Olympics day 14: Breaking will make its debut, beach volleyballers to fight for bronze - MASHAHER

Following another successful day at the Paris Games, Australian athletes are set to compete in beach volleyball, marathon swimming, and the world’s first day of Olympic breaking.

On day 13, Moesha Johnson took silver in the women’s 10k marathon swim, while Charlie Senior and Caitlin Parker collected rare Olympic boxing medals for Australia.

Breaking

Rachael Gunn — otherwise known as Raygun — will battle it out for a place in the breaking final on the sport’s Olympic debut at 12.13am AEST.

Gunn, who has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture, told SBS News: “there’s nothing in breaking that is easy to do”.

“I feel like it’s only the last few years that I don’t look awkward breaking. So there’s a huge amount of technique and hard work that goes into it as well as the athleticism as well as the creativity and musicality,” she said.

Beach volleyball

Australian female beach volleyball stars Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Teliqua Clancy will fight for bronze against Switzerland at 5.00am AEST after losing to Brazil in their semi-final.

The veteran pair won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but lost a three-set thriller against Ana Patricia Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower on day 13.

“Down to the final four, every team is good so it’s just those little moments and unfortunately, they didn’t turn in our way at times,” said 32-year-old Clancy.

“It’s the beauty of the sport though, you can play the best f—king game of your life and you still lose.”

Australia’s Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy will play for bronze. Source: Getty / Michael Reaves

Diving

Maddison Keeny is Australia’s best chance at an Olympic diving medal after making the women’s 3m springboard final, which will start at 11pm AEST.

Keeney competed in the 2016 Games in Rio, coming fifth in the individual and third in the synchronised 3m springboard.

The 28-year-old got better and better in the morning’s semi-final at the Paris Aquatics Centre, nailing her final three dives after a slow start. Keeney was a clear second but still well behind Chinese standout, Chen Yiwen.

Australia’s Maddison Keeney had a strong showing in the semi-final, coming second to China’s Chen Yiwen. Source: AAP / Lee Jin-man/AP

Swimming

Kyle Lee and Nick Sloman will be boosted by silver medallist Moesha Johnson’s result as they enter the Seine for the men’s 10km marathon swim at 3.30pm AEST.

Cycling

Australia’s Matt Richardson takes on the Netherlands’ Jeffrey Hoogland in the sprint semi-finals at 10.41pm AEST.

Basketball

The Opals will try to make history in a showdown with the US in the women’s basketball semi-final at 1.30am AEST. Australian forward Alanna Smith declared it’s time to “take them down a peg”.

Other events

The men’s football final between Olympic hosts France and Spain will kick off at 2.00am AEST . France will be looking to win their first Olympic title in 40 years, while Spain will try to go one better on their Tokyo silver.

Algeria’s Imane Khelif will be looking to silence her haters by winning Olympic gold in her women’s welterweight boxing final against China’s Yang Liu at 6.51AM AEST.

Defending Olympic champions the Netherlands will be looking to go back-to-back against China in the women’s hockey final at 4.00 am AEST.

Source Agencies

Olympics day 14: Breaking will make its debut, beach volleyballers to fight for bronze – MASHAHER