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Updated coverage of all the action from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

A RUSSIAN drug cheat has wept uncontrollably at the Rio swimming centre in a move that has seen her branded “shameless”.

Tyson Otto and Jai Bednall
13 min read
August 9, 2016 - 3:16PM
Russia's Yulia Efimova cries after placing second.
Russia's Yulia Efimova cries after placing second.

Rio Olympics coverage

Australia has had a big morning in Rio. Our team sports have seen some impressive results, including the Aussie women’s rugby sevens team, who have won our fourth gold medal. Australia’s swimmers are also hunting more medals at the Rio swimming and aquatic centre.

IT has been a huge morning for Australia at the Rio Games. There’s already been some big results for our teams. The Aussie women’s rugby sevens team has created history after beating New Zealand to become the first team to ever win a women’s rugby gold medal.

12.50pm

Phelps jumps behind Aussie Horton

US Olympic star Michael Phelps has thrown his support behind Australia’s Mack Horton and US teammate Lilly King who have waged a vocal war on doping in and out of the pool at these Games by calling out drug cheats.

“I believe that is what sports should be,” Phelps said.

“I believe sports should be clean and sports should be on an even playing field.

“I think that it’s sad that in sports today people who are testing positive not only once but twice and still having the opportunity to swim at this Games.

“It breaks my heart and I wish somebody would do something about it.”

12pm

Cold War leaves swimmer in tears

Poolside waterworks.
Poolside waterworks.

American 100m breaststroke champion Lilly King snubbed heated rival Yulia Efimova after claiming victory in their personal feud at the Rio swimming centre.

The Russian was in tears after the race.

She was controversially allowed to compete in Rio despite testing positive for meldonium in March. It followed her 16-month suspension for doping in 2014-15.

King sensationally labelled Efimova a “drug cheat” following their 100m breaststroke heats.

The American was in front at the halfway point of the 100m breaststroke final and finished more than half a second ahead Efimova, who won the silver medal.

After hitting the wall first, King swam over a lane rope to celebrate with American teammate Catherine Meili, who claimed the bronze.

Yulia Efimova needs comforting after her race.
Yulia Efimova needs comforting after her race.

She did not once acknowledge Efimova in the pool or during their walk from the pool back to the marshalling area ahead of the medal ceremony.

According to reports, Efimova cried during her post-race interview with a Brazilian television station and complained about how her preparation had been disrupted by her initial suspension from competition.

She was one of seven Russian swimmers initially banned as a result of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation into state organised doping in Russia.

Swimming fans showed her little sympathy.

King told American TV, her win shows clean athletes can prevail.

She told Channel 7 she agreed with Aussie Mack Horton’s bold stand against drugs in sport.

“I completely agree with him,” she said.

“This is one for the good guys. A 1-3 finish for the USA. We’re competing clean and we’re going to stay that way. It’s still going to bring us success in the pool.”

11.40am

Larkin finishes fourth

Aussie Mitch Larkin was just 0.03 seconds away from an Olympic medal.

Larkin was in front at the halfway point of the men’s 100m backstroke, but appeared to struggle after the turn.

His time of 52.43 was agonisingly close to bronze-medallist David Plummer (52.40 seconds), but was well beaten by gold-medallist Ryan Murphy, who swam the 100m in 51.97 in a new Olympic record.

Larkin admitted the result was “a little bit disappointing”.

11.35am

Seebohm misses medals

Not enough.
Not enough.

Aussies Emily Seebohm and Madison Wilson have missed out on medals in the women’s 100m backstroke.

Seebohm, swimming from lane 1, incredibly snatched the race lead at the turn, but fell away in the final 50m to finish seventh.

Her time of 59.19 seconds was well short of winner Katinka Hosszu (58.45 seconds) of Hungary.

Wilson finished eighth with a time of 59.23 seconds.

There was a tie for the bronze medal with Canada’s Kylie Masse and China’s Yuanhui Fu touching the wall at the same time.

11.25am

Sun Yang wins fourth gold

Controversial swimmer Sun Yang has eased the pain of his loss to Aussie Mack Horton by winning his third Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200m freestyle.

Yang won silver in the event at the London Games, but took control of the race in the final 50m to win by almost half a body length in the Rio pool.

Chad le Clos won silver for South Africa and America’s Conor Dwyer won bronze.

