After a wonderful opening ceremony, we got down to business for day one of the Rio 2016 Olympic games.
Rio 2016 Day One Highlights
Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty didn’t just win his 100m breaststroke - he smashed his own world record in the process.
No golds yet for Team GB as Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome missed out on medals in the men’s road race, coming 11th and 12th place respectively. Thomas received medical treatment after crashing into a ditch during the race. Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet took the gold with Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang and Poland’s Rafal Majka winning silver and gold respectively.
USA’s Ginny Thrasher won the very first gold medal of the games in the women’s 10m air rifle.
Australia was top of the medal table at the end of the day with two golds in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay and the men's team archery.
Swimmer Yusra Mardini was the first of the Refugee Team to take part. Although the 18-year-old Syrian won her heat in the 100m butterfly, her time was not fast enough to earn her a place in the top 16.
Biggest Splash Of The Day
Ahead of the rowing heats, veteran athlete Sir Steve Redgrave declared conditions on the water at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas “absolutely awful”, thanks to wind and choppy waters.
The ones who felt this most of all was Serbian men’s coxless pair Milos Vasic and Nenad Benik, who ended up in the water after flipping their boat during their qualification round.
Fears have been raised by many over the potential health implications of ending up in the water, but the Guardian reported that Matt Smith, the executive director of rowing’s governing body, Fisa, insisted that there was no danger.
He claimed: “It is nearly drinking water.”
I’d probably still keep my mouth closed, to be honest.
Most Brutal Event For Injuries
The men’s road race claimed a number of victims on day one.
Team GB’s own Geraint Thomas needed medical treatment after crashing but got off relatively lightly comparing to some of the other competitors.
The Rio dream was over on day one for Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, who suffered a broken collarbone, and Australia’s Richie Porte who broke his shoulder blade.
Most Worrying Development
In a rather concerning turn of events, a stray bullet tore through the equestrian media tent on Saturday.
No one was injured in the incident, which saw the bullet come through the tent’s plastic roof.
According to Reuters, police are still trying to discover who fired the bullet and from where.
Mario Andrada, spokesman for the Rio 2016 organising committee, said: “It was a stray bullet and has nothing to do with the Games.”
He added that security around the venue had been increased as a precaution.
Inspiring Moment Of The Day
You’d think after breaking a world record, Adam Peaty might have been pretty knackered.
But the swimmer was barely out of the pool after his phenomenal effort and still had the time - and breath - to urge on the next generation of potential Olympians.
He said: “At the end of the day, I want to inspire thousands if not millions of kids out there to take up sport
“It does not matter what country you are from. I did not have the best place when I was younger to take up sport and be the best in the world, but I have worked hard every single day and here I am in an Olympic Games.
“Hopefully those kids at home watching the Games will get a moment like I had four years ago to switch on and put the hard work into the next Olympics.”
Medal Table At Close Of Day One
Team GB Ones To Watch On Day Two
Times are all in UK time.
- Adam Peaty has been tipped for a gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke after his brilliant performance on day one. Watch him from 2.50am tomorrow, if you can stay awake.
Lizzie Armitstead will be taking part in the women’s road race from 4.15pm. She won silver at London 2012 in the event.
London 2012 gold medallists Helen Glover and Heather Stanning will be looking to defend their title in the women’s coxless pair.
Commonwealth gold medallist Colin Oates will be taking part in the men’s -66kg judo event at 2.28pm.
After beating Japan and Brazil yesterday, the Team GB women’s Rugby 7s team will face Canada at 4.30pm.
After losing to Belgium yesterday, the men’s hockey team will face New Zealand at 9pm tonight.
The Best Of The Rest
US teen swimming star Katie Ledecky will take to the pool for the 400m women’s freestyle.
It’s women’s gymnastics qualifying day, with events kicking off from 1.45pm.
Also appearing today are: archery, artistic gymnastics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe slalom, road cycling, diving, equestrian events, fencing, football, handball, hockey, judo, rowing rugby 7s, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and weightlifting.
We’ll be rounding up the win, fails and funniest moments of each day at the Rio 2016 Olympics. You can find it online or sign up for the Daily Brief email here.