Olympic daily wrap, day 4: Emma McKeon’s bronze, Michael Phelps’ golds and the Matildas’ goals
A round up of what went down on day 4 in Rio: Michael Phelps claims his 20th and 21st gold medals, Emma McKeon on the podium and a Matildas goal-fest.
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A ROUND up of what went down on day 4 in Rio: Michael Phelps claims his 20th and 21st gold medals, Emma McKeon on the podium and a Matildas goal-fest.
THE AUSSIES MAKING THE NEWS
Emma McKeon pulled out a stunning 200m freestyle performance with an incredibly brave swim to claim a deserved bronze medal. Just 48 hours after she shed tears of disappointment over her 100m butterfly final, McKeon bounced back with an outstanding swim against two of the biggest names in the sport to finish third.
McKeon led US superstar Katie Ledecky and Sweden’s butterfly world record holder Sarah Sjostrom through the first 100m but just could not quite hold on over the final two laps to claim the gold.
McKeon wins bronze in 200m freestyle thriller
Teen sensation Kyle Chalmers looms as the shock gold medal contender for the men’s 100m freestyle after qualifying second fastest for Thursday’s final behind reigning Olympic champ Nathan Adrian.
Chalmers has put himself in a position nobody expected just six months ago, on the verge of fighting for Olympic gold and with the rest of the world looking over their shoulder.
Chalmers was second fastest in 47.88s from the semi-finals, just behind USA’s Adrian in 47.83s while Australian teammate and world No.1 Cameron McEvoy was equal third quickest in 47.93s with Canada’s Santo Condorelli.
Chalmers tipped to shock Adrian in final
Australia’s equestrian team completed one mission but fell short in another when gold turned to bronze in a minute of pure pain today.
Two fallen fences in the final ride of the competition saw Australia slip from first to third in a thrilling equestrian eventing team showdown at Deodoro.
Gold hopes disappear over the fence
The Matildas are facing a brutal quarterfinal against USA or Brazil after a gut wrenching near miss chasing a miracle turn around against Zimbabwe at the Olympics.
Australia started the final round seven goals and three points behind Germany but had hopes of turning it around completely dashed by a Zimbabwe goal in injury time.
Australia’s 6-1 win, and Germany’s 2-1 loss to Group E winner Canada allowed Germany to advance with a superior goal difference of one.
Matildas reach giant quarter-final showdown
The golden glow of Australia’s men’s hockey side is fast losing its sheen. The Kookaburras had won every major trophy leading into the Olympics and were considered one of Australia’s hottest medal prospects.
But they suffered their second pool loss in 48 hours with a 1-0 defeat against Belgium and, though likely to qualify, will face a difficult path to gold with their confidence having taken an almighty hit.
Kookaburras medal hopes take a hit
THE BIG PICTURE
THE RIO LOWDOWN
A media bus has been attacked in the Deodoro area of Rio with windows smashed and at least two reporters injured. “We were shot at. I mean we could hear the report of the gun,” Sherryl “Lee” Michaelson, a retired US air force captain who is working for a basketball publication in Rio, said.
Observers of the Rio Games diving competition were scratching their heads after the diving well at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center changed to a light green overnight, contrasting sharply with the normal light-blue of the adjacent water polo pool.
The women’s 10m synchronised platform competition got underway with athletes diving into the green murk, as venue staff came up empty when asked the reasons for the transformation.
Health concerns as diving pool turns green overnight
Sonny Bill Williams is “shattered and disappointed” after his Olympic dream was cut short by injury on an eventful opening day of men’s sevens action in Rio.
The cross-code star suffered a partial rupture of his achilles tendon, which is likely to keep him out for six to nine months, as New Zealand crashed to Japan in stunning upset.
Michael Phelps took his personal gold medal count to a neat 20 with victory in the 200m butterfly. He led for most of the race but a poor last turn added a spot of drama and needed a fingernail victory to take him to the incredible figure.
Fantastic Phelps takes gold medal haul to 20
THE SOCIAL SCENE
Ermmm...what happened?! pic.twitter.com/pdta7EpP2k
— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 9, 2016
#FRA gymnast Samir Ait Said up and about after horror double leg-break at #Rio2016 https://t.co/GX2Qv5q4bf pic.twitter.com/7e2N72tybq
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 8, 2016
Chalmers is all business - no wave for the crowd pic.twitter.com/FZsUWzKBdY
— Tony Harper (@toneharper) August 10, 2016
THE QUOTE
“They are the best team in the world so if we go out there and try to get our shoes signed by them, we have got the wrong mindset.”
Andrew Bogut urges his Boomers team-mates to show no fear when facing the USA Dream Team tomorrow.
Originally published as Olympic daily wrap, day 4: Emma McKeon’s bronze, Michael Phelps’ golds and the Matildas’ goals
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