Britains mixed 4x100m relay team endured a difficult night after failing to defend their title they won in Tokyo, finishing seventh.
Three years after Team GB sensationally won a historic gold in this event, the quartet of Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby, Duncan Scott and Anna Hopkin were well off the pace in a high-quality field which saw the USA roar home in a new world record time of 3 minutes 37.43 seconds. The Americans went toe-to-toe with China, who had to settle for silver, with Australia claiming bronze.
The British team had suffered a chaotic build up amid uncertainty over whether Adam Peaty – who was part of the team that triumphed in world record time in Tokyo – would race in the event after he contracted Covid at the start of the week.
Wilby was selected to swim the breaststroke leg of the race but was up against the might of home superstar Leon Marchand, whose split of 1:51.46 briefly looked like it could drag France into the medal positions. The hosts ended up fading into fourth.
Racing up next to the French is always a challenge, but its a privilege to be able to swim next to him, Wilby said of Marchand. Seeing what hes done this week, I was like, Ill give this my best shot. It was good fun.
The British team were on the back foot after Dawsons opening backstroke leg and never managed to regain a foothold in the race.
Wilby had indicated in the build up to the Olympics that these Games would likely be his last, but the 30-year-old remained hopeful he had not yet swam his final race. Pending Peatys condition, he could return for the breaststroke leg of the mens 4x100m medley relay final on Sunday. Both men were part of the British team that won silver in the event in Tokyo, although Wilby only participated as a heat swimmer.
A decision is yet to be made over whether Peaty, whose recovery will be monitored over the next 24 hours after he swam in the mens 4x100m medley heat earlier in the day, will compete in the final.
I would love to have my name in the hat, said the 30-year-old, who beat Peaty to win gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Well see what happens. If that is the last one, its been quite a career.
Im incredibly grateful for all the support Ive had from all my family and friends. We couldnt do this without the Nl. I wouldnt be here without them. I was a 27-year-old struggling to make ends meet and my funding fundamentally put me here and gave me the medals Ive got. Ive not been the most successful athlete but Im the damn most grateful.
Peaty returned to the pool on Saturday morning for the first time since falling short in his three peat breaststroke challenge but only felt well enough to partake in the mens 4x100m heat, where he teamed up with Oliver Morgan, Joe Litchfield and Matt Richards.
Its probably the worst week of my life in terms of how my body is, and thats no exaggeration, Peaty told the BBC.
Despite admitting it had been a small victory just to make the start block, Peatys contribution helped the team qualify fifth-fastest for the final on Sunday – which will see the last day of the swimming action – after the quartet clocked three minutes 32.13 seconds.
There were different fortunes for Britains female 4x100m relay team of Kathleen Dawson, Angharad Evans, Louise Macinnes and Freya Anderson, who all but missed out on reaching their final after posting the tenth fastest qualifying time, which could only guarantee them a reserve place.
Elsewhere, Hopkin missed out on a place in the womens 50m freestyle final after finishing fifth in her semi-final, while Abbie Wood also finished in the same position in the womens 200m individual medley. It means for the second Games in a row, no British female swimmer has won a medal in any of the individual events.
USA vs China for gold. New world record for USA as they survive a late push by China to finish in a time of 3:37.43. A check ongoing for the takeovers that took place but it all looks clean. Bronze for Australia.
Britain finish seventh, well off the pace.
USA now lead in record pace. China is second with Australia in third.
China take the lead ahead of USA and France. Britain in eighth…
USA lead, China then France.
Final event of the evening coming up.
Team GB are the defending champions. But they face a stern test from France, China, the USA and Australia here.
GBs line up is Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby, Anna Hopkin & Duncan Scott.
Katie Ledecky extends her remarkable Olympic legacy after triumphing in the 800m freestyle – thats now four consecutive golds in the event for the American star. Worth mentioning she now has NINE Olympic golds overall and becomes the first woman in history to win the same event four times in a row. Thats what you call pure dominance.
Britain up next in the mixed 4x100m relay, in lane two. Theyre remaining champions in the event but face a tall order to defend the sensational crown they won in world-record time in Tokyo and will go up against a very strong USA quartet.
Ledecky earns her ninth career Olympic gold medal. The most by any female USA Olympian all-time.
Katie Ledecky
Ariarne Titmus
Paige Madden
Simona Quadarella
Isabel Gose
Lani Pallister
Anastasiia Kirpichnikova
Erika Fairweather
Gold for Ledecky. That was very special. Titmus responds to Madden and takes silver. A fourth successive gold medal in this event for the American.
Katie Ledecky. WOW! That’s four consecutive 800m freestyle Olympic golds! #BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Fe8rawS935
BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 3, 2024
Ledecky has put the hammer down and is cruising away. Now Madden is challenging Titmus for silver.
Full credit to Titmus for keeping this so tight but Ledeckys lead is now 0.82s which is about a body length.
Very little in it still. No chance of a world record it appears. Ledecky leads Titmus by 0.24s.
Ledecky has responded to the pressure being applied by Titmus. The lead at the turn is 0.29. Theres two races here, the one for gold and one for bronze.
