Day seven: Olympics heaven as athletics begins and Irish compete in finals

The sun is expected to shine over Paris on what could be a cracking Friday for the Irish Olympic team across multiple competitions and as the Stade de France opens its doors to crown the new Olympic kings and queens of the track and field.

It could be a very profitable morning for Irish rowing, with three crews in different finals. Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney take to the water at 10:30am in the final of the Men’s Pair.

Just over 30 minutes later, Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will look to retain their Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls gold.

And Aoife Casey and Mags Cremen compete in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls final just after 11:20am.

The athletics gets underway in earnest this morning, with Cathal Doyle, Luke McCann and Andrew Coscoran going in consecutive heats in the 1,500 metres.

Cathal Doyle, the 26-year-old from Clonliffe Harriers in Dublin, will be the first Irish athlete on the track, running in the first of three heats this morning, due at 10:10am Irish time. Luke McCann is in heat two.

This evening, the Irish team - minus Rhasidat Adeleke - race in the second heat of the 4-x-400 mixed relay, set to start at 7:10pm Irish time. The Irish team will comprise Chris O’Donnell, Sophie Becker, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley. The final is due on Saturday evening at 8:55pm Irish time.

Adeleke will begin her medal quest in the women’s 400m on Monday lunchtime - heats are due at 12:50pm Irish time -  then Wednesday (semi-finals, 8:45pm) with a final on next Friday at 8pm.

Back to this weekend, and Friday’s opening athletics sessions will reach a thrilling crescendo with the first track final, the always fascinating men’s 10,000m showdown.

Meanwhile, the second head of the women’s 5,000 metres will