Commentator mix-up a Canadian won’t live down
As the world watched Phelps surge ahead, only one man didn't realise it was him. Photo: Getty
A Canadian commentator has made a monumental gaffe, calling the final stages of the 200m individual medley final as if Ryan Lochte had won the race — and not Michael Phelps.
In reality, Phelps won the gold, his fourth consecutive Olympics 200m individual medley triumph, and his 22nd gold medal, while his US teammate Lochte finished fifth.
But Canadian viewers would not have known.
Their Olympics broadcast commentator cheered Lochte home in the gold medal position with gusto.
“Finally, he’s going to do it! Ryan Lochte is going to beat Michael Phelps in this event!”, the commentator roared.
Watch the hilarious moment below:
https://twitter.com/BourbonAndBeer/status/763921460893143040
The win was Phelps’ fourth of the 2016 Rio Games.
It was only the third time in Olympic history that one athlete has won the same event at four consecutive games.
Lochte has won Olympic silver twice behind Phelps (London and Athens) in the 200m individual medley and bronze once (Beijing).
Australia, New Zealand flag in mix up
New Zealand might be regretting voting down a new flag in its 2015/2016 referendum.
Jones, Maialen Chourraut and Fox pose with their medals. Photo: Getty
Kiwi Luuka Jones won a silver medal in the K1 canoe slalom, beating Australia’s Jess Fox who finished with the bronze.
But whoever put the flags up for the medal ceremony had the Australian flag above the New Zealand flag.
The flags are famously similar.
New Zealand’s flag only differs from Australia as it doesn’t have a “Southern Star” under the Union Jack and its southern cross stars are filled in red, not white.
After the tweet below was posted, the mishap was confirmed.
https://twitter.com/Andrew_Mulligan/status/763829007372681216
‘It’s okay to be sexist’: US women’s basketball coach
The United States’ women’s basketball coach has caused controversy by claiming that sexism was acceptable to some in 2016.
The coach – Geno Auriemma – made the comments in response to people who’d questioned if his team’s dominance was bad for basketball.
The US women’s team have romped to wins in all three of their games in Rio. They have also won the past five Olympic gold medals.
Auriemma said he would never apologise for his team’s excellence even though “we live in that Trumpian era where it’s okay to be sexist and degrade people that are good, just because they’re the opposite sex”.
Auriemma has slapped down criticisms of his team that he deemed as ‘sexist’. Photo: Getty
Photo of the day
The women’s 100m freestyle final dead heat.
Sarah Manuel (L) and Penny Oleksiak (R) finish in a dead heat to share the 100m freestyle gold medal, with Cate Campbell who floundered in between them. Photo: Getty
Coach sent home for posing as athlete in urine test
A Kenyan sprinting coach has been kicked out of the Games for giving his own urine sample in the place of an athlete.
John Anzrah even signed documents to try and prove he was the athlete that he provided urine for.
More than 40 Kenyan athletes have failed doping tests since 2012. It is unclear who Anzrah was filling in for.
Making the story even more ridiculous is that Anzrah, a former runner who competed at the 1987 World Championships, is 61.
No one knows who the coach stepped in for. Photo: Getty
What to watch on Saturday
There’s hopefully the first of many medals in the cycling in the women’s track team sprint at 7am (AEST).
We’re outside medal chances for that, but are the gold medal favourites in the men’s team pursuit just after.
At 10.20am, the preliminaries for the men’s long jump begin, with our own Fabrice Lapierre a strong medal chance.
There’s one of the first track and field finals at 11am in the women’s shot put, but most Aussies will probably be watching our Matildas take on host nation Brazil at the same time.
And, of course, there’s the swimming too, but Emily Seebohm’s surprising failure to make it to the women’s 200m backstroke final means there’s little by the way of Aussie medal chances in the pool.
The pick of the bunch:
4am: Tennis – men’s doubles bronze medal match
5.30am: Tennis – men’s doubles gold medal match
7am: Cycling – women’s track team sprint
7.34am: Cycling – men’s team pursuit
9.30am: Hockey – Australia v Brazil (men)
10.20am: Long Jump – preliminaries (men)
11am: Athletics – women’s shot put
11am: Football – Australia v Brazil (women)
11.10am: Water Polo – Australia v Serbia (men)
The Rio Report will be published on each day of the 2016 Olympic Games.
