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Lyles, Sha'Carri, Hassan take Olympic track on a wild ride. A look at winners and losers in Paris

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Lyles, Sha'Carri, Hassan take Olympic track on a wild ride. A look at winners and losers in Paris
Sport

Sport

Lyles, Sha'Carri, Hassan take Olympic track on a wild ride. A look at winners and losers in Paris

2024-08-12 00:27 Last Updated At:00:30

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Between the Noah Lyles drama in the sprints and distance demon Sifan Hassan's 62-kilometer odyssey that wrapped up with a gold medal, track and field took the Olympics on a wild ride over 10 days of close calls, upsets and drama.

In summing up the winners and losers from the meet that featured another world record for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and three gold-medal performances from Gabby Thomas, maybe the biggest winner was track itself.

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Gold medalist, Tara Davis-Woodhall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Gold medalist, Tara Davis-Woodhall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of silver medalist Anna Cockrell, of the United States, center, and bronze medalist Femke Bol, of the Netherlands, right, in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of silver medalist Anna Cockrell, of the United States, center, and bronze medalist Femke Bol, of the Netherlands, right, in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, competes during the men's 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, competes during the men's 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

gold medalist Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates while Silver medalist Karsten Warholm, of Norway, reacts in the background, after finishing the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

gold medalist Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates while Silver medalist Karsten Warholm, of Norway, reacts in the background, after finishing the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Letsile Tebogo, of Botswana, right, wins the men's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Letsile Tebogo, of Botswana, right, wins the men's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexis Holmes runs after taking over the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas, right, to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Alexis Holmes runs after taking over the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas, right, to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabby Thomas, Sydney Michelle McLaughlin, Alexis Holmes and Shamier Little, of the United States, pose after winning the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabby Thomas, Sydney Michelle McLaughlin, Alexis Holmes and Shamier Little, of the United States, pose after winning the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Men's 200-meter bronze medalist, Noah Lyles, of the United States, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Men's 200-meter bronze medalist, Noah Lyles, of the United States, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, crosses the finish line for his men's 4x400-meter relay team to win the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, crosses the finish line for his men's 4x400-meter relay team to win the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Snoop Dogg, right, Sebastian Coe and Simone Biles, attend the the track and field events at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Snoop Dogg, right, Sebastian Coe and Simone Biles, attend the the track and field events at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hands off to Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, during the women's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hands off to Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, during the women's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Struggling for eyeballs in a post-Usain Bolt world, the sport got terrific shows from Lyles, who battled COVID, and from Sha'Carri Richardson, who put a stamp, and a stomp, on the U.S. 4x100-meter relay gold in a visceral reminder that she is very compelling TV.

As much as the personalities, it was the dramatic finishes and the buzz on the track that made it hard to turn away.

“One night, I had Snoop Dogg on one side of me and Simone Biles on the other and she said ‘I had no idea people ran that quickly,’” said Sebastian Coe, the leader of World Athletics. “The sport became cool. It's the first time my kids have thought anything I've done on the planet was cool.”

Track will open the Olympics, not close them, four years from now at the LA Olympics. If that meet goes anything like this one, those Games will be well on their way to success.

A look at some winners and losers from the Olympic track meet in Paris:

Hassan is never going to draw the eyeballs of, say, a Lyles or Richardson. Maybe she should. Trading elbows as she glided past her last remaining competition in the marathon was one heck of a way to close out track at the Olympics.

Hassan won gold and here’s her tally over the last two Olympics:

—Bronze in the 1,500 (2021).

—Gold (2021) and bronze (2024) in the 5,000.

—Gold (2021) and bronze (2024) in the 10,000.

—Gold in the marathon Sunday.

Over the span of two Olympics, she ran more than 86.5 kilometers.

Could there be a legit track rivalry brewing between Lyles, who lost in his best race, the 200, to Letsile Tebogo of Botswana? Someone asked the new champion if he wanted to someday be the “face of track" — a role Lyles is clearly is angling for.

