Tokyo 2020 Olympics Titmus beats Ledecky double rowing gold for Australia cycling time trial and more live

It is currently around 31°C with 72% humidity and, despite spending their seasons chasing the sun around the world, tennis players here at the Ariake Tennis Park are struggling.

Shortly before he was pushed into a third set by Fabio Fognini, Daniil Medvedev was asked by the umpire if he was OK. “I can finish the match, but I can die,” he said. “If I die, who will take responsibility?”

So I’ve never heard Matty Johns get a shout-out at an Olympics before, but there is a first for everything I suppose.

7Olympics (@7olympics)

"It's better than LEGO" 🧱

Thomas Neill was rapt to pick up a Bronze Medal in his first Olympic games as part of the Men's 4x200m Freestyle team 🥉#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/1CuD1Ibslb

July 28, 2021

Team GB had that in the bag from the halfway point and won by 3.23 seconds. Duncan, who swam his team’s final leg, recorded the fastest split of the field with 1:43.45.

Shout out too to Thomas Neill, the 19-year-old who swam Australia’s final leg in 1:44.74 â€" the fastest time of his team. Huge pressure on a teenager at his first Games and he did his quickest time yet.

Team USA finished fourth and I’d wager it’s been a long since the Americans have not been on the podium in this event.

1 Great Britain â€" 6:58.58
2 Russia â€" 7:01.81
3 Australia â€" 7:01.84

Kieran Smith has got the USA off to an emphatic start in lane two as Germany surge in front and Italy sit in third.

Right, the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay is a go. The last event of the session. Alexander Graham, Kyle Chalmers, Zac Incerti and Thomas Neill are up for Australia in lane five but it’s Team GB in pole position in lane four led by Tom Dean and Duncan Scott, who went 1-2 in the individual 200m free, and James Guy and Matthew Richards.

A quick catch-up on the men’s 200m breaststroke semi-finals, and Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook qualified fastest for the final in 2:07.35. Briton James Wilby also had a very strong swim with 2:07.91. In the other semi, Dutchman Arno Kamminga finished first in 2:07.99 and American Nic Fink placed second in 2:08.00. They were the four fastest times across the board. The final is scheduled for Thursday morning local time.

Ledecky touched the wall in 15:37.34 â€" four full seconds ahead of Sullivan. They hug, and the relief is palpable. Ledecky isn’t used to not winning, and she finally has the individual gold at the third time of asking. Melverton and Gough finished in sixth and eighth.

The American wins the first Olympics 1,500m free gold. It’s her sixth Olympic gold medal at her third Olympic Games. Compatriot Erica Sullivan came from nowhere in lane three to surge into the silver medal position, and she actually made up some ground on Ledecky. A one-two from the US, and Germany’s Kohler has finished third.

Ledecky has opened up a gap of about four body lengths as she approaches the 1,000m mark. The American is two-thirds through, with Kohler in second

New Zealand will meet Fiji in the men’s rugby sevens final in about six hours, after coming from behind to defeat Argentina 26-14 in their semi-final. As mentioned a little earlier, the Kiwis saw off Great Britain 29-7 in the other semi, meaning Team GB will play Argentina for the bronze medal.

Wang executes a strong turn that keeps her in chase. Ledecky is cruising. She’s clearly not swimming all out, conserving energy. It’s a long, taxing race this one. Melverton and Gough and seventh and eighth respectively.

China’s Wang Jianjiahe in lane five is swimming mighty close to the her right rope. Not sure if that’s intentional or not. Ledecky, after the disappointment of an hour ago, is basically racing herself. She’s a body length and a half ahead of Wang, with Italy’s Simona Quadarella and Germany’s Sarah Kohler fighting it out for third. Ledecky, of course, holds the world record.

The women’s 1,500m freestyle is about to begin, and it continues Katie Ledecky’s punishing schedule at these Games. She’s just swum the women’s 200m freestyle and dives off the blocks in front in line four in the middle-distance discipline. Australians Maddy Gough and Kiah Melverton are in lanes one and eight respectively.

1 Yui Ohashi (JPN)
2 Alex Walsh (USA)
3 Kate Douglass (USA)

That was a superb swim from Ohashi, and the local star goes back to back, having already won gold in the 400m IM. Hungarian world record holder Katinka Hosszu was well off the pace and finished seventh. Ohashi also beat Hosszu in the 400m IM.

Kieran Pender provides this round-up of Australia’s golden day in rowing.

The major news in the last 24 hours has, of course, been Simone Biles. More specifically, the American gymnastics great’s withdrawal from the team event citing mental health concerns.

This piece from Barney Ronay writes on the relentless pressure shouldered by athletes.

“But Biles took a time out on Tuesday, and did so with grace. She didn’t have to. She doesn’t owe us more grace. She has given plenty already. There really doesn’t have to be a reason why Simone Biles might feel a little frayed, a little overexposed. A kind of violence is being applied to these people, and it is important to recognise the novelty of this.”

