Day six is so over. But don’t worry: hot on its sprinting heels comes day seven. Follow it all on our new live blog:
Associated Press has more details – admittedly there aren’t yet many details – about Chen Xinyi’s positive drugs test. She is the the first swimmer to fail a test at the Games:
Chen’s teammate Wang Shun declined to comment after he won bronze in Thursday’s 200m individual medley.
“This situation, I don’t know the details. I’m not aware of it, so unfortunately I can’t answer your question,” Wang said.
Li Keke, a spokeswoman for China’s national anti-doping agency, said she had no additional information.
“We have noticed media reports about the case. So far the anti-doping agency has yet to receive any official confirmation,” Li told the Associated Press.
“This reported test should be generated by the organiser. The Olympic committee and Fina should know about it. At present, we will continue to monitor,” Li said.
Chinese swimmer fails doping test
China’s official state news agency, Xinhua, has now confirmed that swimmer Chen Xinyi tested positive for a banned substance at Rio on 7 August, citing the Chinese swimming association.
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Tonight Simone Manuel became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold and she’s been speaking about her record-breaking achievements:
It means a lot, especially with what is going on in the world today, some of the issues of police brutality. This win hopefully brings hope and change to some of the issues that are going on. My colour just comes with the territory …
But at the same time, I would like there to be a day where there are more of us and it’s not like ‘Simone, the black swimmer,’ because the title ‘black swimmer’ makes it seem like I’m not supposed to be able to win a gold medal.
Days six’s services to heart-warming came courtesy of Fiji winning the nation’s first medal – a gold for the men’s rugby sevens – and then singing their celebrations. Back home, the island virtually ground to a halt, reports Eleanor Ainge-Roy:
In the capital revellers danced on rooftops and wove in and out of traffic waving the pale blue Fijian flag, still bedecked with their former colonists’ Union Jack.
“It is a bit awkward that we had to beat Britain, with all that history there,” said Feini Lakai, an officer manager in Suva.
“But you know everyone in Fiji is saying they’re cousins with Ben [Ryan, the British coach of Fiji’s sevens squad] now. At the moment the whole country is claiming he’s their relation.”
That wasn’t all Efimova had to say on the subject of doping, Les Carpenter reports from Rio:
The besieged Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova defended herself against attacks from American Lilly King and others who said her previous suspension for banned substances should keep her out of any Olympics. Her tactics were extraordinary: she decided to lash out at the most decorated Olympian of all time.
“What would [King] say about Michael Phelps,” she said in a press conference Thursday night.
A Russian press official later told the Wall Street Journal that this was a reference to Phelps being photographed in 2009 holding a marijuana pipe. USA Swimming suspended Phelps after the photo surfaced.
There’s some unhappiness in the British camp after swimmer Chloe Tutton came fourth, just 0.06 seconds off the podium and with twice-banned Yulia Efimova in second place in the women’s 200m breaststroke.
Tutton vented her frustration that the Russian – who has served two suspensions for doping – had secured her second silver of the Games:
Being in fourth place is a bit gutting, no matter who is in front of you.
I would’ve preferred it to have been a completely clean Games. I couldn’t help who was here. I’m not happy with it, but it’s just the way it is.
People just have to get on with it. I would’ve preferred to have a medal.
But Efimova – who disputes the doping charges – hit back:
Maybe on the surface I appear calm but everything is just boiling inside and I worry a lot in every race …
Everyone should have a second chance. When you drive and have a ticket you are just issued a ticket, no one puts you in jail.
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The Canadian commentator behind that Phelps-Lochte mix-up has held his hands up:
I'm sorry everyone. I blew it. No excuses
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 12, 2016
This being Twitter, followers responded to Elliotte Friedman’s mea culpa with humour, reassurance and compliments. No, they really did. Don’t be so cynical.
Still no confirmation yet from Rio about reports that Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi, who finished 4th in women’s 100m butterfly final and is due to take part in the 50m freestyle, has failed a doping test.
Estadao has reported that the court of arbitration for sport would rule on the case on Thursday night, but it’s 1am in Rio now and that seems a little late for adjudicating.
The South China Morning Post has now picked up the story, reporting that Chen allegedly failed a doping test ahead of the Games and that the positive result has only just been revealed.
Simone Manuel has been talking about that record-breaking – in multiple ways – win in the 100m freestyle:
The gold medal wasn’t just for me. It was for people that came before me and inspired me to stay in the sport. For people who believe that they can’t do it.
I hope I’m an inspiration to others to get out there and try swimming. You might be pretty good at it.
An American news website has taken down, after sustained criticism, a “deplorable” piece that allegedly outed gay Olympic athletes.
The Daily Beast, an American news and entertainment website, published an “exposé” on Thursday about the ease with which dates with Olympic athletes could be arranged on Grindr, the gay hook-up app, in Rio de Janeiro.
The piece, originally titled “I Got Three Grindr Dates in an Hour in the Olympic Village”, quickly drew criticism of reporter Nico Hines for voyeurism and potentially putting closeted athletes at risk.
In one case, Hines gave the height, weight, nationality and language of an athlete from a country where discrimination and violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community is widespread.
The article was eventually removed late on Thursday night. The URL now redirects to a note from the editors, concluding: “We were wrong. We will do better.”
While we’re on the subject of Canada, a commentator at CBC got a little muddled during that 200m individual relay – or was perhaps too sold on all the Phelps v Lochte hype – and persisted in thinking that Ryan Lochte was leading the field.
You can see the footage here. Favourite moment? “Phelps might not even make the podium!” yelped as Phelps nonchalantly lounged at the side of the pool, having already finished a comfortable first.
This is Claire Phipps in Sydney picking up the live blog again with a fact to inspire/enormously depress you: Penny Oleksiak, the Canadian swimmer currently standing atop the podium alongside the USA’s Simone Manuel after their deadheat victory in the pool, was born in June 2000.
That makes her the first individual Olympic gold medallist in any event to be born this century*. Which is … really something.
(*I know, I know, I KNOW: the 21st century began in 2001. But “the first born in a four-digit year beginning with 2” doesn’t sound as good.)
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Phelps talks about his 200m individual medley win. “Winning four in a row ... it’s a very emotional event for me. It’s very special, something you just dream of.”
He is asked why he gets so emotional on the podium. “[Because of] everything I’ve gone through and being able to finish how I want to”
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Singapore’s Joseph Schooling wins the second semi-final. He gets the fastest time of the semis too – Phelps was fifth fastest.
[This post was edited to correct Schooling’s first name.]
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So here comes Phelps 36 minutes after winning gold to race in the 100m butterfly semi-final. He looks surprisingly dry. They could at least have given him the second semi-final. He’s way back in the field at the halfway mark but makes it back to come second. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt seeing as he just pulled off one of the great finishes to a race around 40 minutes ago. He will race in the final tomorrow night. Cseh of Hungary was first.
If you’re wondering about the stereotypes and barriers Simone Manuel broke with her gold, this is well worth reading:
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Phelps is now getting his gold. He’s crying again - the poor guy shouldn’t dehydrate himself - he back in the pool in about four minutes.
Simone Manuel and Penny Oleksiak tie for gold
Cate Campbell is ahead of her sister Bronte at 50m but Simone Manuel storms back to win! And ties with Penny Oleksiak of Canada. Who is 16. Sweden’s Sjostrom takes bronze. Manuel is the first African American woman to medal in an individual swimming event.
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Australia’s Campbell sisters are next up in the 100m freestyle final. Cate is in the better form than her sibling Bronte coming into the final. Then Simone Manuel could become the first African American woman to win this event. Basically: loads of storylines.
Michael Phelps isn’t giving any interviews because he has the small matter of getting ready for the 200m butterfly semi-finals in around 20 minutes. You may be interested to know that Phelps is sickeningly good in that event too, and will probably break the world record. While swimming backwards. Underwater. While asleep.
Ryan Lochte was fifth. He looks devastated - that in all probability will be the last chance for him to win an individual medal at the Olympics. Post-race he says he may be back. But it’s doubtful.
Michael Phelps wins the 200m IM easily
Phelps monstered the opposition in the final stages. It was close until the final 100m when a brilliant breaststroke and then an awesome freestlye left his opponents gasping. Amazing, amazing, amazing.
Silence in the area apart from the odd shout and whoop from the crowd as the swimmers take to their blocks. And then the roar as they start. It’s butterfly first up Pereira is first to the wall followed by Phelps and Lochte. Then the backstroke: Lochte is first! With Pereira and Phelps just 0.01sec behind. At the final turn Phelps blows the field open and is in first. Then the freestyle, Phelps is unstoppable! He wins by a body length. Lochte is nowhere - it’s Japan’s Hagino in second and Wang Shun of China in third.
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Phelps qualified fastest and for obvious reasons (he is Michael Phelps) is the favorite.
And are swimmers are out. GB’s Dan Wallace struts out like quite the gangsta. If you can be a gangsta from a small town on Scotland. Lochte arrives in his t-shirt and then - big roar time - here’s Phelps in hood, headphone and the calmest of expressions.
Phelps and Lochte sit on the same row of chairs in the wait room. They leave a seat empty between them, not sure who for. Chad Le Clos? Probably not Chad Le Clos.
And now it’s time for the biggy. Phelps v Lochte in the 200m IM final. Phelps is now the only swimmer in history to have won an individual gold past the age of 31. Just another record for the most remarkable of athletes.
Hosszu - who else? - is first to the wall at 50m. Franklin struggles back down the field but her compatriot Dirado is second behind Hosszu at 150m. Hosszu, a multiple gold winner already in Rio, takes the semi-final with USA’s Driado in second and Australia’s Hocking third. Franklin trails in seventh, a sad end to the Games for a great champion.
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In the men’s 200m backstroke final, Australian Mitch Larkin has overcome the disappointment in his 100m swim to take the silver medal in his pet event. The Queenslander started well to lead by 0.26 seconds at the first turn but by the 150m mark he’d been overtaken by Ryan Murphy, and despite a strong finish by Larkin the American claimed the 100m/200m double in 1:53.62 to edge out Larkin in 1:53.96.
“What can you say? I’m pretty happy with silver to be honest,” Larkin said afterwards. “Going into this week i thought the goal was obvioulsy two golds. That was the major goal. Going into tonight to be honest all I wanted was to stand on the podium.”
“There is that little bit of disappointment,” he added of his fourth placing in the 100m. “For me tonight I try to control my speed. I knew like I said last night that the back end of the races is where the medals can be won and I think Murphy had a good back end and so did the Russian, so to hold on for silver I was pretty happy.”
Missy Franklin, who is enduring a slump since her wonderful 2012 Games, is in lane 6 for the second semi-final. For more on her disappointing Olympics, read this:
Australia’s world champion Emily Seebohm just saw her boyfriend Mitch Larkin win silver in the 200m backstroke - let’s see how she does. Canada’s Caldwell slips into the lead - Canada are having a good Games in the pool - and doesn’t let that position go. Seebohm finishes sixth and she won’t be in the final, a crushing finish for someone who had dominated the event.
Murphy speaks: “I was getting real tired at the end ... [Past US medallist’s] confidence in me helped a lot.” Next up we have the women’s 200m backstroke semi-finals and then we have [rubs hands, licks lips, does a little jig] ... Lochte v Phelps!
Ryan Murphy wins his second gold of the Games
And we’re off. Diener of Germany is off like a rocket in lane 8 but Murphy has a 0.01 second lead at 100m .The lead extends to 0.22sec at 150m, let’s see what happens in the final 50 ... it’s Murphy again! His second gold of the Games. Larkin of Australia is second and Russia’s Rylov third.
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According to the TV graphics, Mitch Larkin’s hometown in “Queensland, Australia”. That is a very large hometown. He’s also in with a good chance tonight.
USA’s Ryan Murphy has an opportunity to win his second gold of the Games - that’s just greedy - in the 200m backstroke final. He’s 13 or something. Anyway, he’s achieved more in his life at 21 than any of us will if we lived until 203 (by which time we’d be rubbish at swimming, unlike this really old shark).
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Cameron McEvoy has continued his disappointing Games by missing the final of the 50m freestyle, though speculation continues that the Australian has been unwell this week. “It was another chance of stepping up and racing at the Olympics and that within itself was pretty something that is pretty special,” McEvoy said afterwards.
Responding to the concerns over his fitness, McEvoy said: “Physically I’m as well as I could be on the day and that’s all there is to it. That’s sport. That’s the Olympics. When you have to race you have to race regardless of what’s happening. I’m not one to throw out excuses for anything and I’ll just get on with the job.”
Next up is Russia’s Yulia Efimova in the 200m breaststroke final - she has been the subject of controversy after Lilly King said she shouldn’t be at the Games due to prior drug offences. Anyway, it’s a pretty open field tonight. Pederson of Denmark is first at 50m but Taylor McKeown of Australia comes back to claim first at 100m. At the final turn, Rie Kaneto of Japan, the pre-race favourite begins to peel away but Efimova is fighting back! Kaneto’s lead is too big though, she wins with Efimova second and Shi of China third.
