Paris Olympics day 14: Jess Hull claims silver in the 1500m run, Australia reaches 50 medals - MASHAHER

Day 14 of the Paris Olympics was painted in silver as Jessica Hull got second place in the 1500m run and the Stingers loss to Spain in the women’s water polo final.

The two medals add to the Australian tally, which currently stands at 50: 18 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze.

Jess Hull makes history on the track

Jessica Hull has won Australia’s first Olympic middle-distance medal in 56 years in magnificent style, pocketing the silver in three minutes 52.56 seconds – her second-fastest time ever.

She was only denied 1500m gold in Paris by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the greatest women’s middle-distance runner of all-time.

Hull claimed silver in the 1500m final. Source: AP / Matthias Schrader

Kipyegon won in an Olympic record time of 3:51.29, adding a third successive Olympic 1500m title to her name. Britain’s Georgia took the bronze.

It was Australia’s first Olympic middle-distance medal since Ralph Doubell won 800m gold in 1968 and the first time an Australian woman had pocketed an Olympic medal on the track at a distance further than 800m.

Stingers get silver after losing to Spain in water polo

Australia’s Stingers have suffered Olympic heartbreak, succumbing in the women’s water polo final 11-9 to Spain as their frustrating 24-year wait for the biggest title in the sport goes on.

Unbeaten throughout the tournament, history-making coach Bec Rippon’s team finally met their match in a brilliant Spanish side at a throbbing La Defense Arena on Saturday.

An Australian and a Spanish water polo competitors in the water, with a ball.

The Australians had to settle for silver after being largely outplayed by the Spanish team, which upgraded it’s own second-place finish at the Tokyo Games. Source: AAP / Dave Hunt

Not even five goals from their own brilliant top scorer Alice Williams was enough for the Stingers, who had been attempting to emulate the famous class of Sydney 2000, who won the inaugural women’s tournament at home.

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting shrugs off controversy to win gold

Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has won Olympic gold in the women’s featherweight division following Imane Khelif’s lead a day earlier with a glittering response to the intense scrutiny faced by both fighters over misconceptions about their womanhood.

Lin beat Julia Szeremeta of Poland 5-0 in the final at Roland Garros on Saturday night, capping her four-fight unbeaten run through Paris by ensuring Taiwan’s first Olympic boxing medal is golden.

Referee Jeffery Verhoeven of Canada announces Yu Ting Lin of Taiwan as the winner against Julia Szeremeta of Poland.

29-year-old Lin has fashioned a solid career as a top boxer, winning world championships in 2018 and 2022. Source: EPA / Yahya Arhab

On Friday, with a decisive victory in her own final, beating Yang Liu of China.

Australian flag bearers announced

Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn have been selected as Australia’s closing ceremony flag bearers.

McKeown successfully defended her individual 100m and 200m backstroke Olympic titles in Paris, becoming Australia’s first four-time individual gold medallist, while Wearn won the men’s dinghy sailing event, the first man to win back-to-back titles in this event in Olympic history.

The pair will lead the Australian delegation, expected to include more than 300 athletes from 29 sports set to attend the Closing Ceremony in Stade de France.

What else happened?

Hannah Green, Australia’s world No.6 golfer, made a charge at Le Golf National, but just missed out on a medal by one shot, having to settle for a four-way tie for fourth place.

Fijian-born Aussie weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana was left in tears after a disappointing clean-and-jerk ensured she could only finish fourth in the 81kg class when she had been tipped for a medal.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Weightlifting

Eileen Cikamatana finished fourth in the women’s weightlifting 81kg category. Source: EPA / Mast Irham

Last year’s world diving champ Cassiel Rousseau just missed out on a medal in the 10m platform.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach announced he wouldn’t seek to stay in the post at the end of his second term next year, despite calls from members for him to keep going.

Source Agencies