Paris Olympics: Aussies in action on Day 6 and Day 5 results

August 1, 2024 BY

Natalya Diehm became the first Australian woman to claim a medal in any international freestyle BMX event after winning bronze for Australia in Paris. Photo: DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP IMAGE

AUSTRALIA: 7 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze (fourth overall)
What’s on tonight?
MAJOR AUSTRALIAN MEDAL HOPES
Australian race walkers Jemima Montag and Declan Tingay are the nation’s biggest medal hopes in the women’s and men’s 20km race walk with the pressure on world no. 3 Montag to make the podium.
It could be Australia’s strongest women’s 4x200m freestyle relay starring Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Ariarne Titmus as they look to break an Olympic record after smashing the world record in 2023.
OTHER AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION
BMX racing star Saya Sakakibara will be fighting for a place in the women’s final as the World Cup champion looks to win her first Olympic medal.
The men’s water polo team are out to continue their strong Olympic campaign as the Sharks come up against host country France in their third group match.
Australia will be hoping to qualify for the final of the jumping event in  equestrian off the back of Christopher Burton’s silver medal.
The Opals take on Canada in women’s basketball and need to regroup  after their disappointing loss to Nigeria.
Australia and New Zealand will bring the trans-Tasman rivalry to Paris they face off in men’s hockey.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING
Powerhouse Simone Biles will star in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-round individual final as she looks to secure a record sixth gold medal.
How the Aussies fared on Day 5
GOLD
Jessica Fox (women’s canoe single) – Fox becomes only the second Australian athlete outside of swimming to win three individual gold medals after defending her Tokyo gold in the C1.
SILVER
Zac Stubblety-Cook (men’s 200m breaststroke) – Stubblety-Cook lost his Olympic title to French phenomenon Leon Marchand.
Kyle Chalmers (men’s 100m freestyle) – Chalmers has nabbed silver after an amazing charge from last at the turn.
BRONZE
Penny Smith (women’s trap shooting) – In a dramatic shootout, Smith managed to nab her first Olympic medal, as well as securing Australia’s first medal at Paris in the sport.
Natalya Diehm (cycling BMX freestyle) – After American Hannah Roberts made a mistake on her final run, Diehm took third place for her first Olympic medal.
OTHER HEADLINE GOLD MEDALLISTS
France’s Cassandre Beaugrand soaks up the glory in her home town after breaking clear late to win the women’s triathlon. British star Alex Yee tore past New Zealand rival Hayden Wilde to win the men’s race, with the two races going ahead after concerns about water quality in the River Seine.
American Katie Ledecky makes Olympic history, becoming the first female swimmer to win gold medals at four Olympics after retaining her title in the women’s 1500m freestyle.
China’s Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan win gold in the women’s synchronised 10m platform diving.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED
The Stingers have beaten the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the women’s water polo (15-14)  after scores were tied at 7-7.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev was too good for Australia’s Alexei Popryin, beating him 7-5 6-3 in men’s tennis.
The Matildas’ Olympic campaign is over and the brutal post-mortems will start after they lost to the United States 2-1.
Australian windsurfer Grae Morris has moved into first overall after a dream day of competition.
 – WITH AAP