Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown has won the women’s 100m backstroke gold medal to successfully defend her Olympic title.
McKeown’s triumph on Tuesday night at the La Defense Arena delivers Australia a sixth gold at the Paris Games.
The 23-year-old edged the United States’ world record holder Regan Smith in the final.
McKeown, whose father died in 2020 after a prolonged battle with brain cancer, won in 57.33 seconds with Smith taking silver in 57.66.
“He would be extremely proud of me … I know that he’s here in spirit,” she told the Nine Network.
Australia’s 18-year-old Olympic debutant Iona Anderson (58.98) finished fifth.
McKeown is just the second woman to win consecutive 100m backstroke gold medals in Olympic history, following American Natalie Coughlin (2004, 2008).
The Queenslander collected gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
She will start the defence of her 200m crown on Thursday with heats and semi-finals ahead of Friday’s medal race.
A little earlier, the team of Max Giuliani, Flynn Southam, Elijah Washington and Thomas Neill added a bronze medal to Australia’s tally, finishing third in the men’s 4x200m freestyle final.
Boomers outclassed by Canada
Meanwhile, the Australian men’s basketball team have lost their first match in the tournament after being defeated 83-93 by Canada in Lille.
Brian Goorjian’s players looked to be in control of game in the first half but things began to change and the persistence and decisiveness of the Canadian players made all the difference in the last crucial moments of the match.
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shields the ball from Australia’s Dyson Daniels during their match at the Olympics. Source: AP / Michael Conroy
Josh Giddey, who led the scoring with 19 points, appeared to be out of ideas when the team needed him most, and despite a masterclass performance by Dyson Daniels in defence, there wasn’t much that could be done to stop the Canadians who always looked deadly from the three-point line.
Canada were lead by RJ Barrett who scored 24 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who added another 16. Jock Landale scored 16 points for the Boomers while Dante Exum, who played his first game of the tournament, added 15.
Now Australia will need a win in their third and final game of the group stage on Friday against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece, who have lost both of their opening games after going down to Spain 84-77 on Tuesday.
The two-time MVP scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Belgium loss opens old wounds for Kookaburras
In the men’s hockey gold medal rematch in Paris, Belgium have inflicted more Olympic misery on Australia by thrashing the Kookaburras 6-2.
At the last Games in Tokyo, the Belgians consigned the Kookaburras to their fourth silver medal following a thrilling penalty shootout in the final.
Unbeaten from their opening two matches at Yves du Manoir Stadium, the Australians fancied their chances against the Europeans.
Belgium’s Nelson Onana (left) and Australia’s Eddie Ockenden during their Olympic Games match. Source: SIPA USA / Belga/DIRK WAEM/Belga
But veteran Belgian striker Tom Boon had something to say about that with three goals, as his team relished the big stage of the Games.
The four-time Olympian’s second goal of the Pool B match was a moment of magic just eight seconds from halftime.
The 34-year-old flicked the ball up and then backhanded it over the shoulder of Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter.
What else is happening?
The Women’s Rugby Seven’s team weren’t able to find a place on the podium after suffering a 14-12 loss to the USA in the third-place final.
Meanwhile, the men’s water polo team have pulled a stunning upset, beating two-time gold-medallists Serbia 8-3 in Paris.
Jess Fox has kept her hopes for a second gold medal intact, after she advanced to the semifinal of the canoe slalom C1 event, a competition which she won in the Tokyo Olympics.
Finally, there was good news from the BMX, with Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Logan Martin and Natalya Diehm both advancing to the men’s and women’s freestyle finals.
