U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, gestures after winning the 200-meter butterfly on Tuesday, August 9. It was the 20th gold medal of his Olympic career. Later in the night, Phelps <a target="_blank">won his 21st gold</a> -- and his 25th medal in all -- after swimming the anchor leg in the 4x200 freestyle.
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, gestures after winning the 200-meter butterfly on Tuesday, August 9. It was the 20th gold medal of his Olympic career. Later in the night, Phelps won his 21st gold -- and his 25th medal in all -- after swimming the anchor leg in the 4x200 freestyle.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Phelps' win in the 200-meter butterfly avenged one of the few losses of his Olympic career -- a second-place finish to South Africa's Chad Le Clos in 2012. Le Clos finished fourth in Tuesday's race.
Phelps' win in the 200-meter butterfly avenged one of the few losses of his Olympic career -- a second-place finish to South Africa's Chad Le Clos in 2012. Le Clos finished fourth in Tuesday's race.
Phil Walter/Getty Images
American Katie Ledecky smiles after winning the 200-meter freestyle. It is her second gold in the Rio Games. She also won the 400-meter freestyle.
American Katie Ledecky smiles after winning the 200-meter freestyle. It is her second gold in the Rio Games. She also won the 400-meter freestyle.
Martin Meissner/AP
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina reacts after <a target="_blank">her third-round victory</a> over top-ranked Serena Williams. Svitolina won 6-4, 6-3.
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina reacts after her third-round victory over top-ranked Serena Williams. Svitolina won 6-4, 6-3.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Williams won gold in singles and doubles in the 2012 Olympics. But she is already out of both tournaments in Rio de Janeiro.
Williams won gold in singles and doubles in the 2012 Olympics. But she is already out of both tournaments in Rio de Janeiro.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
U.S. gymnasts -- from left, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Laurie Hernandez -- celebrate after <a target="_blank">winning the team all-around.</a> The United States also won gold in 2012.
U.S. gymnasts -- from left, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Laurie Hernandez -- celebrate after winning the team all-around. The United States also won gold in 2012.
Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian basketball player Marcus Marquinhos, in green under the basket, tips in the winning basket to upset Spain 66-65.
Brazilian basketball player Marcus Marquinhos, in green under the basket, tips in the winning basket to upset Spain 66-65.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Synchronized divers Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia won the 10-meter platform event for China.
Synchronized divers Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia won the 10-meter platform event for China.
Matt Dunham/AP
The diving pool, right, <a target="_blank">had turned from blue to green</a> since Monday. The cause is still under investigation, but water tests showed there were no health risks, Rio organizers said.
The diving pool, right, had turned from blue to green since Monday. The cause is still under investigation, but water tests showed there were no health risks, Rio organizers said.
Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Egyptian beach volleyball players Doaa Elghobashy and Nada Meawad, left, switch sides with Italy's Marta Menegatti and Laura Giombini.
Egyptian beach volleyball players Doaa Elghobashy and Nada Meawad, left, switch sides with Italy's Marta Menegatti and Laura Giombini.
Yashuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
Kosovo's Majlinda Kelmendi, right, defeated Italy's Odette Giuffrida in the 52-kilogram (115-pound) judo final. It is <a target="_blank">the first Olympic medal</a> in Kosovo history.
Kosovo's Majlinda Kelmendi, right, defeated Italy's Odette Giuffrida in the 52-kilogram (115-pound) judo final. It is the first Olympic medal in Kosovo history.
NurPhoto/Getty Images
Japanese rugby player Katsuyuki Sakai scores a try against Great Britain.
Japanese rugby player Katsuyuki Sakai scores a try against Great Britain.
David Rogers/Getty Images
Brazilian rider Ruy Fonseca, on Tom Bombadill Too, hits an obstacle during the jumping round of the team eventing final.
Brazilian rider Ruy Fonseca, on Tom Bombadill Too, hits an obstacle during the jumping round of the team eventing final.
Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile/Getty Images
Australia's Rowie Webster, right, mugs Russia's Anna Timofeeva during a water polo match.
Australia's Rowie Webster, right, mugs Russia's Anna Timofeeva during a water polo match.
AAron Ontiveroz/Denver Post/Getty Images
Japanese canoeist Takuya Haneda is congratulated after a ride in the C-1 slalom final. He won the bronze medal.
Japanese canoeist Takuya Haneda is congratulated after a ride in the C-1 slalom final. He won the bronze medal.
Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images
Germany's Sideris Tasiadis competes in the C-1 slalom.
Germany's Sideris Tasiadis competes in the C-1 slalom.
Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images
Mexico's Jorge Alejandro Barajas serves the ball during a volleyball match against France.
Mexico's Jorge Alejandro Barajas serves the ball during a volleyball match against France.
Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty Images
Italy's volleyball team is introduced before its match against the United States.
Italy's volleyball team is introduced before its match against the United States.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Iran's Zahra Nemati shoots an arrow during the women's individual archery competition.
Iran's Zahra Nemati shoots an arrow during the women's individual archery competition.
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Hungarian fencer Geza Imre, left, competes against France's Gauthier Grumier during an epee semifinal. Imre won 15-13 to advance to the final, which he lost to South Korea's <br />Park Sang-young.
Hungarian fencer Geza Imre, left, competes against France's Gauthier Grumier during an epee semifinal. Imre won 15-13 to advance to the final, which he lost to South Korea's
Park Sang-young.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Moldovan weightlifter Serghei Cechir celebrates after finishing in first place in the 69-kilogram (152-pound) weight class. He lifted 144 kilograms (317.5 pounds) in the snatch and 178 kilograms (392.4 pounds) in the clean and jerk for a combined 322 kilograms (709.9 pounds).
Moldovan weightlifter Serghei Cechir celebrates after finishing in first place in the 69-kilogram (152-pound) weight class. He lifted 144 kilograms (317.5 pounds) in the snatch and 178 kilograms (392.4 pounds) in the clean and jerk for a combined 322 kilograms (709.9 pounds).
Julian Finney/Getty Images
The Ivory Coast's Thibault Amani Danho competes in the 100-meter freestyle.
The Ivory Coast's Thibault Amani Danho competes in the 100-meter freestyle.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Mexico's Misael Uziel Rodriguez, left, takes a battering from Iraq's Waheed Abdulridha Waheed Karaawi during a middleweight boxing match. Rodriguez won the match, however, and advanced.
Mexico's Misael Uziel Rodriguez, left, takes a battering from Iraq's Waheed Abdulridha Waheed Karaawi during a middleweight boxing match. Rodriguez won the match, however, and advanced.
Frank Franklin II/AP
Track cyclists from Great Britain put their heads down during a training session inside the Olympic Velodrome.
Track cyclists from Great Britain put their heads down during a training session inside the Olympic Velodrome.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Zimbabwe's Sean Michael Gunn dives in for a 100-meter freestyle race.
Zimbabwe's Sean Michael Gunn dives in for a 100-meter freestyle race.
Morry Gash/AP
South Korean archer Chang Hye-jin takes part in the women's individual competition. Earlier this week, she and teammates Choi Mi-sun and Ki Bo-bae took gold in the team event.
South Korean archer Chang Hye-jin takes part in the women's individual competition. Earlier this week, she and teammates Choi Mi-sun and Ki Bo-bae took gold in the team event.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
Volleyball player Demian Gonzalez is embraced by Argentina fans after his team beat Russia in a preliminary round. They will next face Poland on Thursday.
Volleyball player Demian Gonzalez is embraced by Argentina fans after his team beat Russia in a preliminary round. They will next face Poland on Thursday.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Rio Olympics: Day 4

