We close out our blog for the day with some good news from the hockey field, where our Hockeyroos remain undefeated at the this year's Games, producing a fourth victory in as many matches in Tokyo, this time over New Zealand.
Tokyo Olympics: Australians qualify for two more swimming finals in the pool
For the first time, the Olympics will host a mixed relay in the pool. How will it work? And find out why our rivals are talking tough.
Australia has qualified for two more swimming finals at the Tokyo Olympics as the Dolphins edge closer to matching their all time record of eight gold medals.
With five already in the bank, the Dolphins need three more from the final three days of competition and have given themselves a shot at two after advancing to Saturday’s mixed medley relay and women’s 800m freestyle finals.
Ariarne Titmus rebounded from the disappointment of Australia’s shock third place finish in the 4x200m freestyle relay to qualify sixth fastest in the 800m in 8:18.99, with her teammate Kiah Melverton seventh.
Showing no signs of fatigue, Katie Ledecky set the fastest time as she bids to become the first female to win gold medals in six individual events, from distances covering 200m to 1500m.
“I feel good about where I’m at,” Ledecky said. “I just wanted to get my lane and I’ve got a whole day now tomorrow to rest.”
Australia qualified fourth for the inaugural mixed medley relay, where countries combine two male and two female swimmers, but in any order they want.
Australia went with Isaac Cooper (backstroke), Zac Stubblety-Cook (breaststroke), Brianna Throssell (butterfly) and Bronte Campbell (freestyle) for the heats but are expected to make wholesale changes for the final, bringing in big guns, possibly including Kyle Chalmers, Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon.
Australia won the gold medal at the last world championships but are outsiders this time, mainly because Britain has such a big advantage in the breaststroke leg with Adam Peaty.
"I’ve been racing with these guys for a long time and no other team has got the kind of experience that we do together and with that we get strength," Peaty said.
"If China want to bring it they want to bring it, if America want to bring it they’ll bring it. I just want to have some fun out there - I love a scrap.”
Updates
Hockeyroos Chalker up fourth straight win as we sign off for the night
Teenager steps up in Biles’ absence
Ellen Whinnett in Tokyo
Teenager Sunisa Lee from the United States won gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics last night in an event turned on its head by the shock withdrawal of her superstar teammate Simone Biles.
Lee, 18, edged out Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, while ROC athlete Angelina Melnikova took bronze in the event contested on four apparatus – balance beam, floor, uneven bars and the vault.
Biles, the previous gold medallist from the Rio Games, was in the crowd supporting her teammates.
She had pulled out days earlier citing mental health concerns after failing to properly execute a potentially dangerous vault in the all-around teams’ event.
Lee’s win means the US retained its gold medal run in the event which it has now won in five consecutive Olympics.
She had been the favourite going into the event following Biles’ withdrawal after qualifying third.
Aussies secure place in mixed relay
Hayden Johnson in Tokyo
There were no stuff ups with Australia’s mixed relay as the team safely qualified for Saturday’s inaugural event.
Only needing to finish in the top eight to make the final, the Aussies washed through in fourth place, behind Great Britain, United States and China.
With teams required to pick two swimmers from each gender, Australia went with Isaac Cooper (backstroke), Zac Stubblety-Cook (breaststroke), Brianna Throssell (butterfly) and Bronte Campbell (freestyle).
But they are expected to make wholesale changes for the final, with a range of options at their disposal, including bringing in big guns such as Kyle Chalmers, Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon.
Australia won the gold medal at the last world championships but are outsiders this time, mainly because Britain has such a big advantage in the breaststroke leg with Adam Peaty.
"I’ve been racing with these guys for a long time and no other team has got the kind of experience that we do together and with that we get strength," Peaty said.
"If China want to bring it they want to bring it, if America want to bring it they’ll bring it. I just want to have some fun out there – I love a scrap."
Aussie Sharks fall short to Serbia
Erin Smith in Tokyo
The confidence boost from defeating European powerhouse Croatia three nights ago was not enough to spur the Aussie Sharks to a second major upset – with the team going down 14-8 to reigning Olympic champions Serbia.
With just the top four from each pool progressing to the quarter finals, both teams were eager to get another win to their name – but it wasn’t to be for the Australians.
The first quarter proved tough for the Sharks with Serbia scoring six unanswered goals.
Australia had several opportunities but Serbia’s defence proved hard to crack with the Sharks running the shot clock down several times.
The second quarter got off to a similar start but Australia did manage to keep Serbia to just four goals.
Sharks' Goran Tomasevic netted the green and gold's only goal for half far off the back of a missed penalty.
Australia came out strong in the third quarter scoring two quick goals. They lifted in defence keeping Serbia to just one goal for the quarter but still struggled to convert attacking opportunities into goals.
The Sharks worked hard until the end of the game, scoring five goals but it was too little too late.
Australia will need to record a win against rival Spain in order to keep their hopes of a quarter final berth on track – a feat not achieved since 2012.
Australia’s women’s team will be in the pool tomorrow, taking on Spain at 8.50pm.Our men will play at 11.30am on Saturday.
