9 Aug, 10:20pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 10:20pm
That’s where we’ll leave it
There were plenty of smiles to go around at the diving on day 14 in Paris(Getty Images)
There was no Australian gold rush on day 14, but it didn’t matter.
Maddison Keeney held her nerve and her form to nail her dives when she had to and became the first Australian diver to win a medal (silver) in the 3m springboard at an Olympics.
Matthew Richardson showed speed and power in the men’s sprint competition, but ran into a velodrome great in Dutch rider Harrie Havreysen.
Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen could not repeat their golden moment from Tokyo (in the men’s K2 1000) in the K2 500 in Paris, taking what they termed a “dirty gold” in winning bronze.
But the strength and stamina it takes to get onto the Olympic podium in two successive Games is impressive, and they acknowledged afterwards that “winning an Olympic medal is so special” — a fact we sometimes take for granted when we get used to the top step of the podium in a very successful Games.
This is my last contribution to the sport blog for these Olympics. I’ll be back bright and early on Monday morning to bring you the Closing Ceremony.
In the meantime, there are two full days of competition left, and we will have a full crew to bring you all the top moments and stories, plus maybe some reminiscing over highlights as these Games come to a close.
For now, on behalf of everyone who has brought you all the action, thank you for joining us, taking part with your questions and comments and I wish you a very good morning!
9 Aug, 10:18pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 10:18pm
Day 15 schedule
Have a squiz at day 15’s schedule to work out what you’ll be tuning in to later on.
9 Aug, 9:54pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:54pm
Day 14 medal tally
We’re keeping a running tally of all the medals Australia wins each day.
And we’ve got the overall leaderboard to see how we compare against our rivals.
9 Aug, 9:47pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:47pm
Harrie Havreysen still the gold standard in men’s sprint — but Australia’s Matthew Richardson gave it everything
What do you do when you’ve broken the world record in your event, but the man who broke it right back is standing in your way for gold?
For Australia’s Matthew Richardson, there wasn’t a solution on night 14, with the Australian cyclist going down two races to none to Dutch great Harrie Havreysen in the gold medal decider for men’s sprint.
ABC’s Simon Smale was there, and he was taken with the contest and the drama, but acknowledged Havreysen remaining the gold standard.
Matthew Richardson is Australia’s most dominant sprint cyclist since Anna Meares.
But up against modern legend Harrie Lavreysen, he just didn’t quite have enough to claim Olympic gold in Paris.
The England-born, Perth-raised rider gave everything to overhaul the multiple world champion in baking conditions at the Vélodrome National.
But the man who ensured the Aussie only held the world record for a matter of minutes on Wednesday would also deny him a maiden gold medal too, overpowering the 25-year-old with a visceral display of power that had the whole velodrome gasping in awe at what they had seen.
You can read more of Simon’s colour piece from the Vélodrome National below:
9 Aug, 9:41pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:41pm
Opals again have no answer for United States
It’s been a tough old Olympic tournament for Australia’s Opals, chasing things after a bad opening loss to Nigeria.
The Australians made it to the knockout rounds and advanced to the semifinals, but on night 14 in Paris they ran into the same old trouble, in the shape of the United States team.
The final score was 85-64. ABC’s Dean Bilton was at Bercy Arena to witness the end of the Opals title hopes:
It’s been 40 years since an Australian women’s basketball team first played the USA at the Olympic Games. The two nations have met in this arena on eight occasions previously, with the Americans winning all eight — you can now make that nine from nine.
Three of those were in gold medal matches, another in a semifinal and most recently in Tokyo a quarterfinal. It is probably the most significant international rivalry in the women’s game, as these two nations were at the forefront of the rise in the women’s game and played some spiteful and special games around the turn of the century.
But it has been painfully one-sided.
You can read more of Dean’s analysis piece below:
9 Aug, 9:18pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:18pm
Basketball: France sneak through to face US for gold, Opals up against Belgium
France’s Marine Fauthoux collides with Emma Meesseman of Team Belgium in a seesawing semi.(Gett Images)
It was a to-and-fro affair in the women’s semifinal between France and Belgium, but the hosts have nabbed it 81-75 in a down-to-the-wire finish in overtime.
That secures France’s ticket to a gold medal match against the US.
And it leaves Australia’s Opals to battle European champions Belgium for the bronze on Sunday.
The Opals will have to rebound quickly against the dangerous Belgians after a demoralising loss to the US.
With veteran Lauren Jackson hellbent on a medal and set to retire after these Games, there’s plenty to play for in that bronze.
9 Aug, 9:14pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:14pm
Algeria’s Imane Khelif wins gold in the women’s 66kg class
Algeria’s Imane Khelif was a very popular gold medal winner at Roland Garros on night 14(Getty Images)
The crowd is singing “Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh! Khelif is in the red colours, and it will be a huge shock if the blue corner gets it.
The first Algerian female boxer to win a world title medal …
She gets it by unanimous decision.
“In red!” … the crowd goes crazy.
Imane Khelif is the Olympic champion!!!!!
