Triathlon: Despite the Mayor of Paris swimming in the Seine to prove it is safe, there are grave concerns over the water quality, and the men's triathlon is postponed. In the women's event the French Cassandre Beaugrand wins in front of her home crowd, and they couldn't be more pleased. It's silver for the Canadian Julie Derron, and bronze for Beth Potter from GBR. When the men do compete, it is a thrilling final and a dashing win for Alex Yee (GBR) from Hayden Wilde (NZL) and Leo Bergere (FRA) - plenty to cheer about there, and hope no one picks up any water-bourne nasties.
The mixed triathlon relay is a thrill. There is a strong current in the river for the first leg but Spain's Alberto Gonzalez Garcia gambles on a different line from the rest of the field, which pays off. Yee (GBR) and Wilde (NZL) are both on leg one, but Yee drops his swimming cap in transition and has to go back for it, while Wilde collides with Le Corre (FRA) on the bike and they both go down. Le Corre's chain is off and he loses valuable time replacing it. Yee hits the front of the run - he is fearless, focussed, and very, very fast. He hands over to Georgia Taylor-Brown in first position for leg two, while the French finish last with Emma Lombardi taking their second leg and almost swimming sideways. Lisa Tertsch (GER) goes into the water second and swims on Taylor-Brown's feet for most of the 300m swim before emerging first. Spivey (USA) has a fantastic swim and brings her team into sixth place, and Lombardi is moving her way up through the field.
Georgia-Brown swiftly closes the 7-second gap and rides alone at the front while the chasing group ride together. The German and the Suisse (Deron) continue to work together, and they catch Taylor-Brown on the run, as does Spivey having a blinder. They all hand over to their third leg - Dickinson (GBR) Luhrs (GER) remain in front for the swim and the bike, but Dickinson pulls away on the run and hands over to Beth Potter five seconds before Luhrs tags Laura Lindemann.
Potter comes out of the water in the lead, followed by Lindemann, and Taylor Knibb has pulled up to third for USA. Once again the British athlete goes solo on the ride, while Knibb blasts through the course to take the lead into the transition. Beaugrand arrives a minute later in fourth for France, but it's a lot to make up. Knibb leads the first lap of the run and it all comes down to a painfully close finish as Lindemann makes a final kick for gold and second and third are together on the line. The judges initially give a silver to GBR, but after looking at a photo-finish change that to a bronze and USA take second place. Whew, that's a tight race!
Canoe Slalom: I watch Jessica Fox pick up her gold in the C1 (as the whole of Australia expected, apparently). The Women's Kayak Cross is a crash and bash event with a drop mass start and some malarky underneath a log, where there is a 'roll zone'. The contestants are allowed to touch the posts, but have to get around them - like dodgems in the water. This is the first time the white water event has been included in the Olympic Games and it is utterly bonkers, which bodes well for future outings. It's won by Noemie Fox from Australia - Jess Fox's sister - and Jess jumps into the water with her to celebrate.
There is much affection on the podium as the three medallists (the appropriately-named Angele Hug in second for France and Kimberley Woods in third for Team GB) showcase their sport. In the Men's event, Finn Butcher from New Zealand wins wearing an Otago Highlanders mouthguard, and Joseph Clarke wins silver for Team GB after struggling to get around an upstream gate. Noah Hegge takes third for Germany. It's a new event but we've already caught the bug, assisted by Martin Cross, who is commentating again, this time with an annoying American whom Cross has to keep gently correcting.
I don't watch much of the Canoe Sprint, but I do catch the Women's K2 - or Kayak Double 500m, as it is officially termed. The New Zealand team with a fabulous synchronicity take gold with a commanding 2-second margin victory from Hungary. (There is a photo finish for third between Germany and a second Hungarian team, but they can't be separated so they share the bronze medal.)
One of the women in the Kiwi boat, Lisa Carrington, wins her seventh Olympic gold medal and goes on to make it eight in the Women's Kayak Single 500m on the final day of racing. Germany win the Men's Kayak Double 500m, and again there is a photo finish for second and third place, between Hungary, Australia and Spain. It is decided that Hungary get silver, Australia take bronze, and Spain finish fourth by 0.09 of a second. Sport can be exhilarating and cruel.
