Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE updates: Ariarne Titmus wins gold v Katie Ledecky, 4x100m freestyle relay gold and Winnington silver

How good are the Olympics? How good is swimming? How good is being on top of the medal tally? How forgiving are your neighbours?

If you’re anything like us on the ground in Paris, your adrenaline is through the roof and you’ll be hopping onto Amazon to order a new voice box before Day 2.

And wasn’t it worth it?

A quick recap from the pool:

• Silver for Elijah Winnington in the men’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team;
• Silver for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

We’re not about playing favourites, but Arnie. The Terminator. The winning sequel. That was just special.

Arnie for Prime Minister.Credit: AP

There was quite a lot else that happened on Day 1. Scroll down for a more exhaustive wrap, but here were some of the biggest storylines:

• Australia’s first gold medal was won by road cyclist Grace Brown in the women’s individual time trial (she didn’t just win it, she wiped the streets of Paris with them).
• Australia looked certain to win at least a bronze medal in women’s diving, before a horror final dive from Annabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney knocked them out.
• Jessica Fox enters the semi-finals of the women’s K1 canoe slalom on top of the field after an excellent second run this morning. The final is 1.45am (AEST) Monday morning.
• The Boomers won their opening match against Spain, the Kookaburras took care of business against Argentina and the men’s rugby sevens were knocked out of the medals after losses to Fiji and South Africa.

Your newest Aussie legend: Grace Brown. She’s on the right, obviously.Credit: AP

Alright, there’s plenty more to come. Tomorrow Fox goes for gold, there’s another big night at the pool, and we’re keeping our eye on Aussies competing for medals in the shooting, mountain bike race, street skateboarding and judo.

And don’t forget about the Matildas. They really need to bounce back against Zambia, while the women’s rugby sevens get going against South Africa and Great Britain.

That’s it for now. From myself, Rob Harris and Chloe Saltau, it’s been real.

Soak. It. Up.Credit: AP

A recreated look at how Ariarne Titmus defended her 400m freestyle crown.

Former Olympian Hayley Lewis has broken down while describing how happy she is for her son, Kai Taylor, after he won silver as a member of Australia’s 4x100m men’s freestyle team.

Lewis told Nine she only found out Taylor was swimming that afternoon when he telephoned her and her husband Greg while they were out for a walk.

“He wasn’t supposed to swim, and we knew how much he just loves teams, he loves relay teams and loves swimming for Australia, obviously. And you know, he just rang us before he swam, and said, ‘I feel really good, I’m going to do my best’. And we said, ‘we know you will just get up there and just have fun.’ And we’re just absolutely stoked to him,” she said.

Lewis, who paused and said she ‘can barely talk’ as she started crying as she spoke of her son’s achievements, said Taylor would be happy with his time in the 4x100m ahead of hopefully swimming in the 4x200m later in the week.

“Being a mum, it’s a real team effort that these kids have behind them, and we’re just so happy for him. He’s worked so hard,” she said.

A look back at Australia’s medal-winning night at the pool.

First up there was Elijah Winnngton’s silver

Then Ariane Titmus did it again for gold.

And more gold to the women in the 4x100 freestyle relay

Before the men’s 4x100 team capped off a big night at the Paris La Défense Arena by claiming our second silver and fourth medal for the evening.

How good are the Olympics? How good is swimming? How good is being on top of the medal tally? How forgiving are your neighbours?

If you’re anything like us on the ground in Paris, your adrenaline is through the roof and you’ll be hopping onto Amazon to order a new voice box before Day 2.

And wasn’t it worth it?

A quick recap from the pool:

• Silver for Elijah Winnington in the men’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team;
• Silver for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

We’re not about playing favourites, but Arnie. The Terminator. The winning sequel. That was just special.

Arnie for Prime Minister.Credit: AP

There was quite a lot else that happened on Day 1. Scroll down for a more exhaustive wrap, but here were some of the biggest storylines:

• Australia’s first gold medal was won by road cyclist Grace Brown in the women’s individual time trial (she didn’t just win it, she wiped the streets of Paris with them).
• Australia looked certain to win at least a bronze medal in women’s diving, before a horror final dive from Annabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney knocked them out.
• Jessica Fox enters the semi-finals of the women’s K1 canoe slalom on top of the field after an excellent second run this morning. The final is 1.45am (AEST) Monday morning.
• The Boomers won their opening match against Spain, the Kookaburras took care of business against Argentina and the men’s rugby sevens were knocked out of the medals after losses to Fiji and South Africa.

