WATSON SECURES FINAL SPOT

Tanya Watson has doubled down on history by qualifying for the semi-final of the Women’s 10-metre platform diving competition.

She is Ireland’s first-ever woman to compete in the Olympic diving and has now reached the semi-final due to take place tomorrow.

Her score this morning of 289.40 qualified her for the semi-final as 16th of the 18 competitors to progress. The Top 12 will qualify for the Final with the 12th place in the Preliminary round being secured with a score of 297.65.

GOLFERS IN THE SWING

Leona Maguire lies in a share for 23rd five shots off the Gold and four off the podium after a level-par first round of the Women’s Golf tournament.

Stephanie Meadow finished well to record a one-shot further back round and lies in 36th place.

Opening with 3 pars, Maguire carded a bogey on the par 3 4th but bounced back well with a birdie on the 5th. On her back 9, she posted two bogeys and two birdies, one of which came at the 17th when she held a 20-foot putt down the sloping green.

“It was mixed,” admitted Maguire of her round. “I probably didn’t give myself as many chances as I would have liked and didn’t quite have my irons dialled in, not that there was that many of them, it was mostly hybrids and woods into the greens but it was just slightly off I would say today. I holed a few nice putts to save pars and that. Just a little bit of fine-tuning I think this afternoon and be ready to go again tomorrow.”

The conditions are a contributing factor, with temperatures rising to 34 degrees Celsius and real feel touching 38 degrees. However, Maguire has been preparing for the heat well in advance with her team.

“We’ve been doing hot baths and stuff for a few months now,” she explains. ”This was kind of a continuation of a few events in the heat but this is the hottest we’ve had this year. I use slushy drinks and ice, it’s a whole combination of things before, during and after your round. After is going to be the key to recovery with the quick turnarounds.”

Maguire represented Team Ireland in Rio and admits that she likes to think that she has matured a little bit since then.

“Yeah I mean, it’s hard to tell really how different I am since then,” she laughed. “I’d like to think that I’ve matured a little bit and have a lot more experience under my belt. I didn’t get off to the best of starts in Rio, so I was a little bit more patient today. I got a few bad breaks and tried to stay as patient as I could and stay strong. I could have let it get away from me today and I didn’t, so I’m happy with how I managed that.

“I enjoy wearing green, it’s an honour for me to represent Ireland, I do it every week but this is a special one this week.”

Maguire is set to begin her second round tomorrow at 01.47am (Irish time), however organisers are considering some inclement weather due for this weekend in the Tokyo area, so two rounds may be completed tomorrow.

SHOW JUMPERS IN FINE FORM FOR FINAL

The running order for the equestrian Individual Show Jumping Final AT 11 AM this morning has been confirmed. The athletes will go in reverse order from yesterday’s results.

Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny will be 6th to go, 25th into the ring will be Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro, while Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello will be the second last of the 30 competitors into the ring.

All three jumped clear rounds with no time penalties in yesterday’s qualifying round and looked in fine form on the course.

With the rounds taking place under floodlights there was talk of shadows making some of the jumps trickier than expected but it was very entertaining, and a little bit heart-stopping, watching the rounds develop.

With Ireland having all three of its competitors into the Final, as many as any other country, we have a strong chance of a medal. Team USA including Jessica Springsteen failed to get a rider through to the medal round.

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Sky Brown took bronze for Team GB in the Skateboarding in the early hours.

What makes that a little bit special is that she is 13 years old, she fell in her first two rounds before nailing it in her final opportunity, oh, and that last year she fractured her skull in a training accident.

And if you fear that such an achievement at such a young age would impact on a youngetsr, consider that fact that three years ago she won a TV reality show in Dancing , and that for Paris in 2024 she is already considering doubling up between skateboarding and her other love of surfing, despite the fact that the latter will take place in Tahiti.

The two venues will be separated by a mere 15,000 kilometres.

 

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