Tokyo Olympics LIVE updates Titmus relay team Chalmers lead big day in the pool

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The United States women’s water polo team headed to Tokyo as heavy favourites after not dropping a match en route to gold in London and Rio. That streak ended Wednesday.

Hungary defeated the US 10-9 in a preliminary round game, the Americans’ first defeat since losing to the Netherlands in the gold-medal match at Beijing.

The United States women’s water polo team suffered their first loss in an Olympics math since Beijing.Credit:Getty

“We haven’t lost a lot but the way the media portrays that discredits our opponents as everyone’s so good,” US centre/defender Melissa Seidemann said. “It’s not a surprise to us. We knew it was going to be a battle and we look forward to the next time we get to see them.“

Australia’s Stingers next face Spain at 8.50pm Friday with the US to face the Russians.

AP

Golf’s return to the Olympic format courted controversy in Rio, but organisers will be happier with the star-studded field which has agreed to compete in Tokyo.

The men’s field copped a big blow earlier in the week when world No.1 Jon Rahm and polarising American Bryson DeChambeau both withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. It’s the second time in as many months Rahm has contracted the virus.

But Australia has a huge chance of a medal in the men’s field with Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman teeing it up a bit later this morning.

The first group is just about away at Kasumigaseki Country Club, with Leishman due to start his round at 9.41am AEST alongside Masters champion and hometown hero Hideki Matsuyama and Canada’s Corey Conners. Smith is paired with Norway’s Viktor Hovland and South Africa’s Garrick Higgo at 11.14am AEST.

Kookaburras defender Jeremy Hayward and New Zealand goalie Leon Hayward are brothers - who play for different nations.

Last night, as the Kookaburras outplayed the Kiwis 4-2, Leon won the personal battle, making a brilliant stop from his younger brother’s third-quarter penalty corner flick, gloving the high-speed strike on to the post.

The Kookaburras’ Jeremy Hayward in action.Credit:AP

The two Perth-raised brothers admitted it had been a weird, but enjoyable, feeling facing off on sport’s biggest stage.

Leon was once the Kookaburras’ goalie but after failing to hold down his place, ended up four years later being snapped up by the Black Sticks, for whom he was eligible because his mum, who’d played at State level in Australia, hails from Dunedin.

“Could you imagine it? It’s ridiculous isn’t it?” smiled Leon. “It’s a good feeling, a strange feeling, and I guess everyone’s really proud of what’s happened - but, unfortunately, I didn’t win today so I’m not the happiest guy.”

AAP

What do we make of the Boomers after their opening two games? They won’t get a better chance to win that elusive Olympic medal, but it has been two scrappy wins so far over Nigeria and Italy.

But they haven’t dropped a game yet.

Nick Kay drives to the basket in the Boomers’ tense win over Italy.Credit:Getty

Team USA bounced back with a huge - and predictable - win over Iran. Can they find their mojo before the medal rounds?

Roy Ward takes a look at the Boomers’ campaign so far here.

On the topic of pressure, there have been no such problems for world No.1 Novak Djokovic, who remains on course for the golden slam - winning all four of tennis’ big events and an Olympic gold medal.

The Serbian reached the quarter-finals after a comfortable win over Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic remains on course for a golden slam.Credit:Getty

Asked about the topic of mental health and pressure, Djokovic said: “Pressure is a privilege, my friend. Without pressure, there is no professional sport.

“If you are aiming to be at the top of the game, you better start learning how to deal with pressure and how to cope with those moments - on the court, but also off the court.”

Imagine competing in a sport in which anything less than perfection is considered failure.

Now imagine being Simone Biles: a four-time Olympic and 19-time world champion considered the best of all time. For her, perfection is the starting point and you work up from there.

The best gymnast of all time Simone Biles.Credit:Getty

She’s embraced the expectation. Cuddled it. Instagrammed it. Earlier this year, she competed in a leotard featuring the sequined outline of a goat.

It’s easy to forget the GOAT is only 24.

Andrew Webster analyses the most talked about athlete in Tokyo, Simone Biles, in his piece here.

Jess Fox has revealed the secret to her bronze medal in the K1 on Tuesday - a condom.

Yes, you’re reading that right. The Aussie champ took to social media to share a video, which appears to show her team using a condom to make repairs to the tip of her kayak.

Fox will go for the gold today in the women’s canoe slalom. The C1 semis begin at 3pm and the final at 4.55pm.

She’s joined very illustrious company alongside Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe as the only Australians to win both the 200m and 400m freestyle at the one Olympics, so how much more does Ariarne Titmus have in her this meeting?

The 20-year-old was certainly the focal point of coverage right around the country after her 200m victory on Wednesday, relegating her great American rival Katie Ledecky to fifth.

Rohan Dennis during the time trial.Credit:AP

Here’s all of our reporting on Titmus’ latest gold medal, and the big talking points from day five:

Tokyo has reported 3177 COVID-19 cases for the capital on Wednesday - the highest daily total for the city since the pandemic began.

The rest of the country was also hit with its highest total ever - with Japan recording 9583 cases. The nation has never before exceeded 9000 in one day. The latest figures bring Japan’s total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic to almost 900,000.

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit:AP

Wednesday’s numbers have seen added pressure on the Japanese government to take greater measures. Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s top COVID-19 adviser Shigeru Omi called on the government to send out a message of crisis to the nation during a parliamentary hearing.

“The medical system has already started becoming more strained,” he warned on Wednesday.

Swimming: Five finals, five chances. First up is the men’s 800m freestyle (11.30am) featuring Jack McLoughlin, who will be trying to add to the silver medal he won in the 400m. Zac Stubblety-Cook was the fastest qualifier into the men’s 200m breaststroke final, at 11.44am. Brianna Throssell is in the women’s 200m butterfly final at 12.28pm. Kyle Chalmers will attempt to defend his men’s 100m freestyle crown he so spiritedly won in Rio as an 18-year-old. That’s at 12.37pm. Our 4x200m women’s relay team will attempt to sweep the freestyle relays - if successful it will be a third gold medal for the queen of the pool, Ariarne Titmus.

Golf: The men’s competition begins at 8.30am. Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith are representing Australia in Tokyo.

Cameron Smith will be on the golf course this morning.Credit:Getty Images

Archery: Taylor Worth, David Barnes, Ryan Tyack and Alice Ingley will take aim for the green and gold from 10.43 this morning.

Cycling: The BMX racing competition features Anthony Dean, Saya Sakakibara and Lauren Reynolds. Competition and begins at 11am. The finals are tomorrow.

Rugby Sevens: More is expected of our women who begin their campaign against the hosts at 11.30am and take on China at 6.30pm.

Canoe slalom: One more attempt for kayak bronze medallist Jessica Fox as the women’s canoe slalom semis begin at 3pm and final at 4.55pm.

Hockey: The Hockeyroos take on New Zealand at 10.15pm.

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