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The final hockey game of the day is over. GB beat Japan 2-0, the other unbeaten team in their group, USA, had earlier beaten India 3-0. USA and GB meet on Saturday.
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Anthony Ervin, 35, is one of the oldest swimmers at the Games and he is in the second semi-final of the 50m free. Also racing is Australia’s Cameron McEvoy. This should be good practice for liveblogging the 100m on Sunday. And ... it’s Govorov of Russia first, Ervin second and Proud of GB third. Another disappointing race for McEvoy, he is seventh.
Kayla Harrison won her second straight judo gold earlier today and immediately retired. And like all people who are incredibly good at fighting, she is considering a career in mixed martial arts (Ronda Rousey, possibly the most famous MMA fighter in the world is also a judo medallist). Here’s what Harrison had to say:
“I’m sure they were watching today. If they weren’t, they were missing out.” She also said she was a good singer, so the future is still open. The full story is here:
And we’re at the pool. I can report it’s watery in the extreme. Water, water everywhere and plenty to drink - as long as you’re prepared to pay ramped up prices. Our first sight of Phelps - looking intense - and Lochte, looking like a fun guy, which is What He Does. They race in the 200m medley final in, oooh, an hour.
This in from Reuters on a possible terrorist plot in Rio:
Police arrested two people on Thursday suspected of supporting Islamic State in planning a possible attack during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Police had arrested 12 people before Thursday’s operation, all suspected of collaboration with Islamic State militants. Brazil’s federal police said three others have been interrogated and later released. The two arrested on Thursday were Brazilians, but police did not provide names or other details.
Although Brazil has no history of conflict with known militant groups, the government has said the Games made the country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting Islamic State.
Its militants control parts of Iraq and Syria and a US-led coalition has conducted air strikes against them. The group has supporters worldwide who have carried out shootings and bombings of civilians.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve got a tear-jerking update from the world of discus. With that event not far off, Australian hope Benn Harradine has spoken to Australian TV network Seven and given an insight into his remarkable bond with his father and coach, Ken. “Dad and I are like two hearts beating in one chest,” he says. Ken gave up his teaching job to coach his son full-time, a sacrifice that he says has coast him half a million dollars.
Otherwise, all Australian eyes are on the pool, where the Campbell sisters will vie for gold (and most likely silver too, unless they achieve their dream of a dead heat) in the 100m freestyle final in just over an hour. Australia’s other medal chances are Taylor McKeown in the women’s 200m breaststroke and Mitch Larkin in the 200m backstroke.
That’s it from me. Up next is Tom Lutz to steer you through the rest of the night’s sport, including all the action from the pool.
Owen Gibson tweets with news of a doping case.
Good scoop from @JamilChade https://t.co/T8UJCWZx9O
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 12, 2016
They’re back out for the second half in the women’s hockey. Great Britain still with that single-goal advantage over Japan.
Simone Biles has been talking about her women’s all-around gymnastics gold medal and the silver for her fellow American Aly Raisman.
“I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.”
“I had a good feeling when I woke up. I walked into Aly’s room and said ‘I have a very good feeling about today’. And she said ‘me too’.”
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Robert Kitson was there to witness Fiji’s men’s rugby sevens dream team claim their gold medal.
The US women’s hockey team, who finished dead last in London, have now won all four of their group matches in Rio, having defeated India 3-0. They now face Great Britain on Saturday. The London 2012 bronze medallists are currently leading Japan 1-0 and if they hold on both sides will go into the game with 100% records as they aim for top seeding for the knockout rounds. And to add a little more spice the US coach is Craig Parnham, who represented GB at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.
In the men’s basketball, it’s finished Spain 96-87 Nigeria.
Looking good for the US women’s hockey team who lead India 3-0 in the fourth quarter.
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Read Kevin Mitchell’s match report on Murray and Watson’s unexpected mixed doubles victory. Unexpected in the sense that they were competing at all.
Like it or not (and Rory McIlroy isn’t too fussed either way), golf is here, and Barney Ronay has been sampling the atmosphere – and the wildlife –at the Barra da Tijuca course.
Higher, faster, stronger, knitwear. Golf is officially back at the Olympics; the opening round of the men’s competition passing off in a strolling haze of putts and chips and team-branded nylon slacks on a breezy, intoxicating day on Rio’s suburban coastline.
Read on here:
Despite the pre-game brouhaha Spain are leading Nigeria 81-74 in the fourth quarter.
More on that controlled explosion at the basketball arena from Reuters:
Fans missed the start of the men’s Olympic basketball contest between Nigeria and Spain on Thursday after an unattended backpack was found in the arena, triggering a security alert and a controlled detonation of the bag.
Television images showed the players, including Spanish NBA star Pau Gasol, starting play against the backdrop of tiers of empty seats after security held back crowds from entering the arena.
The backpack was carried away by a robot and detonated, a spokesman for Rio 2016 confirmed. Detonating unattended bags has been common this Games amid concerns over security at South America’s first Olympics.
A security agent said the backpack was discovered after the Brazil-Croatia game.
A tablet computer, some socks and a jacket were found inside the backpack following the detonation. The public were allowed into the arena immediately afterwards, a spokesman said.
The US women’s hockey team continue to be one of the surprise packages of these Games. The US have only won two medals (both bronze) in Olympic history but they’re a perfect three for three so far in Rio and already have a place in the quarter-finals. It looks like they’ll make it four wins – they’re 1-0 up at the half against India. The US will play the other unbeaten team in the group, Britain, on Saturday.
Heather Watson might be one of the luckiest athletes in the history of the Olympics. Bundled out of the singles but hanging in to support her mates before heading home, she got the latest of call-ups to partner Andy Murray in the mixed doubles – and they are now two wins away from a gold medal. She said after performing brilliantly to help a tired Murray over the line, 6-3, 6-3, against the Spaniards David Ferrer and Carla Suárez Navarro: “I had a flight tonight. I genuinely had all my stuff packed, I brought it here, I came here just in case. I had no idea, wasn’t sure if we’d get in and then just got told, ‘Get your kit on, you’re on.”
Over at the rugby stadium a crowd of 10,000 watch the Fijian flag raised for the first time since the country began competing at the Olympics in 1956.
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It’s half-time in the women’s field hockey and the USA are looking good for their 1-0 lead over India.
Here’s the rugby sevens match report. They’ll be dancing in the streets of Suva.
India had the ball in the back of the net in their hockey match against the USA but the strike was ruled out.
For more on the central importance of rugby to Fijian culture, check out this excellent piece from the archives by Tom Bryant.
And it’s first blood to the Americans. Katie Bam scores with the first shot of the night for either team.
Right then. A hop and a skip away at the hockey stadium the US women have just begun their Group B match against India. It’s currently 0-0. Earlier Australia saw off Argentina 1-0.
Let’s not forget the Great Britain team who have exceeded most people’s expectations with a silver medal. A scratch side of eight Englishmen, two Scots and two Welshmen that came together barely 10 weeks ago made it all the way to the final but came up against a truly phenomenal Fijian team.
That’s Fiji’s first Olympic medal of any kind and it’s gold. The team are gathered in the centre of field, arms linked and singing.
Before the final their English coach, Ben Ryan, observed: “Spiritual is a really good way to sum up how the team operates,” he said. “The singing in the mornings, the signing in the evenings. The prayers.
“It’s like there’s two religions in Fiji, he said. On Sunday there’s church and no sport, but every other day there’s rugby.”
Fiji are the Olympic rugby sevens champions!
The Pacific islanders dominated from start to finish to defeat Great Britain 43-7.
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A scramble on the GB try line is referred to the video ref: that’s another try for Fiji. 43-7.
Norton saves the day with a fine soccer challenge to stop a certain Fijian try. Both sides are putting on a fine display for a sport which is desperate to establish its Olympic credentials.
The fightback is on! Dan Norton finishes a fine move in the corner. The conversion means the gap is down to 31 points with three and a half minutes to go.
GB began the second half in dogged fashion and kept the scoreboard from moving on for a couple of minutes. But that was all. Fiji have just pushed the score on to 36-0.
The loud boom that everyone heard on the Olympic grounds appears to be a controlled explosion of a suspicious device outside Carioca Arena 1 where basketball is being played. Police with dogs had been working around a black box that contained something, it was hard to see through the fence. A row of firetrucks stood ready on the road outside. At around 7 pm Rio time, the device was blown up to the sound of a tremendous bang.
Satisfied they had handled the package, police allowed fans to enter the arena. This created an odd scene of people running TOWARD the place where an explosion had just happened. Throughout the incident, police did not seem to be alarmed. They worked calmly and even laughed.
A badminton result that may have slipped through the net from earlier: Britain’s Chris and Gabby Adcock lost out in the deciding dend 21-15 to the Chinese pair of Xu and Ma in the badminton mixed doubles.
Fiji are giving a demonstration of pure class. England dispatched New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa on the way to the final but they’re being made to look second-rate. Vatemo Ravouvou added another try to make it 29-0 at half-time. Phew!
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And it’s all looking too easy for the top-ranked sevens team in the world. Another try down the right flank, another five points. And within seconds Fiji cross again to make it 22-0. Mercifully for Great Britain the conversion from a tight angle bounced off the crossbar but it should be all over by half-time.
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It’s all go here in the tennis at the end of an interesting day. Having showered and chatted to the media (not simultaneously, mind), Andy Murray was catapulted back on to Centre Court with Heather Watson in the mixed doubles at the last possible minute after the Romanians pulled out. The British pair clicked like a clock from the start and took the first set against the the Spaniards Ferrer and Suarez Navarro. However, brother Jamie and Jo Konta (who’d lost to Angelique Kerber only a couple of hours earlier), dropped the first set in the other mixed dubs out on lonely Court 4, against the Americans Sock and Mattek-Sands. Poignant, really - as Andy Murray said it was always going to be Jamie and Jo guaranteed a spot, as they were the stronger pair, especially with Jamie rampant the last year or so; so he was happy to be second reserve with Heather. Little did he know two teams would pull out and in they went. Andy chose Laura Robson over Heather in London four years ago, going on to win silver - but Watson was not that amused. Now there’s a chance to make up for that.
More mixed dubs mayhem: Nadal and Muguruza have just withdrawn, handing the Czechs Stepanek and Hradeka a walkover, as there were no alternates left. If you’d brought your racket here, you might have got start. Crazy scenes. They need to get their act together, because is diminishing the worth of the title and medals.
Just three and a half minutes gone and Fiji have grounded another try under the posts and also spotted the conversion. That’s 12-0.
And it’s first blood to Fiji after barely 50 seconds! Fiji lead 5-0.
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Great Britain had a tough semi against the South Africans, grinding out a 7-5 win thanks to a formidable defence. And they’re off!
The teams are out for the anthems in the ruby sevens final where Fiji take on Great Britain. Fiji have never won a medal of any description at the Olympics but were red-hot favourites to win as soon as rugby sevens were admitted as a sport in Rio.
“The history Fiji have had in sevens in the last 50 years, there’s going to be very little words in the changing room before the (final) game,” Fiji coach Ben Ryan said. “They know exactly what’s at stake.
“They want a gold. This has been our goal: silver’s not good enough and gold is, we’re one step away from that now.”
They were imperious in sweeping aside Japan in the semi-final by 20-5 and will have the whole nation behind them. The Fijian public have been invited to gather to watch the match at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
Plenty of action to look forward to – with hockey, badminton, basketball and boxing in the mix before tonight’s swimming – but little doubt about what the main event is – in Fiji at least.
People watch 7s from outside bank - Fiji Times Online https://t.co/qOAYbQE4X7 pic.twitter.com/0GtmLkXikg
— The Fiji Times (@fijitimes) August 11, 2016
Right, I’m going to hand over to Chris Taylor. He’ll bring you all the updates from the rugby sevens final. While he gets comfortable, here’s the latest medal table for your perusal. Bye.
South Africa v Japan turned into a series of shuttle-runs masquerading as tries. The Boks win the bronze medal with a ridiculous scoreline of 54-14. Up next it is Fiji, aiming to win their first-ever Olympic gold medal, against Great Britain in the final. It should be a treat.
SCENES! Great Britain trio Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner have beaten world champions New Zealand to win the men’s team sprint in the velodrome. They were behind on all the splits until the penultimate one, with Jason Kenny overhauling the deficit to put Callum Skinner in front. The Olympic debutant duly finished the job and a medal presentation awaits.
Jason Kenny has now won four gold medals for Great Britain. What an achievement. He would never shout about it though. He’s forever playing his achievements down.
Well, while the cycling has hogged the spotlight the rugby sevens bronze-medal match has gone crazy. It’s now South Africa 35-14 Japan with four minutes remaining in the second half.
Great Britain win gold in the men's team sprint!
