Britain’s mixed 4x100m relay team endured a difficult night after failing to defend the title they won in Tokyo, finishing in seventh.
Three years after Team GB sensationally struck gold in this event, the quartet of Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby, Duncan Scott and Anna Hopkin were well off the pace in a high-quality field which saw the USA roar home in a new world record time of 3 minutes 37.43 seconds. The Americans went head-to-head with China, who had to settle for silver, with Australia claiming bronze.
The British team had endured a chaotic build-up amid uncertainty over whether Adam Peaty – who was part of the team that triumphed in world record time in Tokyo – would race in the event after he contracted Covid at the start of the week.
Wilby ended up swimming the breaststroke leg of the race but was up against the might of Leon Marchand, whose electric split of 1:51.46 briefly looked like it could drag France into the medal positions. The hosts ended up fading into fourth.
Peaty returned to the pool on Saturday morning for the first time since falling short in his ‘three peat’ breaststroke challenge but only felt well enough to swim in the men’s 4x100m heat, where he teamed up with Oliver Morgan, Joe Litchfield and Matt Richards.
“It’s probably the worst week of my life in terms of how my body is, and that’s no exaggeration,” Peaty told the BBC.
Despite admitting it had been a small victory just to make the start block, Peaty’s contribution helped the team qualify fifth-fastest for the final on Sunday – which will see the last day of the swimming action – after the quartet clocked three minutes 32.13 seconds.
A decision is yet to be made over whether Peaty, whose recovery is likely to be monitored over the next 24 hours, will compete in the men’s final.
Britain’s female 4x100m relay team of Kathleen Dawson, Angharad Evans, Louise Macinnes and Freya Anderson all but missed out on reaching their final after posting the tenth fastest qualifying time, which could only guarantee them a reserve place.
Elsewhere, Hopkin missed out on a place in the women’s 50 freestyle final after finishing fifth in her semi-final, while Abbie Wood also finished in the same position in the women’s 200m individual medley. It means for the second Games in a row, no British female swimmer has won a medal in any of the individual events.
Ledecky makes history and Britain’s mixed 4x100m relay team falter, as it happened
09:26 PM BST
The greatest
09:08 PM BST
Result
USA vs China for gold. New world record for USA as they survive a late push by China to finish in a time of 3:37.43. A check ongoing for the takeovers that took place but it all looks clean. Bronze for Australia.
Britain finish seventh, well off the pace.
09:05 PM BST
After 300m
USA now lead in record pace. China is second with Australia in third.
09:04 PM BST
After 200m
China take the lead ahead of USA and France. Britain in eighth…
09:03 PM BST
After 100m
USA lead, China then France.
09:00 PM BST
Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay final
Final event of the evening coming up.
Team GB are the defending champions. But they face a stern test from France, China, the USA and Australia here.
GB’s line up is Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby, Anna Hopkin & Duncan Scott.
08:53 PM BST
‘That’s what you call pure dominance’
Katie Ledecky extends her remarkable Olympic legacy after triumphing in the 800m freestyle – that’s now four consecutive golds in the event for the American star. Worth mentioning she now has NINE Olympic golds overall and becomes the first woman in history to win the same event four times in a row. That’s what you call pure dominance.
Britain up next in the mixed 4x100m relay, in lane two. They’re remaining champions in the event but face a tall order to defend the sensational crown they won in world-record time in Tokyo and will go up against a very strong USA quartet.
08:48 PM BST
Final classification
Ledecky earns her ninth career Olympic gold medal. The most by any female USA Olympian all-time.
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Katie Ledecky
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Ariarne Titmus
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Paige Madden
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Simona Quadarella
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Isabel Gose
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Lani Pallister
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Anastasiia Kirpichnikova
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Erika Fairweather
08:40 PM BST
Result
Gold for Ledecky. That was very special. Titmus responds to Madden and takes silver. A fourth successive gold medal in this event for the American.
08:39 PM BST
After 700m
Ledecky has put the hammer down and is cruising away. Now Madden is challenging Titmus for silver.
08:38 PM BST
After 600m
Full credit to Titmus for keeping this so tight but Ledecky’s lead is now 0.82s which is about a body length.
08:36 PM BST
After 500m
Very little in it still. No chance of a world record it appears. Ledecky leads Titmus by 0.24s.
08:36 PM BST
After 400m
Ledecky has responded to the pressure being applied by Titmus. The lead at the turn is 0.29. There’s two races here, the one for gold and one for bronze.
08:35 PM BST
After 300m
It is a two way battle for gold as Titmus continues to push Ledecky all the way at the moment. At the turn, the Australia has closed the gap to 0.20s.
08:33 PM BST
After 200m
The field has been split and Titmus is staying close to Ledecky, who leads by 0.26 and is on world record pace.
08:32 PM BST
After 100m
Ledecky leads Australia’s Titmus by 0.25s.
08:30 PM BST
Women’s 800m freestyle final
All eyes on USA’s Katie Ledecky. She is one of the biggest favourites you will ever see. If she doesn’t win, it would be the biggest shock of all time.
The world and Olympic record is 8:04.79. Set at the Rio Games. So we are overdue a new record.
