Paris Olympics: Key events and athletes to watch out for on day two


Day two of the Paris Olympics will see 13 more medals up for grabs as in rowing, surfing, swimming, tennis and football.
Basketball superstar LeBron James and Team US will take on Serbia in their first group match while the Matildas will face Zambia in their second group match after a loss against Germany.

In the skateboarding women’s street final, defending champion Brazil’s Rayssa Leal — who won silver at age 13 in Tokyo — will go against Japan’s Akama Liz, 15, and 14-year-old world number one Yoshizawa Coco.

Emma McKeon sets sights on crowning glory

The 30-year-old made Australian sporting history on day one of the Paris Olympics, becoming the country’s most prolific gold medallist.

The 4x100m freestyle relay win takes McKeon to six golds, one ahead of Ian Thorpe. McKeon has now been part of the winning relay team at three consecutive Olympics.

Emma McKeon after the semi-final in Paris. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

It is far removed from 12 years ago when McKeon narrowly missed being selected for the London Games and considered retiring from the sport.

On day two, McKeon will compete in the 100m butterfly after qualifying sixth fastest in the semi-finals. This could be her last-ever chance for an individual Olympic medal.

She is likely to also feature in the 4x100m medley relay and the 4×100 mixed medley relay.

Jessica Fox eyes elusive gold

Canoeist Jessica Fox will compete for gold after winning two bronze and a silver medal from her previous three Olympic campaigns.
Fox has stamped herself as the paddler to beat after posting the fastest time as she chases an elusive gold medal in the Olympic K1 event in Paris.

While she’s the reigning Olympic champion in the C1, the 30-year-old has won three medals in the kayak event in her three previous Games but her best result is a silver medal in London in 2012.

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Jessica Fox is chasing an elusive gold medal in the Olympic K1 event in Paris. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins

In an unprecedented treble, Fox is attempting to win the K1, defend her C1 crown and will also chase gold in the kayak cross which is a new addition to the program in Paris.

Backing up after , Fox had the second fastest time after their initial run on the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium but stormed home in the second run on Saturday night.

Matildas to take on Zambia

The Matildas are seeking their first Olympic medal but now face a challenging task after losing their first Group B match against Germany.

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Germany’s midfielder Jule Brand is marked by Australia’s midfielder Katrina Gorry during the women’s group B football match between Germany and Australia. Source: AFP / Christophe simon

They will face Zambia in a must-win match as they hope to progress to the next round in the women’s soccer competition.

Coach Tony Gustavsson has apologised for the Matildas “letting down” Australian fans with their dismal opening defeat but expects them to make the country proud again.

US superstars to get their Olympic bids underway

Simone Biles will make her eagerly anticipated first appearance at the Paris Olympics on day two.
The gymnast will be the focus of much of the attention in the French capital as she begins her bid to burnish her Olympic legacy.

Biles, who won four golds at the 2016 Rio Olympics, withdrew from multiple events at the Tokyo Games as she battled the disorientating condition that gymnasts call “twisties”.

Paris Olympics the Warmup Photo Gallery

After taking two years out, Simone Biles made a triumphant comeback at the US Classics last year. Source: AP / Charlie Riedel/AP

She still went home with a silver and bronze and won plaudits by talking openly about mental health struggles.

After taking two years out, Biles made a triumphant comeback at the US Classics last year. That was followed up by four world titles to take her tally to an astonishing 23.

In basketball, the United States, led by LeBron James, will launch their bid for a fifth successive men’s title against Serbia, who can call upon three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Other Australian hopefuls on day two

With their male counterparts banking an opening win over Argentina, the Hockeyroos kick off their Olympic tournament against South Africa.
Competing in her fourth Olympics, mountain biker Rebecca Henderson will look to recapture her 2022 form when won three World Cup races.

After a shock quarter-final exit in Tokyo, Australia’s women’s sevens team have won almost every trophy on offer and take on South Africa and Britain in pool games.

In rugby sevens, the Aussie women — who are among the favourites to win gold – will begin their campaign.
Australia’s top men’s singles tennis player Alex de Minaur, seeded fifth, will face world no. 34 Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the opening round.

After missing out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to COVID-19, Alex de Minaur could face French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals if both progress to that stage.

What else is happening?

South Korea will look to extend one of the longest winning streaks in Olympic history in the women’s team archery competition. Since the team event made its debut in Seoul in 1998, South Korea has won all nine gold medals.
While the rain in Paris forced the postponement of the men’s street skateboarding and tennis indoors, light winds forecast for the start of the sailing in Marseille could create significant challenges for the sailors.
Organisers remain confident that triathletes will be able to complete their swim leg in the River Seine despite the impact of the bad weather on the already poor quality water although may cancel the familiarisation session.

– With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press.



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