Olympic daily wrap, day 5: Kyle Chalmers proves kids are all right, Boomers prove Aussies can play ball

A round-up of what went down on day 5 in Rio: Kyle Chamlers our youngest male gold medal winner in the pool since Ian Thorpe and our Boomers make a statement.

Kyle Chalmers shows off his gold medal after winning the 100m freestyle. Picture: Alex Coppel

THE AUSSIES MAKING THE NEWS

Teen sensation Kyle Chalmers pulled off an Olympic miracle, snatching victory in the blue riband 100m freestyle to become Australia’s first champion in this event in 48 years.

In what must rank as one of the most surprising victories in the pool of all-time, the 18-year-old became Australia’s youngest male Olympic swimming gold medallist since 17-year-old Ian Thorpe at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with a stunning come-from-behind win in the two-lap sprint.

Chalmers was seventh at the turn but with his trademark final lap surge somehow overpowered the finest sprinters in the world to touch first in a time of 47.58s.

Pre-race favourite Cameron McEvoy finished outside the medals.

Teenage kicks! Chalmers lands gold in 100m freestyle

Brisbane butterflyer Madeline Groves has come within a whisker of snatching a memorable Olympic gold medal, claiming silver in a thrilling 200m butterfly final by just 0.03s.

Groves claims silver for Australia

There was another silver lining to Australia’s night in the pool, with the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay signing off with a second placing.

The Aussies led into the final leg, when US superstar Katie Ledecky swam a sensational anchor leg to claim her third gold medal of the Olympics.

Ledecky overhauled Australia’s Tamsin Cook to take her team home in 7min 43.03sec, beating the Aussies into second place with Canada third.

Leah Neale, Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt and Cook touched in 7:44.87, while Canada’s Katerine Savard, Taylor Ruck, Brittany MacLean and Penny Oleksiak clocked 7:45.39.

Rio day 5: Aussie gold in the pool

VIEW GALLERY

Earlier, the Campbell sisters eased in to the final of the 100m freestyle, while Mitch Larkin made short work of his own semi-final in the 200m backstroke. The three of them will be medal favourites later in the week.

Super sisters reach 100m final in style

Australia’s hopes of the most improbable upset in Boomers’ Olympic history were alive until the final seconds on a night when the national team bravely punched above its weight.

The Boomers came up against the awesome arsenal of an American team stacked with NBA megastars at the Carioca Arena and yet more than held their own, but eventually succumbed 98-88.

Boomers fall short of Dream Team upset

Cyclist Rohan Dennis has been denied an Olympic time trial medal by a superstar field and a cruel mechanical problem in Rio which left him just eight seconds off the podium.

The 25-year-old was second fastest on the road through the third time check and right in the hunt for the podium when he broke one of his aero bars which forced him to stop and change bikes, eventually finishing fifth

Dennis left to rue mechanical error in time-trial

A devastated Australian men’s sevens side were knocked out of medal contention medal this morning but the Aussie influence will still be felt in Olympic semi-finals via the tournament’s giant-killers, Japan.

The Japanese continued their spectacular run in Rio by beating France in the quarter-final and booking a last-four clash with Fiji tomorrow.

Their success is amazing enough but it was put in further context by the sight of Australia and New Zealand both failing to progress past the quarters, beaten by South Africa and Fiji respectively.

Sevens in hell after Olympic dream is ended

Australia’s Hockeyroos have finally restored some order to their Rio campaign, beating world No. 13 side India 6-1. It dragged Australia off the bottom of Pool B after two losses to kickstart their campaign, with a clash against world No. 2 Argentina coming up on Friday.

Hockeyroos make winning statement

Kookaburras coach Graham Reid lauded his side’s mental strength after they snapped a two-game losing streak — and a 200-minute goal drought — to beat Great Britain and book a quarter-final berth.

Mental strength ensures Hockeyroos survival

THE BIG PICTURE

THE RIO LOWDOWN

Germany’s outspoken Olympic discus champion Robert Harting has criticised sprint superstar Usain Bolt for not speaking out more in the fight to clean up athletics.

“I would ask him why he does not go on the offensive, in any way, on the subject of doping,” Harting told magazine Sport Bild.

“The best known athlete in the world must join the current discussions and fight for a clean sport, especially since a lot of sprinters have tested positive and he has also been accused on a massive scale.”

Bolt slammed for lack of voice on drugs

Kiwi superstar Sonny Bill Williams was forced to wait an hour and-a-half for an ambulance after being injured ... because the driver was lost.

SBW’s ambulance driver lost his way

Olympic swimmers have been urged to revolt against FINA with the director of the World and American Swimming Coaches Association John Leonard calling for athletes to create their own breakaway swimming body that could change the face of the sport forever.

‘Swimmers urged to ditch FINA to save the sport’

THE SOCIAL SCENE

PANDEMONIUM!!! GOLD FOR CHALMERS pic.twitter.com/YaXWr67Sk9

— Tim Morgan (@Timmy_morgs) August 11, 2016

Pitch is still a bit green. I'd bowl first. (Picture from @_rodgilmour ) pic.twitter.com/bGOFSW1mQl

— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) August 10, 2016

Bring Hayne on now! #Boomers 🇦🇺

— Beau Ryan (@therealbeauryan) August 10, 2016

Jesus has just scored for Brazil in the Olympic football. Gabriel Jesus that is. They needed some divine inspiration...

— Jim White (@jimw1) August 11, 2016

THE QUOTE

“There is no small victories. We lost the game.”

Andrew Bogut commendably fails to be swept along with Channel 7’s post-match sense of euphoria when asked if he was pleased having lost a basketball match.

Originally published as Olympic daily wrap, day 5: Kyle Chalmers proves kids are all right, Boomers prove Aussies can play ball