AUSTRALIA HAVE HAD just about the best possible start to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Starting the Games with the nation’s best opening day in Olympic history – with three gold and two silver medals – and following it up with another gold medal-effort from flagbearer Jess Fox, Australia currently sits second on the medal table after two days of competition. The fun isn’t over yet though.
The Olympic schedule is an unforgiving beast. Doze off too early and you’ll miss a historic gold medal, spend too long watching one sport and you’ll be completely unaware of a new world record in another. That onslaught isn’t slowing down, and there’s a massive week ahead for Australia where we expect the medals to continue flowing in.
As most Australians will now be aware after a weekend of late nights and early mornings, the schedule of Olympic events was clearly not catered to our time zone. For that reason, selecting which events you’re going to watch is an important task. You don’t want to commit to waking up at 3am unless it’s going to be worth it, but you also don’t want to risk missing out on a magical moment.
To put your mind at ease, we’ve hand-picked this week’s highlights, so you can focus on the events that matter. All dates and times are in AEST. Don’t lose too much sleep.
INSTAGRAM | @ethan_ewing
Monday night, July 29th
Men’s field hockey, Australia vs Ireland – 6:00pm
The Kookaburras look to continue their winning start in the pool stage.
Women’s basketball, Australia vs Nigeria – 7:00pm
The Opals begin their Olympic campaign.
Diving, men’s synchronised 10m platform final – 7:00pm
Equestrian, team eventing final – 7:00pm
Tennis, singles second round – 8:00pm
World number one Iga Swiatek continues her path to gold while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic meet for what could be the last time.
Women’s rugby sevens, Australia vs Ireland – 10:30pm
Tuesday morning, July 30th
Women’s field hockey, Australia vs Great Britain – 1:00am
The Hockeyroos won their first pool stage match against South Africa 2-1.
Skateboarding, men’s street final – 1:00am
Men’s surfing, round three – 3:00am
Aussie surfer Ethan Ewing has already qualified for this knockout stage, Jack Robinson can join him by winning his round two heat.
Swimming, women’s 400m individual medley final – 4:30am
Prodigal Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh is expected to claim her first Olympic gold medal.
Swimming, men’s 200m freestyle final – 4:40am
Tasmanian Max Giuliani could have a shot at a medal, qualifying for the final with the fifth fastest time.
Swimming, women’s 200m freestyle final – 5:41am
Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan will go head to head in this highly anticipated matchup that could go down in history as one of the best swimming races of all time.
Beach volleyball, Australia vs USA – 6:00am
Silver medal winners from the Tokyo Games Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy begin their quest to go one better with a tough matchup.
Women’s surfing, round three – 8:00am
Australia’s leading medal hopeful Molly Picklum has already been eliminated, but former world champion Tyler Wright is still in with a chance.
Tuesday night, July 30th
Men’s triathlon – 4:00pm
Matt Hauser has a genuine shot at a gold medal and will doubtlessly finish towards the front of the pack
Men’s water polo, Australia vs Serbia – 6:30pm
Men’s basketball, Australia vs Canada – 9:30pm
The Boomers take on a Canadian side filled with NBA talent as they look to book a place in the knockout stages.
Shooting, men’s trap final – 11:30pm
James Willett is likely to be Australia’s best chance of winning a shooting medal. He’ll go for gold in this event.
Wednesday morning, July 31st
Artistic gymnastics, women’s team final – 2:15am
Can Simone Biles steer the USA to another gold medal?
Men’s surfing, quarterfinals – 3:00am
Men’s field hockey, Australia vs Belgium – 3:45am
Women’s rugby sevens, gold medal match – 3:45am
If the women’s sevens team progresses through the knockout stages, they’ll be playing for gold in this match.
Swimming, women’s 100m backstroke final – 4:56am
Kaylee McKeown will look to reclaim her world record in this event, which was broken by American Regan Smith earlier this month.
