Mark the calendar, save the date and set your alarm for 8.55pm – because it’s time for the blue-riband event of the entire Olympic Games.

Of all the gold medals that will be awarded in Paris, one stands out above the rest and this year’s men’s 100m final should be every bit as good as billed.

The post-Usain Bolt cloud that hung over the men’s sprints in the wake of the GOAT’s retirement has been cleared by a group of extremely quick athletes desperate to catapult themselves into the stratosphere, just as Bolt did in Beijing a scarcely believable 16 years ago.

While the Jamaican great’s world record of 9.58 seconds is surely out of reach, this is going to be a blindingly quick final. The Americans have regained control over a discipline they once dominated and are desperate to bag a first Olympic gold in two decades.

Great Britain's Olympic Legacy

Noah Lyles is the reigning world champion and pre-event favourite, and he underlined his credentials with a fine victory at the US trials. Fred Kerley, the Tokyo silver medallist, and Lyles’ big rival was on his shoulder, with Kenny Bednarek in between – expect them all to feature prominently in the big race.

Jamaica have hardly disappeared from the sprinting scene without Bolt and are offering up the exciting Kishane Thompson, a 22-year-old bolt-from-the-blue - if you excuse the pun - who came from nowhere to win their trials in a rapid 9.77 seconds. Team USA may be forgiven for feeling an uneasy sense of deja vu, 16 years after Bolt’s emergence in similar fashion.

Team GB have not won a 100m men’s medal since Linford Christie struck gold in 1992 but have a genuine shot, in Zharnel Hughes. The British record-holder won World Championship bronze last year and should be in contention for a podium spot in Paris.

There are 19 gold medals up for grabs on day 9, including the final of the men’s tennis at Roland Garros and the men’s golf at Le Golf National.

Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are flying the British flag, and Fleetwood knows what it takes to win at the famous Parisian course, having lifted the French Open in 2017 and the Ryder Cup a year later.

In the gymnastics arena, Team GB’s world champion Jake Jarman is hoping to add Olympic gold to his collection in the men’s vault, while Simone Biles will fly the USA flag in the uneven bars.

Team GB’s star shooter Amber Rutter will also go for gold in the women’s skeet, while it’s the final night of swimming – including the 4x100 medley finals.

Paris Olympics 2024 day 9 - highlights to watch

It’s the main event of the day – and perhaps the main event of the entire Olympic Games.

The men’s 100m final is one the great spectacles in sport and at 8.55pm UK time, the eight fastest men in the world will line up in the starting blocks. Could Team GB bag a medal? There’s certainly a chance.

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Star of the day

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has won it all – apart from singles gold at the Olympic Games. Paris 2024 probably marks his last opportunity and day nine could be his day of reckoning, with the men’s singles final taking centre stage at Roland Garros.

Best Brit to watch

There are several contenders here, including Zharnel Hughes and Tommy Fleetwood. But keep an eagle eye out for gymnast Jake Jarman in the men’s vault final. The Peterborough star is the reigning world champion and among the favourites for the Olympic title. He’s in action at 3.25pm.

Watch every moment of Olympic Games Paris 2024 live only on discovery+

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