EVERY MORNING, WE bring you all of the info you need to make sure you don’t miss a second of Olympic gold.
If Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest, someone clearly forgot to tell the Olympic organisers. After a hectic opening first day, we’re straight back into the thick of it with another full programme — and the best part is that we’re only just getting started.
Here’s what you can expect on day two in London.
Top of the bill
Ireland’s stars There’s a quiet confidence in sailing circles about Peter O’Leary and David Burrows’s medal chances in the men’s star. We’ll have a better idea of how the duo are set after their first two races at 1.35pm and 2.50pm.
Kitajima They call him “the frog king” and tonight, Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima looks to become the first man to three-peat in an Olympic swimming event. Already the double-double champion having won 100m and 200m breaststroke gold in both Athens and Beijing, Kitajima has his first stab at history in the 100 final at 8.11pm.
The new “Dream Team”? Step aside Jordan, Johnson, Barkley, Bird; it’s time for LeBron, Kobe, Durant and Westbrook to take centre stage. America’s star-studded team from Barcelona 92 is still the benchmark by which all Olympic basketball teams are judged but that won’t stop the current crop of NBA icons from trying to outdo their predecessors. They begin the defence of their gold medal against Tony Parker’s France at 2.30pm.
Back in the ring John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill set the tone for Ireland’s boxers yesterday and today it’s the turn of Bray BC welterweight Adam Nolan to make his Olympic bow. He’s facing a late night though as his last 32 bout against Carlos Sanchez Estacio won’t start until after 10.15pm.
Who’s flying the Irish flag?
Swimming: Barring any last minute changes of heart, we’ll have three Irish swimmers in the pool today. Melanie Nocher is first up in the heats of the 100m backstroke which get underway at 10am. Teenage swimming sensation Sycerika McMahon goes in heat four of the 100m breaststroke (from 10.43am) where she’ll have good company in defending champion Leisel Jones of Australia. After skipping yesterday’s 400m medley, Gráinne Murphy gets her Olympics underway in the heats of the 400m freestyle from 11.23.
Equestrian: The two remaining members of Ireland’s eventing team are in dressage action. Twenty-three-year-old Camilla Speirs goes on Portersize Just A Jiff at 11.52am before Mark Kyle and the brilliantly-named Coolio close out the Irish interest at 3.10pm.
Canoeing: Kildare’s Eoin Rheinisch will be hoping to go one better than his agonising fourth-place finish in Beijing four years ago. He goes in the heats of the K1 slalom at 2.49pm.
Sailing: Medal hopeful Peter O’Leary and David Burrows launch their star campaign with their first two races this afternoon. They’re in action at 1.35pm and again at 2.50pm.
Badminton: Chloe Magee from Raphoe, County Donegal takes to the court for her opening group game in the women’s singles. Magee, ranked 44th in the world, is up against number 113 Hadia Hosny of Egypt at 8.17pm.
Boxing: After yesterday’s success for Nevin and O’Neill, Bray BC welterweight Adam Nolan is the only Irish fighter in the ring today. He goes up against Carlos Sanchez Estacio of Colombia after 10.15pm.
Do not miss…
Basketball
Men’s group stages — USA v France — 2.30pm
Diving
Women’s synchronised 3m — China, Canada, Italy — 3pm final
Water Polo
Men’s group stages — Serbia v Hungary — 3.30pm
Soccer
Men’s group stages — Great Britain v United Arab Emirates — 7.45pm
Swimming
Women’s 100m backstroke – Missy Franklin, Anastasia Zueva, Melanie Nocher — 10am heats, 8.49pm semi-finals
Men’s 4x100m free relay — Australia, USA, France — 11.56am heats, 9pm final
Men’s 100m breaststroke — Kosuke Kitajima, Cameron van der Burgh, Christian Sprenger — 8.11pm final
