Women’s 50m freestyle
Gold – Pernille Blume – Denmark – 24.07s
Silver – Simone Manuel – USA – 24.09s
Bronze – Aliaksandra Herasimenia – Belarus – 24.11s
Men’s 1500m freestyle
Gold – Gregorio Paltrinieri – Italy – 14:34.57
Silver – Connor Jaeger – United States – 14:39.48
Bronze – Gabriele Detti – Italy – 14:40.8
Women’s 4x100m medley relay
Gold – USA – 3:53.13
Silver – Australia – 3:55.00
Bronze – Denmark – 3:55.01
Men’s 4x100m medley relay
Gold – USA – 3:27.95
Silver – Great Britain – 3:29.24
Bronze – Australia – 3:29.93
» Click here to read all the results
Australia has a shot at three gold medals at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, with the Campbell sisters in the women’s 50m freestyle, Mack Horton in the men’s 1500m freestyle, and our girls in the women’s 4x100m medley relay. Join The Roar for live updates and commentary from 11am (AEST).
First up on the final night at the pool is the women’s 50-metre freestyle final, which features Cate and Bronte Campbell.
The gold could go to either of the sisters, with Bronte being the current world champion and Cate clocking the fastest time going into this event, at the trials in Adelaide back in April.
As with the 100 freestyle, the challengers will most likely be Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Fran Halsall and Sarah Sjostrom, but don’t rule out Americans Abbey Weitzeil and 100m gold medallist Simone Manuel.
Next is Mack Horton, who heads into the 1500 having recorded the second-fastest time this year, behind Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri. A second Italian, Gabriele Detti, should also figure, along with the unsporting Sun Yang, who is the world record holder and reigning Olympic champion in this event. You would be a fool to rule out the possibility of a medal for the other Australian, Jack McLoughlin.
Our women’s 4×100-metre medley relay team looks the goods. Reigning Olympic champions and world record holders the USA are their biggest hurdle, along with the Chinese, while Japan and Sweden will also challenge strongly.
The Australian men’s 4x100m medley relay team will probably win a medal in the final event in the pool, but likely a silver or bronze, with the Americans too strong. Japan, China, and France could all realistically come away with a medal. Great Britain might also win a minor medal, but it is likely they will end up fourth or fifth.
Australia are looking to end the competition on a real high, and it will be a real surprise if our swimmers do not claim medals in all four events. That will leave us with a lot to look forward to in four years.
Will Mack attack and win gold? Can Jack McLoughlin surprise the field? Just how much will the women’s medley relay team outshine the performance of the men’s team?
Join The Roar from 11am (AEST) for live updates and debate in our blog.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
It's absolutely a fair comparison in the case of Larkin and Seebohm due to backstroke being the opening leg. I think the Campbell sisters will go around once more. Just what they can do in 4 years' time won't be clear for at least 3 years. In any case, I think Emma McKeon will be an outstanding 100m freestyle swimmer if she chooses to keep the event as part of her repertoire. Cate at least was visibly shocked and disappointed with what happened this week. Bronte on the other hand appeared happy just to be there with her sister. And thanks for the compliment, I have enjoyed having this opportunity immensely as a former swimmer who still has a passion for the sport.
Harry
Guest
Thanks for the writeups BTW Tom. Good commentary.
Harry
Guest
I know its not a fair comparison for all medley relay swimmers but both Larkin and Seebohm were faster from a standing start than they were in their finals, and Cate and Emma self-evidently so in their swims. Emily and Cate will be 28 at the next Olympics ... Australian swimmers tend to retire early (understandably IMO) so they may struggle to (for both of them) make their 4th Olympics. Anyway ... I just think with the Campbell sisters, who are close, the fantastic high of being gold medallists together couldn't really be beaten. I'm sure if you asked them if they could have had an individual gold medal or a gold medal together they would choose the latter.
JoM
Guest
I'm actually starting to come around to your way of thinking. Looking at all of them they were pale and tired and not much energy. I wonder if there are any tests that can be done on the lot of them just to see. It might be nothing at all, but looking at them tells a different story.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
I would call the two extra gold an improvement, but you are right, it means less if there are no extra medals overall. For all intents and purposes the team appears to have been managed better in a broad sense than it was in London and the egos largely kept in check. As yet at least, there have been no reports of dangerous or stupid activities taking place among our swimmers. Those acts of stupidity in London would have interfered with the preparations of others. I have submitted a piece this afternoon dealing with the main arguments raised this week for the poor performances so perhaps it's best I don't give any hint about my thoughts on those areas here!
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
I'm not sure the relay swim was responsible for the Campbells messing up the 100m and the 50m free. The schedule for major events stays quite uniform and they were world champions. Maybe the way that they debriefed after that relay with the support staff may have led to a small amount of complacency but they have been through competition enough to practise how to deal with that. With the exception of the starting legs of the relays, it's hard to compare split times due to the fly start. Maybe the support around them in the team events led to more relaxation and confidence. Our freestyle swimmers really did a stellar job in the relays. In 4 years our breaststroke and butterfly swimmers should be excelling even more. McKeon will grow as a competitor in the 100m fly and so will Taylor McKeown in the 100m breaststroke. I have questions about where Seebohm will end up in the next 4 years.
