MadAsHell

So it seems that while the final few events are wrapping up, the Australian campaign has come to a close with Nicola McDermott claiming our final medal, being a silver in the women's high jump last night. Giving us 17 Gold, 7 Silver & 22 Bronze. Our equal most Gold medals with Athens 2004 and equal 3rd highest total medal haul, equalling the 46 we claimed in Bejing 2008. It's been an incredibly successful Olympics for the country and for Tokyo in pulling it off all things considered. From what I understand the Olympics have been a ratings smash for Channel 7, so the appetite for the Olympics are still there, despite what some say. With Brisbane 2032 on the cards now, it will be interesting to see how that translates to results going forward with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games just around the corner and then into Paris 2024. After Sydney secured the rights for the games back in 1993, we saw Australia claim it's largest medal haul ever at the time of 41 in Atlanta 1996, before transitioning into what were our three most succesful games ever before this year in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Bejing 2008. But as always, funding will no doubt play a big part in it. Highlights for me these games cover a few. Titmus 400m Freestyle win against Ledecke, the Womens 4x100m Freestyle relay world record, the Womens 4.100m Medley Relay on the final day in the pool, Jess Fox breaking through for her win in the C1, the Boomers finally getting that elusive Basketball medal, similar with Melissa Wu in the 10m Platform, Del Solar & Clancy defeating the World Number 1 pair in the Beach Volleyball on their way to claiming a silver medal and probably a string of others that escape me right now that I'll think of later. Areas of concern or things that I think should be looked at. Lack of success this Olympics in the Veledrome as opposed to how we often stack up. How the Opals are going to move forward in a post Cambage world and the Hockeyroos inability to make the medal rounds in the Hockey. But even all three of those had their moments this games as well. It's been a memorable fortnight as it always is.

Here's hoping one of those results can go our way Macca! We've been on the verge for a few days now, so here's hoping for one final bang!

And Nicola McDermott claims Silver in the high jump with an Australian record! That's 46 medals for Australia, equalling our haul from Bejing (bettering it given we've claimed more gold here). What a games this has been for the nation!

The Boomers have finally done it! After 65 years and me watching intently since 92' for them to break through for a medal, the Boomers have finally claimed that elusive Olympic medal with a great Bronze Medal win over Slovenia. Patty Mills you star!!!

Here's hoping we can do it Macca! We're two medals short of equalling our haul of 46 from Bejing and 1 gold short of our best gold haul ever! Hoping for a bolt from the blue, like Chloe Esposito helping us avoid our lowest gold haul since 92' last Olympics.

Great effort last night from Kelsey-Lee! As you say Macca, one can't help but think under different circumstances she could have won the Gold? But it's a great performance given all her set backs. If only she had of got that last piece of beef instead of her brother Greg!😬

Bronze for Harry Garside in the boxing! Fought a good fight, but just outclassed by Cruz. No shame though, as he really gave it his all. A bronze medal well deserved!

That's game set and match and a silver medal for the Australian Beach Volleyball pair of Del Solar & Clancy, losing to USA 21-15, 21-16. We've had a bad run against the USA in the last two days with the Boomers, Matildas and now Beach Volleyball team all getting beaten by them. A great effort from Del Solar & Clancy to now be Silver Medalists at the Commonwealth Games 3 years ago and now at the Olympics as well where they beat the World Number 1 pair from Canada. Here's hoping for Gold in Birmingham next year!

Back online after some tech issues. Great result last night for Ashley to claim bronze and heartbreak for the Kookaburras to miss out on Gold through a penalty shoot out with Belgium. Was probably the right result as Belgium were the better team over the course of the game, however I thought Kookaburras were by far the better team in the last term and were finishing over the top of Belgium, but just couldn't get that goal! I can't help but feel if extra time was still a thing, that may have suited us better?

Matildas lose in cruel fashion to USA in the soccer bronze medal match 4-3. Didn't have the rub of the green with the referee, but an impressive performance from the Matildas.

Looks like Melissa Will had just secured herself a medal with a great round of diving! Colour to be determined. Most likely bronze, but a much deserved medal for Melissa. She's been a great diver for a long time, often falling just short.

Tough 19 point loss for the Boomers against USA today. Was just the last 3-4min of the 2nd term and the 3rd term that killed us. Will still get a chance for Bronze however on Saturday.

Skateboarding gold to 18 year old Keegan Palmer! That's 17 Gold Medal for Australia! With the Kookaburras on tonight, we could make this our best games by the end of the day!

Gold for Australia in the Kayak Doubles in a thriller! Gold Number 16. The record is in sight! What a finish!

Yes being alive in so many of the team events certainly helps keep you on your toes for the last few days of the Olympics as the numbers of events start to wrap up. Fingers crossed there's a few more gold in us yet!

Melissa Wu has qualified for the final of the women's 10 meter Platform later on today in 5th position. Less then 10 points shy of the woman in 3rd and 15 clear of the woman in 6th, so she's well and truly in the medal discussion. The two from China look a class above, however once the final starts, everyone starts again from zero, so you never know what could happen?

They've done it the Aussie Girls! Del Solar & Clancy have won their way through to the Gold Medal match in the Women's Beach Volleyball match with a straight sets win over Latvia 23-21, 21-13. Tough first set and the 2nd set seemed to be going the same way, until the Aussie Girls steam rolled through the back end of the 2nd set! The Americans won't be easy beats, as their ranked number 2 in the World, however after we knocked off World Number 1's Canada in the Quarter Final, I don't think that will phase this pair!

Peter Bol just misses out on a medal, but ran a good race for 4th.

The skill involved in that is unquestionable. I have no idea how they do it?

Bronze for Australia at the veledrome in the team pursuit over New Zealand. Unfortunate for the Kiwis as it came about due to a crash, but a great race by the Aussies and a deserved win. That is now 36 medals for Australia. We already know this Olympics is currently our 3rd best Gold Medal haul, and now with 36 medals it brings us up to our 5th best total medal haul, going past the 35 we won in both 56' Melbourne and 12' London.

Meanwhile the Opals have been eliminated from the women's basketball competition with a 79-55 loss to USA. I think it's fair to say we're now officially in a transition phase with our women's basketball team, just like we were with the Boomers after the Sydney Olympics and we saw the last of Gaze, Bradtke, Longley etc.

Gold to Australia with Ryan & Belcher in the sailing! All they needed to do was turn up today, but they've done better and won the race on top of that. 15 Gold now to Australia, officially our 3rd greatest haul!

Bronze to Australia in the Women's Marathon swim with Kareena Lee. Wjhat an amazing swin! Sadly I missed it by sleeping in due to my late night last night, but will have to check it out.

They've done it!!! Revenge for the Commonwealth Games Gold medal match! Del Solar & Clancy have won their way through to the Semi Finals defeating the World Number 1 pair from Canada in three sets 21-15, 19-21, 15-12 in an amazing performance! The Americans who are on the other side of the draw are probably favourites now, but these two are more then capable of going all the way!

It's all happening at the moment. Boomers cruising to a win over Argentina and Del Solar/Clancy take the first set against the World Number 1's who hadn't dropped a set for the tournament until now. Could we go three for four tonight with our teams??? Edit: Yes Boomers win by a massive 38 points 97-59 against the 2019 World Cup Silver Medalists. Just a demolition job in the final term after it was only 60-48 at 3/4 time. Our 2nd largest Olympic win ever, just below our 103-62 win over Greece in Atlanta in 1996 which I remember quite well in the Gaze, Heal, Bradtke era. Next task for the Boomers, the USA! Now if we can bring Del Solar/Clancy home!