08:25 PM BST
‘McIntosh absolutely burned it down that final length’
Summer McIntosh absolutely burned it down that final length to fly past Kate Douglass of the USA and claim her fourth medal – and third gold – of the Games. Douglass looked like he had it then but didn’t have enough in the tank. A reminder that McIntosh turns 18 on August 18. Aside from France superstar Leon Marchand, the young Canadian has been the breakout star in the pool at Paris.
Abbie Wood finishes in fifth, which ends the British interest in the individual women’s events. It also means for the second Games in a row, no British woman has won a medal in any of the individual races.
08:21 PM BST
Reason for Walsh’s disqualification
It appears she rolled over on the backstroke too soon. And it means Kaylee McKeown gets promoted to bronze for Australia!
08:17 PM BST
Result
McIntosh leads with McKeown and Walsh after the first 100m.
After 150m, we are looking at world record pace with Walsh leading.
Walsh has a half-a-second lead as they switch from breaststroke to freestyle but McIntosh storms back to win with an Olympic record 2:046.56,
Walsh finishes second with Kate Douglass in third. Abbie Wood trails home in fifth.
But Walsh is disqualified…
08:10 PM BST
Women’s 200m individual medley final
Our second final of the night is about to begin. GB’s Wood is in lane six. She finished fourth in Tokyo.
Can she get a podium? Let’s find out!
08:04 PM BST
‘Peaty won’t be featuring tonight’
Adam Peaty was part of the mixed relay team that triumphed in Tokyo but he won’t be featuring tonight, for obvious reasons.
He returned to the pool for the first time this morning since contracting Covid last week as he helped Britain’s 4x100m men’s medley team qualify for Sunday’s final, but a decision is yet to be taken over whether he will race in tomorrow’s men’s 4x100m medley showdown.
Given that he’s still not 100 percent, his recovery from today will be assessed and a decision ultimately made over which swimmer on each leg is in the best position for tomorrow’s final.
Fifth place in the 50m freestyle for Anna Hopkin…which isn’t enough to make tomorrow’s final. She has a busy night as she’ll be back out an hour and a half later to line up with Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby (on breaststroke), Duncan Scott when Britain go in the mixed 4x100m medley final – the event where they are reigning champions.
07:56 PM BST
Second Women’s 50m freestyle semi-final
Hopkin is out in lane eight for this one. And it’s an Olympic record for Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem in a time of 23.66.
USA’s Gretchen Walsh trails behind in second and Meg Harris of Australia in third. Hopkin finishes strongly for fifth but it won’t be enough to reach the final.
07:45 PM BST
First Women’s 50m freestyle semi-final
GB’s Anna Hopkin is in the second semi-final and she would have been keeping an eye on Poland Katarzyna Wasick, who won in 24.23s ahead of Yufei Zhang of China and Shayna Jack of Australia.
07:39 PM BST
Men’s 100m Butterfly final
First result of the tonight goes the way of Hungary’s Kristof Milak, who was fourth at the turn and produced a storming finish beat Canada’s Josh Liendo by 0.09 seconds.
Ilya Kharun took bronze to complete the podium.
07:34 PM BST
‘Wood will be desperate to get on the podium’
Not too many medals up for grabs tonight in the pool for Team GB, but Abbie Wood, a world silver medallist, has a decent chance in the women’s 200m individual medley.
The Buxton swimmer achieved a personal best at the British Championships last April in a time of 2:08.91 and after finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, will be desperate to get on the podium this time round.
07:15 PM BST
Tonight’s events
19.30: Men’s 100m Butterfly final
19.39: Women’s 50m Freestyle semi-finals – Team GB’s Anna Hopkin
20.08: Women’s 200m Individual Medley final – Team GB’s Abbie Wood
20.28: Women’s 800m Freestyle final – USA’s Katie Ledecky
20:58: Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final – Team GB
07:00 PM BST
Olympic Swimming
Hello and welcome to coverage of a busy night in the pool with two medal opportunities for Team GB.
Abbie Wood competes in the women’s 200 metre individual medley final that promises to be a thriller as Australia’s Kaylee McKeown and Canada’s Summer McIntosh battle for a third individual gold medal of the meet.
Wood produced a quick time in the semi-finals and says she is determined to give everything.
“I’m at my best when I’m relaxed and I’ll definitely be going into that final relaxed,” the 25-year-old said.
“I’ve got nothing to lose now. It’s a lot more of a relaxing day, off the back of the relay and then the double, having the morning off and just relaxing will be my greatest advantage.
“Qualifying is a big weight off my shoulders. I knew it was such a competitive final to get in with a handful of Olympic champions, world champions, world record holders.
“So to be in there again after doing it in Tokyo, I’m really happy. Hopefully I can keep moving it on through the rounds.”
Elsewhere Katie Ledecky goes for her ninth gold medal and unprecedented fourth 800 metres freestyle title. She is the world record holder at the distance with a time of 8:04.79.
A win this evening would put her level with fellow American Michael Phelps as the only swimmers — of any gender and from any country — to win four gold medals in the same event.
“I’ve tried not to really think about it. I’m just taking it one event at a time and I know I have challenges in each of my events,” Ledecky said.
“So when all is said and done, I’ll enjoy it. I’ve certainly appreciated all the support and cheers that I’ve felt as I’ve gone through the week.”
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