Tokyo Olympics live updates: Aussie Olyroos rocked by late 'heartbreak'

Australia's Olyroos defied the odds to keep powerhouse team Spain scoreless for 80 minutes, but sadly it just wasn't enough.

Nic Savage

@nic_savage1

less than 2 min read

July 25, 2021 - 8:32PM

The Aussie golden girls blew the world away.

Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics is a day that will be remembered for our golden girls of the pool claiming our first gold medal.

The red-hot favourites broke through in a history-making swim in the women’s 4x100m relay, just minutes after Brendon Smith and Jack McLoughlin picked up our first medals - a bronze and a silver respectively.

The Boomers also got off to a winning start as Patty Mills lit up Nigeria, but the Olyroos suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to powerhouse team Spain.

It was a contrasting story for Ash Barty as she was bundled out of the singles, before a Dutch cyclist suffered the most awkward of celebrations.

Later in the swimming heats, Australian young gun Kaylee McKeown broke the Olympic record for the women's 100m backstroke.

You can follow all the action as it happened below.

Updates

'Heartbreak' for the Olyroos

It's heartbreak for the Olyroos, with Spain finding the back of the net in the final 10 minutes of their tense contest.

Spain had 70 per cent of the possession in the first half, but were unable to finish opportunities in front of goal.

A stalemate seemed inevitable until Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a header off a well-directed lofted cross in the 81st minute.

The Australians fought valiantly to hold off the gold medal favourites with disciplined defence for as long as they did, but sadly it just wasn't enough.

Spain registered 15 shots in Sunday evening's clash while the Aussies managed just two, their first of which came in the 51st minute

Spain ultimately clinched a 1-0 victory despite some late drama, meaning the Olyroos will need at least a draw against Egypt for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Damn. They did so well, but it always felt a matter of time. Nothing to lose here Olyroos, let's take it to them. #Tokyo2020 #football
— Arvind Hickman (@ArvindHickman) July 25, 2021

Heartbreak 💔 @Socceroos #olyroos
— Mark Ochieng (@markochieng13) July 25, 2021

Australian race-walker Dane Bird-Smith has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics due to family medical reasons.

Bird-Smith won a bronze medal in the 20km Race Walk at the 2016 Rio Games, but will not join his Australian teammates in Tokyo.

“Unfortunately, there have been twists and turns over the last year that all Olympians have had to face. For me that includes family health challenges that have become a priority," he said in a statement.

Australia has been bettered by rivals America in the men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay heats.

USA finished with a time of 3:11.33, with the Aussies placing 0.56 seconds behind them with the third fastest time.

Kyle Chalmers swam his leg in an impressive 46.63s, one of the fastest splits in history and bettering the 100m world record.

Meanwhile, Great Britain failed to qualify for the final in a shock result.

The men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay final is tomorrow at 1.05 pm AEST.

Prime minister speaking soon

Australians Mitch Larkin and Isaac Cooper have qualified for the men's 100m backstroke semi-finals.

Larking qualified fourth fastest with a time of 52.97, while teenager Cooper registered a time of 53.73.

Watch the PM live

The Olyroos have survived until half-time against powerhouse team Spain without conceding a goal.

With 70 per cent of the possession Spain undoubtedly holds the upper hand, but the Aussies showed plenty of determination in a tense opening 45 minutes.

Late in the first half, Olyroos forward Lachlan Wales was shown a yellow card in controversial circumstances.

That is Rivaldo versus Turkey levels of dive from Spain there. Atrocious. #Olyroos #football #Tokyo2020
— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) July 25, 2021

Not sure how the Olyroos have kept Spain out for this long, but that is a ridiculous yellow for Wales. #football
— Arvind Hickman (@ArvindHickman) July 25, 2021

World stunned by Aussie's 'bonkers' record

The Olympic record for the women's 100m backstroke was broken three times in five minutes, with Australian young gun Kaylee McKeown sending a warning to her rivals.

Canada's Kyle Masse broke the record in Heat 4 with a blistering time of 58.17, but that lasted about two minutes.

American phenom Regan Smith lowered the record in the very next heat with a time of 57.96.

But the Aussie star was yet to come.

McKeown broke the Olympic record once again in Heat 6 to set the fastest time in the heat, finishing in 57.88.

The women's 100m backstroke Olympic record was previously set by Australian Emily Seebohm at the 2012 London Games.

Seebohm and McKeown both qualified for the semi-finals, which take place tomorrow morning.

Another Olympic record.

This is bonkers. Kaylee McKeown of Australia.

57.88

This backstroke final is going to brilliant. #Tokyo2020
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 25, 2021

Wild sequence in the #TokyoOlympics women's 100 backstroke prelims: Canada's Kylie Masse won her heat with an Olympic record, Regan Smith of the U.S. broke that record in the next heat and, finally, Australia's Kaylee McKeown bettered the record in the final heat.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) July 25, 2021

Australia's Thomas Neill has qualified for the men's 200m freestyle semi-finals after winning his heat on Sunday evening.

Neill registered a time of 1:45.81 in Heat 5 at Tokyo Aquatic Centre, while Australian teammate Elijah Winnington failed to progress.

Nice swim from Tommy Neill to take out the final 200m free heat in 1:45.81s, talented kid. Good enough for eighth-fastest into the semi-finals. Winnington misses a spot in the top 16, he's having a tough meet #Tokyo2020
— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) July 25, 2021

Patty Mills doesn't know how to play a bad game for his country. Picture: Getty

If there's one Aussie you can count on to deliver their best in green and gold it's Boomers skipper Patty Mills.

The veteran guard was in sublime form in Australia's tournament-opening 84-65 win against Nigeria on Sunday night, scoring 25 points.

Mills hit 5/8 threes and also dished out six assists to be really the lone player on the court who looked polished for the full four quarters.

It was a hard game to watch at times between two teams who were tipped to contend for top spot in their pool.

They combined for 46 turnovers and there were countless errors and poorly-run offensive possessions.
"Obviously we didn't play as well as we would have liked," Mills conceded.

It's an important win for the Aussies as they seek their first Olympic medal. Mills looks determined to make it happen.

A PM that actually unites Australia. Goodness we love ya @Patty_Mills! #olympics
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) July 25, 2021

Grim sign for Victoria as outbreak grows

Let's focus on the positives. The Boomers are a defensive juggernaut.

Australia's ability to limit an opponent's scoring was on full display in the third quarter of its game against Nigeria as it held the African nation to just 12 points.

Unfortunately the Boomers could manage only 15 of their own in an error-strewn game, but that was good enough to take a 58-52 lead into the final break.

The start of this third quarter of Australia-Nigeria … woof. Bad passes, teammates running into each other on cuts, more bad passes.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 25, 2021

Australia's substitutes blew out Nigeria in a warm-up game in Las Vegas last week, but our full-strength squad is finding the African nation a much tougher proposition.

The Boomers lead 43-40 at halftime of their opening pool game in Tokyo, paced by veterans Patty Mills (11 points) and Joe Ingles (nine).

You can follow the live boxscore here.

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