11.10am

McKeon finds her feet after disappointment

Aussie star Emma McKeon has qualified for the final of the women’s 200m freestyle final.

After the disappointment of finishing seventh in the 100m butterfly final on Monday (AEST), McKeon finished second in the first semi-final of the freestyle.

It was enough to get her into the final on Wednesday morning (AEST).

She said she feels physically ready for the final.

“It’s just amazing how much your head can get in the way of a good race,” she told Channel 7.

“That’s something I’ll need to work on for tomorrow night. If I make it.”

She has qualified sixth fastest. Fellow Aussie Bronte Barratt just snuck into the final and will swim from lane 8.

11am

New Zealand’s heartbreaking haka

Moving.
Moving.

The New Zealand women’s rugby sevens team performed an emotional haka for their families and fans after falling to Australia in the gold medal game.

With several players trying to fight back tears after their narrow defeat, the players performed the haka on the sidelines of the Deodoro Stadium as the Australian team celebrated with their own fans.

Kiwi Portia Woodman, who was sin-binned during the final, was overcome with emotion after the loss.

10.30am

Rio’s ‘Good vs Evil’ Cold War

Somebody has to lose.
Somebody has to lose.

An Olympic showdown expected to be every bit as explosive as Usain Bolt’s 100m battle against Justin Gatlin highlights the action in the pool tonight.

USA swim team assistant coach Ray Looze has described the women’s 100m breastroke final — which sees American favourite Lilly King square off against Russian “drug cheat” Yulia Efimova — as a battle of good versus evil.

Efimova was controversially allowed to compete in Rio despite testing positive for meldonium in March. It followed her 16-month suspension for doping in 2014-15.

King poured fuel on the fire during the semi-finals when she pointedly waved her finger at her opponent.

There will be huge tension in the swimming arena in Rio tonight, where Russian swimmers have already been booed during the meet.

How the crowd — and Efimova’s competitors — react if she is presented with a medal has everyone guessing, but there is already word some members of the swimming fraternity plan to turn their backs on her if she climbs up on the dais.

Sweden’s Jennie Johansson — who finished ninth fastest in the semi-finals to narrowly miss out on tonight’s race — made her feelings clear on the Russian’s involvement.

“I’ve cried a lot of tears tonight,” she wrote on Instagram.

“It was so much swimming in the semi next to some great friends and true athletes, unfortunately I finished up ninth. My heart and mind will be swimming in that final tomorrow even if the actual lane is taken by someone that doesn’t deserve it.”

Controversial Chinese swimmer Sun Yang is also a serious gold medal chance as he starts from lane four in the 200m freestyle final. Sun was branded a “drug cheat” by Mack Horton before the Aussie defeated him in the 400m free.

9.30am

Horton attacked by China yet again

Keep your friends close.
Keep your friends close.

One day after labelling Australia “a country at the fringes of civilisation” a Chinese newspaper has again attacked the character of Olympic champion Mack Horton and the moral fibre of Australian society.

Horton famously called out Chinese swimmer Sun Yang as a drug cheat before beating him in the Rio 2016 men’s 400m freestyle final.

He has been public enemy No. 1 since.

The Australian swimming team’s refusal to accept a demand from the Chinese swimming team for Horton to give Sun Yang an official apology, appears to be the basis for Chinese tabloid The Global Times to launch another attack on the swimming star.

“The focus of the squabble will go beyond Horton’s ill manners and silliness,” the newspaper reported in an editorial piece.

“The whole level of Australia’s awareness of sports ethics and glory is as low as that of a young and brash kid.

“Australia’s aberrant response is confusing not only to the Chinese, but also to many other Westerners.”

9.15am

Kiwi player’s heartbreak

SIN-binned Kiwi rugby sevens player Portia Woodman couldn’t hide her heartbreak during the medal presentation ceremony at Deodoro Stadium.

The New Zealand player was sin-binned in the first half of Australia’s gold-medal win and then made a key handling error in the second half.

She couldn’t fight back her tears while her teammates were being presented with their silver medals.

9am

Usain Bolt’s weird press conference

Usain Bolt made a public appearance in Rio today alongside other members of the Jamaican track team — and a few scantily-clad companions.

