Could day nine at the Games bring yet more history for Daniel Wiffen?
The 23-year-old swimmer is already a double world champion and on Sunday will look to repeat the feat at the Olympics.
After Tuesday’s gold medal success in the 800m freestyle, Wiffen will be back in the pool at the La Defense Arena at 17:37 BST in the final of what is his favoured event, the 1500m freestyle.
He was fastest in Saturday’s heats when posting a time of 14:40.34 – over two seconds quicker that Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri – and has said he will be targeting the world record time of 14:31.02 set by Chinese swimmer Sun Yang at London 2012.
If he were to end up on another podium, Wiffen would become just the third athlete from Northern Ireland to win multiple Olympic medals, joining boxer Paddy Barnes and Team GB hockey player Stephen Martin.
When it comes to Team Ireland, another victory would see Wiffen become the first person to win two golds at the same Games since 1996.
Redemption for Rory?
After another major season when golf’s biggest prizes have eluded him, Rory McIlroy will be in with a chance of a medal when he tees of at 11:28 BST in the concluding round of the men’s golf.
The 35-year-old from Holywood in Northern Ireland, along with world number one Scottie Scheffler, is in a group tied for sixth sitting four shots of the lead.
American Xander Schauffele, the gold medallist from Tokyo who has already won the Open championship and US PGA championship this year, shot a 68 on Saturday and enters the final round tied at the top of the leaderboard with Spain’s Jon Rahm.
Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood is one shot further back.
Hockey knock-outs to get underway
Sunday sees the start of the hockey quarter-finals at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
Team GB, captained by David Ames from Northern Ireland, will get the last eight action under way when they take on India at 09:00 BST.
In the other quarter-finals, also on Sunday, Spain meet Belgium, Netherlands take on Australia and Germany play Argentina.
Elsewhere on day nine, Team Ireland will be in action in track and field, as well as sailing and kayaking.
Cathal Doyle, from County Meath, takes his place in the men’s 1500m semi-finals (20:10 BST) after qualifying through the repechage on Saturday while Nicola Tuthill of County Cork takes part in the women’s hammer throw qualification (09:20 BST).
Eve McMahon and Finn Lynch compete in the sailing, while Madison Corcoran, Noel Henderick and Liam Jegou go in the men’s kayak.
Source Agencies
