coach Rana Reider gestures during a training session in the Stadio dei Marmi ahead of an athletics meeting in Rome, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
FILE - Coach Rana Reider gestures during a training session in the Stadio dei Marmi ahead of an athletics meeting in Rome, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

The Canadian Olympic Committee says it has revoked the accreditation of sprinter Andre De Grasse's coach, Rana Reider, after "new information" on the latter's alleged sexual and emotional assault came to light.

The COC did not specify the nature of said information, but added that Reider was on "probation" with the U.S. Center for SafeSport until May of 2024, and the COC's decision to accredit Reider for the Paris Olympics was done with the understanding he had no other sanctions against him.

According to the Canadian Press, Reider's accreditation has been taken away over concerns about the "safeguarding" of athletes along with allegations of abuse — both sexual and emotional. Court documents filed in Florida reportedly indicate multiple women filed suit against the coach over those allegations.

"On Sunday Aug. 4 we learned of new information about the appropriateness of Mr. Reider remaining accredited by Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Games," the COC wrote in a statement. "In discussion with Athletics Canada, it was agreed that Mr. Reider’s accreditation be revoked.”

Reider's lawyer, meanwhile, is claiming his client had his accreditations revoked and was denied the ability to continue coaching athletes at the Paris Games without due process, calling the allegations "years-old claims in a lawsuit by former athletes seeking financial gain."

Reider — who has also coached Tokyo Olympics 100-metre champion Marcell Jacobs, among others — has denied the allegations contained in the first of three lawsuits, according to the Canadian Press, and has filed a counterclaim alleging defamation. The two other claims were filed in June and a response has yet to be filed.

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