Paris Olympics 2024: Australia’s Opals face powerhouse United States, WA’s Matthew Richardson races for gold
WA’s Maddison Keeney has claimed a silver medal in the women’s diving 3m springboard final, producing her best dive under immense pressure to secure a second-placed finish.
Follow all the action from our record-breaking Games with our live blog.
Richardson caps off rapid rise
An individual silver medal represents a huge milestone for Matthew Richardson, whose career has gone from strength to strength since Tokyo.
Sharks bitten back by Greece
Our Australian Sharks ended up on the losing end of their qualification match with Greece, going down 15-9.
They will back up against Italy tomorrow, with the winner to finish the tournament in 7th place and the loser to end up in 8th.
Silver for Richo
Matthew Richardson has won a silver medal in the men’s individual sprint.
His brilliant run came to an end the final, where Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands just won a decisive second heat to seal gold for the second Games in a row.
The Australian started from the front but could not hold off the flying Dutchman, who took a long route around the outside of the track but eventually worked his way in front.
Not to be for Opals
The Opals were outclassed from buzzer to buzzer in their semifinal against the United States, losing 85-64.
A fourth-quarter outburst from Izzy Borlase saw her lead the Opals in scoring with 11 points, while Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo both chipped in with 10.
Breanna Stewart (16 points, six rebounds, five assists) and A’Ja Wilson (10 points, eight rebounds, four blocks) paced the Americans, who will now go for their eighth-straight gold medal.
The focus of the Opals will now switch to the bronze medal match, where they will take on the loser of tonight’s other semifinal between France and Belgium.
Come on Richo
Matthew Richardson’s second heat of the track cycling individual sprint final is less than five minutes away.
He was far from disgraced in his first heat against the legendary Harrie Lavreysen but must win to keep his gold medal hopes alive.
Young gun shining
19-year-old Izzy Borlase has shown she is not scared of the mighty Americans, powering a quick 8-0 run with six points of her own.
The Opals trail 73-51 with just under six minutes to go.
Eye on rose gold
Opals coach Sandy Brondello looks to have turned her attention to the bronze medal match.
With her side trailing the United States 66-40, she has emptied the bench to start the final term, with Amy Atwell and Kristy Wallace among the seldom-used players to be given some court time.
Up against it
In the water polo, our Aussie Sharks are finding the going tough against Greece in their classification match.
They trail 8-4 with the third term just ticking over halfway done.
All over?
The Opals now trail by a game-high 24 points as the third term winds down, with their win prospects which came in looking improbable now seeming closer to impossible.
The box score does not make for great reading — they have shot 15 for 47 from the field and have committed 11 turnovers.
Mountain to climb
The Opals are back in action and have started with intent, with centre Alanna Smith drilling a three-pointer.
But guard Steph Talbot, who appeared to injure her leg in the second term, has not appeared to start the half.
