Australian swimming sensation Cameron McEvoy created history on Saturday morning, winning gold in the men’s 50m freestyle at a packed Paris La Defense Arena.
Australian swimming sensation Cameron McEvoy created history on Saturday morning, winning gold in the men’s 50m freestyle at a packed Paris La Defense Arena.
In a literally breathless performance, McEvoy’s time of 21.25 seconds ensured he became the first Australian to ever secure an Olympic men’s 50m freestyle medal.
McEvoy edged out fellow top qualifier Ben Proud from Great Britain, while France’s Florent Manaudou won bronze – the fourth consecutive Olympic Games in which he has finished with a medal.
Spectators barely had time to process what they’d just witnessed, before Australia’s golden girl Kaylee McKeown gave them more to think about.
Starting from lane five, McKeown claimed victory in the women’s 200m backstroke final and set a new Olympic record of 2:03.73 in the process.
The pace was intense early, with McKeown and her American rival Regan Smith both getting away cleanly, which resulted in an impressive 28.95 opening split time.
Gradually, Canada’s Kylie Masse became a factor, taking the lead and momentarily was swimming at a world record pace.
However, McKeown wasn’t to be denied, maintaining a healthy speed during her final lap to claim line honours and add to Australia’s exceptional run of results in the pool.
She is also the first Australian swimmer to win four individual gold medals at Olympic level.
Overall Medal tally (Saturday, 6am WST)
China (13 gold, nine silver and nine bronze) leads the overall medal tally, with France (11 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze) in second place.
Australia is in third – with 11 gold, six silver and five bronze.
Athletics – Bree Masters became the first Australian woman to reach the women’s 100m semifinals in 24 years, while Rose Davis has also qualified for the women’s 5000m final after finishing third in her heats.
Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson will also both represent Australia in the women’s high jump final.
Also spare a thought for athlete Ash Moloney, who was forced to withdraw from the men’s decathlon due to injury.
As the swimming component of the Olympic Games comes to an end, the focus now shifts to athletics – and if proceedings are anything like the men’s 10,000m final on Saturday morning, we are well and truly in for a treat.
It was daring, it was bold, with the pace a scorching one. Team tactical running from the Ethiopians dominated the early and middle stages, with reigning Olympic champion Selemon Barega forcing the hand of his rivals periodically.
But one man, reigning world champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, didn’t let any of this faze him.
Content near the rear of the field until the time was right, the 27-year-old made his move with less than 10 laps to go – and four laps later, had moved into third with a laser-like focus on the lead.
During a blistering final lap, Cheptegei extended his margin to win gold and in the process, set a new Olympic record of 26min:43.14.
Fast-finishing Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi claimed silver, with impressive American Grant Fisher produced a steady race to finish with bronze.
Barega came home in seventh.
Incredibly, the first 13 athletes across the finish line all finished under the old Olympic record (27min:01.17) prior to the race, set by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in 2008.
Basketball – For a few hours, it looked as though Australia’s hopes of a spot in the men’s quarter finals were all but over, following a disappointing 77-71 Pool A loss against Greece on Friday night.
Fortunately for the Boomers, Canada defeated Spain 88-85, which ensured they finished second in the pool behind the Canadians with a 1-2 win/loss record.
In a game to forget, the Boomers were blown away 28-12 in the second term – a period which ultimately cost them the game.
Aside from defensive concerns throughout, Brian Goorjian’s side also left too many points on the table, finishing 10/21 (48 per cent) from the free throw line.
Cycling BMX Racing – Australians woke to learn the name of a new Olympic Games hero, with Saya Sakakibara recording an all-the-way victory in the women’s BMX racing final ahead of Manon Veenstra of the Netherlands and Swiss rider Zoe Claessens.
It was an all-French podium in the men’s final, with Joris Daudet winning gold. Sylvain Andre and Romain Mahieu pocketed silver and bronze respectively.
Football – France’s hopes of securing another major men’s football tournament on home soil are well and truly alive, after defeating Argentina 1-0 on Saturday morning at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique.
‘Les Bleus’ famously united the country in 1998, after defeating Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup final at the Stade de France, following a remarkable run of results and emotions throughout the tournament.
They will host Egypt in Tuesday morning’s semi-final at 3am, while in the other semi, Morocco – which thrashed the US 4-0 in their quarter final on Friday night – entertain Spain, who brushed past Japan 3-0.
Hockey – The Kookaburras were unable to celebrate Eddie Ockenden’s 450th game in style, after being defeated by India 3-2.
It was a frustrating loss for the reigning silver medalists, who had no shortage of opportunities to score throughout the game.
India’s win was also its first over Australia at the Olympic Games in 52 years.
This means the Kookaburras now face the Netherlands in Sunday’s quarter final at 11.30pm WST.
Rowing – Australia’s Annabelle McIntyre and Jessica Morrison took home bronze in the women’s pair.
Swimming – French prodigious talent Léon Marchand won his fourth gold medal from as many events on Saturday morning, much to the delight of a raucous home crowd spurring him on.
Prior to the men’s 200m individual medley, the 22-year-old was expected to perform strongly – however his latest effort was well and truly out of the top draw.
Despite the best efforts of Chinese defending champion Shun Wang, Marchand’s excellent backstroke lap set him up beautifully.
In front of the world record line as he turned for home, Marchand ended up settling for a new Olympic record, 1min:54.06, ahead of Great Britain’s Duncan Scott and Wang.
News of Marchand’s victory spread across other Olympic venues, with the 400m men’s decathlon event briefly delayed, due to the crowd’s triumphant reaction.
Trampoline Gymnastics – Ivan Litvinovich, 23, won gold representing the Individual Neutral Athletes in the men’s trampoline final, ahead of Chinese duo Zisai Wang and Langyu Yan.
As Litvinovich represents AIN – due to Belarus’ support of Russia invading Ukraine – he wasn’t permitted to observe his country anthem or showcase the Belarus flag on the podium.
He did, however, defend his title, although his achievement will not be included on the medal tally table.
Tennis – The Australian doubles paring of Matt Ebden and John Peers reached the gold medal match, after defeating American duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-2 at Roland Garros.
They’ll take on Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, also from the US, on Saturday night.