“I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah," Tebogo said.

Though the stakes weren't that high — Olympic medals aren't life and death — Lyles' bout with COVID changed his Olympics, altered the vibe at the track meet (for a night, at least) and reminded the world that the virus will never go away.

Hard to call someone a loser who walks out of Paris holding a gold medal.

But the mind games he played with Britain's Josh Kerr clearly got to Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1,500 meters. For the third straight time in a major championship, he couldn’t win what's largely seen as track's marquee distance race.

Four days after finishing fourth, Ingebrigtsen mentally rebooted to win the 5,000 meters in convincing fashion.

“When you hit a wall, and don’t perform the way you want to, it’s very difficult,” Ingebrigtsen said. “I got another shot, I just had to make the most of it.”

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes the 400-meter hurdles look so easy. She finished in 50.37 seconds to break the world record for a sixth time, then followed up with a 47.71 split in America’s romp through the women’s 4x400.

The 50-second barrier awaits.

Armando Duplantis had clinched a gold medal much earlier, but he was still holding his pole and staring at a bar higher than any human had ever cleared in the pole vault.

Duplantis, the Louisiana-born 24-year-old who competes for his mother’s native Sweden, cleared 6.25 meter s (20 feet, 6 inches) to break the world record for the ninth time — but the first time at the Olympics.

Hurdles don't look like much of a hurdle to some of these athletes, Coe says, before suggesting he's heard calls for an idea that is likely bound to go nowhere.

“The only thing I would say is, there’s probably a case now for looking at the height of the hurdles,” he said. “These guys don’t really look like they’re breaking their form very much to do that.”

Currently, the women's hurdles in the 400 are set at 30 inches high and the men's are at 36.

The U.S. won 34 medals and 14 golds, matching numbers not seen since the 1960s and before.

Lyles, Richardson, McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas are the obvious candidates to become bigger than the game.

“But those athletes who have competed here have been mobbed walking out of the stadium and they're still walking through their own hometowns in anonymity,” Coe said of the general lack of love for track in the U.S. outside of the Olympics. “That we need to address. ”

Track has four years to figure out its U.S. problem. One issue — track fans in the States who hope to catch all these stars-in-the-making on TV will really have to hunt around.

NBC's contract to stream many of track's major meets, the Diamond League, comes to an end in 2024, replaced by a track website that will charge a hefty monthly fee to watch the action.

Thomas wasn't the only track athlete disappointed with this news when it landed in teh spring.

“This might be the worst news I've heard from the diamond league since ... ever," she said on social media.

Coe said there's a fine line between finding new ways to distribute track's best races and making sure the average fans can find them on old-fashioned TV. The future of track in the U.S. could very well depend on it.

“This is our moment,” Coe said. “We can’t sort of allow this to glidepath gently into anything other than a really successful 2028.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Gold medalist, Tara Davis-Woodhall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Gold medalist, Tara Davis-Woodhall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's long jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of silver medalist Anna Cockrell, of the United States, center, and bronze medalist Femke Bol, of the Netherlands, right, in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of silver medalist Anna Cockrell, of the United States, center, and bronze medalist Femke Bol, of the Netherlands, right, in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, competes during the men's 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, competes during the men's 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

gold medalist Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates while Silver medalist Karsten Warholm, of Norway, reacts in the background, after finishing the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