Swimming, men’s 800m freestyle final – 5:02am
Sam Short finished fourth in the 400m freestyle, narrowly missing out on a medal. He has another chance here.
Women’s surfing, quarterfinals – 5:24am
Swimming, men’s 4x200m freestyle relay – 6:01am
Men’s surfing, semifinals – 7:48am
Women’s surfing, semifinals – 9:00am
Men’s surfing, gold medal match – 11:34am
Women’s surfing, gold medal match – 12:15pm
Wednesday night, July 31st
Women’s triathlon – 4:00pm
Women’s freestyle BMX final – 9:15pm
Natalya Diehm was fifth in this event in Tokyo and will hope to figure into the medals.
Women’s field hockey, Australia vs USA – 9:15pm
Women’s water polo, Australia vs The Netherlands – 10:00pm
Men’s freestyle BMX final – 10:44pm
Logan Martin became the first ever men’s Olympic gold medallist in this event three years ago, now he’s back to defend his crown.
Shooting, women’s trap final – 11:30pm
Thursday morning, August 1st
Women’s K1 slalom final – 1:25pm
Flagbearer Jess Fox has already won gold at these Games, but she could add another to the tally on Thursday morning.
Women’s football, Australia vs USA – 3:00am
It’s do or die for the Matildas, who could need a result here to book a place in the knockout rounds depending on how matches in other groups play out.
Swimming, women’s 100m freestyle final – 4:30am
If she misses out on gold in the 200m freestyle, expect Mollie O’Callaghan to be even hungrier in this event.
Swimming, women’s 1500m freestyle final – 5:07am
No one will challenge Katie Ledecky here, but Australian Lani Pallister could nab a medal.
Swimming, men’s 200m breaststroke final – 6:15am
Zac Stubblety-Cook won gold in this event in Tokyo and has a chance of going back-to-back.
Swimming, men’s 100m freestyle final – 6:22am
Kyle Chalmers has won Olympic gold and silver in the 100m freestyle and is a good chance of adding to his tally.
Thursday night, August 1st
Men’s golf, individual opening round – 5:00pm
Women’s 20km race walk – 5:20pm
Jemima Montag placed second at the world championships in this event last year.
Men’s field hockey, Australia vs New Zealand – 6:30pm
Rowing, women’s double sculls final – 6:30pm
The Australian duo had the third fastest time in the heats and look like they’ll challenge for medals.
Rowing, men’s four – 7:06pm
Women’s basketball, Australia vs Canada – 9:30pm
Sailing, men’s skiff medal race – 10:43pm
Men’s water polo, Australia vs France – 11:00pm
Sailing, women’s skiff medal race – 11:43pm
Friday morning, August 2nd
Women’s beach volleyball, Australia vs Canada – 12:00am
Artistic gymnastics, women’s all-around final – 2:15am
Simone Biles can cement her legacy as the greatest American gymnast with a gold medal here.
Women’s field hockey, Australia vs Argentina – 4:15am
Swimming, women’s 4x200m freestyle relay final – 5:49am
With the two fastest 200-metre swimmers in the world on the team in Titmus and O’Callaghan, this is almost guaranteed to be an Australian gold medal.
Friday night, August 2nd
Men’s golf, individual round 2 – 5:00pm
Rowing, women’s single sculls final – 5:42pm
Tara Rigney will go for gold after clocking the second fastest time in the heats.
Rowing, women’s pair final – 6:54pm
The Australian duo had the fastest time in the heats and will be hoping for gold.
Men’s field hockey, Australia vs India – 9:15pm
The Kookaburras close out the pool stage with a heavyweight clash.
Men’s basketball, Australia vs Greece – 9:30pm
This matchup could decide whether or not the Boomers make the quarterfinals.
Women’s water polo, Australia vs Canada – 10:00pm
Sailing, men’s windsurfing final – 10:23pm
INSTAGRAM | @kookaburrasofficial
Related:
Full Olympic predictions: every Australian we think will win a medal in Paris