New Zealand go off fastest and lead by 0.03sec after the first lap. GB’s Hindes takes it on and gives his team the narrowest of leads as he passes on to the new Chris Hoy, Callum Skinner who moves up for Britain and shoots towards the line to win gold! What a wonderful final. GB post 42.440sec, a new Olympic record, New Zealand post 42.542sec. Britain timed it perfectly.
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France have just sealed bronze in the men’s team sprint. That means it is the men’s gold-medal match up next between Britain and New Zealand. Their qualifying times were so, so close. Will Hindes, Kenny and Skinner win gold? Here we go …
Over in the boxing arena, Great Britain’s Pat McCormack has made it through to the second round after a hugely impressive points win against Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov. He will face the No2 seeded Cuban, Yasniel Toledo, in the next round. He’ll need to be even more impressive to come through that one.
Australia have not been as fast as many expected them to be in the men’s pursuit qualifying. They’re 3.3sec behind Great Britain as they cross the line. And they’re slower than Denmark too.
The rugby sevens bronze medal match is under way. South Africa have taken a 7-0 lead over Japan, the surprise package in this event. We all remember what happened at the World Cup. Perhaps that will work against them here.
They’ve rapidly increased the pace and come through 3km over two seconds faster then Denmark. Ed Clancy takes over and burns his pedals all the way to the line but GB narrowly miss the world record they set in London. They can’t match the feat set by the British women earlier. But 3min51.943sec is not bad at all. It’s over three seconds faster then the Danes. Australia, the world champions, will give their legs a stretch out now.
Wiggins moves to the front and again there’s a big cheer. They’re 0.8sec faster than Denmark on halfway. They could break the world record here. Six laps to go …
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Their formation is as tight as the suits they are wearing as they go through 500m 0.2sec faster than Denmark.
Right, so here we go. Bradley Wiggins has got his band back together. But how good will they be? There’s a big roar … and off they go, led out by Ed Clancy.
Germany are out on the track in the team pursuit qualifiers. They’re well off the pace. Four seconds behind Denmark at the halfway stage. Great Britain are up next. Chris Hoy, who knows a thing or two about cycling, reckons they will have their sights set on a world record. We will see.
To see the unbridled joy on the faces of Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley was to be reminded of the extraordinary power of an Olympic medal. For Grainger silver in Rio was the culmination of a 16-year Olympic career that had now brought her five medals in five Games, and made her Britain’s most decorated female athlete. Thornley, meanwhile, could at last put the rancour with the women’s head coach Paul Thompson behind her. As Grainger admitted afterwards, this result might be her greatest performance of all, eclipsing even her gold medal of London 2012. “That is a medal that not many people would have put money on,” she said.
Continue reading here …
New Zealand can’t better the time of Denmark. They’re about half a second slower. Also, it has just been revealed that riders wear heated trousers between races to keep their muscles at the optimum temperature. That’s a bit much isn’t it?
Denmark have just set the new fastest time in the men’s team pursuit qualifying. They flew round in 3min55.396sec. That’s pretty good but there are faster times. New Zealand are up next and then shortly after we will see Wiggins, Burke, Doull and Clancy of Great Britain.
Biles wins gold for USA in the all-round gymnastics!
It was predictable, perhaps, but a joy to watch. Biles gets a 15.933 on the floor for a staggering total of 62.198. Raisman of USA gets silver and Mustafina of Russia third. But they were nowhere near Biles. Barely on the same planet. Downie of GB came 13th. A few bad falls let her down.
Top five scores:
Biles, USA: 62.198
Raisman, USA: 60.098
Mustafina, Russia: 58.665
Shang, China: 58.549
Black, Canada: 59.298
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Over in the badminton, the British pair and couple, Chris and Gabby Adcock, have been taken to a deciding end against China’s Ma and Xu. That wasn’t expected. They’ll have to dig in.
As we wait for the track to be repaired with what looks like gaffer tape, here’s a video reminder of Team GB breaking the women’s team pursuit world record earlier (UK only).
A Dutch rider has just crashed heavily in the men’s team pursuit qualifying. He walks away and is being treated over at the side of the track, where he is wincing as he is prodded by a medic. Thankfully, he looks OK. The track needs some attention though. He took a chunk out of it as he came down.
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It’s been a splendid evening for team GB at a hot and sweaty velodrome. The men’s sprint team of Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner have qualified for a final later this evening against New Zealand, having set an Olympic record in qualifying which was duly broken by the men in black skinsuits. Elsewhere, the women’s team pursuit team of Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald broke the world record as they qualified for the first round proper of the women’s team pursuit, which will take place on Saturday. The men’s team pursuit qualifying is on at the moment, with Bradley Wiggins, ably assisted by Ed Clancy., Steven Burke and Owain Doull are due out on the track shortly.
Just announced in the tennis media tent here, as hacks tapping away madly on deadline: Andy Murray and Heather Watson have become the latest of late entrants in the mixed doubles, replacing Romanians Niculescu and Mergea. They’re due up shortly. Not a lot of rest for Murray, who had a shower and rub-down after his tough three-setter against Fognini. Murray and Watson play Ferrer and Suarez Navarro. If you can keep up with any of this, good luck.
Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic has beaten Azerbaijan’s world No1 Elmar Gasimov by Ippon to win the men’s -100kg gold in the judo!
Britain are up against Venezuela in the first round of the men’s team sprint. They need a fast time to get into the gold-medal match. Phil Hindes makes a rapid start … Jason Kenny takes it on … and Callum Skinner races away to finish in a time of 42.640sec. It’s quick enough to take GB into the gold-medal final against New Zealand, who posted the quickest time of 42.535sec (another new Olympic record). It’s a guaranteed silver for GB and NZ. And what a treat of a final in 50 minutes’ time.
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In case you’re wondering what has happened in equestrian today, here’s an update.
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro delivered a stunning display on their return to the Olympic arena as Great Britain’s dressage team ended day two in Deodoro holding silver medal position.
The combination that lit up London 2012, winning team and individual gold, proved a class apart, posting a score of 85.071 per cent. Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro delivered a stunning display on their return to the Olympic arena as Great Britain’s dressage team ended day two in Deodoro holding silver medal position.
The combination that lit up London 2012, winning team and individual gold, proved a class apart, posting a score of 85.071 per cent. That proved more than two per cent clear of the field and hauled the British team of Dujardin, Carl Hester, Fiona Bigwood and Spencer Wilton from fourth to second. The team competition concludes on Friday, with Britain lying on a team score of 79.252 per cent. Germany lead on 81.424, with the top six qualifiers completed by the USA, Holland, Sweden and Denmark.
Team GB will not have this women’s team pursuit to themselves. Team USA have just posted a super-quick time. Not as fast as GB’s … but not far off. They zip round in 4min14.286sec after a wobbly start. And that is the women’s qualifiers over with. The men go off shortly. You may have heard that Paul Weller Bradley Wiggins will be in action. He’s got Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and Steven Burke for company.
Here’s the story on Kayla Harrison retaining her Olympic judo title.
The sun is setting on golf, the course being locked up, the crocodiles, poisonous snakes, monkeys and massive rats preparing to reclaim their territory. It has been a good first day. The course worked. It was beautiful, the prettiest spot at these Olympics. The competition was good, with a few surprises on the leader board. Justin Rose hit what Rio2016 is calling “an amazing hole in one”. Australia’s Marcus Fraser is in gold medal position at the end of day one. And walking around it’s not hard to see what Rio wants out of this. The Barra da Tijuca course is a lovely spiffy spot in a lovely spiffy area. Fancy tower blocks are sprouting up all around it. There will be (attention: bullshit alert) a legacy around here from Rio 2016. But only if you like owning nice flats and nice land in a nice bit of the Rio suburbs. At least the course will be open to the public. Comfort no doubt to the many locals in the settlements inland who appear to have been saving up for a really good set of clubs by skimping on housing, plumbing, infrastructure, hope. Bitter, fun-crimping, I-expect-better doom and gloom over, the golf looks like a good Olympic competition and should be a fun few days from here.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber has brushed aside Britain’s Johanna Konta in the tennis. She’s into the semi-finals and may have something new to polish if she continues that fine form. She won 6-1, 6-2.
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Canada are out on the track now. How do you follow that? It’s like going on after Led Zepellin. They’re a good team but they’re over five seconds behind GB with a lap to go. They finish in 4min19.599sec. That’s third quickest but over six seconds slower than Britain.
At the halfway point of the women’s all-round final the unbeatable Simone Biles is in ... second? No need to rip up the history books just yet though - she’s gone through her two weakest disciplines. Russia’s Mustafina is in first and GB’s Ellie Downie is seventh:
Mustafina 30.866
Biles 30.832
Tutkhalian 29.899
Raisman 29.799
Andrade 29.599
Shang 29.433
Downie 29.400
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Great Britain break the women's team pursuit world record!
4min 13.260sec! Not bad for a qualifying time. Wow! That’s a full six seconds faster than Australia. What an incredible effort by Trott, Archibald, Barker and Rowsell. A marker and then some.
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Great Britain are over two seconds faster than Australia at the 2000m mark (halfway). All the reports of British track cycling brilliance in training in Wales is being borne out in Brazil. This is a stunning display.
It’s Australia’s turn to hold the Olympic record in the women’s team pursuit now. They’re a second quicker than New Zealand, whizzing around the velodrome in 4min19.059sec. Great Britain know what they’re up against. They’re off next …
USA win gold in the -78kg women's judo final!
Harrison is too good for her French opponent, who she forces to tap out with an incredibly agile move that involves a pincer like grip with her legs and some seriously serious pressure on Tcheuméo’s right arm. Silver for France, bronze for Brazil.
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Australia, the 2015 world champions, are up next in the women’s team pursuit qualifiers. They crashed in training. It’s incredible that Melissa Hoskins is even riding tonight after being rushed to hospital a few days ago. New Zealand are still the quickest as it stands. China are second, but five seconds behind New Zealand’s time of 4min20.061sec.
If you want to know what’s going on in the women’s gymnastics, click here for full coverage. Meanwhile, the -78kg women’s judo final has begun between France’s Audrey Tcheuméo and USA’s Kayla Harrison. Tcheuméo has made a slow start, with Harrison looking the more aggressive from the start of the bout but there are no points scored just yet. Two minutes remaining. Rope-a-dope tactics from Tcheuméo? Harrison is heavily fancied.
In the women’s team pursuit qualifiers, New Zealand have set a new Olympic record of 4min20.061sec but the record is being broken pretty much ride by ride. The previous record was set by the Italians roughly 4min24secs earlier. Great Britain, who have serious gold medal hopes with Laura Trott, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and Joan Rowsell, go off in around 10 minutes’ time.
There are wild scenes at the Carioca Arena where Brazil have won a bronze medal in the women’s -78kg judo thanks to the efforts of Mayra Aguiar. She jumps into the crowd and is enveloped.
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Kerber has wasted little time in winning the first set against Konta. She won it 6-1 and looked utterly dominant.
Team USA has gold medal hopes in the judo with Kayla Harrison, who is in action in the -78kg final shortly. She faces Audrey Tcheuméo of France.
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Geno Auriemma, the US women’s basketball coach, isn’t going to start apologising for his team being so good. USA have been stung by some criticism that their dominant displays have been bad for the women’s good, but Auriemma pointed out that the US men’s team hasn’t been subjected to the same kind of scrutiny. A double standard? Auriemma said: “We live in that Trumpian era where it’s OK to be sexist and degrade people that are good, just because they’re the opposite sex. We are what we are,” he said. “We’re never going to apologize for being that good. We’re never going to apologize for setting a standard that other people aspire to achieve. We got a guy in the pool with a USA swim cap on who nobody can beat. And if he wasn’t in swimming, there would be a lot of other guys with gold medals. More here …
Well that is some story. I’ll bring you more as and when we get it.
The Kenya athletics coach John Anzrah has been sent home from the Olympics after posing as an athlete and giving a urine sample, according to Kip Keino, chairman of the Kenyan Olympic committee. Anzrah is Kenya’s sprint coach, responsible for disciplines from 100m to 400m including hurdles. Kenya’s strength in the longer sprints has been growing of late. Seven athletes have qualified for the 400m, five of them men, and another four, three of them men, for the 400m hurdles. More details as we get them.
Over in the tennis, Konta has been broken by Kerber in the women’s quarter-final. She trails 2-1 in the first set. Earlier, Petra Kvitova beat Elina Svitolina who, you may remember, had her moment in the Rio sun when she sent Serena Williams skittering out of the tournament a couple of days ago.
A great start for the Team GB team sprinters, who have broken the Olympic record in their qualifying round. 42.562 was the time set by Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner, beating the 42.600 previously set by ... Great Britain. There’s a sizeable contingent of Brits in the crowd who are making plenty of noise.
We get a look at another of Great Britain’s main rivals in the men’s team sprint: New Zealand. And my, they’re quick … but not as fast as Great Britain. They race round in 42.673sec. Britain posted 42.562sec earlier. The third-fastest time was Australia’s 43.158sec. So GB face Venezuela in the next round.