gold medalist Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates while Silver medalist Karsten Warholm, of Norway, reacts in the background, after finishing the men's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Letsile Tebogo, of Botswana, right, wins the men's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Letsile Tebogo, of Botswana, right, wins the men's 200-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexis Holmes runs after taking over the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas, right, to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Alexis Holmes runs after taking over the baton from teammate Gabby Thomas, right, to win the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabby Thomas, Sydney Michelle McLaughlin, Alexis Holmes and Shamier Little, of the United States, pose after winning the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gabby Thomas, Sydney Michelle McLaughlin, Alexis Holmes and Shamier Little, of the United States, pose after winning the gold medal in the women's 4 x 400 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's 5000-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Men's 200-meter bronze medalist, Noah Lyles, of the United States, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Men's 200-meter bronze medalist, Noah Lyles, of the United States, stands on the podium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, crosses the finish line for his men's 4x400-meter relay team to win the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Rai Benjamin, of the United States, crosses the finish line for his men's 4x400-meter relay team to win the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Snoop Dogg, right, Sebastian Coe and Simone Biles, attend the the track and field events at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Snoop Dogg, right, Sebastian Coe and Simone Biles, attend the the track and field events at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, of the United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the women's 400 meters hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hands off to Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, during the women's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hands off to Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, during the women's 4 x 400-meter relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Sha'carri Richardson, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LONDON (AP) — A British teen pleaded guilty Monday to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 other people in what a prosecutor said was a “meticulously planned” stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, entered the surprise plea as jury selection had been expected to begin at the start of his trial in Liverpool Crown Court.

The July 29 stabbings sent shock waves across the U.K. and led to a week of widespread rioting across parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was born in Wales.

The attack occurred on the first day of summer vacation when the little girls at the Hart Space, a sanctuary hidden behind a row of houses, were in a class to learn yoga and dance to the songs of Taylor Swift. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, intruded and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.

“This was an unspeakable attack — one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness," Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said. “A day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.”

Prosecutors haven’t said what they believe led Rudakubana — who was days shy of his 18th birthday — to commit the atrocities, but Doyle said that it was clear he had a “a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence.”

Rudakubana had consistently refused to speak in court and did so once again when asked to identify himself at the start of the proceedings. But he broke his silence when he was read the 16-count indictment and asked to enter a plea, replying “guilty” to each charge.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and additional charges related to possessing the poison ricin and for having an al-Qaida manual.

Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday, Justice Julian Goose said.

Defense lawyer Stanley Reiz said that he would present information to the judge about Rudakubana's mental health that may be relevant to his sentence.

The surviving victims and family members of those killed were absent in court, because they had expected to arrive Tuesday for opening statements.

Goose asked the prosecutor to apologize on his behalf that they weren't present to hear Rudakubana plead guilty.

He pleaded guilty to murdering Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6.

Eight other girls, ranging in age from 7 to 13, were wounded, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, who worked in a business next door and intervened. Fifteen other girls, as young as 5, were at the class but uninjured. Under a court order, none of the surviving girls can be named.

Hayes, who was stabbed and seriously wounded, said he still had flashbacks to the attack and was “hugely upset at the time that I wasn’t able to do more.”

“But I did what I could in the circumstances,” he told Sky News. “I’m grateful to be here, and by all accounts I’ll make a full recovery, at least physically. … I’m going to be OK and others won’t be, and that’s really where I I think the focus of attention should be.”

Police said the stabbings weren’t classified as acts of terrorism because the motive wasn’t known.

Several months after his arrest at the scene of the crime, Rudakubana was charged with additional counts for production of a biological toxin, ricin and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism for having the manual in a document on his computer.

Police said they found the evidence during a search of his family's home in a neighboring village.

The day after the killings — and shortly after a peaceful vigil for the victims — a violent group attacked a mosque near the crime scene and pelted police officers with bricks and bottles and set fire to police vehicles.

Rioting then spread to dozens of other towns over the next week when groups made up mostly of men mobilized by far-right activists on social media clashed with police during violent protests and attacked hotels housing migrants.

More than 1,200 people were arrested for the disorder and hundreds have been jailed for up to nine years in prison.

In this Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appears on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to killing three young girls and wounded 10 other people in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

In this Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appears on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to killing three young girls and wounded 10 other people in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)

People queue at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

People queue at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

FILE - Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

FILE - Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

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