The fastest man in the world conducted a Q&A with journalists on behalf of Puma and spoke about how he’s settling in to life in the athlete’s village ahead of his tilt at a historic three-peat in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

The 29-year-old didn’t have any real complaints, but revealed he was forced to buy a television for his apartment after waiting fruitlessly for the organising committee to provide him with one.

The event ended in bizarre fashion as one member of the gallery — instead of asking a question — broke out in song.

“I don’t really have a question, I just want to say I really love you man,” he said.

“(Singing) Usain Bolt, you’re my favourite guy, I’m loving your moves and your feet and your style. I hope that you win, I hope you get the golden ring, and I hope you get to go and not get followed by a segway.”

Bolt was impressed, urging him to sing again for 10 seconds so he could film a snapchat video.

8.35am

Australia’s historic triumph

Party time.
Party time.

Australia has created history with a famous 24-17 win over New Zealand in the gold medal match of the women’s rugby sevens at Deodoro Stadium.

Australia came out firing in the second half.

Bang. Elia Green finished off a brilliant team try.

Bang. Charlotte Caslick found a way under the Kiwi defence on the try-line.

Just like that it was 24-5 with four minutes to play.

New Zealand scored two late consolation tries, but they never truly looked like threatening the Aussies.

The win marks Australia as the first team to ever win a rugby sevens gold medal and the first team to win an Olympic rugby gold medal in 92 years.

The Aussies won their semi-final against Canada 17-5 to set up the trans-Tasman showdown.

New Zealand had not lost heading into the final, while Australia got out of jail with a 12-12 draw against the United States in the final game in the group stage.

Canada claimed the bronze medal with a win over Britain in the third-place playoff.

8.20am

‘The Kiwis do not like it’

The moment.
The moment.

Australia led New Zealand 10-5 at half time of the gold medal rugby sevens final.

New Zealand landed the first blow in the 5th minute when Kayla McAlister carried an Aussie defender over the try-line out-wide to give them a 5-0 lead.

Australia hit-back two minutes before half time when Emma Tonegato got on the outside of the Kiwis’ widest defender and stretched out to equal the scoreline.

There were questions asked about Tonegato’s put-down. She appeared to spill the ball over the line just before she ball hit the turf.

Channel 7 commentator Mark Braybrook admitted he had his doubts over the try.

“The Kiwis do not like it,” he said.

All Blacks star Aaron Smith also appeared to question the decision.

The final margin of 24-17 means the questionable try could have been the difference between the two teams.

The Kiwis then lost Portia Woodman to the sin-bin in the last minute of the half.

The Aussies pounced to snatch the lead with a try on the final play of the half.

7.45am

Delly is worth more than $39 million

Dollars.
Dollars.

Aussie basketball legend Andrew Gaze has declared NBA star Matthew Dellavedova has today produced one of the greatest performances ever delivered in a Boomers singlet.

Dellavedova was instrumental alongside Patty Mills as the Boomers won their second match of the Games after coming from behind to beat Serbia 95-80.

“We saw one of the all time great performances in the Australian uniform today by Matthew Dellavedova,” Gaze told Fox Sports.

“His recent contract for Milwaukee was for $39 million over four years — based on what we saw today he’s underpaid.”

6.45am

Stosur wins through

Sam Stosur is through to the third round of the women’s tennis in Rio after a comfortable win over Japan’s Misaki Doi.

Stosur cruised through to her third round match against German star Angelique Kerber.

Doi led early in the second set, but it was the only moment she challenged the Aussie.

Stosur wrapped up the result 6-3 6-2.

6.30am

Aussies in water polo biff

The biff.
The biff.

The Australian men’s water polo team has been involved in a heated mid-pool splashing melee during its group stage match against Hungary.

In the final moments of the 9-9 draw, tensions boiled over after an argument between two players sparked other teammates to run in.

There were a few defensive pushes and plenty of splashing, but no punches were thrown and no players were sent off.

5.55am

Aussie in major cycling crash

Drama at the track
Drama at the track

Aussie cyclist Melissa Hoskins is being treated in hospital after a huge crash at the Rio velodrome.

The track cyclist was involved in a multi-rider crash during the Australian women’s team pursuit squad’s training session on Tuesday morning (AEST).

Hoskins was taken to hospital in an ambulance after receiving emergency treatment inside the track.