It is a two way battle for gold as Titmus continues to push Ledecky all the way at the moment. At the turn, the Australia has closed the gap to 0.20s.
The field has been split and Titmus is staying close to Ledecky, who leads by 0.26 and is on world record pace.
Ledecky leads Australias Titmus by 0.25s.
All eyes on USAs Katie Ledecky. She is one of the biggest favourites you will ever see. If she doesnt win, it would be the biggest shock of all time.
The world and Olympic record is 8:04.79. Set at the Rio Games. So we are overdue a new record.
Summer McIntosh absolutely burned it down that final length to fly past Kate Douglass of the USA and claim her fourth medal – and third gold – of the Games. Douglass looked like he had it then but didnt have enough in the tank. A reminder that McIntosh turns 18 on August 18. Aside from France superstar Leon Marchand, the young Canadian has been the breakout star in the pool at Paris.
Abbie Wood finishes in fifth, which ends the British interest in the individual womens events. It also means for the second Games in a row, no British woman has won a medal in any of the individual races.
It appears she rolled over on the backstroke too soon. And it means Kaylee McKeown gets promoted to bronze for Australia!
McIntosh leads with McKeown and Walsh after the first 100m.
After 150m, we are looking at world record pace with Walsh leading.
Walsh has a half-a-second lead as they switch from breaststroke to freestyle but McIntosh storms back to win with an Olympic record 2:046.56,
Walsh finishes second with Kate Douglass in third. Abbie Wood trails home in fifth.
But Walsh is disqualified…
Our second final of the night is about to begin. GBs Wood is in lane six. She finished fourth in Tokyo.
Can she get a podium? Lets find out!
Adam Peaty was part of the mixed relay team that triumphed in Tokyo but he wont be featuring tonight, for obvious reasons.
He returned to the pool for the first time this morning since contracting Covid last week as he helped Britains 4x100m mens medley team qualify for Sundays final, but a decision is yet to be taken over whether he will race in tomorrows mens 4x100m medley showdown.
Given that hes still not 100 percent, his recovery from today will be assessed and a decision ultimately made over which swimmer on each leg is in the best position for tomorrows final.
Fifth place in the 50m freestyle for Anna Hopkinwhich isnt enough to make tomorrows final. She has a busy night as shell be back out an hour and a half later to line up with Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby (on breaststroke), Duncan Scott when Britain go in the mixed 4x100m medley final – the event where they are reigning champions.
Hopkin is out in lane eight for this one. And its an Olympic record for Swedens Sarah Sjoestroem in a time of 23.66.
USAs Gretchen Walsh trails behind in second and Meg Harris of Australia in third. Hopkin finishes strongly for fifth but it wont be enough to reach the final.
GBs Anna Hopkin is in the second semi-final and she would have been keeping an eye on Poland Katarzyna Wasick, who won in 24.23s ahead of Yufei Zhang of China and Shayna Jack of Australia.
First result of the tonight goes the way of Hungarys Kristof Milak, who was fourth at the turn and produced a storming finish beat Canadas Josh Liendo by 0.09 seconds.
Ilya Kharun took bronze to complete the podium.
Not too many medals up for grabs tonight in the pool for Team GB, but Abbie Wood, a world silver medallist, has a decent chance in the womens 200m individual medley.
The Buxton swimmer achieved a personal best at the British Championships last April in a time of 2:08.91 and after finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, will be desperate to get on the podium this time round.
19.30: Mens 100m Butterfly final19.39: Womens 50m Freestyle semi-finals – Team GBs Anna Hopkin20.08: Womens 200m Individual Medley final – Team GBs Abbie Wood20.28: Womens 800m Freestyle final – USAs Katie Ledecky20:58: Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final – Team GB
Hello and welcome to coverage of a busy night in the pool with two medal opportunities for Team GB.
Abbie Wood competes in the womens 200 metre individual medley final that promises to be a thriller as Australias Kaylee McKeown and Canadas Summer McIntosh battle for a third individual gold medal of the meet.
Wood produced a quick time in the semi-finals and says she is determined to give everything.
Im at my best when Im relaxed and Ill definitely be going into that final relaxed, the 25-year-old said.
Ive got nothing to lose now. Its a lot more of a relaxing day, off the back of the relay and then the double, having the morning off and just relaxing will be my greatest advantage.
Qualifying is a big weight off my shoulders. I knew it was such a competitive final to get in with a handful of Olympic champions, world champions, world record holders.
So to be in there again after doing it in Tokyo, Im really happy. Hopefully I can keep moving it on through the rounds.
Elsewhere Katie Ledecky goes for her ninth gold medal and unprecedented fourth 800 metres freestyle title. She is the world record holder at the distance with a time of 8:04.79.
A win this evening would put her level with fellow American Michael Phelps as the only swimmers of any gender and from any country to win four gold medals in the same event.
Ive tried not to really think about it. Im just taking it one event at a time and I know I have challenges in each of my events, Ledecky said.
So when all is said and done, Ill enjoy it. Ive certainly appreciated all the support and cheers that Ive felt as Ive gone through the week.
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