Grégory Baugé, gets France off to a flyer against Germany. They whizz around the track, shedding a cyclist after each lap (that is how it works just to be clear) … but they can’t get close to GB’s time. They post 43.185sec.
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Australia and Great Britain go head-to-head in their first qualifying heat. And they’re off … at some pace. GB lead after the first lap, extend it in the second lap and fly home in a new Olympic record time of 42.562sec. For context, Australia came home in 43.158sec. Scorching.
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Qualifying for the men’s team sprint has begun. Britain’s Philip Hindes, Callum Skinner and Jason Kenny have gold medal hopes. The final is at 10.21pm (UK time) tonight. Their main rivals are Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
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Here’s the try scored by Dan Norton against South Africa that secured at least a silver medal for Team GB in the rugby sevens.
Britain’s Johanna Konta has just strolled out at the tennis centre for her quarter-final match with Angelique Kerber. She looks focused. She needs to be. It would be quite an upset if she could find a way into the semi-finals by beating the Australian Open champion and second seed here.
The six-day Rio 2016 track cycling extravaganza is set to begin in about 15 minutes and the velodrome is less than half-full which is probably unsurprising seeing as Brazil don’t have a horse - or indeed a cyclist - in any of the races. Despite genuine concerns the velodrome wouldn’t be ready on time, it looks in great nick and those that are here are being entertained by loud samba music and dance lessons that are being broadcast on the giant screens looming over each end of the track. The men’s team sprint will be decided tonight and Sir Chris Hoy, a member of the teams that won gold in Beijing and London is here to see if his compatriot Callum Skinner can fill his massive cleats. Hoy, presumably, is providing co-comms for the BBC or somebody, while Victoria Pendleton, who very kindly lent me a BBC umbrella at the road time trial yesterday, is also here. She was commentating for Radio 5 Live yesterday. Other cycling celebrity spots: Phil Liggett, Chris Boardman and UCI chairman Brian Cookson. It’s been a while since I set foot in a velodrome on competition day and I’d forgotten how loud and swelteringly hot they are. Never mind, only another five days to go, eh? Truth be told, I wouldn’t swap my current location for anywhere else.
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If you want full coverage of the women’s all-around gymnastics final, you should click here. The phenom that is Simone Biles of the USA is going for gold. To say she is quite something is quite an understatement. But can she cope with the immense expectation?
Venus Williams is still going in Rio – just. The four-time Olympic gold medallist faced two match points in her mixed doubles match with Rajeev Ram, but the US pair rallied to beat Dutch duo Kiki Bertens and Jean-Julien Rojer 10-8 in the final set tie-break. The 36-year-old was still suffering the effects of a virus on Thursday, but refused to discuss her health with reporters. “What can you do except come back and play again?” she said. Williams, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, was beaten in the first round of the singles by Kirsten Flipkens, and then suffered a shock loss in the women’s doubles with sister Serena.
And here’s a video of Britain’s David Florence and Richard Hounslow paddling their way to silver in the C2 final (UK only).
Andy Murray is through to the quarter-finals … but what a wobble he had there. Fognini had him on the ropes but Murray, a boxing fan himself, found the fight – and shots – to knock his talented but inconsistent Italian opponent out. He wins 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. He faces Steve Johnson in the last eight. Next up in tennis: Konta v Kerber.
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The unthinkable has happened: Michael Phelps has lost. Or, more accurately, he hasn’t won. He finished second in his 100m butterfly heat - unsurprisingly he is the defending champion - to Joseph Schooling of Singapore. That was the fourth fastest time in the heats, and he should up his efforts in the semi (and probably) final. If he wins it will be his fourth gold in the 100m ‘fly. Phelps’s old friend Chad le Clos of South Africa and GB’s James Guy also made it safely through.
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The balance of power has shifted in Murray’s favour. He’s broken Fognini, who has suddenly lost the magic, or had it wrestled away from him by the British No1. 4-3 to Murray in the deciding set.
Meanwhile in the tennis, where Murray has been wobbling like a weeble, he has righted himself. He’s broken back and is now level at 3-3 in the deciding set which is back on serve.
Gold for Spain in the women's K1!
In the women’s K1 final, Spain’s Maialen Chourraut has blitzed the course, paddling home in 98.65sec, four seconds clear of New Zealand’s Luuka Jones, who wins silver. Jessica Fox of Australia won bronze. Britain’s Fiona Pennie finished in a creditable sixth place but she will rue the penalties she picked up on her way down.
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Andy Murray’s teetering on the brink here, 0-3 down in the third in a mega struggle with Fabio Fognini. Whatever fight the Italian has in him, he is bringing it all to the party right now, smacking winners all over the place. Murray, likewise, is trusting his arm but, unusually, is struggling to tame the wind. He has to hold and break quickly to get back into this - which might be stating the bleeding obvious under the circs - but the emotional Fabster is vulnerable under pressure - and there is not enough of that on him at the moment. This will be a tight finish. Murray could be going out or going on. Hold tight.
GB beat South Africa 7-5 reach sevens final
Pandemonium. Red shirts come racing on to the pitch to celebrate. What a wonderfully dogged performance from GB. They progress to the gold medal match with Fiji. The defending towards the end of that match was sensational.
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Britain clear, the hooter goes but a lineout is given. Uh-oh. One more chance for South Africa to win it.
South Africa’s Watson is halted agonisingly short of the corner by Davis, I think. My, my, the pressure on GB is immense. One minute for South Africa to break British hearts. And boom! What a hit by Burgess to force South Africa back.
If Britain can hold on against South Africa here it will be quite something. They have 2min30sec to hang on. But hanging on in sevens is not easy. They need to cut out the turnovers to have a shot at gold.
New Zealand’s Luka Jones leads the way in the women’s K1 final. She’s posted a scintillating time of 101.82sec.
There is a fair bit going on at the moment. The women’s K1 final is under way. While in the rugby, Britain have now lead 7-5 after the speedy heels of Norton got under the posts after a fine, flowing move.
Her’s a little reminder that Katie Ledecky is pretty good at swimming:
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An apology …
South Africa are defending like tigers. So are Britain, to be fair. It’s South Africa 5-0 Great Britain at half-time in the sevens.
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Murray has finally been broken by Fognini. It was an epic game. What an effort from the Italian. The reigning champion could be the latest top seed to be humbled. Fognini leads 2-0 in the third set.
South Africa score the opening try in the sevens. Brown, the South Africa captain, goes over first. It followed a Great Britain turnover that will really annoy them after Davis was racing towards the South African try line. South Africa 5-0 Great Britain.
It’s not often Fabio Fognini can be bothered to play to his potential - which is a great shame for the gifted Italian and his many fans, a boon for his rivals. After an appalling start, The Fabster has found a rich vein of form here against Andy Murray and we’re in a third set - which did not seem remotely possible half an hour ago. The crowd jeered Foggy with all the sarcasm they could muster in a first set in which he won a miserable six points off his own racket. In the second, however, he turned into a towering monster, thrashing the ball to all parts as Murray’s tennis fell to pieces in the wind. The crowd proved as fickle as the weather, switching allegiance on a whim. Maybe they were just here for the entertainment - all 6,000 of them or so. This is a 10,000-seater but the organisers claims of sellout are surely bogus. Anyway, Fabio held at the start of the third. Andy’s stepping up. What will the next half or so hold? Will Fab-Fog upset Muzza as he did at the Davis Cup in Naples a couple of years ago, or will he fold like a tent?
Back to rugby sevens and it’s Great Britain v South Africa in the second semi-final. Who will face Fiji in the final? We’ll find out in just over 14 minutes’ time.
In the tennis, Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci has caused an upset against Belgium’s David Goffin. He’s beaten him 7-6, 6-4 with some raucous backing from the home crowd. As for Murray, he’s 1-0 down in the third set and stuttering somewhat against Fognini. He’s on the verge of being broken.
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Full-time: Fiji 20-5 Japan. Fiji are guaranteed their first Olympic medal in any sport! Lovely stuff. The president of Fiji was in attendance. I’m guessing he’s more than chuffed.
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Japan are heading for the bronze medal match while Fiji will have gold in their sights in the rugby sevens. It’s 20-5 with a minute remaining. Japan have finally run out of steam (and miracles). What an Olympics for them though.
Slovakia win gold, Britain silver and France bronze in the C2 final!
That was some run from Slovakia, a full six seconds faster than the semi-final fastest time. And as for the British pair, it’s silver again as it was for them in London.
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Did I say Fognini had woken up in the tennis? He’s beaten Murray 6-2 in the second set. So we’ll have a decider.
Fiji have just put together a lovely flowing move to take their lead over Japan to 10 points in the rugby sevens. It’s 15-5 with five minutes remaining. Can Japan summon up something special? Again?
Meanwhile in the sailing …
At half-time in the rugby sevens it is Fiji 10-5 Japan.
Britain’s Florence and Hounslow go within 0.43 seconds of the leading Slovakian time in the C2 final. It was a fine effort, penalty-free, but is only good enough for silver with two teams yet to go. A medal would help Florence to get over the searing disappointment he felt in the individual event, which he got horribly wrong.
Fiji have raced into the corner to take a 10-5 lead over Japan in the rugby sevens semi-final. No conversion. It was the tightest of angles.
Here at the velodrome, just bumped into UCI president Brian Cookson. He seemed pleased enough with the facilities, which have come together in classic Brazilian “just in time” fashion. There were serious concerns at one stage about whether the velodrome would be finished in time. He spent yesterday watching the time trial with IOC president Thomas Bach, following the action in an official car. At least they stayed dry, unlike the rest of us.
The rugby has got off to a thrilling start. Fiji and Japan have traded tries in next to no time. It’s 5-5 with two minutes remaining in the first half.
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Slovakia may well have posted the gold-medal winning time in the C2 final. They’ve roared down in 101.58sec.
Fiji are in action against Japan in the first rugby sevens semi-final. Peep. It’s under way! So a silver medal is at stake in this very match. The winner will face Britain or South Africa in the final.
Slovenia get down the C2 course in time a second faster than the Russians … but they picked up a two-second penalty that relegates them to silver. They look crestfallen. They were fully expecting gold. Some fans in the crowd (perhaps family members) are in tears. Cheer up.
Fognini has finally woken up in his match against Murray. It’s 2-2 in the second set.
Russia have set a tough marker in the C2 final (no booing now). They’ve swooshed down the course in 106.70sec. That’s quite something. The fastest time in the semi-finals was 107.93sec.
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British boxer Joshua Buatsi is into the quarter-finals of the men’s light heavyweight. He knocked down Uzbekistan’s Elshod Rasulov, the No3 seed, three times in the final round. Sensational stuff.
“Hi Gregg, I notice that you commenced your shift three hours after Poland won their first gold medal at these Olympics courtesy of Kozlowska and Madaj in the Womens Double Sculls,” writes Raymond Reardon. “You were probably still recovering from your double sculls of vodka.” I never drink and blog Raymond. Although the temptation is often as strong as said vodka.
Right, back to the Whitewater Stadium. It’s the final of the men’s C2, where the US pair of Devin McEwan and Casey Eichfeld are the first to go. But ouch! They pick up eight penalty points on their run. They’re not going to bother the podium.
Katie Ledecky sets new Olympic record!
Ledecky has won her 800m freestyle heat and set a new Olympic record of 8min12.86sec. She did that without ever threatening to find top gear. Hungary’s Boglarka Kapass was second in 8min19.43 sec and Britain’s Jazz Carlin just a finger behind her in a time of 8min19.67sec. Those three are likely to be the fastest qualifiers for the final. They could even be on the podium together tomorrow evening.
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Andy Murray has taken just 29 minutes to win the first set 6-1 against Fognini. Like Ledecky over in the pool, he’s cruising.
In the women’s 800m freestyle heats, USA’s Katie Ledecky is doing what she does: she’s leading, obviously, after 250m and is just a second outside the world-record time. Britain’s Jazz Carlin is in second place and pushing very close towards Rebecca Adlington’s British record 800m freestyle time.
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Justin Rose has been steady rather than spectacular since his hole in one in the golf earlier. He’s -3 through the opening nine holes. Up at the top of the leaderboard is New Zealand’s Marcus Fraser on -8, who scored a magnificent opening-round 63. Canada’s Graham DeLaet sits in second place on -5, after tearing round in 66.
Britain’s Fiona Pennie has put in a fine performance in the K1 semi-final, posting the second-fastest time of 101.81, just 0.27 seconds behind the current leader Austria’s Corinna Kuhnle. Pennie started her run nervously but found her rhythm and bobbed and weaved her way down the course quite brilliantly. She’ll fancy her chances of a medal (gold even) in the final at 7pm.
Murray looks is in a hurry. He’s broken Fognini already and leads 2-0 in the first set.
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The K1 semi-finals are under way. Corinna Kuhnle of Austria has set the marker at the moment, powering her way through the water to post a time of 101.54sec.
