WOLLONGONG’S Emma McKeon will turn her attention to her final event, the 200m freestyle, after riding a rollercoaster of emotions at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
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The 22-year-old was unable to contain her disappointment on the pool deck, after missing out on a medal in the 100m butterfly final on Monday morning (AEST).
Qualifying second fastest, McKeon touched the wall seventh in 57.05.
The result comes after McKeon celebrated gold as part of Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay final on Sunday, the team winning in a world record time. Brother David missed out on the 200m freestyle final, finishing last in his heat in 1:48.38, almost two seconds slower than his time set at the national championships.
David is still a medal prospect in Australia’s 4x200m relay event on Wednesday. On a day of frustration for Illawarra athletes, Albion Park hockey talent Blake Govers was powerless to prevent Spain pulling off a major upset, beating the Kookaburras 1-nil.
But there could be a golden glow on Tuesday, with Australian rugby sevens talent Emma Tonegato and Nicole Beck chasing a final sport in the early hours.
Shellharbour football star Caitlin Foord expects the Matildas to be part of the knockout action, as they prepare for a must-win showdown with Zimbabwe on Wednesday (AEST).
The Matildas can only progress through one of two available ‘third place’ spots, after a first-up loss to Canada and a 2-all draw with world No.2 Germany on Sunday.
The mission is simple for Foord. “We have to win by two,” she told Australian Olympics media. “Just try and score as many goals as we can and get the win and move on to the next round.
Foord scored the Matildas’ second goal to put Australia ahead, admitting she’s allowed herself to celebrate finding the net at an Olympics after being shifted into an attacking role.
“It was a pretty awesome feeling,” Foord said. “I don’t score too many goals, so when I do, it’s pretty awesome. It’s exciting to play at No.9 (striker), I haven’t played there in a long time. I was just satisfied to get the goal.”
WHAT TO WATCH
Illawarra Olympians in action
Emma Tonegato, Nicole Beck
Tuesday: Gold medal game (8am), bronze medal game (7.30am) Semi-finals played at 3.30am and 4am
Emma McKeon
Tuesday: 200m freestyle – Heats (2.02am), Semi (11.03 or 11.12am)
Wednesday: 200m freestyle – Final (11.19am)
Thursday: 4x200m freestyle – Heats (3.31am), Final (12.55pm)
David McKeon
Wednesday: 4x200m relay – Heats (3.17am), Final (12.29pm).
Caitlin Foord, Michelle Heyman
Wednesday: Matildas v Zimbabwe (5am)
Blake Govers
Wednesday: Kookaburras v Belgium (9:30am)
Casey Sablowski, Grace Stewart
Thursday: Hockeyroos v India (midnight)