This piece from Andrew Lawrence is also worth a read.

There is a bit of debate happening around which sports should and should not be included in the Olympics, particularly football. Let’s go down the rabbit hole!

Beau Dure, a Guardian freelancer, writes in: “I actually wrote for Soccer America that women’s soccer no longer needs the Olympics and would be better off emphasising continental tournaments, including what I’m calling the AAA - Americas, Africa, Asia.

“Sports that have long-established competitions that are bigger than their presence in the Games should really try to do something different to make their Olympic competitions unique. How about mixed team golf and tennis events?

“But the mistake people make is thinking that a sport that isn’t big in their country must not be big anywhere. The USA! USA! USA! doesn’t go wild for canoe/kayak slalom. But when I covered it in Beijing, the press tent was overflowing. I think half of Eastern Europe was there.”

Joel Eley writes in and says this: “Solution for football is to replace it with futsal. Easily done. I also think the Olympic sports should be where it is one of the top achievements in that sport, so no football or golf for me, and cannot understand why they are so against netball being included.”

Scott thinks a quick game is a good game: “Olympic football should consist of penalty shoot-outs ONLY! Thrilling to watch and over quickly! Yes!”

Another tweeter called VoiceOfTheMysterons offers a slightly more outlandish suggestion: “Continuing the theme of new Olympic sports, and as a means of attracting even *younger* viewers and competitors, how about Pin The Tail On The Donkey, Musical Statues and What’s The Time Mister Wolf.”

Shall we consult the experts? Jonathan Liew writes this: “This, perhaps, is the biggest problem with Olympic football: a problem that feels specific to men’s football, but may in time come to subsume the women’s game too. Nobody really seems to know what it is: a development competition, a star vehicle, a sideshow knockabout.”

Read his full piece.

Boxall 2.0.

7Olympics (@7olympics)

A reaction worthy of it's own gold medal 🥇

Ariarne Titmus' coach Dean Boxall exemplifies what it means once again 🙌#7Olympis | #Tokyo2020 | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/Lq8gjUTWOS

July 28, 2021

And Titmus herself.

7Olympics (@7olympics)

"I'm just from a small town in Tassie and this goes to show that if you believe you can do something you can 100% do it."

This humble girl from Tassie has captured an entire nation. We love you, Ariarne ðŸ'š ðŸ'›#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/ZdswdZPWq5

July 28, 2021

Let’s take a quick look at the men’s rugby sevens semi-finals, in which Team GB have suffered a comprehensive 29-7 loss to New Zealand. There is no kind way of putting this â€" they were pretty much hammered. NZ controlled the match and held possession for all but about a minute, and will face either Fiji or Argentina in the final depending which reigns in the second semi about to get under way.

A lot of the attention has been on Titmus but it should also be noted that Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey was in front for a lot of that race. She took it to an outrageously strong field and only fell in the final 50.

The women’s 200m freestyle medal ceremony is happening now at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre, and Titmus has just stepped onto the top of the podium. She gives her team a wave, holds up that gold medal.

Here’s this from Kieran Pender on the ground:

“Australia has a historic pedigree in the women’s 200m freestyle. Susie O’Neill â€" in Tokyo as deputy chef de mission for the Australian Olympic Committee â€" won gold in 1996, while Australian swimming legend Shane Gould won the race at the Munich 1972 Games.”

I’ll also note that Titmus is only the third Australian to do the 200m and 400m double, joining Shane Gould (1972) and Ian Thorpe (2004). She’s 20. There’s a lot more to come from this young woman.

Confirmation that Throssell is through, and will take lane six in the final.

Semi-final two of the women’s 200m butterfly has just started and we’re looking t you Zhang Yufei. The Chinese swimmer is off to a flyer. She leads for the entirety and second-placed Hungarian Boglárka Kapás never looked like catching her. Yu Liyan is third and Australia’s Brianna Throssell fourth. Is it enough for the final? We will soon see. That second semi was quicker than the first.

While we were gone the rowing continued and China won the women’s quadruple sculls final. Poland finished in second and Australia’s quartet of Ria Thompson, Rowena Meredith, Caitlin Cronin and Harriet Hudson claimed bronze. Australia are having a very nice day at the Sea Forest Waterway.

Gary Naylor writes in and has this to say: “Ariarne Titmus has ice in her veins â€" not sure that helps in the pool to be honest, though it doesn’t slow her.”

There’s an analogy in there somewhere.

Titmus has spoken to Seven.

“I could see I was trying to move Siobhan down on the third 50. I had no idea where she was on the last lap. I knew I had Katie covered but Siobhan was the person that was there. I felt a little bit that was there. I felt a little bit, my legs started to go a bit but I’m happy to get it done.

“I don’t think it will settle in until I get home and have a rest. I mean, when you’re in this situation you kind of - like, you have to compartmentalise everything and I think once I stop racing I can release everything and thinking about on to the relay and the 800m now and I don’t want to ruin the rest of my meet by celebrating too hard but I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved.”