Hello. Gregg here again. There’s a lot going on this evening. There’s a lot going on right now! In the tennis, Andy Murray is knocking up with Fabio Fognini, the Italian world No40, before their third-round match. Del Potro has just beaten Taro of Japan in three sets so he is through to the quarter-finals. The women’s K1 semi-finals are under way, where Britain’s Fiona Pennie will be hoping to make it through to the final. At 6.15pm (Uk time), it’s the C2 men’s final. And later on we have the rugby sevens semi-finals and final, track cycling and medals being handed out in archery and judo. There’s more of course. There’s always more. Swimming finals for one, but they are much later on. The heats are in progress now. Phelps goes in the 100m butterfly at 6.30pm UK time.
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Chright. That’s me for the day - Gregg Bakowski is here to take you through the next portion of the day. Ta for all your comments and company.
The women’s 800m freestyle heats have begun; unsurprisingly, there aren’t eleven of these, but just the four.
“Rafael Nadal has never lost a singles match at the Olympics. That’s a mildly scary though for Andy Murray, who is up next and two wins away from the final - where his old Spanish pal could well be waiting for him. Nadal, who won gold in Beijing, missed London - and almost missed Rio. The whippy left wrist that has been is six-gun all his career finally ran out of bullets at Roland Garros nearly 10 weeks ago, and not many expected him to make this gig. He led Spain in at the opening ceremony and who could doubt his commitment to the cause after entering the three disciplines? Unfortunately, the wretched intrusion of rain on Wednesday has forced fixtures pile-up that demands he play three matches on Thursday. He got the first out of the way with a bit of a struggle, taking just over two hours to get rid of the always combative Frenchman, Gilles Simon. The wrist looked strong. Next up: A Murray v F Fognini. It could be interesting.”
Barbara Engleder has won gold for Germany in the women’s 50m rifle shooting, three positions. Silver went to Binbin Zhang of China and bronze to Li Du, also of China.
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“Perhaps I have been sheltered from the harsh realties of these Rio Games, sequestered in what we like to call “the Olympic bubble” but finally 11 days into my Rio odyssey, I heard “The Girl from Ipanema”. Before I left, I had prepared to be blasted by it the way you couldn’t escape “London Calling’ at the 2012 Games. Yet somehow I had missed it here until Wednesday afternoon, when armed with a soy sandwich and a cafe con leche and strolling across the great concrete grounds I heard the happy lilting melody and that unmistakable voice dancing from a set of speakers strapped to a light pole. I stopped and smiled and listened. All around me fans bustled past, scurrying to buy their T-shirts or hustling to the tennis stadium. Most of them were probably long sick of Rio’s most iconic song. Me? I took a moment and took it in,
just in case I never hear “The Girl from Ipanema” in Rio again.”
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Worth pointing out that Rafa Nadal isn’t all that fit, but he’s still in Rio, because who doesn’t want an Olympic gold? And yet,when tennis returned to the games at Seoul in 1988, there were plenty of skivers - but not now. You’d think golf might have learnt.
In the pool, the men’s 50m freestyle heats are underway - there’ll be eleven of them.
Nadal has beaten Simon and is through to the quarter-finals, where he’ll meet either GAoffin or Bellucci.
Marcus Fraser is now the clubhouse leader in the golf at -8 after carding a faintly ridiculous 63; and Graham DeLaet is next, also in the clubhouse at -5. Amongst the rest, Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer are -3
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Simon has got a break back against Nadal; JMDP has gone a break up in the final set against Daniel Taro.
Katherine Grainger, Great Britain's most decorated female Olympian, is retiring
“Go for it Katherine Grainger, these are the last ten strokes of your life!” hollered James Cracknell during the closing stages of the women’s double sculls final - and he was right.
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“If your child had won an Olympic gold medal against pretty much every expectation except your own, would you be in any fit state to watch yet more watersports the following morning? Well. Joe Clarke’s mum and dad are back at the Whitewater Stadium today to watch the men’s C2 semi final, less than 24 hours after their son became an Olympic champion. “Canoeing is one big family,” said his dad, Shaun. “We were always going to come and support Joe’s team mates.” There are at least 50 British fans who have made the not inconsiderable trek to watch today. They were rewarded when Britons David Florence and Richard Hounslow completed the course in third place, banking them a place in the final.
Curiously in the C2 event, of the 11 pairs who made the semis, just one is eliminated ahead of the final. In this case it’s the Brazilian pair who failed to make the grade. Fastest qualifiers were the Germans Jan Benzien and Anton Franz, followed by the Czech duo Jonas Kaspar and Marek Sindler.”
More tennis: Thomas Bellucci of Brazil and David Goffin of Belgium are 5-5 in the firsr set; Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain has beaten Gilles Muller of Luxembourg; Monica Puig of Puerto Rico and Laura Siegemund of Germany have just started.
Delboy and Tarot are on serve in their final set; Nadal is 5-1-up and one set up, so he is nearly done and Andy Murray is nearly upon us.
“They’re 1.67 outside the best time and that puts them into third place! Perfect!”
Er, not sure about that Mr Commentator-Man, but anyway.
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Florence and Hounslow, go together like a horse and carriage.
Back in yer C2, here are David Florence and Richard Hounslow of GB - the silver medal winners in London. Florence made an absolute merry wives of Windsor of the individual event, so he’ll be double keen to assert himself.
That table-tennis we were on earlier: Jike Zhang of China has beaten Vldimir Samsonov of Belarus in the men’s semi, so will meet his countryman Long Ma in the final.
And here are Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley winning silver in the women’s double sculls final (also UK only).
“Loathe it, hate it or just feel slightly irritated by it, one thing is certain about golf at these Olympics. The course itself is beautiful, by some way the most naturally stunning venue I’ve been to at these Games. Of course, the square of land set aside for it would still be all these things without golf going on - the mountains would still rise, the cacti grow, the rats, alligators, snakes, lizards still roam. But it is at least a nice-looking thing. So far today Justin Rose has his hole in one, a great moment for the first day of this competition for the course itself, and of course for Team GB golf. Marcus Fraser of Aus is in the gold medal position on eight under par. Rose is five shots back. The small-to-middling crowd is having a nice time. The course seems to work, the golfers seem keen. Who knows, given the toxic expectations, this might actually turn out to be a surprise success.”
Nadal now has a double break - he’s 0-30 down going for 4-0, but if he sorts it, Simon is gawn.
The Brazilian pair were going brilliantly in the canoeing, so from 1,5 seconds up, they’re now fifth out of five. Handily for them, only one crew go out at this stage, so there’s a fair chance they’ll be reet.
Aha! Oho! A trail in the snow! Our boy Deplz has taken the second set 6-1 against Daniel Taro of Japan.
In tennis news, Rafa Nadal is now a break up in the second set against Gilles Simon; once that match is done, we’ll see Andy Murray against Fabio Fognini.
In the equestrian, Carl Hester’s horse Nip Tuck found itself spooked by the dressage - can’t think why. Which means that GB, lying fourth, are relying on Charlotte Dujardin to save them with something spectacular.
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So, the American team are six-odd seconds outside that time, but the Poles are now through to the final.
The Polish pair have had set a time of 110.17 in the first canoe run, incurring no penalties. Let’s see what the others make of the course.
Meanwhile in the tennis, Daniel Taro has taken the first set off Juan Martin del Potro, via tie-break. That is not at all expected, especially given how well Delpo - yes, nickname terms, what of us? - played in beating Novak Djokovic.
And we’ve got the C2 canoeing semi about the start.
So, what’s going on? Well, Ireland lead Canada 4-2 in the men’s hockey for one thing.
Right, back over to a refreshed Daniel now. He’ll guide you onwards.
Nadal takes the first set against Simon 7-6. With Nadal having taken a 5-1 lead in the tie-break Simon showed great character to battle back to 5-5 but an overjuiced forehand gave Nadal a set point, which he gobbled up on his serve.
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The ambulance service in Rio has been taking a fair bit of heat after a driver got lost while on their way to pick up stricken Sonny Bill Williams.
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Gilles Simon has taken Rafa Nadal to a tie-break in the first set of their third-round match over at the tennis centre. It’s been an incredibly entertaining match so far.
Here’s Sean Ingle’s report on Katharine Grainger becoming Britain’s most successful ever female Olympian as she and her partner Vicky Thornley won silver in the women’s double sculls.
Hello, Gregg here. I’m stepping in for a few minutes while Daniel grabs a bit of food. First things first: Justin Rose has made history by scoring a hole in one on the par-three fourth in the golf! High-fives all round. He’s up to three under, a shot ahead of his British teammate Danny Willett.
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Right, I am going to have some lunch; Gregg Bakowski will guide you through the next little bit.
SWITZERLAND WIN THE MEN'S FOURS!
Denmark hang on for silver, France get bronze. Denmark are not all that impressed with their endeavours, having expected to win.
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Switzerland are going to win, but France are powering after Denmark!
Switzerland are pulling away, but do Denmark have anything left? And what of France, also starting to motor? 250m to go!
And behind them, Italy and France are scrapping for the bronze.
Switzerland and Denmark lead, but Switzerland are about a quarter of a length clear.
Back to the race, it’s a fairly even break, though a grown man in the Swiss boat has a baseball hat on, backwards.
People actually got angry because Gaby Douglas, beaming with pride, didn’t put her hand over her heart when singing the national anthem, played after she had won gold for her country. Here’s a piece about that.
So we’ve got one more final today, the men’s coxless fours, and our lineup is: New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, France and Greece.
Other tennis: Juan Martin del Potro is a break up in the first set against Daniel Taro of Japan; Roberto Bautista Agut has won the first set against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
Incidentally, Danny Willett is -2, Serrgio Garcia -1 and Justin Rose level.
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Marcus Fraser still leads the golf,but by two shots now. He’s -6, with Graham DeLaet of Canada and Espen Kofstad of Norway on -4.
Back in the tennis, Nadal has broken back - you guessed that.
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CROATIA WIN GOLD IN THE MEN'S HEAVYWEIGHT DOUBLE SCULLS
Lithuania take silver and Norway bronze. But what a performance that was from Croatia, challenged when they might not have expected it, but keeping the heid to come from behind and absolutely take it off the set.
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Croatia look to have this licked, and Lithuania are in danger from Norway ...
But here come Croatia, and the Sincovic brothers have reeled Lithuania in - they lead by half a length now!
Lithuania now leads, and they look strong. Although everyone always looks strong, until they don’t.
Lithuania have gone with Croatia, and because they’re miles ahead of the field, the Lithuanians can actually have a shy at gold without risking silver.
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Croatia, the favourites, are in front, and they also have the rudest oars, decorated with red and white check.
Techno techno techno techno. We’re off.
Anyway over to the men’s double sculls final in which we have: GB, Norway, Croatia, Lithuania, Italy and France.
Ah yes, let’s have some Olympic legacy. There are plans to hand over some of the parkland around London’s Olympic stadium to four giant cement and concrete factories. But, but, but, but, Seb Coe said! I don’t get it! Read more here.
Gilles Simon has broken Rafa Nadal to lead 2-1 in the first set of their third round match.
So, that’s a great effort from Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley. They weren’t expected to do much; they did loads.
Lithuania get the bronze (I think).
POLAND WIN THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS, GREAT BRITAIN WIN SILVER!
Another absolute jazzer of a race! I’m exhausted just watching it. Katherine Grainger is now Britain’s most decorated female Olympian.
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And Poland extend their lead, what do GB have? GB are pushing! But Poland come again!
Poland are gaining, and what a race this is! Poland inch ahead! GB come back! Poland lead to the line!
But here come Poland! They’ve closed to with about a foot!
500m to go, and GB have put in a serious third quarter! The lead is 1.25 seconds.
GB are holding their advantage, such as it is - and they’ve actually pulled away slightly, by about a quarter of a length.
Back on the water, GB are pushing hard, putting Poland under pressure. They’re marginally ahead, with Lithuania in third.
Ma Long has won the table-tennis semi for China - he’ll play Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus or Jike Zhang of China in the final.
And GB lead, Poland just off them, and France are third.
Cracknell reckons if GB go off fast, with the world champs out already, others will look at them in front and feel scared. As such, they need to “put themselves in the hurt locker”, on the basis that the body recovers two minutes after the race is over anyway.
“‘Otiose’ more apposite than ‘extraneous’, I’d say, tweets Carl Legge of his “Olympic pedantry”, and he’s right on both counts.
And off they go!
Right, eyes down for the women’s pairs - we’ve got France, GB, Poland, Greece, Lithuania and USA.
The standard of this table-tennis is off the scale. If you’re near a telly or similar action receptacle, get it on.
Mizutani has made it 2-3 in the tennis de table. But does he keep his Stiga in cling film?
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Get yourself in the mood for the women’s double sculls final via Donald McRae’s interview with Katherine Grainger.
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It’s the women’s quadruple skulls medal ceremony, as - elsewhere - Rafa Nadal comes out to play Gilles Simon. That “elsewhere” was probably extraneous.