She is being chaired around Roland Garros by her coaches, she has an Algerian flag wrapped around her.
Imane Khelif dominated the gold medal bout, so it was no surprise she dominated the judges scorecards(Getty Images)
The crowd is LOVING this.
We have to say, Yang Liu was a great fighter in this Olympic tournament, but she had no answer to Imane Khelif. It was a shutout — she won every round on all five judges’ scorecards.
A great performance, and a great night for Algeria and for women’s boxing.
9 Aug, 9:11pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:11pm
Imane Khelif vs Yang Liu the final round
Yang Liu is walking forward trying to land the big hit.
Khelif is in control, so what does the Chinese fighter do here?
A nice right cross by Khelif.
She’s not going quiet … not resting on her laurels.
Another great jab and a right hand from Khelif.
She is headed for victory here unless something happens!
A couple of smart shots from Yang, but Imane Khelif is counting the seconds down.
The bell goes, Khelif dances on her feet and smiles.
She thinks she’s won.
I think she’s right.
9 Aug, 9:06pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 9:06pm
Round two of the women’s 66kg gold medal bout
Khelif looks more confident in the second round, and she’s landed a big shot early, which has revved up the crowd.
Yang must win this second round or she will be left needing a knockdown in the last.
A nice jab from Yang, but it’s occasional scoring rather than what she needs.
There was another score from Yang, the Chinese fighter is getting more aggressive here.
The bell goes, a better round from Yang.
We could be set for a classic decider here!
Khelif has won all five judges again!
This is a huge task for Yang!
9 Aug, 8:58pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 8:58pm
Boxing: Algeria’s Imane Khelif faces China’s Yang Liu for women’s 66kg gold
The last event on the Olympic program on day 14 is at Roland Garros, where boxing gold is on the line in the women’s 66kg class.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif has drawn sharp scrutiny and online abuse over false claims about her gender.
Khelif made it to the gold medal bout with a unanimous win over Thailand’s Janjaet Suwannapheng.
She will now face the reigning world and Asian Games champion Yang Liu of China for the Olympic title.
There is a HUGE roar from the crowd as Khelif makes her way to the ring.
China’s Yang Liu does not have the same level of support, but she has won throughout the tournament without having most fans behind her.
The bell goes for round 1!
Yang has landed some good punches early, but nothing too big.
Khelif lands a good body shot. It’s a fairly level opening round.
Khelif hits her with a right!
The bell goes …
And Kelif wins the opening round 10-9 from all five judges!
9 Aug, 8:29pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 8:29pm
Waterpolo: ‘They showed a lot of bravery’
Zoe Arancini has led Australia to the gold medal match(Getty)
Wendy Meloncelli knows a thing or two about waterpolo. She played 95 times for Australia between 1979 and 1991, and won a World Championship gold for the Aussies in 1986.
And now she’s watching her daughter, Zoe Arancini, captain the Stingers as they look to win Australia’s second ever Olympic gold medal.
They took the hard road to the final, beating three-time defending champions, the USA, in a penalty shootout.
Meloncelli was on ABC Radio in Perth yesterday, talking about the Stingers’ achievement.
“I think it’s just immense relief that after all that hard work, it will finally pay off, and she’ll get a medal.
Regardless if it’s gold or silver, it’ll be a medal, an Olympic medal. And I think that’s, you know, just the icing on the cake for her.
They’ve come back in all of their games. They showed a lot of bravery and they’ve done it hard in every game. They’ve shown just how stubborn they are. Really never give up.”
Australia faces Spain for gold at 11:35pm AEST.
9 Aug, 8:20pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 8:20pm
Artistic Swimming: Australia 14th after first section of duet competition
The Australian duet team of Rayna Buckle and Kiera Gazzard are 14th after their first routine(Getty Images)
The duet competition is underway in artistic swimming, with all the teams completing the duet technical routine on night 14 in Paris.
China’s Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi took the lead with a score of 276.7867, ahead of Austria’s Anna-Maria Alexandri and Eirini-Marina Alexandri on 267.5233. Dutch duo Bregje de Brouwer and Noortje de Brouwer were third with 264.7066.
Australia’s Rayna Buckle and Kiera Gazzard were 14th with a score or 210. 0782.
The competition’s second and final section, the free routines will be on night 15.
9 Aug, 8:05pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 8:05pm
Athletics: Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye wins the women’s shot put
Yemisi Ogunleye left her best till last to win the women’s shot put with a 20m effort(AP)
Earlier at Stade de France, Yemisi Ogunleye won the women’s shot put title for Germany with a dramatic victory.
China’s Song Jiayuan had taken the lead with a fourth-round throw of 19.32m.
Then New Zealand’s Maddison-Lee Wesche hit the front with a big personal best of 19.86m in the penultimate round.
But it was Ogunleye who produced her best when it counted, delivering a put of 20m exactly in the final round to take the gold medal.
9 Aug, 7:45pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:45pm
Hockey: Cool finishing Netherlands finally get over great wall of China
The Dutch celebrate an elusive goal to break even at 1-1.(Getty Images)
After an epic effort holding the Dutch to 1-1, China have gone down swinging in a shootout.
