Rio Olympics 2016: Australian athlete eats his losing sorrows away
The green pool is in the news ... again. Photo: Getty
What to do after being eliminated from competition at the Olympics?
Eat a truckload of McDonald’s, of course.
Sawan Serasinghe – who played doubles badminton for Australia in Rio – crashed out of the competition after the group stage, in which he didn’t record a win.
But after a meticulous physical preparation, Serasinghe chose Maccas as his reward.
Included in his haul were 40 chicken nuggets, six large fries, six burgers – and that’s not all!
“Just want to say thanks again to everyone back home for the on going support,” Serasinghe wrote on Instagram.
“Now it’s time to eat some junk food after months of eating clean!”
It was estimated Serasinghe’s feast contained around 8000 calories.
We don’t know if he finished all of the food, but assume he is currently in some sort of “food coma” and would notify his followers once he was out of it.
Photo(s) of the day
Usain Bolt won the 100m sprint final for the third Olympic Games in a row on Monday (AEST).
But there was a moment in his semi-final that was just as stunning.
The moment two photographers caught the oft-nonchalant Bolt grinning at his rivals mid-race.
Cameron Spencer captured Bolt cracking a smile mid-race in his semi-final. Photo: Getty
Salih Zeki Fazlioglu caught Bolt’s smile from a different angle. Photo: Getty
The one thing Michael Phelps can’t do
The American is retiring after winning 23 Olympic gold medals, of which five came in Rio.
But not even he could explain why so many Australian swimmers (in particular Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emily Seebohm and Cam McEvoy) failed at the Games.
Phelps had no idea why the Australians stuggled. Photo: Getty
“Australia has always had fast swimmers,” Phelps told reporters.
“I don’t know. I have no idea what happened.
“But the talent’s there, we’ve seen that. Obviously the swimming coaches and the organising committee have to figure out what’s going on.
“I don’t know if I could give any advice. [Cate Campbell] swam 52.0 in a 100 freestyle [last month], that’s insane. That’s ridiculously fast.
“Obviously their bodies were in shape and ready to swim. Maybe it was a mental thing, I don’t know.
“But I think when you come into a Games like this, a major international competition, I think you should be ready both physically and mentally because these meets take a lot out of you both ways and emotionally.”
Sarah Manuel (L) and Penny Oleksiak (R) finish in a dead heat to share the 100m freestyle gold medal, with Cate Campbell who flunked in sixth, in between them. Photo: Getty
More problems for Rio’s ‘swamp’ diving pool
While organisers replaced the green water in a water polo pool for the beginning of the synchronised swimming, they have not done the same for the diving facility.
The diving pool turned green due to hydrogen peroxide being added to the water by mistake. Photo: Getty
Divers will still have to compete in the green water despite being used to crystal clear pool conditions.
Australian diver Maddison Keeney – who finished fifth in the 3m springboard final – was less than impressed.
“Considering our competitions are going through until the end, I wish they had changed the diving pool,” she said.
“I don’t think I can blame the pool for my bad diving. It’s more of a mental thing really, it’s just unpleasant.
“I’m glad to be out now. Don’t want to go diving in the swamp again.”
Andy Murray reminds presenter women exist
BBC presenter John Inverdale told Andy Murray he was the first person to win two Olympic gold medals for tennis, after he beat Juan Martin Del Potro in the men’s singles final.
However Andy Murray responded: “Venus [Williams] and Serena [Williams] won four each”, The Guardian reported.
JOHN INVERDALE: You're the first person to win 2 Olympic tennis golds!
ANDY MURRAY: Venus & Serena have won 4 each.<3 <3 <3 #Olympics
— Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) August 15, 2016
Murray was correct, although Inverdale may have been referring to the fact the Scot was the first person – of any gender – to win two gold medals in Olympic singles history.
Venus Williams won singles gold at Sydney 2000, plus three doubles’ golds (Sydney, Beijing, London).
Serena Williams won singles gold at London 2012 and the same doubles titles with her sister.
Murray became the first person to win two gold medals in Olympic singles tennis. Photo: Getty
BBC add hen’s night to Olympics coverage
BBC Four presenter Dan Walker allowed a passing group of Brazilian women enjoying a hen’s night onto his show.
The results were fantastic.
Brasil.mp4 pic.twitter.com/UuLw9KAxnd
— Danilo Sanches (@danilo_sanches) August 15, 2016
What to watch on Tuesday
The men’s 800m final (11.25am) and women’s 400m race (11.45am) are the clear standouts here.
The men’s pole vault at 9.35am looks good, too, while earlier than that, we’re in action against Hungary in the women’s water polo at 4.30am.
And Glenn O’Shea is given an outside chance in the men’s omnium cycling event at 6.23am.
The pick of the bunch:
4.30am – Water Polo – Australia v Hungary (women)
6.23am: Cycling – track, men’s omnium
6.24am: Wrestling – men’s greco-roman 130kg
9.35am: Athletics – men’s pole vault
11.25am: Athletics – men’s 800m
11.45am: Athletics – women’s 400m
The Rio Report will be published on each day of the 2016 Olympic Games.