In the golf, Fraser now leads by a shot on -5.
In the table-tennis, Mizutani has won the fourth set to make is 1-3, but he trails 8-7 in the fifth.
NEW ZEALAND WIN THE MEN'S PAIRS WITH AN AWESOME DISPLAY!
RSA take silver, Italy the bronze. That was a great race.
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Italy come back at RSA! GB have gone! Italy will get bronze!
SA are moving through in second - it doesn’t look like they’re catchable! 250m to go!
New Zealand are about four lengths clear, and GB have taken Italy out - if they push, it seems unlikely Italy can come again. But South Africa can! This battle for second and third is brutal!
Italy are just holding off GB in second, while RSA are paying for going off quickly - will they come again? France, meanwhile, have made little impression.
New Zealand have pulled ahead now, and that, you imagine, is not far off that. Italy are second, Australia are last by a bit, and everyone else is competing for minor gongs.
Italy have gone out hard, naturally, but RSA now lead with New Zealand in third.
But now we’re back with the final of the coxless pairs, contested by RSA, GB, Italy, NZ, Australia, France - and they’ll have to go some to beat NZ.
We suffer a short hiatus to enjoy the quadruple sculls medal ceremony, the goth’s favourite event.
“I am afraid everyone is wrong about golf, except Mark Twain,” reasons John Sharp. “Bearing in mind that the Olympics are just seaside sports on steroids (volleyball, donkey riding, paddle boating etc.) the correct gold format would be crazy golf. Obviously a form of team four-ball so we could watch as sportsfolk wearing bad clothes spend time animatedly discussing how to approach the doughnut. Everyone is going to want to see these highly paid golfers being undone by the windmill three times in a row. There would be significant legacy benefits for the Olympic movement because it would leave tawdry cities worldwide blessed with sorely lacking mini-golf facilities and it would also be a sport with low entry requirements for those at home who want to join in the Olympic vibe whilst being perhaps a little less than Olympic in physique.”
And a pub golf bracket too, part of a biathlon with beer pong.
Meanwhile, in the men’s table-tennis semis, Long Ma of China leads Jun Mizutani of Japan 3-0, though is 6-2 down in the fourth set. These guys are so, so so good, but I’d like to see them on a table with a camber and a pimply bat without a handle.
GOLD FOR GERMANY'S WOMEN IN THE QUADRUPLE SCULLS! THEY ROWED THE PERFECT RACE!
That was absolutely excellent. Germany were confident in their plan, reeled Poland in calmly, and held off Netherlands. Brilliant!
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And Netherlands have taken Poland too!
Germany have destroyed Netherlands, they’re level with Poland and through!
Poland are slowing and Germany are coming!
Cracknell, incidentally, is really good at this co-commentary, actually telling you things you don’t know. Not hard, no, but still.
“Germany have to go now if they want to catch the Poles,” says Cracknell. “They’ve got to be prepared to risk silver to get gold.”
Germany, though, have started to motor and have taken Netherlands, but the Poles are punishing this - have they gone too soon?
Did just answer my own question in the manner of Garry Cook? Yes I did. But the Polish crew are unruffled, extending their lead, while Netherlands look confident.
It’s Poland from Netherlands to being with - are they “Netherlands” or “the Netherlands”? “Netherlands”, surely.
Women’s quad finals ahoy, and USA, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands and China are away,; China with their customary shriek. Great stuff, must incorporate that into my own life.
Back on the golf course, Marcus Fraser now leads on -4, and Padraig Harrington has improved to -2. Bubba Watson is +1.
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Cracknell points out that you recover very quickly after killing yourself with effort, and that’s the test - knowing that, and convincing yourself of it when you think you’ve got nothing left and it hurts.
GERMANY WIN THE QUADRUPLE SCULLS, DEFENDING THEIR TITLE!
Australia take silver and Estonia the bronze.
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Estonia look good for bronze, with Poland chasing them ... GB have drifted.
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500m to go and Germany lead from Australia - they are going to be gold and silve....
Three of the four Germans won in London, and they’re starting to stretch, while Australia have come through into second with Ukraine and GB closing.
Germany, in lane 1, still lead at 500m, but GB are coming at them from lane 6 and Australia are moving up in the middle.
Germany are out quickly, but the boats are relatively close to begin with. Ukraine are second, but not by much.
They’re under starter’s orders, and off we go!
Our teams: Germany - Olympic champions - Poland, Australia - world silver medalists - Estonia, Ukraine and Great Britain, even if it says so itself.
We’re hearing some Darude - who recently admitted that he’s never been in a Sandstorm. I nearly cried.
“Christ the Redeemer himself is looking down upon us.” Er....
Next: the final of the men’s quadruple sculls. You’ve got four minutes.
USA, Netherlands, New Zealand and Poland will join GB and Germany in the men’s eight final, via the repechage, but all crews are going like the clappers to get the best lane.
Back on golf, here’s Hubert O’Hearn: “Solved the golf problem. Basically a mini-Ryder Cup format:
1) 4 players per team (2 men, 2 women)
2) three matches per round, single knockout
3) two singles, one scotch foursome, matchplay
4) two out of three wins
Easy, no?”
I like this; I like every option offered loads more than what we’ve got.
In the women’s eight repechage, Canada lead Romania, Netherland and New Zealand - Australia go out.
“Clearly one of the goals of having golf, or any sport, in the Olympics is to encourage more players to take up the game,” emails Simon Thomas. “I doubt that a standard stroke play tournament is going to do what, say, the sevens has done for rugby.
Mixed teams is a great idea. Personally, whenever I set foot on the course, I always play Stapleford (1 point for bogie, 2 points for par, 3 for birdie, 4 for eagle; anything less than 20 and you deserve all the scorn thrown at you). It would have been good here as it encourages attacking golf.
It would also have been fun to see a sudden death play-off for the whole field though, starting off on hole 1, last man/woman standing wins. I appreciate it would have been difficult to schedule - could have been all over on the first hole or have lasted three weeks.”
Talking of which, DeLaet has been joined on -4 by An and Fraser.
“Just been chatting to the Evening Standard’s man at the rowing, who nearly caused a minor diplomatic incident earlier.Running full pelt for a metro train, he dived through the doors, and accidentally landed in a female only carriage. His attempts to hold his hands up and apologise only made matters worse: after being loudly shouted at, he was unceremoniously booted out at the next stop. Meanwhile back at the rowing, the wind has just picked up but it didn’t appear to trouble Britain’s men’s four, who dominated their semi-final. They were more than five seconds up at halfway before winning in 6:17.13, winning by 3.53 seconds from Canada. They, along with Glover and Stanning, are pretty much guaranteed to win gold tomorrow. Anyway, we are now less than half an hour away from the first of six Olympic rowing finals. Britain have four chances, with the biggest story undoubted being Katherine Grainger. The 40-year-old rower is Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, sharing the record with Rebecca Adlington, and will go out in front alone if she and her partner Vicky Thornley can win a medal in the double scull, which begins at 11.04am.”
Sebastian Coe has indicated that the IAAF will challenge the ruling suspending the monitoring of female athletes with higher than usual levels of testosterone. Read more about that here.
Why have the Olympic pools turned green? Because the gaskets blew.
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GB coxless fours power to the final!
Let’s have some EDM! Canada and Netherlands also qualify.
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100m out, GB are easing up, Canada are chased by Netherlands, and that’s that.
GB are more than five seconds ahead at 1500m, Canada behind.
And GB are still banging it out, well ahead at the moment - Cracknell says the battle for the gold is between GB and Australia, before correcting himself to GB and GB, with Australia there to pick up the pieces if GB mess it up.
And GB have gone out fast - “don’t make the race faster than it needs to be,” is what Jurgen Grobler would be saying, says James cracknell.
And off goes the second semi, comprising France, Canada, GB, Germany, Netherlands, Belarus.
“Did someone say glid,” emails Richard Woods.
“Big fan of the golf,” says Michael Hatcher, “and when the IOC decided to bring it back to the Olympics I thought the best way to make it ‘Olympian’ would be to have it as either a long-drive or nearest-the-pin format (or a combination of both).
Imagine: Henrik, Dustin, Bubba and co all competing to bomb the ball as far as possible (essentially the javelin), while Sergio, Big Phil and Zach were arrowing lob-wedges into a green with a ringed target (essentially archery/shooting).
That would be great viewing wouldn’t it?”
That would be a lot of fun, but would it quite be golf?
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Australia have pulled away and they cross the line first, South Africa follow, and USA have made a total expletive of it, so Italy pass them and grab the final slot. USA can’t row coxless fours, Cracknell insists.
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Australia and USA are looking good, while RSA are coming, past Italy who aren’t enjoying the headwind.
The popular favourites are Italy - not sure how their attacking style goes down with Gentile, Bearzot and the rest - while this is USA’s best chance of a medal.
Next up, men’s coxless four heavyweight semis, feat. Russia, USA, Australia, Italy, Greece and RSA.
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Back at the golf, a very proud Bubba Watson has teed-off, while DeLaet is still a shot clear, though at -4.
South Africa have glided - glid? - through the field, and they pip Norway, with Poland easing out Italy for the final final slot.
We’re halfway through the second semi of the men’s double sculls, and Norway are well ahead, followed by Italy and Poland.
“I’m a big golf fan,” emails John McEnerney, “but I’m old school when it comes to The Olympics having watched every games since Moscow 80 and honoured to have competed with and against an Irish Olympian, Niall Bruton, in school. His dream was to run at the Olympics and he did in 1996, getting the 41 bus to Dublin Airport to catch his flight to Atlanta.
Why not send university students or top amateur players? I know the answer ratings, ads $$$ etc. We see these guys week in week out playing for a millions and they have 4 of their own Olympics every year, same as the tennis players. We have not done golf or the Olympics any favours IMO. As I said I’m old school.”
I think it’d be hard to drum up interest if the players weren’t pros, but then people enjoy the boxing. I definitely think they need to come up with a better format.
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Building up here, with France and USA leading, but it’s close, and now Ireland pull away from GB! they’ve absolutely burned them up! So France, USA and Ireland qualify, with France looking very strong indeed.
“Good morning from the Lagoa Stadium, where - surprisingly - the sun is out, the winds are subdued, and we actually have some rowing. We kicked off at 8.30am with the women’s pair semi-finals, and an impressive return to form by Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who stormed out of their gate and were 5.11 secs ahead at the halfway point before winning in 7.18:69 min from the United States. The Denmark team that pushed Glover and Stanning so close in their heat on Monday won their semi, so the rematch tomorrow will be worth watching. Meanwhile an excited Irishman has just run the length of the press area doing a passable Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle. And no, it’s not my colleague Barry Glendenning. He has good reason to be happy - the Irish team of Claire Lambe and Sinead Lynch, who turns 40 next month, has just qualified for the lightweight women’s double sculls final. And it turns out the fellow shouting ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ was Lynch’s husband.”
USA, France, Ireland, Great Britain is the order, with three places in the final for sale. But France then pass USA, who are back closing the gap.
France lead, stretching away, while GB, who started fast, have been caught. Cracknell reckons they should pick a crew and fight not to let them past to make sure they make the final. USA are second, Ireland are third.
Things are moving fast, and we’re onto the men’s lightweight double sculls semi, featuring Germany, USA, France - the world champions - Ireland, Great Britain and China.
Netherlands win with “almost a perfect row”; Canada are second and Ireland third.
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Back at Lagoa, Netherlands lead Ireland in the second lightweight women’s double sculls semi. All three crews in contention - Canada are the other - would be winning the first semi.
“You bump into all sorts of people at an Olympic Games but last night was faintly surreal. Putting his body on the line for his newspaper as normal, your correspondent wandered along to a drinks reception hosted by World Rugby. Among those present was a large man in a floral shirt who introduced himself as Frank. The man from the Guardian was a split second away from casually asking what he was up to in Rio when it became evident Frank was the prime minister of Fiji. An earnest discussion about pressing affairs of state swiftly followed: could Fiji’s rugby players win their country’s first-ever gold medal today? Make that any Olympic medal of any hue. Tune in later on to watch Frank’s boys as they seek to make history.”
Talking of which, Graham DeLaet is now ahead on his own, -3.
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“On golf.” emails Yuzo Saito, “fourballs and foursome competitions of male female mixed teams, may be foursomes is better suited of the two for this?”
Now that’d be an interesting way of doing it - mixed teams. I like that.
And the second semi is away.
New Zealand, who have a good second half of the race, are going for first, but the world champions can’t quite make it. They qualify second, behind RSA and ahead of China, who managed to hold off Romania.
China were second, made an almighty error, and now Romania are after them!
Cracknell explains that the Chinese tend to fade as they use arms more than legs, when legs are stronger.
China and South Africa are going stroke for stroke at the moment, but New Zealand are coming, trying to lose Romania.
Right, women’s lightweight double sculls coming up.
Denmark win comfortably, New Zealand finish second, and a thrilling chase for third ends with Spain pipping China. On which point, this is a lot of trouble to which to go to eliminate just one pair.
