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Tokyo Olympics 2021: Fresh dead-heat drama hits swimming as Aussie men look to medals
Either the swimming races at the Tokyo Olympics really are too close to call or there is something fishy with the timing system.
Either the swimming races at the Tokyo Olympics really are too close to call or there is something fishy with the timing system.
Swimming officials say everything is working perfectly even though there have been at least three dead heats involving swimmers in the centre lanes, which the odds of happening are astronomical.
There were two in successive events on the opening night, including one with Emma McKeon which showed her clearly ahead of her Chinese opponent, then another on Tuesday night when Zac Stubblety-Cook and Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands clocked identical times of 2:07.37 in the heats of the 200m breaststroke.
In this instance, the pair did look to have touched the wall together, as the fastest qualifiers for the semi-finals.
AUSSIE MEN PLAN TO GET IN ON THE GOLD
Overshadowed over the past three days by their flying female team mates, Australia's leading men have put themselves in contention to contribute to the gold medal stockpile in swimming at the Tokyo Olympics.
Kyle Chalmers, who almost single-handedly won Australia a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay, stormed into the semifinals of the individual event with a sizzling heat swim of 47.77 seconds, which he dismissed as a blowout".
"Everyone’s just playing the games, and I’m one of them,” he said.
“I’ve just got to get through the rounds, conserve as much energy as I can and sleep well."
The defending champion, King Kyle qualified third overall, behind Italian champion Thomas Ceccon and reigning world champion Caeleb Dressel.
The semis will be held on Wednesday with the top eight advancing to Thursday’s final.
Chalmers will also race in the 4x200m freestyle final on Wednesday after Australia qualified second behind Great Britain.
Rio 400m champion Mack Horton struggled in his heat swim after teaming up with Elijah Winnington, Zac Incerti and Alexander Graham so is likely to be left out of the final when Chalmers and Tommy Neill return to the lineup.
Surprise package Zac Stubblety-Cook qualified equal fastest for the semifinals of the men’s 200m breaststroke after dead heating with Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands in 2:07.37.
Ranked number one in the world this year, Stubblety-Cook has emerged as a serious contender for the gold medal and his first dip into the Olympic pool has done nothing to change that.
Matt Wilson, the former world record holder who almost missed selection for the team, qualified 10th fastest.
“I haven’t lost any talent, that’s for sure, “Wilson said. “I’ve just had a bad run of injuries and illness over the last 18 months but this is the first little period where I feel like I can get back to that form if I put the race together.”
A silver medallist in the 400m, Jack McLoughlin went straight through to Thursday’s 800m freestyle final after qualifying sixth while Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, the shock winner of the 400m gold, failed to advance.
Brianna Throssell sailed into the semis of the women’s butterfly after only 16 swimmers entered the heats, the same number required for the semis.
“It was a bit of an interesting one,” she said. “We were all going to make it through provided no one got disqualified.”
Recap all the day four action in our blog below.
Updates
Mystery surrounds bombshell Biles withdrawal
Ellen Whinnett and Selina Steele
The world’s greatest gymnast, American Simone Biles, has sensationally withdrawn from the Olympic artistic team final.
Biles, 24, withdrew after the opening apparatus – the vault – and was visibly unhappy after failing to stick the landing on one of her key strengths. While there was speculation she had injured her foot, it wasn’t clear what had occurred in the minutes after her withdrawal.
She was embraced by her teammates immediately after completing the vault.
American broadcaster NBC quoted an unnamed American coach as saying Biles’ withdrawal was not as a result of a physical injury but was a “mental issue she is having.’’
However, USA Gymnastics said in a statement the issue was medical.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Sharks pull off huge upset against powerhouse Croatia
Erin Smith in Tokyo
There was plenty of fist pumping as Australia secured its first win of the Tokyo Olympic campaign against European powerhouse Croatia.
The Sharks came home strong in the final quarter to win 11-8.
It was a very different looking Sharks team from Game 1 – where they gave up a lead over Montenegro late in the third quarter and failed to claw back the needed goals.
Tonight’s match with Croatia was a title battle in the first three quarters – which included two VAR reviews, a yellow-card and plenty of shots.
The Aussie’s took a single point lead into the final quarter, up 7-6, but within the first three minutes fired three unanswered goals into the back of the net to extend their lead.
They didn't falter finishing the game 11-8.
Dead heat pool drama emerges again
Julian Linden in Tokyo
Either the swimming races at the Tokyo Olympics really are really too close to call or there is something fishy with the timing system.
Swimming officials say everything is working perfectly even though there have been at least three dead heats involving swimmers in the centre lanes, which the odds of happening are astronomical.
There were two in successive events on the opening night, including one with Emma McKeon which showed her clearly ahead of her Chinese opponent, then another on Tuesday night when Zac Stubblety-Cook and Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands clocked identical times of 2:07.37 in the heats of the 200m breaststroke.
In this instance, the pair did look to have touched the wall together, as the fastest qualifiers for the semi-finals.
Ranked number one in the world this year, Stubblety-Cook has emerged as a serious contender for the gold medal and his first dip into the Olympic pool has done nothing to change that.
“It was just about executing a process and doing the best I can, that’s how I wanted to be tonight and I was pretty happy with that,” he said.