Story highlights

Sonny Bill Williams ruled out of Games

New Zealand star ruptures Achilles tendon

All Blacks shocked by Japan on opening day

CNN  — 

Sonny Bill Williams was supposed to be the face of rugby sevens at the Olympic Games – but the All Black legend won’t play any further part after rupturing his Achilles tendon on the opening day of the men’s competition in Rio.

The two-time World Cup winner limped off during his side’s embarrassing 14-12 defeat by Japan in one of the biggest shocks in the sport’s history.

The 31-year-old was set to rejoin the 15-a-side team ahead of the Rugby Championship which starts later this month.

But his chances of adding to his 33 international caps any time soon appear to be slim after this injury.

It marked a hugely disappointing day for New Zealand, one of the favorites for the gold medal with the path to the final now likely to prove far more difficult.

While it should still progress to the next stage, this result and the absence of Williams will give opponents plenty of encouragement.

Few gave Japan a chance against the third-ranked All Blacks but tries from Teruya Goto and Kameli Soejima as well as conversions from Lomano Lemeki and Katsuyuki Sakai sealed the win.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Japan back Lemeki.

“You’ve got to think that a minnow team can come here and beat a team that’s supposed to be a gold medal contender.

“It’s still pretty unbelievable and I am just shocked to be honest.”

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spc cnn world rugby sonny bill and niall williams_00002402.jpg
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Related video Williams vs. Williams: Rugby rivals

Japan went close to another shock result against Great Britain in its second game but fell just short in a 21-19 defeat.

The British team, which won both of its opening games, will take on New Zealand Wednesday.

The US enjoyed a thumping 26-0 win over host nation Brazil to cancel out a narrow defeat by Argentina in its opening fixture.

It will take on gold medal favorite Fiji in its final match Wednesday with the Pacific Islanders having won both games so far.

READ: Pacific Island rugby – Trouble in paradise?

In Group B, Australia suffered a shock 31-14 defeat by France in its opening match.

The Wallabies, which bounced back against Spain, now faces a South African side which has recorded two wins out of two.