"Team Ballarat" Update
FORMER Ballarat Grammar School oarsman Tom Swann will row for a medal in the men’s eight final in the London Olympic Games.
The eight qualified for the final with a fighting fourth in a repechage last night (AEST).
With the first four going through to the final, Australia had to dig deep to keep Poland at bay in a see-sawing last 500m.
Great Britain dominated the 2000m event, leading all the way.
Canada was second and Netherlands third.
These crews join heat winners United States and Germany in tomorrow’s gold medal row-off at 7.30pm AEST.
Lane draw:
1 Netherlands
2 Great Britain
3 United States
4 Australia
5 Poland
6 Ukraine
MEANWHILE, the men’s lightweight four, featuring Ballarat’s three-time Olympic medallist Anthony Edwards contest a semi-final at 9.40pm AEST today.
The crew progressed straight to the semi-finals after finishing second to Great Britain in a heat on Saturday.
Semi-final draw:
1 Italy
2 China
3 South Africa
4 France
5 Australia
6 Denmark
THE Australian Opals suffered a shock loss to France, a late qualifier for the Games in their second pool game.
Having defeated Great Britain 74-58 first-up, Opals lost to France 74-70 in overtime.
The scores were locked on 65 points at the end of the regular time.
Australia still has three pool games to play, but this is a setback to its aspirations to challenge the United States for ther gold medal.
Former Ballarat Lady Miners player Rachel Jarry had just four minutes, 41 seconds of court time.
RESULTS
ROWING
MEN’S EIGHT REPECHAGE
Great Britain 5:26.85, Canada 5:27.41, Netherlands 5:27.98, Australia 5:28.67.
WOMEN’S BASEKETBALL
France 74 d Australia 70 (overtime)