The second week of the Paris Olympics begins following a highly successful day for Australian athletes, with three gold medals snatched in 77 minutes.
Saya Sakakibara took home the gold in the women’s BMX race on Friday, overcoming COVID-19 after recovering from a horror crash in the semi-final at the Tokyo Games.
Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown and Cameron McEvoy dominated in the pool. McKeown won gold in the Women’s 200m backstroke, making her the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals.
McEvoy won the men’s 50m freestyle competition, in the first gold won by an Australian man at the Paris games.
The swimming continues
Ariarne Titmus will face American great Katie Ledecky in the pool for the 800m freestyle final at 4.30am AEST on Sunday.
Both Ledecky and Titmus have claimed three medals in Paris so far, with Ledecky taking the gold for the 1,500m freestyle, silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay and bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Titmus has taken home gold for the 4x200m freestyle relay, a gold for the 400m freestyle and a silver in the 200m freestyle.
Australia’s 4x100m mix medley team is also among the favourites to snare another gold.
On the court
Tennis veterans Matt Ebden and John Peers will take on Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram for gold in the men’s doubles at 8pm AEST on Saturday.
The pair have the chance of being the first Australian Olympic tennis champions since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde took the crown in Atlanta in 1996. Ebden and Peers say it’s a privilege to have those players and captain Lleyton Hewitt supporting them.
“We’ve had some great Australian heroes come through before us and to have Rusty (Hewitt) in our corner every day is unbelievable, and those guys to lean on, as well, we can’t ask for anything better,” said Peers.
John Peers (left) and Matthew Ebden have the chance of being the first Australian Olympic tennis champions since 1996. Source: Getty / Matthew Stockman
In Teahupo’o
Jack Robinson may be able to claim Australia’s second surfing medal after Owen Wright’s Tokyo Bronze in the semi-finals to be held on Sunday at 3.30am AEST.
Robinson dispatched fellow Australian Ethan Ewing in the quarter-final and will now go on to face Brazilian legend Gabriel Medina. The winner of the pair will take the gold, while the other will be offered a shot at bronze.
The surfing is being held in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, over 15,000km from Paris. It was chosen as the surfing venue for the Games in 2020 after alternatives in France were rejected.
Tahiti is an island in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France consisting of five archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean.
Jack Robinson may be able to claim Australia’s second Olympic surfing medal. Source: Getty / Sean M. Haffey
On the water
Sydney windsurfer Grae Morris is guaranteed a medal, with the final in Marseille, at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday, to decide what colour.
The 20-year-old was forced to keep his cool while waiting for calmer conditions at the Olympic regatta. Organisers were forced to postpone the windsurfing on Friday after winds dropped to five knots.
Australian sailing team leader Iain Brambell said the delay hasn’t affected Morris.
“He is here to do the job, and both Grae and (coach) Arthur (Brett) know there is work to do tomorrow.”
Single sculls champion Tara Rigney is primed for a podium position in Paris while the men’s and women’s eight are also in the medal races at 6.15pm AEST on Saturday.
Rigney said she admires Jessica Fox, who has taken home two gold medals for canoe slalom in Paris. The 25-year-old Sydneysider said she wore Fox’s medal for a photo, noting how heavy it was.
“I look up to Jess — she’s amazing,” Rigney said. “Hopefully I will get to ring the bell too — wouldn’t that be nice.”
Sydney windsurfer Grae Morris is set to win a medal in Marseilles. Source: Getty / Phil Walter
Cycling
Michael Matthews, Simon Clarke and Ben O’Connor, who has replaced the injured Lucas Plapp, are hopefuls in the men’s road race on Saturday at 7pm AEST.
Plapp experienced a heavy fall in the road time trial last week and was rushed to hospital for scans, with expectations he would need abdominal surgery.
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