Canadian Rio Olympics Update – Day 5
The Canadian medal count sits at 5 – 1 silver and 4 bronze, thanks to the latest podium visit from Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion, capturing bronze in sychro 10-metre platform diving. The duo also won bronze in 2012.
The Olympic rowing regatta was cancelled for Wednesday due to rain and high winds. Events are being rescheduled for the lagoon.
Toronto’s 16-year-old swimming sensation Penny Oleksiak is looking to add to her medal haul – already winning 2 in Rio – 1 silver, 1 bronze. Oleksiak and 22-year-old Chantal Van Landeghem of Winnipeg have both advanced to the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle. Those semis go shortly after 10 pm tonight. Van Landeghem was also member of the relay team alongside Oleksiak who won bronze in the 4×100 relay
Kelowna BC’s Kierra Smith has advanced to the semi finals of the 200m breaststroke, to be held shortly after 11 pm tonight. Smith is ranked 6th in the field of 16.
Tara Whitten of Edmonton finished 7th in cycling time trials of the 29.7 km race. Whitten finished with a time of 45 minutes, 1.16 seconds. American Kristin Armstrong won gold in the race, as the oldest competitor at the age of 42. Armstrong turns 43 tomorrow. She also won gold in 2008 in Beijing.
Whitby’s judo athlete Kelita Zupancic lost in extended time in the judo quarter finals to her Japanese opponent. However, Zupancic can still find the podium – if she beats Astria’s Bernadette Graf in a repechage contest – currently underway.
COMING UP :
Our Canadian women’s soccer team has been phenomenal to watch again at the Olympic Games. After a 2-1 win against Germany yesterday – one the ladies barely held on to, Canada will meet France in the quarter-finals Friday night at 6pm.
Another good day on the beach courts – this time for Canadian women Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan, who moved into first place in their pool after last night’s win over the Swiss. The Canadians can guarantee their spot in the quarter finals with a win over Germany tomorrow night.
After announcing their arrival to the world in a comeback win over Serbia in their opener, Canada’s women’s basketball team are back on the court this afternoon against Senegal – with a 4:45 tip-off.
The big story – again – has been US swimmer Michael Phelps, who continues to prove he’s a robot. Phelps did what Phelps does and won 2 Olympic gold medals in less than an hour last night, in the 200-metre butterfly and 4×200 freestyle with his American relay teammates. That’s 20 and 21 gold medals in his career and 25 medals total.
LOCAL NOTE: Corunna’s Derek Drouin, the current reigning world champion in high jump, will begin competition on Sunday, August 14th.