What to watch at the Rio Games on Thursday

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Day 6 of the Rio Games features medal action in gymnastics, rugby, track cycling, swimming, fencing, judo and more. Here are some things to watch (all times local):

GYMNASTICS

American Simone Biles heads into the women’s individual all around starting at 4 p.m. She won the world championships in 2013, 2014 and 2105. Alexandra Raisman, who also shared in the U.S. team gold Tuesday, is in Biles’ rotation. The two start on the vault.

Keep an eye on Biles’ floor routine: It includes a move she created and which is named for her.

American Gabby Douglas is the defending Olympic champion, but will be on the sidelines Thursday.

A day earlier, Japan’s Kohei Uchimura added to his amazing record in the individual all around: He won the worlds in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and was the defending gold medalist.

GOLF

Golf tees off for the first time at the Olympics since 1904 as the men start their first round play at 7:30 a.m. at Olympic Golf Course . It’s a links-style layout stretching 7,128 yards and built in the hopes it can both challenge some of the world’s best in Rio and then grow the game in Brazil.

The professionals in Rio include Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson. But officials here are still hoping a good show offsets the negative publicity that arose as the world’s top four players dropped out because of Zika worries.

The first tee shot will be struck by Brazilian Adilson da Silva , who learned to play using tree branches for clubs.

SWIMMING

The gritty and seemingly unbeatable Katie Ledecky is back in the pool, this time to qualify for the 800m freestyle. Fans shouldn’t be too worried: Ledecky set the world record in the event in January. Oh, she also set the three prior world records. Heats start at 1:26 p.m.

Two days after winning his 20th and 21st golds, Michael Phelps looks to get to another final. At 2:16 p.m. he swims in qualifiers for the 100m butterfly, an event for which he holds the world record. On Wednesday, he cruised through a qualifier for the 200 meter individual medley.

Later, the world and Olympic record holding Americans look to qualify for the finals of the 4×100 meter medley relay in heats starting at 3:30 p.m.

Medals will be awarded in the women’s 200m breaststroke finals, which starts at 10:17 p.m., and in the men’s 200m backstroke final, which starts at 10:26 p.m.

RUGBY

Powerhouse Fiji goes against surprising Japan at 2:30 p.m. and South Africa faces Great Britain at 3 p.m. to get to the 7 p.m. finals.

The Americans missed out by one kick Wednesday after New England Patriots player Nate Ebner scored on Fiji with just a minute to go.

TABLE TENNIS

The gold medal match for men’s singles table tennis is at 9:30 p.m. China’s Ma Long and Zhang Jike are both into the semifinals, and we’re sure to see how the subtleties of spin dictate the winner.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

At 4:30 p.m., Americans Philip Dalhausser and Nicholas Lucena take on Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo of Italy. One surprise this Olympics has been the progression of the Canadian players on the beach.

TRACK CYCLING

The men’s sprint team finals are being held starting at 6:25 p.m. and, aside from the athletes, the bikes just may be the stars of the show. Some high-tech equipment will be on display to help shave seconds off the clock.

TENNIS

Much of the competition had to be pushed back on Wednesday because of rain.

FENCING

The women’s team epee gold medal match is at 6:30 p.m. Hungary’s Emese Szasz took top honors in the individuals.

VOLLEYBALL

Host Brazil plays the U.S. men at 10:35 p.m.

JUDO

Women and men compete for medals in the half heavyweight divisions (78kg and 100kg, respectively), with bouts taking place through the day. Japan swept the golds in the middleweight divisions on Wednesday.

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AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org

United States’ Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women’s team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/08/web1_111843401-28bc15dbd8684f4b9ddd6597f2bdddb9.jpgUnited States’ Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women’s team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Patrick Reed, of the United States, tees off on the 15th hole during a practice round for men’s golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/08/web1_111843401-7164eb4f550241b29b2a6085230f8413.jpgPatrick Reed, of the United States, tees off on the 15th hole during a practice round for men’s golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

United States’ gold medal winner Katie Ledecky swims in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/08/web1_111843401-ba4ba102245942debfaefc3591cf2185.jpgUnited States’ gold medal winner Katie Ledecky swims in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

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