She was reportedly carried out on a stretcher, but was conscious when ambulance staff arrived at the scene.

Teammates Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure and Georgie Baker all fell and hit the track during the same crash.

Annette Edmondson was the only rider to avoid the collision.

The Australian women’s team pursuit squad will first compete in three days time.

Melissa Hoskins, center left, of the Australian women's track cycling team, reacts after crashing during training.
Melissa Hoskins, center left, of the Australian women's track cycling team, reacts after crashing during training.

5.20am

Boomers’ big win

Good stuff.
Good stuff.

Australia maintained its perfect start to the men’s basketball competition with a superb 95-80 win against Serbia.

That’s two wins from two games against good opposition for the Boomers after their opening rout of France.

It was the back court of Matthew Dellavedova (23 points, 13 assists) and Patty Mills (26 points) which proved the difference as the Aussies charged into Thursday’s blockbuster against the US.

5.15am

Kiwis in the way of another gold

One to go.
One to go.

Australia has the opportunity to break New Zealand’s heart for the second day in a row in the gold medal match of the women’s rugby sevens.

The Aussie women guaranteed themselves at worst a silver medal by comfortably handling Canada 17-5 in today’s semi-final. The Kiwis were similarly dominant in a 25-7 win against Great Britain, setting up another trans-Tasman contest after Australia’s Catherine Skinner defeated Kiwi Natalie Rooney in the final of the trap shooting yesterday. The final is at 8am (AEST).

There haven’t been huge crowds at the Sevens but there was one interested onlooker observing the US team’s play-off for fifth position.

5.15am

More gold to flow in equestrian

Australia is in the box seat to grab both the team and individual gold medals in the equestrian competition after a superb day of cross country riding.

Chris Burton was faultless as he moved in to first place in the individual standings and gave Australia a real opportunity to add to its great history in the event.

New Zealand’s team finished the day in second while France — which has the advantage of qualifying all four of its rider through to tomorrow’s show jumping — is in third.

5.15am

Fox fires back

Jess Fox has survived elimination in the women’s K1 slalom with a blistering second and final heat run to advance to the semi-finals.

Fox’s second-run time of 99.51 saw her finish second overall ahead of Friday morning’s (AEST) semi’s and was a great response to a poor opening run earlier in the day.

5.15am

China won’t get an apology: Kitty

Australian Olympic boss Kitty Chiller has backed in swimmer Mack Horton after the gold medal-winning swimmer labelled Chinese rival Sun Yang a drug cheat.

China was furious at Horton’s accusation and called for IOC intervention but Chiller won’t be accommodating them.

“We have no intention of making an apology,” she said.

“He (Horton) has every right to express his views.”

Chiller described Australia’s start to the games — which saw them win three gold and three bronze in the opening two days — as “pretty bloody good”.

5.15am

McKeon ready to respond

After the disappointment of a seventh-placed finish in the 100m butterfly final, Emma McKeon will look to atone in the 200m freestyle tonight.

The Aussie 22-year-old qualified second fastest behind American superstar Katie Ledecky on a morning which saw several Aussies progress through heats.

Brisbane’s Grant Irvine secured his own small Olympic highlight, beating US champion Michael Phelps in the heat of the 200m butterfly.

5.15am

Hockeyroos falter again

Australia’s hopes of winning a medal in the women’s hockey are hanging by a thread after a 2-1 defeat against the US. The Hockeyroos were outplayed for the second game in the tournament after dropping their opener to Great Britain and now face a tall order to qualify for the quarterfinals given they still have to play World No. 2 Argentina.

5.15am

‘Grateful Eight’ off the pace

The Australian women’s eight rowing team — a last-minute replacement for the banned Russian team at the Games — found it tough going in their first race this morning.

They finished last and were relegated to the repechage heat. The men’s four was better prepared and qualified directly to its semifinal.

5.15am

Second boxer arrested for sexual assault

Namibian flagbearer Jonas Junias was the second boxer to be arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a housekeeper inside the athlete’s village.

Last week, Moroccan boxer Hassan Saada was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault with two waitresses.

Originally published as Updated coverage of all the action from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/olympics-2016/live-coverage-of-all-the-action-from-the-rio-2016-olympic-games/news-story/87920417d1b38d981e2187d333f5d42a