Live: Ariarne Titmus to battle Katie Ledecky as Aussies swim for gold on day 3 in Tokyo

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There will be plenty of interest in the men’s triathlon and surfing first up, and later in the morning Australia will be chasing more medals in the pool, while the Hockeyroos face China.

Follow all the action from Tokyo 2020 in our live blog.

Live updates

1m ago1 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

When does the Downhill MTB start? Keen to watch the Aussie couple pairing give it their best. Go Dan and Bec!

-Mountain Bike Duo Fan

Hello to you, mountain bike fan!

The men’s event is due to start at 4pm AEST today, with Daniel McConnell flying the Aussie flag.

He is due to make his run in position 26 of the 38 competitors.

The women’s cross-country starts at the same time (4pm) tomorrow, with Rebecca McConnell out of the blocks early in position two of 38. 

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4m ago4 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

First skating heat wraps up

What a finish to that heat!

In the best trick section of the heat the women landed a series of grinds and boardslides, with the USA’s Mariah Duran saving the best until last with a kickflip boardslide that netted her a 5.01 for the trick.

It shot her up to second place with an overall score of 7.95. 

Dutch skater Keet Oldenbeuving won the heat with a total of 8.70.

Aussie Hayley WIlson is up next in heat 2.

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8m ago8 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Hi guys. Has Australia ever had much success at the men’s Olympic road race (cycling) or triathlon?

-NeilA

G’day NeilA, Australia’s male triathletes are still waiting to break the medal drought in triathlon.

The closest they have come is Greg Bennett, who came fourth in Athens.

His compares with the women’s team, who have won gold (Emma Snowsill in Beijing) and two silvers and two bronzes.

In the men’s road race, Kevin Sefton won silver in Munich in 1972 – he is Australia’s only medallist in the event.

In the women’s event, we have Kathy Watt, who won the Olympic title in Barcelona, and Sara Carrigan who took gold in Athens 12 years later. 

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16m ago16 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

what heat is the Australian skateboarder in? have I missed her?

-uh oh

It’s okay, uh oh! Hayley WIlson is up in the next heat.

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18m ago18 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

ICYMI: Something is wrong with this picture

Getty

It was a true case of ecstacy to agony when Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten celebrated winning the women’s road race yesterday.

But unknown to her and the rest of the field, she wasn’t actually the first rider to cross the line.

Here’s what went down.

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22m ago22 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

Just had a quick glance at the skateboarding – are the scores always this low? I thought each run was scored from 1 to 10

-Low scores

Hi Low scores, you’re right, when you look at the results from yesterday’s men’s competition, they do seem lowish.

In heat one of the women’s competition Dutch skater Keet Oldenbeuving has registered the highest run score so far with 2.22.

What we know is that the judging panel gives a score from 0.10 based on speed, difficulty, originality, timing and execution.

There have been some great tricks landed so far, so maybe they aren’t in a great mood this morn.

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23m ago23 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Love the blog! I noticed in the backstroke heats last night that block marshals were coming close to look at the swimmers in the water before the starting beep – is that to make sure they’re positioned correctly?

-Confused!

 Good morning confused – my best understanding here is that because backstrokers start from the water, they jump in at the first signal from the starter, then when the second signal is given, they have to return to the wall and attach themselves in the proper position.

All swimmers have to be in the proper position before the race can be started.

Just quietly, as the late, great John Clarke would have said in the Games, if i tried to attempt that backstroke start, where they grab the board and then spring back into the water, i would probably twang, rip or crunch something important, so kudos to all the backstrokers, I say!

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29m ago29 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Why will Taiwan compete as Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Olympics?

So a little later today, at 10:39 AEST, Australia’s men’s archery team will face Chinese Taipei in the round of 16 eliminations.

For those who might be wondering why that team name is applying to Taiwan at these Games, essentially it comes down to the Nagoya Resolution, an arrangement that allows Taiwanese athletes to compete internationally — but not under their own name, flag or anthem.

