Australia broke the men’s team pursuit world record on day two of the Olympic track cycling program, before the sprint team won a bronze medal at the velodrome.

The combination of Olympic medallists Sam Welsford, Kelland O’Brien, plus Games debutants Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn, clocked four minutes 40.730 seconds to easily beat reigning Games champions Italy in their round-one heat.

That sets up a gold-medal ride on Wednesday against Great Britain, Australia’s long-time fierce rivals in the event. The previous world record was 3:42.032, set by Italy at the Tokyo Olympics.

Also on Tuesday, Australia won bronze in the men’s team sprint, beating France in their ride-off. The combination of Leigh Hoffman, Matthew Richardson and Matthew Glaetzer rode 41.597 seconds to beat France’s 41.993 in front of the raucous and parochial home crowd at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome outside Paris.

Had they posted that time earlier in the day in the first round, Australia would have ridden off against the Netherlands for the gold medal. But Australia only managed 42.336, while the Dutch broke their own record.

Australia’s water polo Stingers overpowered Greece 9-6 to forge into the semi-finals of the women’s tournament and another step closer to their first title since the inaugural event in Sydney 2000.

Inspired by five goals from the outstanding Alice Williams, Bec Rippon’s surging side, who had suffered when five players contracted Covid-19 in the week the tournament started, are now a win away from making the podium.

They will face either Hungary or the US in Thursday’s semi-final at La Défense Arena.

In sailing, leader Matt Wearn and the rest of the men’s dinghy field must wait another day to decide their medals. Their final round was put on hold for the second consecutive day in Marseille because of the conditions.

Wearn, the defending Olympic champion and reigning world No 1, is guaranteed a silver medal and is in the box seat for the gold. He has a 14-point lead over Cypriot Pavlos Kontides and seventh or better in the medal race, or Kontides finishing no higher than fourth, will secure Wearn another gold.