7Olympics (@7olympics)

It's a golden double 🥇

Ariarne Titmus adds to her #Tokyo2020 gold medal collection with a stunning performance in the 200m Freestyle Final.#7Olympics | #Swimming pic.twitter.com/ABGanvNYyL

July 28, 2021

The 21-year-old Hungarian world record holder made that look easy peasy lemon squeezy with an Olympic-record time of 1:51.25. Japan’s Tomoru Honda took silver and Federico Burdisso bronze.

Soon we have semi-finals in the women’s 200m butterfly, the men’s 200m breaststroke (Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook looked rapid in the heats). The morning rounds out with three finals: the women’s 200m individaul medley, the women’s 1500m freestyle (where Ledecky has to back up barely an hour after the 200m final) and the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay. The concluding race will be particularly tasty for the Guardian, with our three main outlets - the UK, Australia and the USA - all going head for gold.

That was emphatic. I must admit I had concerns on the final turn but that was the moment Titmus lengthened her stroke. It was calm. It was composed. She has another gold to add to her cabinet and coach Dean Boxall is back on that railing! Not so much hip thrusting this time but definitely a little bit of movement in that region. Ledecky, meanwhile, finished fifth. Did Titmus get in hear head? Who knows. Maybe. It’s an Olympic record for Titmus by the way.

1 Ariarne Titmus
2 Siobhan Bernadette Haughey
3 Penny Oleksiak

It’s the final lap and Titmus needs to move. Move she does. This is going to be very tight.

Titmus has some work to do. Ledecky is half a body in front and under world record pace.

Madi Wilson is in lane eight. Ledecky has made the strongest start and Canadian Penny Oleksiak has gone out VERY fast.

Women’s 200m freestyle time! Ariarne Titmus v Katie Ledecky 2.0! This could be big. If Titmus beats Ledecky again she can lay claim to the American’s crown. Ledecky has the consistency but Titmus has the speed and can use it when it counts.

We are also on Dean Boxall watch.

Russian Kliment Kolesnikov wins in 47.11, Chalmers is second in 47.80 and Hungaruan Nándor Németh third in 47.81. A good swim by Chalmers without setting the world on fire.

Right let’s go to the pool where the men’s 100m freestyle semi-final is about to start. Kyle Chalmers is in a battle with the USA’s Caeleb Dressel. Chalmers is fifth at the turn.

That’s why the Dutch are world champions. What an epic race. They made that early mistake when an oar caught on the water but kept their cool for an ice-cold finish.

1 Netherlands
2 Great Britain
3 Australia

The other contenders for bronze are Poland, and those top three are starting to pull away from the Aussies.

Australia are tracking for bronze at the moment. The Netherlands have made a miraculous recovery and are back in the lead, their bow poking out the front with the Brits in chase.

Britain have dropped back a bit as Italy surge and then suddenly, swiftly fall back themselves. What a strange race. At 1,000m Britain are back in the lead.

Oh no! The Dutch have pulled a crab! Lost control of the oar and have a hell of a lot of recovering to do.

Italy, Poland and Estonia round out the field. It’s getting windy there â€" you can hear it on TV. They’re away, and Estonia have fired out of the blocks. Australia, the Rio 2016 silver medallists, have also started well but the Dutch are a smidge in front.

The men’s quad scull final will start shortly. The Australian quartet of Jack Cleary, Caleb Antill, Cameron Girdlestone and Luke Letcher finished second to the Netherlands in their heat to guarantee direct passage. The Dutch, who are world champions in this event, finished 1.74 seconds quicker.

Team GB’s Jack Beaumount, Angus Groom, Harry Leask and Tom Barras bounced back from disappointment in the heats with a more convincing performance in the repechage.

ICYMI, here are the final moments of that race.

7Olympics (@7olympics)

It’s GOLDEN HOUR baby!! 🙌

🇦🇺 Alexander Purnell 🥇
🇦🇺 Spencer Turrin 🥇
🇦🇺 Jack Hargreaves 🥇
🇦🇺 Alexander Hill 🥇

Our Aussies doing us so so proud! ðŸ'› ðŸ'š@SamsungAU pic.twitter.com/tvGFi8DZWp

July 28, 2021

And so, Australia have more Oarsome Foursomes â€" plural. Both the women and men have blitzed their finals. Hang around as we turn our attention to the men’s quad scull final before hopping over to the pool.

Wow. That was a dramatic race, not least because there was very nearly a clash of boats in the final 100m when Team GB veered off course and had to steer themselves back on track. That would have cost them crucial seconds, and it did. For the first time since 2000, Britain have not won gold in this event. Australia went out hard and led the whole way, holding off a late surge. Italy it must be said came seemingly from nowhere. Kudos.

Australia

Romania

Italy

With 250m to go Australia are probably unbeatable, and GB and Romania are toe to toe for silver.

Have the Aussies peaked too early? Italy are charging too and move into third place.

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