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In the rowing, Denmark, who gave GB a decent fight in the heat, lead - they’re pursued by New Zealand - and Spain are punishing themselves pursuing New Zealand, who are pursued by China!
“Agreed on the golf!” exclaims Tomasz Mortimer with surprise that makes me doubt the impregnability of my sporting judgment. “Matchplay would make it a lot more exciting, plus if you have a shocking first day in this format you’ve no reason to continue, because it’s not like you’re playing for money either.”
Agreed with your agreement. I think in the Olympics, you want something quick and confrontational, where there’s something riding on it for everyone, all the time.
The second semi is underway, none of whose participants are expected to challenge for a medal.
Which brings us onto James Taylor: “Ideas for Olympic golf:
Par 3 tournament;
9 hole knockout between pairs from 2 countries;
Not having it there in the first place.”
With an interlude of crazy golf. But myself, I’m happy to see it.
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In the golf, DeLaet, An and Pieters have been joined on -1 by Marcus Fraser of Australia.
GB's Heather Stanning and Helen Glover destroy the field to make the final!
And that’s done and done, then: GB, USA, RSA are the initials which progress. Two’s company.
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GB are still pounding it out, with USA second - they “need to extinguish any hopes USA have that they can beat them for gold,” says James Cracknell.
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We’re at 1,000m, and GB have this race “in the bag” - though will make another move to cement themselves as winners.
GB are absolutely monstering this - USA and South Africa are fighting it out for second. This, we learn, is because GB’s strokes are longer and more powerful.
GB hace set off like nobody’s business, already three-quarters of a length ahead of USA. They struggled for rhythm in their heat, but look to have located it already here.
And we’re off!
Right, and off we go with the women’s pairs semi-finals. In the first race can be found Helen Glover and Heather Stanning of Great Britain, the defending Olympic champions who have not been beaten since winning in London.
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Anyway, it’s about time we repaired to Lagoa for some regattaing. It’s a little cloudy, but, on the anniversary of Enid Blyton’s birth, it’s apt to point enough more than enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers, which tells us it’s going to be a fine day.
BBC are reporting that Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev, so brilliant in last night’s all-around nastics final, has refused to speak to Russian media. Verniaiev is originally from Donetsk.
“Agree on golf format,” tweets Matt Emerson. “Would have liked to see fourballs & foursomes by country then individual matchplay, then strokeplay.”
Something that could be learnt from darts - and I’d be all over that in the Olympics - is that it helps to make competitions distinct.
Only nine players are on the course so far, with three tied on -1 for the lead: Graham DeLaet of Canada, Byeonghun An of South Korea and Thomas Pieters of Belgium. Padraig Harrington, the most famous man to get going is +1.
Anyway, in the next little bit of action, we’ve got, as well as the golf which is our riff for the day, a helluvalotta rowing - pretty much everything that was confiscated from us yesterday. And in similar vein, in a few hours begins a gratifying overdose of tennis.
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So our 60 male and female golfers will each play a 72-hole strokeplay tournament. I’m kind of surprised they’ve done it this way and not gone for matchplay, or come up with something slightly different, but it’s still great players playing a great game and at the end someone wins a gold medal, while everyone has a lot of fun.
“I hope the winning golfer’s caddy gets a 1/10 sized gold medal,” tweets Gary Naylor - it’d still be pretty chunky. And I wonder if any of the golfers who lozzed it off have been watching and thinking hmmmm.
Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, as Talib Kweli once said, on which point, why is it only goodnight which can be said in one word?
Answers, and any other thoughts or comments, to daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com or @DanielHarris, please.
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For all that, and so much more, it’s going to be Daniel Harris from here on in. Thanks for your company on the email and the tweet, it’s been a most enjoyable morning. Now for the sport.
Anyone for badminton? That’s starts next, followed by the arrows then the handball and the rowing in quick succession. Provided the rowing actually happens after a couple of false starts this week already.
At the golf, representatives of Thailand, Malaysia and Belgium are next up. Thomas Pieters, the third, has a world ranking of 65 with a couple of European Tour wins. Worth keeping an eye on as the week progresses.
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The second group is up, and it includes three-time major winner Padraid Harrington. The Irishman has around a long time and makes no mistake with his first shot of the tourney. Italian Matteo Manassero is also away, along with Kiwi Danny Lee. Plenty of hype around the latter. He’s wearing a splendid jumper as well.
Meanwhile at Guardian HQ we have just been delivered pies with the ESPN logo printed into the tops of them. I wouldn’t make this up. Olympism.
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I’ve been asked by reader Olympia Diamond if we ever got to the bottom of the manky green pool situation from yesterday. Yes and no? FINA put a statement out yesterday that included the following:
“FINA can confirm that the reason for the unusual water color observed during the Rio diving competitions is that the water tanks ran out of some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process.
“As a result, the pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discoloration. The FINA Sport Medicine Committee conducted tests on the water quality and concluded that there was no risk to the health and safety of the athletes, and no reason for the competition to be affected.”
The old ran-out-of-chemicals defence. The water polo pool (next door) has a tinge of green to it now as well. I sense this story has some way to run.
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Golf tees off in the Olympics
Perfect. Adilson da Silva, the local with the 282 world ranking, has got us going with a drive smacked straight down the guts of the fairway. There we are. Golf is an Olympic sport. How about that? Graham Delaet (Canada) and An Byeong Hun (Korea) follow suit. Smiles all round as they walk down to consider their second shots. A nice moment.
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History about to be made, golf into the Olympics for the first time in 112 years. And after a couple of days of graveyard action, I’ll get to blog a bit of action!
The course was completed a couple years back and looks a treat on the telly. It’s a field of 60, with four rounds of conventional strokeplay to determine the winner. Brazilian Adilson Da Silva will be the first man to tee off, in about five minutes from now. Get in!
We’re inside half an hour from the beginning of action for day six. And for that reason, this should now be up in your browser for the next 18 hours or so. The perfect companion to any session of Olympics watching. Alongside the live blog, of course.
A note from our team in Rio – they want to hear from you.
“Whether you’re watching in person or from your sofa at home, we want to see how you are experiencing the Olympic Games – and hear any stories from Rio.
You can share your experiences, photos and videos by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button or via our form. Just remember not to take photos inside the stadiums. You can also get in contact with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056.”
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If you’re just joining the blog for the day, Belle and Sebastian have released an Olympics song and naturally enough, it’s a proper delight. Certainly judging by your feedback. And thanks so much for it.
James Smith is one such indie-sport crossover: “Thanks for the B&S song - it was like a whole Public Service Broadcasting album in one video. I’ve just read the Cecile Aubrey book Belle and Sebastien and I can assure any completist fans out there that it’s not worth the effort.”
A quick update on our earlier post, Swimming Australia’s website has suffered a cyber attack following the Mack Horton/Sun Yung spat. Wonder what’ll happen if he says it again? Here’s a tip: he probably will.
A big highlight of today will be the women’s all-round final in the gymnastics. Here’s a lovely piece by Anne McElvoy about the rubbery concept of perfection in the most beautiful of sports.
This is the aspect that lifts gymnastics from the sweaty floormats into the philosophical – the search for the perfect routine, balanced between artistry and athletic achievement. In athletics, the four-minute mile and the 10-second 100 metres sprint were once the equivalent ultimate goals. In clock-timed sports, the difference of a split second makes scoring easier. Ice-skating allows for individual differences between judges (older readers will remember the East German judge jokes for giving low scores to any other nations). Gymnastics aggregates scores between the judges on two separate panels to come to final result, often with a fair bit of arguing.
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Here’s the schedule of the day ahead. Soak it in. 45 minutes from the men’s golf. Will pop up a preview in a bit.
Righto, back into the saddle for day six at Rio. It’s 6:40am there so time to change gears and throw forward. I hope we’re all feeling very Olympic today?
Another for the not-really-Olympics-but-you’ll-proabably-like-anyway: here’s what the Premier League football clubs have been up to during their summer. And tons of other youtube bits and pieces. Check out number two with the weightlifter from Kiribati. Restorative.
I know that this won’t mean a lot to American readers, but Alastair Cook has won the toss at The Oval and England are chucking on the mums and dads to have a bat in the series decider. You can follow the OBO with ever-amusing Dan Lucas behind the wheel. Why not read us both at the same time?
Sam Waller has his own story about Mo’s 10,000 win. And it’s a good’un.
“I experienced just how noisy that 10,000m was, from an unusual vantage point. After interminably refreshing the Olympic tickets page, I managed to get some early morning hockey tickets - with the added bonus of being able to stay in the Olympic Park for the full Saturday watching on the big screens. I also booked an evening slot to go up the Orbit tower, as a fun way to round off the day. I was totally unaware that you can see down into the stadium from the viewing platform, or that our slot coincided with Mo Farah going for gold. Only half the track was visible from where we were, so as the athletes disappeared down the back straight every lap we could only listen to the incredible noise coming from the stadium and cross our fingers! Even from several hundred metres away, the sound was thunderous. I can’t imagine the atmosphere inside the stadium, but it was quite a special shared experience between the handful of us crowded onto that platform, as Mo came into view and stormed down the home straight to victory.”
For mine? I blagged into the photographers area - i.e. the best seats in the house. Then did it again for the 100m final a couple nights later. Probably would have been punted from my then-LOCOG job if caught. Obviously worth it.
Owen Gibson was on deck to watch Joe Clarke take gold for Team GB in the men’s KI canoe slalom. Gotta love a backstory.
The 23-year-old first stepped in a kayak with the Cubs and was so bitten by the bug he approached his local club. They turned him away, saying he was too young. When he was 11, eight places became available at Stafford and Stone Canoe Club. Asked to write a letter explaining why he should be one of the 60 to apply to be given a place, he gained a precious berth.
Okay, let’s do a wrap of a few more bits and pieces from day five before throwing on forward to day six, which, as per my previous excited line, begins with the golf at 7.30am Rio time. Say what you will about the merits of the sport getting a gong at these Games, it’ll be exciting to watch the tournament begin.
Missy Franklin is having a shocker this week. Bryan Armen Graham takes a look art what’s going on, as Katie Ledecky looks set to record history.
Four years ago it was Franklin whose megawatt smile, size 13 feet and five-medal spree – which included world records in the 400 medley relay and 200 backstroke – captured a country’s imagination. The ingenue then backed it up with a record six golds at the 2013 world championships, extending her career haul to an unprecedented nine and thrusting her name into the “best ever” conversation. That all seems a lifetime ago.
Patrick Reckitt has dropped us a line as well. (You can too, you know. Don’t be shy).
“Cheers for posting that Belle and Sebastian song, although my heart is now currently swollen to deal with my bacon sandwich and I’m blaming my inevitable coronary on you (and Claire Phipps).”
Okay, but don’t die. Moving on.
“Here’s a discussion point that might help you fill a bit of the graveyard slot and it involves the internet’s favourite activity – speculation. What are Olympic teams doing in training to unseat the 2012 gold medal winners? None of the teams are going to mention much in detail about what they’re up to in their sports bunkers, but we can make educated guesses, at least. For some godawful reason there’s been a lot of talk about cupping, but what techniques are tech are teams using that might actually be helpful?”
Patrick goes on to talk about how IBM help in the NBA. But I’m not that interested in data; everyone does that. I prefer psych outs. But if anyone has the answer, we’re all ears here on the live blog. Information is power.
83 minute until the golf starts at Rio!
That Belle and Sebastian song is a lovely thing, Adam,” writes in Guy Hornsby. “Some classic Olympics memories in a quietly soaring soundtrack. Personally, it’s always nice to see the clips of Jess Ennis in the long jump, because I was in the stadium in London that morning, watching her jump, throw the javelin and run. It seems surreal seeing it, and it wasn’t the business end of Super Saturday, but I’ll always have that. I think that’s what’s so great about the Olympic games. However cynical you are (and I am) it’s hard not to get swept up in all the stories. I hope they never squeeze that spirit out of it, however much the IOC try.”
Nice sentiment. I was there that night as well. I’ve been extremely lucky to witness some special sporting things, but never experienced an arena as loud as when Mo Farah charged for the line in the 10,000. Epic.
Another chapter of the Lilly King v Yulia Efimova stoush overnight, with the American missing out on the final of the 200 breaststroke. Would have set up a tasty rematch after the American triumphed in the 100m. Ah well, can’t have them all. As the report details, Efimova has been pinged twice for drugs and was lucky not to be excluded from these Games. King has strong views on that and doesn’t mind sharing them.
I know I go on about it a bit, but these photos are really something else. Here’s a gallery of day five’s very best. Take your time with them, really worth it.
For more on the diving triumph, Ian Prior was there to witness it. Extraordinary to think seven years ago Mears’ life was in the balance and now he has one of those gold medals.
While recovering, he was hit by a seizure which lasted seven hours; three days later he emerged from a coma, from which doctors were surprised permanent brain damage did not result. That he is still with us, never mind diving at the Olympics, is a minor miracle and a 12-inch surgical scar vertically bisects his abdomen, providing a daily reminder that the meek will inherit no medals.