Matt Wilson, the former world record holder who almost missed selection for the team, qualified 10th fastest.
Under Swimming Australia’s ruthless selection rules, Wilson would not have made the team based on his time at the trials but was picked after officials used their discretionary powers because he was mourning the death of his grandmother.
“It’s like any other race. I have to put my foot down a little bit to get into that final,” he said.
“It’s going to be a very quick two semifinals. I went probably a bit harder than I wanted tonight.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot more to give. I just needed that first swim without any injury and to blow out a few cobwebs.
“I haven’t lost any talent, that’s for sure. I’ve just had a bad run of injuries and illness over the last 18 months but this is the first little period where I feel like I can get back to that form if I put the race together.”
Aussies up 5-3 against Croatia
Erin Smith in Tokyo
The Australian men’s water polo are putting up an impressive fight against European powerhouse Croatia, taking a 5-3 lead into half time.
It was an action packed half, with a yellow-card, VAR decision and plenty of shots on goal.
Simone Biles pulls out of team finals
US champion gymnast Simone Biles has pulled out of the team finals.
It is currently unclear why she has withdrawn. More to come.
Sheer stupidity: This was the most pointless race in history
Julian Linden in Tokyo
If Olympic medals were handed out for sheer stupidity, swimming’s governing body FINA would win the gold in Tokyo.
That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn after the most pointless set of heats ever conducted.
Only 16 swimmers entered the women’s 200m butterfly, which meant everyone was guaranteed a start in Wednesday’s morning semi-finals, eliminating the need to have a round of heats on Tuesday night.
But FINA, who decides the rules and regulations for the swimming competition, decided to hold them anyway, splitting the field into three heats with absolutely nothing on the line.
“It was a bit of an interesting one,” said Australian Brianna Throssell, who finished third in her heat and ninth overall.
“Sitting in the marshalling, we were all going to make it through provided no one got disqualified.”
Despite knowing she was already through to the next round, Throssell said she didn’t think it was a complete waste of time though because it was a relaxed way to kick off her Olympic campaign.
“I just wanted to come out and put together a solid heat swim and get ready for the semi,” she said.
“I think the more race practice the better, especially at an international level.
“The Aussies have had such a fantastic start to the meet.
“They’re certainly an inspiration and I’m trying to take that motivation and put it towards my swim.”
‘Everyone’s just playing the games’: Chalmers
Jacquelin Magnay in Tokyo
Defending Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers is safely through to Wednesday’s semifinals of the 100m freestyle after a comfortable "blowout" heat swim of 47.77s.
In the race of the speedsters, the 23 year old South Australian set the third fastest time of all the qualifiers, with Italian champion Thomas Ceccon setting down the early top marker of 47.71s.
World champion Caeleb Dressel, of the United States was the second fastest in 47.73s.
Said Chalmers: "Everyone’s just playing the games, and I’m one of them. I’ve just got to get through the rounds, conserve as much energy as I can and sleep well."
Chalmers has already signalled his hot form, clocking a scintillating relay split of 46.44s, one of the top five fastest of all time to anchor Australia’s bronze medal in the 4 x100m relay.
Chalmers is likely to now line up against Ceccon, who picked up a silver medal anchoring Italy’s team in Monday’s 4x100m relay and the 21 year old Russian Kliment Kolesnikov in Wednesday’s semifinal.
Chalmers said it was nice to be swimming fast again, just seven months since shoulder surgery.
"That four-week block in Cairns and Townsville before we came up is probably the best four weeks of training I’ve had all year,'' he said.
"I lost a couple of kilos and I feel like I’m in pretty good nick."
Aussies men's sevens team eliminated
By Christy Doran in Tokyo
Just like that, Australia’s Olympic hopes are over in the rugby sevens.
Fiji – the reigning gold medallists – ended Australia’s hopes on a beautiful evening at Tokyo Stadium by winning 19-0.
Australia was gallant but in a game that is all about taking your chances, Tim Walsh’s men failed to do just that against a Fijian side missing former NRL star Semi Radradra.
Trailing 7-0 after Fiji’s captain Jerry Tuwai scored midway through the first half, some brilliance from livewire Maurice Longbottom should have seen Lachie Anderson score out wide.
But the experienced sevens workhorse dropped the ball over the line.
In a tight tussle in the second half, Australia was bogged down in their own half and simply could not get their hands on the ball at the right end of the field.
Two tries in quick succession ended Australia's dream.
The heavy loss capped a disappointing campaign for Australia, who only managed to scrape into the quarter-finals on points differential after earlier defeats to Argentina (29-19) on Monday and New Zealand (14-12) on Tuesday.
Opals hit with post-Liz reality check
Gadiel Notelovitz in Tokyo
The Australian Opals were dealt a reality check on Tuesday night as life without Liz Cambage got off to the worst start imaginable.
Without their towering superstar, who withdrew from the Tokyo Games two weeks ago, Australia succumbed to an 85-70 defeat against a tough Belgium team inside the Saitama Super Arena.
Ezi Magbegor showed flashes of being the player the Opals will need her to be if they want gold, but Australia ultimately couldn’t keep pace with their fast-finishing European rivals.
After missing the podium in 2016, the Opals were after a good start in their hunt for Olympic redemption. Instead, they ran into a Belgian outfit looking to make a statement.
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