Right up to the last, it was being dubbed as possibly the biggest shock in women’s Olympic hockey history.
But it wasn’t to be for the incredibly brave Chinese contingent.
The Dutch take it 3-1 in the end.
It’s a fifth Olympic gold to the Netherlands but, wow, they were made to work for it.
Respect, China. A silver lining and a gold stamp for courage.
9 Aug, 7:45pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:45pm
Athletics: American Rai Benjamin wins the men’s 400m hurdles
It’s time for the last event on the program on night 14 at Stade de France, the men’s 400m hurdles.
Norway’s Karsten Warholm is hoping to go back-to-back as champion, Tokyo bronze medallist Alison dos Santos has him in his sights.
France’s Clement Ducos has just been given a massive roar by the home crowd, Kyron McMaster is there from the British Virgin Islands.
And American Rai Benjamin is well in the mix – he’s the fastest man in the world this year.
Could we see a world record here?
Dos Santos is out fast. it’s steady early for Warholm.
Dos Santos on the inside, Warholm and Benjamin together…
Rai Benjamin has his Olympic title, with Tokyo champion Karsten Warholm (in white) left with silver(Getty Images)
But it’s a win for Benjamin!
He wins in 46.47 seconds, Warholm can’t hold him and he finishes in 47.06, with Brazil’s Alison dos Santos repeating his bronze from Tokyo.
Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke failed to finish and looks distressed after hitting a hurdle and falling halfway down the straight.
9 Aug, 7:43pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:43pm
Beach volleyball: Australia finish fourth after losing 2-0 to Switzerland
Australia’s quest to win another beach volleyball medal has fallen at the final hurdle, collapsing against a dominant Swiss side in straight sets.
Switzerland were deserved winners after a dominant performance.(Getty Images)
After clinching the first set with a few points to spare, Switzerland set the tone for the second set early with an acrobatic move from Tanja Huberli seeing her launch the ball backwards over her head at such an angle that all Taliqua Clancy could do was deflect it into the umpire’s chair.
Switzerland was defensively impressive, too, with a long rally kept alive by some terrific digs by Nina Brunner that ended with Switzerland pulling away.
Another Brunner ace clanged wildly off Clancy’s arms to give Switzerland a four-point lead, swiftly followed another error from Clancy off a serve to make it 8-3.
Australia pulled a few points back to keep Switzerland on their toes, but they weren’t able to wrestle the momentum back from a confident duo that scored or blocked almost every time they went to the net.
The Swiss streaked away towards the end of the set, keeping at least a four-point buffer against the Aussies all the way to set point, which they won 21-15 to secure their second consecutive bronze medal.
9 Aug, 7:39pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:39pm
Spain’s Jordan Diaz Fortun wins the men’s triple jump
Spain’s Jordan Diaz Fortun won the gold medal by just two centimetres(AP)
There hasn’t been much movement in the men’s triple jump.
Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez has clinched the bronze with 17.64m.
Now it’s down to Spain vs Portugal!
Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo has one chance left to improve by three cm to get the gold!
It doesn’t look like it, but we’re waiting for the result.
It’s 17.81m! So Pichardo has the silver with 17.84.
Spain’s Jordan Diaz Fortun is the Olympic champion with 17.86.
Will he do his final attempt? No he won’t – that’s it for the competition.
9 Aug, 7:35pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:35pm
Hockey: Massive upset on the line as China takes Netherlands to shootout
There’s the siren and just like the men’s gold medal match, it’s come down to a penalty shootout in this engrossing women’s hockey final.
With their belief growing by the minute, and the Netherlands scratching around scoreless, the Chinese had the better of their red hot favourite rivals until well into the final quarter.
A goal at last to the Dutch evened things up 1-1 and brought the house down.
With five minutes on the clock, the Dutch fired multiple shots but the great wall of China’s defence held firm. A long shot by China with seconds to play came within a hair’s breadth of the most unlikely of gold medal finishes.
Now it comes down to who holds their nerve in the shootout.
9 Aug, 7:32pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:32pm
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet wins the women’s 10,000m
The pace is rising!
There are three Ethiopians and three Kenyans in the mix as they come to the bell.
Sifan Hassan is at the back, does she have the kick?
Now it’s the Kenyans who have it, but Italy’s Nadia Battocletti is coming!
They’re in the straight, and now Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet shows why she was the favourite. She cruises up to win the gold in 30:43.25, ahead of Battocletti in 30:43.35, and Sifan Hassan in 30:44.12.
Australia’s Lauren Ryan kept coming and finished 13th in 31:13.25.
9 Aug, 7:27pmFri 9 Aug 2024 at 7:27pm
Two laps to go in 10,000m
There is still a group of about 12 runners at the front, with a number of leading candidates getting closer, including Kenya’s Lilian Rengeruk and Margaret Kipkemboi, and Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama.
It’s fairly bumpy out there, and some of the late finishers like Gudaf Tsegay and Sifan Hassan are still within range.
Australia’s Lauren Ryan could not stay with the pace and she is well back.