Paris Olympics in full swing as organizers navigate through fallout of opening ceremony uproar

Haley Batten, of United States, competes in the women's mountain bike cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Elancourt, France. (AP)

American silver medalist Haley Batten was hit with a fine after her second-place finish in women’s cross country mountain biking on Sunday at the Paris Olympics. 

Batten was fined about $565 for breaking a rule on the final lap. She was jockeying for second place with Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds went she went through a lane meant for taking in food or stopping for mechanical problems.

Judges only determined that Batten broke one rule – failing to “respect the instructions of the race organization or commissaries.” Officials didn’t appear to believe her infraction was enough to warrant a disqualification.

Both Batten and Rissveds finished behind France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

“I knew before Tokyo that this was the race I was focusing on,” Batten said. “I’ve known for a long time that I could be good here and Tokyo was — I wanted to be on the podium there, but I wasn’t quite ready to be honest. I prepared much better to be the best I’ve ever been. For me, preparation has been in the details, studying and building every single year.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

South Korea's Ban Hyojin, left, celebrates after winning the 10m air rifle women's final as the third-place holder Switzerland's Audrey Gogniat looks on at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (AP)

Before anyone in the Western Hemisphere was awake, South Korea was already wrapping up a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

South Korea’s Ban Hyojin narrowly defeated China’s Huang Yuting for the gold by 0.1 in the 10-meter air rifle women’s final. Ban was emotional as she realized how small of a margin she won by.

“At this young age, I felt a lot of pressure coming to France without my family and being alone," the 16-year-old said afterward. "But after the match I saw my fellow countrypeople cheering for me and I felt like ‘finally.’"

For Huang, it was her second medal of the Games. She won the mixed team air rifle on Saturday with her teammate Sheng Lihao. It was the first gold medal awarded in the Paris Olympics.

Switzerland’s Audrey Gogniat picked up the bronze medal. American Sagen Maddalena finished in fourth place. The United States has never a medal in the shooting competition.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Gold medalist Torri Huske, of the United States, right, hugs teammate and silver medalsit Gretchen Walsh following the women's 100-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP)

The United States has 12 medals to its tally so far at the Paris Olympics. Here’s a look at the teams and athletes who have already captured a medal in some events so far. 

Gold

Jack Alexy, Chris Giuliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel (Men’s swimming 4x100 freestyle relay)

Torri Huske (Women’s swimming 100-meter butterfly)

Lee Kiefer (Women’s fencing individual foil)

Silver

Sarah Bacon, Kassidy Cook (Women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard)

Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Simone Manuel (Women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay)

Haley Batten (Women’s mountain biking cross country)

Gretchen Walsh (Women’s swimming 100-meter butterfly)

Nic Fink (Men’s swimming 100-meter breaststroke)

Lauren Scruggs (Women’s fencing individual foil) 

Bronze

Chloe Dygert (Women’s road cycling individual time trial)

Katie Ledecky (Women’s swimming 400-meter free style)

Carson Foster (Men’s swimming 400-meter individual medley

A tourist boat makes its way along the Seine River by the Alexandre III bridge, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Yasin Dar)

The poor water quality of the River Seine cost Olympic triathletes another day of training on Monday. It was the second straight day practice was canceled.

World Triathlon made the decision to cancel the workout following a meeting over water quality in the river. Representatives overseeing the event conducted tests on the water in the Seine and the test showed water quality levels leading into Sunday’s session that “did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.”

Officials blamed it on the weather that caused a deluge during Friday’s opening ceremony and forced the postponement of some tennis matches and skateboarding competitions.

French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told CNEWS in France on Monday that officials were optimistic and plans to control bacteria levels in the river have been effective.

But pointed to the rain being out of their hands.

“I am confident in the fact that we will be able to be there tomorrow for the men’s triathlon event,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hyojin Ban of Team Republic of Korea competes in the 10m Air Rifle Women's Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 29, 2024 in Chateauroux, France. (Getty Images)

South Korea’s Hyojin Ban already started Monday off with a gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle women’s final, finishing ahead of China’s Huang Yuting and Switzerland’s Audrey Gogniat.

There are several other Paris Olympics medal events on tap for the day.

Men’s synchronized 10-meter platform final, equestrian eventing team jumping final, 10-meter air rifle final, men’s cross country mountain biking, equestrian eventing individual final,  archery team gold and bronze medal matches, men and women’s 73-kilogram judo, skateboarding men’s street final, canoe slalom men’s single final, men’s gymnastics team final, women’s swimming 400-meter individual medley final, men’s swimming 200-meter freestyle final, women’s fencing sabre individual gold and bronze medal matches and men’s fencing foil individual gold and bronze medal matches.

The United States led the medal count entering Monday with 12 in total. The team has three gold medals, six silver medals and three bronze on their count.

South Korea, Japan and Australia each have four gold medals

The Eiffel Tower sparkles at dusk as the United States, on left, plays Czechia in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Paris Olympics are in full swing as more events will yield medal winners on Monday. But a cloud of controversy has taken over the Summer Games.

The opening ceremony appeared to leave a bad taste in the mouth of fans who turned onto see what kind of performance France would put on for those tuning in around the world. Many who watched believe one segment featured drag queens, a transgender model and naked singer who was stylized to resemble the Greek god Dionysus mocked The Last Supper.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps spoke about it on Sunday.

"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance," Descamps told reporters, via Reuters."We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry."

The uproar resulted in reactions from across the social media landscape. American and world leaders as well as those in the sports world spoke out.