For more, check out our story from this morning on why Taiwan will compete as Chinese Taipei at the Olympics in Tokyo?.

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30m ago30 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

When do the Hockeyroos play China?

-Elizabeth Moulton

The Hockeyroos are up for their second Pool B match against China at 1:15pm AEST.

They got off to a strong start yesterday, beating Spain 3-1, while the China defeated hosts Japan 4-3.

The Hockeyroos are fourth on the FIH world rankings, with China ranked in 11th place.

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36m ago36 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

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41m ago41 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

Jian Fang Lay nearing return to court

Aussie table tennis veteran Jian Fang Lay won her first round matches, and many Aussie hearts, on day one of the Olympics.

Lay is scheduled to take on Poland’s Qian Li in the women’s table tennis singles at 11:00am AEST.

At these games she became the first Australian woman to compete in six Olympics.

As Russell Jackson writes, she’s one of the best reasons to love the Tokyo Olympics.

Reuters
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45m ago45 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Do the athletes need to get tested on a regular basis or only if they develop symptoms/are a Close contact?

-Curious

 Hello curious, all athletes are tested every day.

They have a so-called “spit test”, and wait for the results to come back.

If that registers a positive, they go away for another test, involving a swab similar to the tests Australians have at COVID-19 testing sites.

The results take a few hours, they are held in isolation while they wait for the result.

If it’s positive, they go to a dedicated isolation facility outside the village. 

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53m ago53 minutes ago

By Steve Vivian

The showdown: Titmus vs Ledecky

Katie Ledecky (left) and Ariarne Titmus (AAP / Reuters)

Set your watches to 12:20pm AEST, folks.

That’s when what many are calling the race of the Tokyo swimming program, featuring the two fastest-ever female 400m freestyle swimmers, kicks off.

The showdown between Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and the USA’s Katie Ledecky in the final is poised to be a classic.

It sees Ledecky, the current world record holder in the event, trying to hold off the Aussie 20-year-old who is the only swimmer to have beaten her in a major race for years.

This primer from David Mark has lots more detail on the developing rivalry between two of the sport’s biggest stars. 

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58m ago58 minutes ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Blumenfelt is spent at the end of that race, he beats Yee by 11 seconds and Wilde by 20 seconds.

That was such a great move by the Norwegian, he cannot move after that.

Marten van Riel of Belgium is fourth, Jonny Brownlee is fifth…

Jake Birtwhistle is the first Australian across the line in 16th place, 1:28 back of the winner. 

Matthew Hauser finished in 24th, 2:31 behind, and Aaron Royle came across the line in 26th place, 2:53 back. 

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Kristian Blumenfelt wins Norway’s first gold medal, winning the men’s triathlon!

Alex yee takes silver for Great Britain.

Hayden Wilde takes bronze for New Zealand.

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

He can see the finish!

This looks like Blumenfelt… he has 200 to go!

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Blumenfelt is going for it for Norway!

He’s gritting his teeth, trying to lose his rivals.

he has kicked clear, it’s a big move!

Yee is second, 30m back and Wilde is behind him.

Blumenfelt is getting a second win and really trying to put a gap in them, as Roy and HG would put it. 

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Steve Vivian

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

The bell rings!! One lap to go.

It’s Blumenfelt at the front, with Wilde second and Yee in third, and they have kicked clear and dropped Brownlee and the others. 

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1h ago1 hours ago

By Andrew Mcgarry

Triathlon

We are on the penultimate lap, and now it’s Yee and Wilde joined by American Kevin McDowell and Norway’s Kristian Blumenfelt, one more and Brownlee. These are the top six, and at this stage they are the ones..

The Australians won’t be featuring in the medals at this point, with Jacob Birtwhistle the leading Aussie 27 seconds back.

Now that top six has become a four, with Yee, Wilde and Blumenfelt, and Brownlee. 

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Posted 3h ago3 hours ago, updated 2h ago2 hours ago