Good evening!

Finally, the Olympics are here. No matter what happens over the next two weeks, all those competing will write new chapters in their story and hopefully their country’s sporting story at large.

I have no doubt there will be tears of elation and tears of devastation. But seeing athletes give it their all when the margin between triumph and tragedy is so small is part of what makes this event special.

We have updated the format of this newsletter to accommodate the Olympics. In it, you’ll find a curation of the top moments we think you should tune in for, a wrap of the previous 24 hours and one or two stories that have us talking.

So, let’s get stuck in. As always if you have any feedback or something you think is worthy of a mention please reply to the email and let us know.

P.S. If you want to catch the Opening Ceremony it starts at 4:24am tomorrow (AEST). You can watch the Olympics on Channel 9, 9Now, and Stan Sport.

Paris ‘24: TDA’s must-watch moments (AEST)

Saturday 27 July (all times in AEST)

🏀 7:00pm, Men’s Basketball: Australia v Spain (Group Game)
The Boomers will kick off their Olympic campaign against world no.2 Spain.

🏑 9:15pm, Men’s Hockey: Australia v Argentina (Group Game)
The Kookaburras (no.4) start their quest for Olympic Gold against world no.6 Argentina.

🚴 10:30pm, Women’s Cycling: Individual Time Trial (Medal Event 🥇)
32-year-old Grace Brown is looking for a medal at her second Olympics after finishing fourth in this event in Tokyo.

🏐 11:00pm, Men’s Beach Volleyball: Australia v Sweden (Group Game)
Aussies Mark Nicolaidis & Izac Carracher make their Olympic debut against a Swedish pair who were second at the World Champs in 2023.

Sunday 28 July

🚣‍♀️ 12:00am, Canoe Slalom: Women's K1 (Heats)
Watch for Australia’s flag-bearer Jess Fox in her first appearance at this Olympics.

🏉 12:00am, Men’s Rugby Sevens: Australia v Fiji (Semi-Final)
Australia are unbeaten so far but will face a formidable opponent in Fiji, who have won both Olympic golds since Sevens was introduced in Rio.

🚴12:32am, Men’s Cycling: Individual Time Trial (Medal Event 🥇)
Aussie Lucas Plapp will start at 1:09am. This is Plapp’s second Olympics after he won a bronze medal in Track Cycling (Team Pursuit) at Tokyo 2020.

🏐 2:00am, Women’s Beach Volleyball: Australia v China (Group Game)
Aussies Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar are aiming to upgrade their Tokyo silver result to gold, playing China in front of the Eiffel Tower. 

🤽‍♀️ 4:00am, Women’s Water Polo: Australia v China (Group Game)
The Stingers haven’t medalled since Beijing 2008. Can they overcome multiple positive COVID tests to power through the group stage? 

Then, it’s time for swimming…

🏊‍♀️ 4:42am, Men’s 400m Freestyle (Final 🥇)
There are two Aussies racing the 400m freestyle. Sam Short is the favourite after winning the World Champs last year but Elijah Winnington is another strong contender.

🏊‍♀️ 4:52am, Women’s 400m Freestyle (Final 🥇)
Ariarne Titmus (need we say more?) and Jamie Perkins are contesting this event for Australia. Look out for the battle between Titmus, American legend Katie Ledecky and Canadian teen sensation Summer McIntosh.

🏊‍♀️ 5:34am, Women’s 4×100m Freestyle Relay (Final 🥇)
The Aussies are unbeaten in this Olympic event since 2012 and will look to defend the Olympic title they won in Tokyo. Expect fierce competition from the U.S.

🏊‍♀️ 5:44am, Men’s 4×100m Freestyle Relay (Final 🥇)
The U.S. are the defending Olympic champions and favourites to win this event but Australia are always a part of the conversation and will be out to upset them.

Paris ‘24: The headlines

In case you missed it…

🏉 The Aussie Men’s Rugby Sevens beat the United States 18-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday morning. They will now prepare to play Fiji, who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, in the semi-final at midnight on Saturday (AEST). The other semi-final will be between France and South Africa at 11:30pm on Saturday (AEST).

The Canadian women’s football team defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their Group A match. The win comes amid a spying controversy after Canadian staff flew a drone over a New Zealand training session earlier in the week. Head coach Bev Priestman and two more staff have since been sent home. The Canadian Olympic Committee also said in a statement they had received more information about apparent drone use before the Olympics.

