It was triumph and tears for Australian athletes on day 11 of the Tokyo Olympic games with a few medals and a lot of heartbreak.
Australia’s woman’s soccer team suffered a devastating 1-0 loss to Sweden in the semi-final stage after a goal from striker Sam Kerr was controversially disallowed.
Equestrian competitor Andrew Hoy became Australia’s oldest-ever Olympian to get on the podium at 62, after claiming an individual bronze medal and a team silver.
Our men’s water polo side thumped Kazakhstan 15-7 and several kayaker advanced to the semi-finals stage.
There was also good news for Australia’s woman’s basketball team the Opals.
Australia’s woman’s soccer team suffered a devastating 1-0 loss to Sweden in the semi-final stage after a goal from striker Sam Kerr (pictured) was controversially disallowed.
Alanna Kennedy of Australia takes a free kick during the women’s semi final soccer match between Australia and Sweden at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Yokohama, Japan, 02 August 2021
The courageous side pulled their Tokyo campaign from the flames with a last-ditch 27-point Victory over Puerto Rico to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Opals, who are without their main weapon Liz Cambage, who pulled out of the tournament at the 11th hour for to mental health reasons, overcame the fiery Caribbean nation 96-69.
Winless in their first two games, the Opals needed to win by 25 to sneak into the final eight.
But it looked far from likely when they conceded the first eight points of the game, trailed by one at quarter time and led by just one at halftime.
However a 51-25 second half, helped by a three-pointer and fall-away jump shot from Cayla George in the last 90 seconds, rescued the most unlikely result.
Ezi Magbegor #13 of Team Australia dives for a loose ball against Puerto Rico during the first half of a Women’s Basketball Preliminary Round Group C game on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 02, 2021 in Saitama, Japan
Australia’s Leilani Mitchell and Cayla George celebrate their victory at the end of the women’s preliminary round group C basketball match between Australia and Puerto Rico during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on August 2, 2021
The Opals embrace as they celebrate their win over Puerto Rico at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan – August 2, 2021
Australia led by 24 points inside the final 30 seconds and twice turned down good looks close to the basket, George eventually nailing the jump shot to put them ahead of the target for the first time.
It saved the Opals from their worst-ever Games result and kept them in the hunt for a medal ahead of a quarter-final against either Spain or the United States.
Marianna Tolo had a monumental 26 points and 17 rebounds for Australia while George added 19 points and Jenna O’Hea chimed in with 15 points including four crucial triples.
Here’s how all of todays action played out.
Andrew Hoy of Team Australia poses with the bronze medal during the Eventing Individual Jumping medal ceremony on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gamesat Equestrian Park on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan
Andrew Hoy of Australia is seen on his horse Vassily De Lassos at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Equestrian Park
ATHLETICS
Women’s 1500m Round 1 – Linden Hall – advanced to semi-finals, Jessica Hull – advanced to semi-finals, Georgia Griffith – eliminated
Women’s 200m Round 1 – Riley Day – advanced to semi-finals
Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying Round – Nina Kennedy, Elizaveta Parnova – both eliminated
Men’s 400m semi-finals – Steve Solomon – eliminated
Women’s 200m semi-finals – Riley Day – eliminated
SHOOTING
Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Qualification – Sergei Evglevski – 17th (eliminated)
Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Qualification – Dane Sampson – 27th (eliminated), Jack Rossiter – 29th (eliminated)
Sergei Evglevski of Australia competes in the men’s 25-meter rapid fire pistol at the Asaka Shooting Range in the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan
Nina Kennedy of Team Australia competes in the Women’s Pole Vault Qualification on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan
CANOE SPRINT
Men’s Kayak Single 1000m – Thomas Green, Jean van der Westhuyzen – both advance to semi-finals
Women’s Kayak Double 500m – Jamie Roberts and Jo Brigden-Jones, Aly Bull and Alyce Wood – both advance to semi-finals
HOCKEY
Women’s Quarterfinals – Australia lost to India 1-0
SAILING
All sailing postponed to Tuesday due to lack of wind
DIVING
Men’s 3m Preliminary – Shixin Li – 27th (eliminated)
Our men’s water polo side thumped Kazakhstan 15-7 and several kayaker advanced to the semi-finals stage
TRACK CYCLING
Women’s Team Pursuit Qualifying (Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Annette Edmonson, Alexandra Manly, Maeve Plouffe) – 7th fastest in qualifying, advance to first round v New Zealand
Men’s Team Pursuit Qualifying (Leigh Howard, Kelland O’Brien, Luke Plapp, Alexander Porter, Sam Welsford) 5th fastest in qualifying, advance to first round v Switzerland
EQUESTRIAN
Eventing Individual and Team Final: Team – Australia (Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose, Kevin McNabb), Individual – Andrew Hoy – 3rd, Shane Rose -10th, Kevin McNabb – 14th
ARTISTIC SWIMMING
Duet Free Routine Preliminary – Emily Rogers and Amie Thompson – 21st
WEIGHTLIFTING
Women’s +87 kg – Charisma Amoe-Tarrant – 6th
Australia’s Alexander Porter reacts after crashing during the men’s track cycling team pursuit qualifying event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Izu Velodrome in Izu, Japan, on August 2, 2021
WATER POLO
Men’s Preliminaries; Group A – Australia bt Kazakhstan 15-7
FOOTBALL
Women’s Semifinals – Australia lost to Sweden 1-0
BASKETBALL
Women’s Preliminaries Group C – Australia beat Puerto Rico 96-69