Paris Olympics day five: Last chance for Matildas, more to come from swim team

The Tillies will be in search of a win against four-time gold medallists USA, as Australia's swimmers hope to add to the nation's medal tally.

Caitlin Foord during the Women's group B match between Australia and Zambia during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Nice.

Caitlin Foord during the Women's group B match between Australia and Zambia during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Nice. Source: Getty / Marc Atkins

As the Paris Olympics head into their fifth day, some events are shifting towards their final turns.

Participating Australian athletes are continuing efforts to ensure they can be part of as many medal ceremonies as possible.

Some of the most important events to look out for, if you're an Australian sports fan, overnight include women's football, swimming, canoe slalom and the BMX freestyle.

Matildas on 'do-or-die' mission

The Australian women's football team will have their work cut out for them if they want to keep their hopes of advancing from their group alive.

Their opponents: four-time gold-medallists the United States of America. But Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson and his players have full faith that they can achieve what seems like an impossible mission and come out of this game unscathed.
Two female footballers in yellow uniforms celebrate
Michelle Heyman (left) celebrates with Mary Fowler after scoring the Matildas' wining goal against Zambia in their second group match of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Nice Stadium. Source: Getty / VALERY HACHE/AFP
The opening day 3-0 loss against Germany puts the Tillies in an unfavourable position to advance as one of the two best third-placed teams in the group, which means only a victory — and a potential loss or draw by the Germans in their match against Zambia — will be enough to see them through.

But spirits are high in the Australian camp, with the scorer of the winning goal in the 6-5 win against Zambia, Michelle Heyman, saying they will hope to build on this momentum and put the pressure on their high-profile opponents.

More honours set to come from swimming team

With Australia already celebrating two golds, one silver and one bronze medal, thanks to , the anticipation is running high that they can add more to the country's tally at the Paris Olympics.

200m freestyle winner Mollie O'Callaghan will be the first to take to the pool in the 100m freestyle final, with Shayna Jack also hoping for a place on the podium.
The event will be followed by the finals in the men's 200m butterfly, the women's 1500m freestyle, the men's 200m backstroke and the men's and women's breaststroke categories.

The men's 100m freestyle is set to place towards the end, with Kyle Chalmers sizing up his chances of adding another medal to his rich collection.

Jess Fox hopes to repeat 2021 success

Jessica Fox has already won a gold medal for Australia in the kayak singles.

But the French-born athlete is hungry for more and she seems ready to repeat the feat in the canoe singles later on Wednesday, adding another medal to her and her country's total collection.

Fox won the gold medal in the event at the Tokyo Olympics and will be hoping to retain her title, spurred by the momentum from her win a couple of days ago.

What else is happening?

Australian athletes will be competing across a range of events, with Logan Martin and Natalya Diehm riding in the finals of the BMX freestyle in the men's and women's categories respectively.

Australia's women's hockey team, the Hockeyroos, will hope to maintain their unbeaten run in the tournament as they prepare to take on the United States, with a win all but ensuring a place in the quarter-finals.

The women's water polo team will face a tough challenge against the Netherlands, who are currently top of their group and remain undefeated, with a potential win putting them in a favourable position to advance to the next round.

Australians will also compete in boxing, sailing, rowing, archery, and others.

The triathlon event is set to go on as scheduled, with Matt Hauser and Luke Willian participating in the men's individual event, as Sophie Linn and Natalie van Coeverden compete for the women.

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Published 31 July 2024 3:38pm
Source: SBS News


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