🏊‍♂️ Australian Swimming Coach Michael Palfrey will stay in Paris after he told South Korean media he hopes South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-Min will win the Men’s 400m freestyle. Two Australians, Elijah Winnington and Sam Short, are competing in the event. Palfrey has previously served as a mentor to Woo-Min. Head coach Rohan Dennis said the consequences of his comments will wait until after the Games to ensure the Australian team is not understaffed.

🏹 Two Australians competed in the Individual Ranking Rounds of Archery last night. In the men’s, Peter Boukouvalas was ranked 60 out of 64. In the women’s, Laura Paeglis was ranked 44 out of 64. The ranking determines who the archers will compete against in the first elimination round next week. 

Paris ‘24: What we’re talking about

The Matilda’s lost their first game at the Olympics. Can they still win a medal?

The Matildas were defeated 3-0 by Germany in their first game at the Olympics last night. But no fear, it’s not all over! The Matildas still have two group-stage games to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

What happened?

Germany netted one goal in the first half and two in the second half, courtesy of Marina Hegering, Lea Schüller, and Jule Brand. The Matildas had shots on goal but none got past the keeper.

How does the Olympic Tournament work?

There are 12 teams in the Women’s football tournament at the Olympics. The teams are divided into three groups of four. Australia is in Group B with Zambia, the United States, and Germany.

Eight teams will advance from the Group Stage to the quarterfinals. The eight teams consist of the top two teams and the two best third-placed teams in each group.

What’s next?

The Matildas have two group games remaining. The first is a must-win against world no.64 Zambia and then they play women’s football powerhouse the United States (no.5). The U.S. beat Australia in the bronze-medal match at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Monday 29 July at 3:00am v Zambia (AEST)

Thursday 1 August at 3:00am v United States (AEST)

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Anything but Paris ‘24

🏎️ Formula One heads to Belgium this weekend for the 14th race of the season. Max Verstappen won the same race last year, he hasn’t been nearly as dominant this year. You can watch the F1 at 11:00pm on Sunday (AEST) on Foxtel or Kayo.

🏉 The Knights beat the Roosters 12-10 in the NRLW season opener last night. Roosters kicker Jocelyn Kelleher missed a crucial opportunity to tie the score and force the match into extra time via a penalty kick in the 70th minute. The first round continues with games tonight and through to Sunday.

🏉 Round 20 of the AFL begins tonight when Carlton (2nd) plays Port Adelaide (7th) at 7:40pm. The Brisbane Lions (3rd), who have won seven games in a row, will look to upset the Gold Coast Suns’ (12th) unbeaten record at home on Saturday afternoon. The Sydney Swans (1st) have lost three of their last four games and will be looking to turn things around against the Western Bulldogs (9th) on Sunday afternoon.

🏐 The Super Netball Preliminary Final between the Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever is this Saturday at 5:00pm (AEST). The winner will secure a spot in the Grand Final against the Adelaide Thunderbirds next weekend. After last weekend, the Vixens will be looking to bounce back from their semi-final loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds while the Fever will be hoping to capitalise on a run of good form after eliminating the Sunshine Coast Lightning. You can watch the game on Foxtel or Kayo (free). 

🏉 Round 21 of the NRL kicks off tonight with the Warriors v West Tigers at 6:00 pm. Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster is also set to make a long-awaited return against the Eels at 8:00pm tonight after being named on the bench earlier this week. The Knights are the only team with a bye this weekend.

A message from our sponsor

Is it too late to become an Olympian?

Watching young sportspeople on TV can make you wonder if your Olympic dreams are fading. That voice in your head saying you might represent Australia one day is getting quieter. If you’d stuck with it in high school, you could be in Paris now!

Dr. Lyndell Bruce from Deakin's School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences has analysed the age limits for Olympians. Endurance athletes peak in their early-to-mid 30s, while gymnasts and divers peak in their teens or early 20s.

Research shows many Olympic athletes try several sports before specialising, and ‘talent transfers’—switching sports—can be successful. For some Paralympians, the path to elite sport can be swift.

Talent scouts know there's no single path to becoming an elite athlete. Even you could still make the Australian team, though perhaps not for Paris.

Read more of Dr. Bruce’s research on the age of elite athletes and talent identification here.

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