Paris Olympics 2024 Day Three Wrap: Mollie O’Callaghan wins blockbuster battle as Djokovic downs Nadal
Mollie O’Callaghan triumphed in her meeting with fellow Aussie Ariarne Titmus, while a pair of tennis superstars did battle on the clay of Roland-Garros as Australia ended the day with three medals.Here are the best bits of an action-packed day three:
1. The blockbuster lives up to the billing
It was the most-hyped event of the entire swimming program. The two Australians who share the same coach, going at it in the 200m freestyle.
And O’Callaghan vs Titmus was everything we hoped for — both during and after the race.
At the national team trials, Mollie O’Callghan swum her heart out, only to see Titmus take her own world record off her.
But on the biggest, stage, the 20 year-old exacted revenge, overcoming nerves and a slow start to fly home in the final 50m to win her first individual gold medal set a new Olympic record, with Titmus winning silver.
Post-race, the pair embraced and raised their arms aloft in joy upon their exit from the water, both ecstatic and proud of their own efforts as well as that of their compatriot.
2. No horsing aroundCamera IconChristopher Burton and horse Shadow Man. Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
There were three medals won by Australians on day three, and it was Christopher Burton who joined O’Callaghan and Titmus among the silverware.
Having once given up on the sport, Burton was in wonderland as he nearly pulled off a gold medal in the equestrian individual jumping final.
Coming into the final run riding Shadow Man after a brilliant Cross Country run on day two, the Aussie just needed to be clean through the course.
And he was absolutely perfect, so good in fact he was in the gold medal spot with just German Michael Yung to go.
The German proved just as good to narrowly claim the gold and see Burton take home an incredible silver.
3. Opals hit … mud
Camera IconLauren Jackson looks on as Nigeria celebrate. Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The No.3 ranked Australians failed to live up to the lustre of their Opals name in their opening clash of the Games against Nigeria.
A stream of turnovers, 26 in total, and missed shots from the charity stripe hurt their early momentum, and just as Australia looked like they would roll over the top, Nigeria hit a dagger three-pointer to run away with the contest.
The 75-62 defeat left the Opal’s medal hopes hanging by a thread with clashes against world No.5 Canada on Thursday and No.7 France on Sunday, with only the pool’s top two sides guaranteed a berth in Paris’s quarter-final stage.
4. Clash of the titansCamera IconNovak Djokovic is congratulated by Rafael Nadal. Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
It was the headline act of the tennis competition, and Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal delivered.
The crowd were on their feet at every opportunity as the pair battled it out at Roland-Garros for the final time.
The clay king was on the back foot early, winning just one game in the first set, and the super Serb jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set before Nadal won his first break point.
It led to a four-game run for the Spaniard, who forced Djokovic, who is the top seed, to pull out all the stops to secure a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
5. It’s in the genes for the Levi sistersCamera IconMaddison Levi on the break. Credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images
The Rugby Sevens girls closed out the group stage undefeated in another impressive display, before booking their spot in the semifinals.
And it was the Levi sisters — Maddison and Teagan — who starred as Australia knocked off Ireland twice, first in the pool game and then again in the last eight.
Maddison was crucial as Australia knocked off the Irish 19-14 in their group game, before she scored a first-half hat-trick in the quarters to set up a 40-7 win.
She now has 11 tries for the tournament, which is the most for any woman at an Olympic Games, as Australia’s highly-touted sevens side moved closer to the final, and they will take on Canada in the semis on Tuesday after they upset the host nation.
6. Robinson overcomes Florence and the conditionsCamera IconRobinson exits a wave. Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Margaret River surfer Jack Robinson entered the Olympics ranked third in the World Surfing League rankings.
The trouble is, he had to face world number one Jean Jean Florence in the second round — but Robinson did enough to progress regardless.
It could have been gold medal match-up, but Robinson ended the American’s tournament early to set up a semifinal with fellow Aussie Ethan Ewing.
His win was made even more special given the hectic conditions surfers faced in Tahiti, with wet weather and wild winds resulting in dangerous waves, with organisers calling off the
7. “I feel like a failure”Camera Icon Richard Kovacs of Team Hungary dodges a punch from Harry Garside. Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Boxer Harry Garside loomed as a sneaky chance of a gold medal, but his boxing tournament ended before it really began after he was upset by Richard Kovacs.
Post-bout, the popular Australian broke down in a ringside interview.
“I feel like a failure,” Garside said. “It’s a wild sport, after three years for it to be over just like … I feel very numb, I didn’t envision this happening.
“I love Australia and I really envisioned winning that gold medal for Australia.
“Before the last Olympics I hated myself, but then the relationship I got with myself is extremely good … but I started being too nice to myself.”
Here’s hoping the Tokyo bronze medallist forgives himself soon; just reaching the Olympics is a feat in itself.
8. Drop the hammer!
On a nightmare day for the Australian Olympic boxing team, Teremoana Teremoana showed the world he means business with a first-round knockout and pulled out an Islander jive to rub it in.
After medal hopes Garside and Tyla McDonald were eliminated in their first bouts, the 26-year-old super heavyweight went up against Ukraine’s Dmytro Lovchynskyi.
Teremoana was aggressive from the outside, landing huge overhand rights to the head before scoring two knockdowns.
The referee began to watch the Ukrainian like a hawk, and as Teremoana clubbed him again, the big man fell, and the fight ended in the first round.
9. Double delight in the hockey
The Hockeyroos made light work of their second match of the Games, beating Great Britain in a comfortable 4-0 victory.
The Australians scored two goals in as many minutes in the second term before holding on during a British storm in the third.
However, it turned out to be nothing more than bluster as Australians dominated the closing stages.
Meanwhile, the Kookaburras saw off a challenge from Ireland, as goals to Corey Wayer and Blake Govers saw Australia to a 2-1 win.
Camera IconAlice Arnott of Australia celebrates a goal. Credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images10. McKeown back to defend title
Kaylee McKeown won gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo, and she is looking good for more wins in Paris.
She recorded a time of 57.99 in her 100m backstroke semifinal ahead of the final on Wednesday morning WST, just 0.02 off pace-setter Regan Smith.
After winning three golds in Tokyo, McKeown has an outstanding chance to add to her tally — but she will not be the only Aussie in the final.
WA’s Iona Anderson will be right with McKeown if the semifinal is anything to go off, with the Duncraig product qualifying for the medal race fourth-fastest.
Camera IconKaylee McKeown competes in the Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals. Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
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