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As it happened Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles out with ‘medical issue’; Matildas draw with US; Opals upset by Belgium

Sam Phillips, Michael Chammas, Daniel Cherny, Claire Siracusa and Roy Ward

Updated July 28, 2021 — 12:12am,first published July 27, 2021 — 7:30am

Key Posts

Aussies knock off Croatia in water polo boilover

Biles out of team finals

Aussie coach up against his son in water polo

Chalmers wins 100m heat

Australia eliminated in rugby sevens

Big night of swimming heats

Brussels rout

Matildas draw with United States

Jess Fox claims bronze

Fox stars in canoe semi-final

12.12am on Jul 28, 2021

That’s all for tonight

By Roy Ward

That’s all we have for you tonight but thanks again for joining us on another wild day of medals and developments at the Tokyo Olympics.

As sad as the news is about Simone Biles tonight, let’s hope we see her back in action before these Olympics comes to a close.

Simone Biles is comforted by coach Cecile Landi.Getty Images

We will be back early tomorrow morning with another live blog so please join us there. Here is a look at some of the big events and major swimming finals for Wednesday.

Some of the events we will be keeping an eye on include men’s and women’s time trials in the cycling, the Boomers v Italy, Hockeyroos and Kookaburras, the Olyroos v Egypt, more from the gymnastics and Australians in action in rowing.

And in the pool, don’t miss Kyle Chalmers in the men’s 100-metre freestyle semis (11.41am), Ariarne Titmus and Madi Wilson in the women’s 200-metre freestyle final (11.41am), Katie Ledecky in the women’s 1500-metre freestyle final (12.54) and the Aussie men in the 4x200 freestyle (1.26pm).

I’ll leave you with this tweet from veteran US sports writer Tim Reynolds about his feelings following some surprise results. I think Australians could be feeling similar:

View post on X

I can’t wait for tomorrow, but until then, bye for now.

11.59pm on Jul 27, 2021

Matildas to take on Great Britain in Olympic quarter-finals

The Matildas will take on Great Britain in the women’s football quarter-finals after the Brits drew 1-1 with Canada this evening.

It took until the 85th minute for Great Britain to tie scores after Canada took the lead in the first half.

The Matildas will take on Great Britain in the quarter-finals.AP

The winner of Australia v Great Britain will take on the winner of Japan v Sweden, while in the other half of the bracket the Netherlands will face USA and Canada will take on Brazil.

All four quarter-finals are scheduled for Friday with the Matildas game set for 7pm AEST.

Click here to read Michael Lynch’s report from the Matildas’ draw with USA.

11.51pm on Jul 27, 2021

Japan’s softballers claim gold

By Claire Siracusa

Japan have gone back to back in softball at the Olympics, beating the US 2-0 in the final.

The result left Japan with gold and the United States with silver, a repeat of 13 years earlier, when Japan stunned the US in the most recent prior edition of Olympic softball.

Japan’s softball team celebrates its gold medal win over USA.AP

Canada earlier took bronze by defeating Mexico 3-2.

Softball was last played at the 2008 Olympics, and is back for one Games only - though there is a push to bring it back for LA in 2028. The sport is huge in Japan, where there is a professional league, but the Americans are ranked No.1 in the world.

It was a repeat of history in particular for American veterans Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott, who were there for the defeat in 2008. Osterman and Abbott pitched four and one-third scoreless innings in the 2021 gold medal game, but Ally Carda, who followed in relief of Osterman, gave up three hits and walked one, allowing the base runners that led to Japan’s scores.

with Reuters

11.41pm on Jul 27, 2021

Tokyo Olympics may have lost its brightest star

By Chip Le Grand and Malcolm Knox

The Tokyo Olympics may have lost their headline act after Simone Biles, the American gymnast who has become the international face of these Games, withdrew in mysterious circumstances from Tuesday night’s competition.

Biles was competing in her team’s first rotation when she performed an uncharacteristically poor vault, briefly consulted the team physio and immediately left the arena.

Simone Biles watches on after exiting the team final.AP

She returned and put on her white Team USA tracksuit, covering her leotard, and removed the protective grips from her wrists. She rejoined her teammates but took no further part in competition.

USA Gymnastics issued a statement confirming Biles had withdrawn due a “medical issue”. It gave no indication whether she would be fit to compete in Wednesday night’s all-around final to defend her Olympic title won in Rio five years ago, or the individual apparatus events for which she had qualified.

Click here to read the full story.

11.21pm on Jul 27, 2021

On the podium: Fencing, weightlifting, softball and more

There have been plenty of medals handed out in the last hour or two. Here’s where they’ve been won, and who has won them.

11.20pm on Jul 27, 2021

‘You can’t do better than that on debut’: Sharks skipper praises keeper

Australian Sharks captain Aaron Younger has praised Olympic debutant goalkeeper Anthony Hrysanthos for his heroics as the men’s water polo team scored an upset win over Croatia tonight.

Richard Campbell and Blake Edwards scored a combined five goals, while Hrysanthos led a brilliant defensive effort that was also central to Australia’s first win over Croatia in Olympic history.

Aaron Younger is challenged by Croatia’s Luka Loncar.Getty Images

“He [Hrysanthos] had an absolutely incredible game, can’t do better than that for your Olympic debut,” captain Aaron Younger told the Seven Network.

“It was great for the boys to bounce back.

10.59pm on Jul 27, 2021

ROC wins teams event, denies Biles six gold medals

The Russian Olympic Committee has won the gymnastics women’s team event, denying American Simone Biles the first of a potential six gold medals at the Games.

The United States won silver, while bronze went to Britain.

As we reported earlier tonight, Biles dropped out of the women’s team event after one vault because of what USA Gymnastics described as a “medical issue”.

She will still receive a silver medal.

10.47pm on Jul 27, 2021

Biles was flying higher than anyone before withdrawal

By Malcolm Knox in Tokyo

Malcolm Knox reports: Biles had done several practice vaults and flew about half a metre higher than anyone else before her withdrawal.

She did her final practice vault a few seconds after they said the practice time was finished ... but I don’t expect there was anything unusual in that.

When she left the arena, it was after consulting with the physio but not with the physio. She went alone.

Aside from that, she couldn’t do a thing without three TV cameras in her face, but I guess she’s used to that.

10.39pm on Jul 27, 2021

Good evening

By Roy Ward

G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward and I’m making a little cameo to finish tonight’s session on the Olympics blog.

Big thanks to Daniel Cherny for another exceptional late shift.

There are still plenty of things going on, chiefly the shock withdrawal of Simone Biles from tonight’s team gymnastics event.

Let’s hope she is cleared to return in the days to come.

Aussie through to 800m men’s freestyle final

Jack McLoughlin is through to the 800-metre freestyle final. He is the sixth fastest qualifier with a time of 7.46.94 after the heats.

“I was just trying to keep myself in the mix, to be honest,” McLoughlin told Channel Seven.

“I knew I could have a strong last 100, plus 50. And same with the 400, trying to make sure you get through. We are lucky that we get an extra day now. So my goal there was just make it through and I knew that if Greg was around me, then I would be able to be up there, and yeah, I was a bit tighter than I hoped but I got through to the next stage. Looking forward to the final now.”