McKeown books semi-final spot
Julian Linden in Tokyo
Kaylee McKeown eased into the semi-finals of the 200m backstroke – her strongest event – at the Tokyo Olympics.
Already a gold medallist in the 100m backstroke, the Australian sensation hardly broke out of first gear as she won her heat in 2:08.18 to qualify fastest.
In second spot was Canada’s Kylie Masse dead heated with American Rhyan White.
Double Olympic gold medallist, Emily Seebohm, qualified in a tie for eighth spot in her fourth Olympics after her coach Michael Bohl advised her to save her energy during the heats.
“It will be an interesting final,” she said.
“I think the 200 is a little bit more open because Regan (Smith) missed the team for the 200m back and she’s very high up there.
“It’s still going to be tough.”
Aussie Sharks in trouble against Serbia
Erin Smith in Tokyo
The Aussie Sharks have managed to score just 1 goal to Serbia's 10 in the first half of their clash at Tatsumi Water Polo centre tonight.
The first quarter proved tough for the Sharks with reigning Olympic champions Serbia flexing their muscles and scoring six unanswered goals.
Australia had several opportunities but Serbia’s defence proved hard to crack with the Sharks running the shot clock down several times.
The second quarter got off to a similar start but Australia did manage to keep Serbia to just four goals.
Sharks' Goran Tomasevic netted the green and gold's only goal for the game so far off the back of a missed penalty.
Titmus admits she’s ‘absolutely buggered’
The finish line is in sight for Ariarne Titmus. And it can’t come quick enough.
Following a massive campaign in the pool, she has one race left – the 800m final tomorrow.
Our Aussie golden girl safely qualified tonight but admitted she was ‘absolutely buggered’.
“I knew I wanted to be under the 8:20 mark to be safe,” Titmus said.
“It’s a big day today. I had one and a half hours in my room today. I’m absolutely buggered.
“I will swim down quickly and get home. This is probably my toughest backup and it’s not an easy 800 in the morning. This is a really deep field. I knew I had to be tough and swim a solid swim to get through. I think (I) should be fine with that time.
“Honestly I’m exhausted. I keep thinking back to Beijing, it was the same as this morning’s heats. Phelps won eight golds. I have done two and I’m wrecked. It puts into perspective for me how amazing he was. I’m going to rest up as much as I can and get ready for my last race at the Olympics.”
Temple sets up massive Dressel clash
Julian Linden in Tokyo
Matt Temple is through to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m butterfly and a showdown with American superstar Caeleb Dressel.
The Victorian former scaffolder qualified eighth fastest in a slick time of 51.39 seconds, exactly one second behind Dressell, who is chasing his third gold medal in Tokyo after pipping Kyle Chalmers in the 100m freestyle final.
“It was my second fastest time ever. I wanted to come in and put a good race in,” Temple said.
“I’ve been hanging out all week for this one and to do a 51.3 is pretty good.
“I feel pretty strong at the moment – rest tonight and I’ll come back tomorrow and I think I’ll be able to better my time and set myself in a better position for the final.”
But there was disappointment for David Morgan who missed the semi-finals. He was 30th overall in 52.31 after also missing out in the 200m earlier in the week.
“It was another not ideal time but to see how the 200m went, that 100m is a better swim,” he said.
“It takes a lot to try and come back after a very poor 200m but a 52.3 – that’s pretty good for how the 200m went and trying to turn it around.
“I’ll go back once this meet is finished and reassess what I need to change.”
Aussies to fight for mixed doubles medal
Joe Barton in Tokyo
Ash Barty and John Peers have kept the Olympic dream alive with a stirring super tiebreaker win over Greek stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari that puts them through to the medal matches.
They took the long route on Showcourt 2, but prevailed 10-6 in the Super Tiebreak after a tough encounter against the second seeds.
Australia took the first set 6-4 in half an hour, and pulled off the decisive break on the serve of Tsitsipas.
Prior to being broken, Tsitsipas had barely dropped a point on his serve – but three errors at the net from Sakkari proved crucial. Australia would again take a point off Tsitsipas’ serve in a nailbiting tiebreaker.
An angry Sakkari took out her frustrations out on her racquet, smashing it into the court at the end of the first set.
Standing in the way of the Australians and the gold medal match is Russian pair Andrey Rublev and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the fourth seeds who outlasted local hopes Ben McLachlan and Ena Shibahara.
Super Tiebreaker to decide Barty, Peers blockbuster
Joe Barton in Tokyo
We are going to a Super Tiebreaker.
Greece have levelled things up at one set apiece, after breaking John Peers in the set’s opening game.
So now Australia’s last remaining hope at the tennis will come down to a race to 10 points.
Win, and they’re through to semi-finals and a guaranteed shot at a medal match.
Lose, and it is tournament over for Team Australia.
Join the conversation
Shock as Raygun emerges from retirement
Olympic breakdancer Raygun has hit the stage with an Aussie popstar, performing just days after announcing she was retiring.
Read more
Aussie Olympic champ expecting baby No. 5
An Aussie swimming cult hero has gone public with her family’s joyous baby news that she says will never happen again.
Read more