Some lovely shots from last night, Team GB’s first ever diving gold from the 3 metre syncrhonised springboard event from the green pool. Jack Laugher and Chris Mears were very emotional upon realising they’d knocked off the favoured Chinese pair to the top of the podium. Olympics and photography go together ever so well.
Laugher and Mears, more like laughter and tears! Right?
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More from Australia, we get rather fired up about our TV coverage of the Olympics. Russell Jackson has a piece up about what’s going on with the coverage of the Seven Network. In short: people are properly kicking off.
This is a bit of a thing, Swimming Australia’s website is under a ‘DoS attack’ after Mack Horton’s straight-talking earlier in the Games. I just admit, I don’t know what this means exactly, but after our national census was destroyed by hackers a couple of nights ago, it feels like Mr Robot.
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Back to nice things, though. And what could be nicer than Belle and Sebastian releasing an Olympics song? Thanks to Claire Phipps for bringing this to my attention. It’s a jaunty little horn/synth driven instrumental, with lovely highlights/commentary of old Olympics in the clip. Prepare for a swollen heart.
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Day five was Olympics just as we want it, high on emotion with surprises by the hour. But it’s not all good news, as Andy Bull revealed yesterday in his exclusive report from Rio, a sense of shambles prevails in the pool. This time: rubbery qualification times.
The Olympic entry lists show many of the swimmers competing in Rio achieved their entry times at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan in August 2015. In nine cases the entry times listed do not match the times recorded at those championships. Another eight are listed as having achieved entry times in events in which they did not compete or were disqualified from. The 17 athletes are from 16 different countries, and include 11 men and six women.
Keep this open all day in a tab as well. Every medal, every result. Every upcoming event. You get the picture. Stick with us, miss nothing. There’s a slogan for you.
Top of the hour in London, 8am. If you’re just getting to work, ready for a day of procrastination here with me, make sure you smash through the daily briefing first, courtesy of Claire Phipps who I have been handed the baton from this morning. Essential reading no matter where you are. Subscribe for the rest of the Games.
I neglected to mention off the top, this is the the graveyard shift. So we’re allowed to play our shots. Don’t worry, no one will know. Send me something saucy, something sweet. Let’s do this right.
Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com - an email address that tells you exactly how it is: my name, and that I’ll write for anyone who gives me money. Or @collinsadam on the tweet machine if that’s more your jive. If you want my number, I’ll give you that too.
Highlights! Get your highlights! (if you’re in the UK). 68 seconds of the best.
A good morning to you all for day six of this, The Games of the XXXI Olympiad. I’ve always wanted to say it like. I’m Adam Collins and I’m coming to you from London HQ to count down the hours until they wake up in Rio.
Now, let’s get this out of the way early: I’m Australian. I won’t let that shade my partiality at all, but I was most pleased to learn that young Kyle Chalmers from Adelaide did something miraculous to win the blue ribband 100 metres freestyle despite turning at half way in seventh place.
Here’s Elle Hunt’s report on his story, the son of an accomplished Australian rules football who turned 18 just the other week. Look out for the tweet with his assembled schoolmates at Immanuel College going wild as he storms home in the final 50. Quality.
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Day 6 briefing
Welcome to day six of the Rio Games, which might bring us some rowing and tennis, and will bring us some track cycling (Rain 0-1 Roof).
Here’s what you need to know about the day that’s happened and the day that’s yet to come; stick with the live blog to see it all unfold.
The big picture
Day five brought us some of those against-the-odds, out-of-nowhere stories that make an Olympic Games and distract us from doping stories (though they were there too) and organisational mishaps (yep, those too).
Australia’s Kyle Chalmers – just 18 and not yet finished his schooling – took an airpunching gold in the men’s 100m freestyle, from seventh place at the halfway turn to a stunning first.
A mostly Phelps-free night in the pool gives us space to squeeze in some different names, including Mireia Belmonte Garcia, who took Spain’s first Rio gold in the women’s 200m butterfly, squeaking ahead of Australia’s Maddie Groves, who nonetheless declared her silver “bloody awesome”. The USA’s pool-owning continued, though, thanks to the ever-impressive Katie Ledecky, who towed her team to victory in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Away from the pool, the Boomers – I am not making this up – aka Australia’s men’s basketball team took Team USA right to the edge. As Les Carpenter reports:
They put a scare into the US basketball team that no one imagined was possible. For most of the game, Australia taunted the best collection of NBA players in the world, throwing up jumpers, shaking the rim with dunks and sending a message that America might not be as mighty as they thought they were.
(For those keen on details, the Boomers did lose 98-88.)
British watchers who chanced an early night missed Max Whitlock take bronze in the men’s individual all-around gymnastics, taking the team’s sixth medal of the day and becoming the first Briton to win an all-around medal in 108 years. But the final belonged to another golden masterclass from the flying Kohei Uchimura of Japan.
It followed gold for the British pair of Chris Mears and Jack Laugher, who didn’t let that freakishly green pool put them off in the 3m synchronised springboard diving.
The host nation breathed a collective sigh of relief as the men’s football team avoided the humiliating – but surprisingly likely – possibility of falling out in the opening rounds by finally figuring out how to score some goals. Brazil beat Denmark 4-0 and will trundle on to the quarter-finals.
You should also know:
- Kazakhstan’s weightlifting triumph clouded by doping controversy.
- Refugee judoka Popole Misenga out of Olympics but thrilled all the same.
- Rio 2016 could be the moment Brazil sheds its sporting stereotypes.
- Police find second bullet inside Olympic equestrian centre.
Team GB roundup
Sebastian Coe is happy with day five, so what’s to worry about? Six medals came Britain’s way, crowned by two golds – Joe Clarke in the men’s canoe slalom and a flawless display by Chris Mears and Jack Laugher in the 3m synchronised springboard diving. The pool was still green but the medals were not.
There were four bronzes, too: for a buoyant Max Whitlock in the men’s individual all-around gymnastics; for a bedraggled Chris Froome in the men’s cycling time trial; by the newly-styled girl from Ippon-ema Sally Conway in the women’s judo; and Steven Scott, who saw off teammate Tim Kneale in the double trap shooting.
Stiff upper lip of the night went to Andrew Willis, who finished fourth in the men’s 200m breaststroke (won, unexpectedly, by Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Balandin in lane eight). “When I do finish swimming,” he said, “four will be my lucky number.”
Could day six keep up the pace without getting a stitch? It’s the first day in the velodrome, so don’t bet against it. The men’s team sprint final is at a not-too-bedtime-testing 10.21pm BST and will see Callum Skinner, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny go for gold. Laura Trott leads the women’s team pursuit qualifying at 8.19pm BST (set your phone alert now) and Bradley Wiggins pitches up for the men’s team pursuit qualifying at 9.23pm BST.
- Dan Bibby’s sudden death try sends GB through to rugby sevens semis.
- There’s no Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins rift, says British cycling head.
- Rebekah Tiler holds her head high finishing 10th in women’s weightlifting.
Team USA roundup
A quieter day for Team USA, but perhaps that’s because Michael Phelps had his name down only for a semifinal. Katie Ledecky has (for now) bested him in the Rio medal charts with another gold – she so far has three, like Phelps, plus a bonus silver – in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. Although Ledecky probably could manage to win a relay on her own, she did not: Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith and Maya DiRado took the top of the podium with her. Missy Franklin swam in the prelims but didn’t make the final quartet.
And there was a genuinely Olympian win from Kristin Armstrong in the women’s road cycling time trial: she’s a spare-time cyclist with an Actual Job as a community health director; at 43 (today! Birthday wishes!) she has eight years on the next oldest competitor; and she pushed the previously banned Russian Olga Zabelinskaya into second place.
The US remains comfortably at the top of the overall medal table, hauling home three more silvers on day five: Josh Prenot in the men’s 200m breaststroke; fencer Daryl Homer in the men’s individual sabre; and Michael Hixon and Sam Dorman in the men’s 3m synchronised springboard diving – the team’s best ever result.
And Nathan Adrian snuck a bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle.
- Justin Gatlin on Lilly King’s doping criticism: ‘I’ve served that time’.
- Missy Franklin the only person left without a theory on career fade in Rio.
Australia team roundup
Kyle Chalmers might have been the first Australian man in 48 years to win the 100m freestyle – and in some style, too – but there were also two silvers for the women in the pool on night five. Madeline Groves came a close second in the women’s 200m butterfly, before the team of Leah Neale, Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt and Tamsin Cook roared up behind the Americans for silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Cook, just 17 and a late replacement for Groves in the four, took the last leg and went up against the eye-rubbingly extraordinary Katie Ledecky (19) on what was a bumper night for overperforming teenagers in the pool.
Elsewhere, that close-run game against the mighty Team USA in the men’s basketball brought no consolation to centre Andrew Bogut:
We still lost the game, it doesn’t mean anything. There’s no small victories.
US head coach Mike Krzyzewski saw it differently:
Australia has played the best basketball in the Olympics.
Another loss in the men’s rugby sevens, with Australia out of the quarter-finals after losing 22-5 to South Africa.
- Rohan Dennis philosophical after broken handlebar costs him silver in road cycling time trial.
- Australia deletes thousands of mean comments from Mack Horton’s Instagram profile.
- Olympics on Australian TV review: presenters triumph against the schedule.
Picture of the day
It was China v China in the women’s singles table tennis final, and China emerged victorious, with Ding Ning pipping her teammate and rival Li Xiaoxia 4-3. Commiserations also to China there.
Diary
All times below are local to Rio: here’s the full timetable tweaked for wherever you are. Or add four hours for UK, add 13 hours for eastern Australia; subtract one hour for east-coast US and four for west coast.
- Golf is back, with round one of the men’s individual stroke play at 7.30am.
- There’s supposed to be rowing but every time I say there’ll be rowing, there isn’t rowing. So there might be rowing. Find out from 8.30am!
- Equestrian watchers: check in from 10am for the individual and team dressage; Team GB and Charlotte Dujardin are poised to liven up the horse-dancing.
- Rain has played havoc with the tennis too, but we might see the men’s third round matches and women’s semifinals from 11am: Nadal, Murray, Konta and Del Potro are all still in play.
- Two finals in the canoe slalom, with the men’s canoe double (C2) at 2.15pm, and the women’s kayak (K1) at 3pm. If he and partner Richard Hounslow get through the semifinals at 12.30pm, Team GB’s David Florence will be hoping to do better than his last place in the single competition. Fiona Pennie also paddles for Britain in the K1.
- A big day in the men’s rugby sevens, with semifinals for Fiji v Japan at 2.30pm and Team GB v South Africa at 3pm. The winners go on to the gold medal bout at 7pm; the bronze medal playoff is at 6.30pm. Fiji has never won an Olympic medal of any hue so they’ll be pretty determined.
- Cycling moves out of the rain and into the velodrome: from 4pm, it’s men’s team sprint qualifying followed by women’s team pursuit qualifying; stick with the heats till the men’s team sprint finals at 6.21pm.
- Also at 4pm it’s the women’s gymnastics individual all-around final, which surely, surely Team USA’s Simone Biles will win.
- The women’s archery winds up at 4.43pm with the individual final.
- There’ll be two more judo golds: the women’s -78kg at 5pm and the men’s -100kg at 5.20pm. Team GB’s Natalie Powell aims to be in the running.
- There’s a shooting gold medal going in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions at noon; and in fencing in the women’s team epee at 6.30pm.
- Table tennis picks up at 9.30pm with the men’s singles gold match. Will we see an all-China final as in the women’s singles?
- And of course there’s more swimming, with four more finals and four more golds: at 10.17pm the women’s 200m breaststroke; at 10.26pm the men’s 200m backstroke (Australia’s Mitch Larkin was second fastest qualifier); at 11.01pm the men’s 200m individual medley; at 11.18 the women’s 100m freestyle (watch out for Australia’s Cate Campbell, who swiped an Olympic record on her way to the final).
Underdog of the day
No Egyptian woman has ever stood on an Olympic podium. No Arab woman has ever won a weightlifting medal. Until 18-year-old Sara Ahmed picked up bronze on day five in the women’s 69kg.
Perhaps, strictly speaking, the underdog award ought to go to Ahmed’s countrywoman Abeer Abdelrahman, who came fifth in the women’s 75kg event at London 2012, but now – with the top three finishers all failing doping tests – should get a belated silver.
Tweet of the day
Students at Immanuel College, Kyle Chalmers’ Adelaide school, got a bye from lessons on Thursday morning. Sometimes that timezone thing can really work in your favour:
PANDEMONIUM!!! GOLD FOR CHALMERS pic.twitter.com/YaXWr67Sk9
— Tim Morgan (@Timmy_morgs) August 11, 2016
If today were a song
It would be Alice Cooper’s School’s Out for Summer. After all, these teenagers have medals to win.
And another thing
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