THROUGHOUT THE GAMES we’ll bring you all the info you need to set you up for the Olympic day ahead.
Think of this slot as your balanced nutritional start to propel you through an intense sporting day ahead.
(All times are Irish, no gloating about your exotic location allowed)
Flying the Irish Flag
It can only have been a frustrating few days for our lightweight double sculls pairs – Jennings, Lambe and the O’Donovan brothers – as they twice watched their semi-finals get cancelled because of inclement weather in Rio. But today (fingers crossed) should be the day. Sinead Lynch and Claire Lambe are due to go at 13.00, with the pride of Skibbereen heading out 10 minutes later.
It was one of the big controversy generators in the build-up to the Games, but today the best golfers who actually want to compete at the Olympics will be on the starting tee for the strokeplay tournament. Padraig Harrington will be with the second group out at 11.41, while Seamus Power will be among the later starters at 14.47. Hot favourite Henrik Stenson will be one of the final three to tee off at 15.09.
Choloe Magee is up against China’s Yihan Wang at 13.00 in badminton.
The hockey team are back in action today, and this time they’re not rank underdogs. A win over Canada in today’s 15.00 tip-off can keep the Green Machine’s hopes of a knockout place alive.
After winning his opening 69kg bout against Zohir Kedache, Steven Donnelly is back chasing medals today when he squares up against Mongolia’s Byambyn Tüvshinbat. Be sure to tune in for that one at 16.45. Let’s hope he can improve the boxers’ fortunes in the wake of last night’s shock defeat for Joe Ward.
Shane Ryan is the last Irish swimmer standing at the Olympic Games and his final event comes at 17.12 when he takes the block in the 50m freestyle sprint. Ryan will be in heat 6 and will hope to win a place in the late-night semi-finals.
Best of the Rest
You want more Phelps, Phelps wants more medals, so tonight’s another chance for everybody to happily gawp in awe at the Greatest Olympian of All Time as he is set for a 200m individual medley showdown with Ryan Lochte. Before you shout “Jeah” at me, it’s not on until 3am, so… cancel your Friday morning plans!
Also at the medal stage in the pool will be the women’s 100 free with Sarah Sjostrom, Care Campbell and Simone Manuel eyeing up the podium.
The men’s Rugby 7s tournament will come to a head without New Zealand and Australia. Fiji meet Japan in the first semi-final from 18.30. South Africa and Team GB will be vying to join them in the 23.00 final.
This should be good too…
Simone Biles will be back in action from 20.00 chasing another gold medal in the women’s individual all-round gymnastics.
The Velodrome opens its floors to the fastest cyclists in the world today, culminating in the men’s team sprint final at 22.25. Wiggo ‘put his house’ on Team GB, you” remember after defeat to the Aussies; let’s see if he’ll have somewhere to put his bike when he returns home to Lancashire.
There’s whitewater medals up for grabs too. The men’s double canoe final is under way at 18.15 with the women’s single kayak decided at 19.00.
In case you missed it, here’s what happened on Day 5 of the Games.
