The 9Network’s expert commentators have handed down their verdict of a huge Day 5 of action of Paris 2024, with predictions that tonight is shaping up to be the biggest night of the Games in the pool where Kyle Chalmers could lay claim to be ‘one of the greatest sprinters in history.’
Finals action in the pool places Mollie O’Callaghan, King Kyle Chalmers and Shayna Jack on centre stage in the high octane 100m freestyle events, plus Zac Stubblety-Cook out to defend his 200m breaststroke gold medal from Tokyo.
Olympic gold medallist and 9Network swimming expert, Giaan Rooney, said: “This is shaping up as one of the biggest nights for Australia in the pool in Paris for so many reasons.”
“After her maiden individual Olympic gold in the 200m freestyle, and her lead off leg in the 4 x 100 free on night one being the fastest time in the world this year, Mollie’s confidence will be sky high, while Shayna is a woman on a mission after a history that would have buried most athletes. Expect Shayna to fight her way into medal contention with the grit she has so consistently displayed.
“While for Kyle Chalmers, if he can pull off victory in the Men’s 100m Freestyle, he will go down as one of the greatest sprinters in history.
“Zac is one of Australia’s most unheralded champions. Here to defend his Olympic Gold Medal in the 200m Breaststroke, he has flown under the radar leading into Paris but knows how to perform when it counts.”
After their heart stopping last gasp win against Zambia, the Matildas face a goliath of women’s football when they meet the U.S.A in their must win final game of the group stages.
Former Australian representative and Channel 9 Women’s football expert, Grace Gill, said: “The final group game against the USA is a monumental task. The Matildas have only beaten them once in their history and the current USA side is looking incredibly sharp under Emma Hayes.
“I’d expect an adjustment to how the Matildas approach this game, whether that’s in personnel, tactics or both.
“I’m looking forward to seeing those changes and hopefully what is the Matildas best performance yet. Undoubtedly it’s going to be an incredible challenge to overcome, but the Matildas love a challenge and put their best foot forward as the underdogs.”
Alex Cullen will have exclusive Australian broadcast access to the stadium in Marseille for the big game, to cover all the action and reaction, live and free on the 9Network.
With one gold medal already hanging around her neck, Jess Fox has her eyes set on defending her Canoe Slalom C1 title from Tokyo 2020, in the high charged women’s finals.
9Network Canoe Slalom expert, Richard Fox, said from France: “The C1 Women’s event promises to be a tightly fought final, like the kayak event, with German Elena Lilik, Czech Gabriela Satkova and Tokyo silver medallist, Mallory Franklin of Great Britain the main challengers to Jess Fox world number 1 and defending champion.”
Plus the Hockeyroos will take the next step on their Parisian path in Women’s Hockey, this time against the USA.
9Network Women’s Hockey expert and former Hockeyroos player, Georgie Parker said. “The hockeyroos will take plenty out of their comprehensive win against Great Britain with our seven Olympic debutants settling in. The USA are a notoriously fit and physical team which wewill most definitely be able to match.
“Australia’s defence is the area we need to tidy up most. We were exposed a few too many times in our opening matches, so I’m sure the group will look at this and make sure there are less counter attack opportunists against a fast paced USA side.”
Also featured
Logan Martin in the Men’s BMX freestyle final
Aussie stingers women’s Water Polo against the Netherlands
The Men’s and Women’s triathlon
Rowing Women’s Quadruple/Four Sculls
The final of the Women’s trap shooting
3 x 3 Women’s basketball
DAY 5 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS CHANNEL 9, 9GEM AND 9NOW
TIME (AEST)
WEDNESDAY JULY 31
4.00PM
WOMEN’S TRIATHLON
Featuring Australians Natalie Van Coevorden, Sophie Linn
5.30PM
ROWING – PAIR, DOUBLE SCULLS SEMI FINALS AND QUAD SCULLS FINAL
6.00PM
JUDO – WOMEN’S 70KG ELIMINATIONS
Featuring Australian Aoife Coughlan
6.45PM
MEN’S TRIATHLON
Featuring Australian Matt Hauser
7.00PM
SWIMMING HEATS
Featuring Australians Ella Ramsey & Jenna Strautch (200m Breaststroke), Bradley Woodward & Se-Bom Lee (200m Backstroke), Lizzie Dekkers & Abbey Connor (200m Butterfly)
7.00PM
DIVING – WOMEN’S 10M SYNCHRONISED PLATFORM FINAL
7.00PM
BOXING
8.00PM
TENNIS – MEN’S THIRD ROUND & WOMEN’S QUARTER FINALS
9.10PM
BMX FREESTYLE – MEN’S & WOMEN’S FINAL
Featuring Australians Natalya Diehm & Logan Martin
9.15PM
WOMEN’S HOCKEY – AUSTRALIA v USA
10.00PM
WOMEN’S WATER POLO – AUSTRALIA v NETHERLANDS
11.30PM
CANOE SLALOM – WOMEN’S C1 FINALS
Featuring Australian Jess Fox
11.30PM
SHOOTING – WOMEN’S TRAP FINAL
THURSDAY AUGUST 1
12.00AM
JUDO – WOMEN’S 70KG FINALS
1.30AM
GYMNASTICS – MEN’S ALL AROUND FINAL
Featuring Australian Jesse Moore
1.30AM
BASKETBALL 3V3 WOMEN’S – AUSTRALIA v GERMANY
3.00AM
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL – AUSTRALIA v USA
3.00AM
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL – ZAMBIA v GERMANY
4.15AM
WOMEN’S HOCKEY – AUSTRALIA v GREAT BRITAIN
4.30AM – 6.45AM
SWIMMING FINALS
5.00AM
BASKETBALL – USA v SOUTH SUDAN
*Schedules subject to change
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