Your newest Aussie legend: Grace Brown. She’s on the right, obviously.Credit: AP

Alright, there’s plenty more to come. Tomorrow Fox goes for gold, there’s another big night at the pool, and we’re keeping our eye on Aussies competing for medals in the shooting, mountain bike race, street skateboarding and judo.

And don’t forget about the Matildas. They really need to bounce back against Zambia, while the women’s rugby sevens get going against South Africa and Great Britain.

That’s it for now. From myself, Rob Harris and Chloe Saltau, it’s been real.

Soak. It. Up.Credit: AP

What a night at the pool. Let’s relive the highlights...

Men’s 400m freestyle: silver

Elijah Winnington proudly displays his silver medal.Credit: AP

Winnington congratulates men’s 400m winner Lukas Maertens, of Germany.Credit: AP

Women’s 400m freestyle, aka ‘The race of the century’: gold

She. Did. It.Credit: AP

Ariarne Titmus. Who else?Credit: Getty Images

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus celebrates her victory over Canada’s Summer McIntosh (left) and Katie Ledecky.Credit: Getty Images

Ariarne Titmus stands with silver medallist Summer McIntosh, of Canada, (left) and bronze medallist Katie Ledecky, of the United States.Credit: AP

Ariarne Titmus’ winning grin.Credit: AP

4x100 women’s freestyle relay: gold

Meg Harris and Emma McKeon embrace after winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Credit: Getty Images

They never looked like losing. Tip your hat to Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris. Credit: AP

Emma Mckeon, Meg Harris, Shayna Jack and Mollie O’Callaghan made no attempt to disguise their joy after winning gold.Credit: nna\KCampbell

Australia’s 4x100m women’s relay team celebrates their victory.Credit: AP

4x100 men’s freestyle relay: silver

Kyle Chalmers was lightning in the final leg of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, but it wasn’t enough to eat up the lead of team USA.Credit: AP

Australia’s Kyle Chalmers hugs America’s Caeleb Dressel after the men’s relay final.Credit: Getty Images

Elijah Winnington has revealed the unorthodox mental technique behind his silver medal-winning composure. The trick? “Pretend it’s Disneyland.”

Winnington, speaking to Nine poolside, said the fun park is his favourite place in the world and when he was approaching the blocks he pictured himself queueing for one of his favourite rides.

Space Mountain or Magic Kingdom, in case you were wondering.

Whatever works, Elijah.

Chants of USA! USA! USA! go up around the arena as Team USA’s men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, led by Caeleb Dressel, is victorious

That’s their first gold here at the swimming and that was the type of performance we have come to know and fear over the years.

With all the Aussie wins (and the Germans earlier) I had kind of forgotten just how many Yanks are here in the crowd.

Katie Ledecky’s third place had dulled their bravado earlier, but now they’re back and let me tell you there are heaps of them.

Star spangled banners are all around the place.

I’m back with some more videos (I told you earlier I’d help you out where I can).

Let’s relive the women’s 4x100m freestyle gold medal.

Now the chaps’ silver.

And in case you missed it, Arnie (but you didn’t miss it, did you?)

And Elijah.

Thank me later.

Just incredible. The Australian girls have blown the lid off this arena!

This is like a cross between a Taylor Swift concert and WWE wrestling. A wall of noise just swept across the pool just then as Meg Harris hit the wall. So many remarkable stories in that victory.

Perhaps the biggest of them all is that Emma McKeon who becomes the first Australian athlete to win SIX gold medals going past Ian Thorpe. And that’s her 12th medal all up.

Also what about the redemption tale of Shayna Jack, who has been determined to clear her name after having served a “hellish” suspension for doping.

Australia’s best Olympic performance in the pool was three years ago in Tokyo when we won nine gold medals, eclipsing the eight we won at the Melbourne 1956 Games. Can they win 10 this time?

It’s on the cards.

Quick welfare check. Because this past hour has been WILD.

Wildly fun, that is. But wow, how is the heart rate? How’s the voice? How annoyed are your neighbours right now?

Quick recap, because honestly it’s been a lot (in the best possible way):

• Silver for Elijah Winnington in the men’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for Ariarne Titmus (YES, ARNIE) in the women’s 400m freestyle;
• Gold for the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team;
• Silver for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Oh and don’t forget that, potentially while you were sleeping, Grace Brown only went and won a gold medal in the women’s road cycling individual time trial. Didn’t she just.

And also don’t forget that we are on top of the world. Literally. Here’s the proof: