Day five proved to be a cracker for Australia, with incredible performances in basketball, hockey and swimming, culminating with Kyle Chalmers winning gold in the men’s 100m freestyle.
The Adelaide schoolboy swam a remarkable race, turning in seventh position before powering home to take top honours in a time of 47.58. Chalmers defeated Belgium’s Pieter Timmers and American Nathan Adrian to become the first Australian to win the event since Mike Wenden in 1968.
Fellow Aussie Cameron McEvoy finished seventh in the final.
Wow, Kyle Chalmers is Australia's first 100m free champ in almost 50 years (Michael Wenden). Congratulations Kyle#SpeedTakes #Olympics
— Ian Thorpe (@IanThorpe) August 11, 2016
Aussie girls claim two silver medals in the pool
In her first Olympic games, Queensland’s Madeline Groves finished second in the 200m butterfly. The 21-year-old made a late charge at Spanish rival Mireia Belmonte, but finished a heartbreaking three hundredths of a second off a gold medal.
Our women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team of Leah Neale, Emma McKeon, Bronte Barratt and Tamsin Cook also claimed a silver medal behind a dominant American team. It was Barratt’s last swim for Australia before retirement, going out in style as an Olympic medallist.
Boomers show true colours against the Dream Team
Despite going down to USA 98-88 in the men’s basketball, the Boomers proved they are the real deal. Patty Mills was the star for the Aussies in a gritty performance that lit up social media in praise for the Boomers.
That's the stuff that makes you proud to be an Aussie.
— Andrew Gaze (@AndrewGaze10) August 11, 2016
Great effort way to fight boys @BasketballAus #Boomers #Rio2016
— Nathan L Jawai (@Natejawai) August 11, 2016
Hockeyroos back on track
The Hockeyroos smashed India 6-1 at Deodoro to claim their first win at the Rio Olympics. After back-to-back losses, the Hockeyroos were dominant in their five-goal victory, including two goals from Aussie defender Jodie Kenny, bringing up her 100th international goal. The girls will now face Argentina tomorrow.
Kookaburras improving
The Australian Kookaburras defeated Great Britain 2-1 in an entertaining match to improve their position in going to the finals. The match was scoreless for nearly three quarters before Aaron Zalewski found the net. Jake Whetton added to the Aussies total in a counter-play off the British attack.
Great Britain break Chinese stranglehold in Diving
Jack Laugher and Chris Mears have won the men’s synchronised three metre springboard, the first ever diving gold medal for Great Britain, and the first non-Chinese pair to win in the last seven Olympic games. The pair produced a score of 454.32, defeating American group Sam Dorman and Mike Hixon and Chinese pair Qin Kai and Cao Yuan.
Water polo pool goes green
A mix up in pool chemicals has caused the water polo pool and adjacent diving pool to turn green. Athletes complained of stinging eyes, but Rio organisers said the water had been tested and was okay to swim in. The international swimming federation (FINA) said “the reason for the unusual water colour observed during the Rio 2016 diving competitions is that the water tanks ran out of some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process. As a result the pH level of the water was outside the usual range, causing the discolouration.”
Independent athlete claims first ever gold medal
Fehaid Aldeehani won the first ever Independent Olympic gold medal in the men’s double trap shooting. The Kuwaiti target shooter beat Italian Marco Innocenti to take the win. Australian shooter James Willett qualified for the semi-finals with an Olympic record score, but failed to reach the final. – Jesse Mullens.
Top image of the Olympic rings from the Olympic organisation’s Twitter page.
Screenshot of the medal tally from the Rio 2016 website.
About the author
I am the sports editor for the Macleay Newsroom. I enjoy cooking and watching sport intently.