Harry
Guest
Up to the experts of course to analyse what went wrong/ where we underperformed while we couch critics can spout what we want. So here goes ... my theory with the Campbells is the schedule didn't suit their makeup in so far as the event they really love - the freestyle relay - was first, and the opportunity to stand on the top podium together and share in success was taken, after that all a bit too much pressure and conflict, and performances fell away. I suspect in their own mind anything after that was anti-climatic. Could of course be wrong but thats my theory. Interesting that Mitch Larkin, Seebohm, Emma McKeown, Cate Campbell , at the end of a hard week and when the preparation was less ... all swan significantly faster in their medley relay swims than they did in their individual finals. Two good minor medals in the medley relay, the main credit must go to the freestylers. Cate proving that in every race except the individual final she was the fastest girl over 100 metres. Chalmers was pretty phenomenal really, took them from about fifth to a medal, he was getting close to overhauling the Brit by the end of the race.
Michael Barton
Guest
The final overall swimming result for Australia is 3-4-3 from Brazil, compared to 1-6-3 from London. From Brazil, no extra medals overall, 2 less silver, 2 extra gold. Given the fractions of seconds only that often separate gold from silver (think Magnussen from London), it's absurd to call this swimming result - as one ABC commentator on Offsiders did - a 300% improvement on London. Given this, what is the evidence that the 'toxic culture' of the London swim team was responsible for that result? 'Toxic' the culture may very well have been, but what does this have to do with the actual performances? The 'overly-burdensome-weight-of-expectations-on-those-who-competed-in-London' theory is just that - a theory, and a speculative one at that; the factor of contingency looms larger than virtually all commentators are prepared to admit; the desperate need to be able to explain things, to be seen as an 'expert', to provide a moralistic homily, is a blight on Australian sports commentary in general, and in particular in relation to the Olympics.
commonwombat
Guest
Bit of a stretch !! The old man was good but not great. Yes, he won medals at the ToyTowns but for the most part, they're fools gold. He made 2 finals in Moscow but those were boycott games and had the US been present; he wouldn't have made the cut. Similar scenario at the the counter-boycotted 1984 Games; 1 final but would not have made a full strength one. The less said about the junior male McKeon the better; two decent swims in 5 years on the national team .... great return on investment !! Em has the talent to be elite and finally demonstrated this over 200fr. One hopes this can reinforce her self belief that she really does belong alongside the Ledeckys/Sjostroms. The fact that she DID regroup after falling apart in 100fly was one of the few positive notes for AUS from this meet
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
And great to see that smile back! That McKeon clan sure has some pedigree in the swimming.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
Cate, aside from being the fastest ever in the 100m, is also the most technically flawless of all Australia's swimmers.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
A flawlessly executed final leg from Chalmers.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
» Click here to read all the results After a tough week in the pool for Australia, we say goodbye to the pool after Australia claimed two gold medals in the eight days of competition at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. On the final night Australia claimed two medals - a silver in the women's medley relay and what was a welcome but unexpected bronze from the men's medley relay team after the 100m freestyle superstar, Kyle Chalmers, brought Australia home in an astounding way. Starting off the night it was Pernille Blume of Denmark touching out 100m gold medalist, Simone Manuel, in the women's 50m freestyle final, with the Campbell sisters again missing out on a medal. Aliaksandra Herasimenia claimed the bronze. After winning gold in the 400m freestyle final on day 1, it was not Mack Horton's night. Horton had to settle for 5th place after the Italian duo of Paltrinieri and Detti won gold and bronze respectively, with Connor Jaeger second. Paltrinieri's win was not in doubt from very early on in the race. His only competitor was the yellow world record line. So that is it for another four years. Swimming Australia will undoubtedly conduct a review of the week, and then planning and preparations can commence for our Tokyo 2020 campaign. Thank you for joining me and the other swimming live bloggers over this week at The Roar.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The evidence is clear Horton was in good form early, having stayed in Austlralias gas leaking dump in the Olytmpic village, he ends up milesoff the pace in the 1500m final. AUstralia spent 400m only to be undone by a dodgy apartment building with leaking gas in order to save a few million in hotel fees. The USA and Britain having secured the best parts of the Olympic village are laughing at us.
Harry
Guest
Well done the men ... Chalmers was motoring.
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
Men's 4x100m Medley Relay Gold: United States of America Silver: Great Britain Bronze: Australia
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
It's all the US and Great Britain get second, with Australia finishing with a surprising bronze!
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
After Phelps' butterfly leg, the US now first again with Great Britain 2nd and China 3rd
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
Packard's breaststroke leg ends and the Great Britain team now leads the US with China 3rd
Tom Bridge
Roar Pro
At the end of the backstroke, it's the USA well ahead of Russia and Australia in 3rd