BBC Wales at the Olympics

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

...and breathe.

It's the end of day five and it's felt like a whirlwind start to the these Olympic Games.

We've had the highs. Matt Richards' gold as part of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay last night was exactly that. Add to that his silver medal in the men's 200m freestyle the night before.

That's now two Olympic golds and a silver he's won...and he's still only 21.

Only two Welsh athletes have ever won more in the entire history of the Olympic Games. Paulo Radmilovic in swimming and water polo (four golds) and Richard Meade in equestrian (three golds).

Richards still has one more event to come this week in the men's 4x100m medley relay.

We also need to mention Kieran Bird, who also represents Wales, as he gets an Olympic gold medal for his swim in the 4x200m freestyle relay heats.

We've also had some lows though.

Not least the string of fourth places for Welsh athletes.

Josh Tarling in the men's time trial on day one, Ruby Evans in the women's team final of the gymnastics and today Graeme Thomas and Tom Barras in the men's quadruple sculls.

The sight of a distraught Tarling and Thomas, especially, is a reminder of how cruel sport can be.

But we still have 11 days left of competition...and plenty more medal hopes for the Welsh athletes in Team GB.

Welsh rowers Tom Barras and Graeme Thomas were part of the Team GB boat that finished fourth in the men’s quadruple sculls final.

The quartet finished outside the medal positions in a race won by Netherlands, who retained their Olympic crown.

It was another fourth-place Games finish for Thomas to mirror what he achieved in Tokyo three years ago.

Thomas also has the disappointment of having to fly home from Rio in 2016 before competing due to illness.

Wales' Ollie Wynne-Griffith and his rowing partner Tom George are into the Olympic final of the men’s pair after finishing second in their semi-final this morning.

The British pair qualified third fastest for Friday's final.

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Former Olympic silver medallist Jazmin Carlin and former mentor and coach of Matt Richards, Mark Stowe, have praised the "spectacular" swim from team GB that earned the quartet Olympic gold in Paris last night.

Welshman Richards helped team GB's 4x200m freestyle relay team retain their Olympic title, becoming the first team to do so in the event.

"To defend an Olympic title, something that has never been done before is almost dream swimming, it was spectacular," said Stowe.

"I keep saying it, something special happens when these four men come together, and it did again last night."

Carlin told BBC Radio Wales: "It’s the first time ever the same four team-mates have won the gold in both events, it’s absolutely crazy. I think it's only the third time that team GB have ever won it.

"It was an incredible race to watch, they all brought out their best performances and to see all their families there this time around was just amazing."

Welsh hockey player Sarah Jones was part of the Team GB women's squad who have finally won a game in Paris by beating South Africa 2-1.

Hannah French's second-half goal was the difference, handing them a much-needed boost and, crucially, lifting them off the bottom of pool B for now.

GB face the United States on Thursday in their penultimate match, before taking on Argentina on Saturday.

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Swimmers Matt Richards and Kieran Bird last night became the first Welsh competitors to claim gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics as part of the GB 4x200 men's relay squad.

It was the second medal of this Games for Richards following his 200m freestyle silver and a third Olympic medal in all after his relay gold in Tokyo three years ago.

So Richards is climbing the rankings of Welsh Olympic medallists.

Paulo Radmilovic is top with four golds in swimming and water polo between 1908 and 1920.

Equestrian rider Richard Meade won three golds, while Richards is level with sailor Hannah Mills with two golds and a silver.

Geraint Thomas (cycling), Tom James (rowing), Jade Jones (taekwondo) and Hugh Edwards (rowing) have all won two golds.

Richards will next take part in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, with the heats set for Saturday, 3 August and the final the following day.

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Good morning, here we are on day five of Paris 2024.

After the thrills of the pool yesterday, today's menu remains water-based as Welsh eyes turn to the rowing.

Graeme Thomas and Tom Barras go for gold just after 11:00 BST in the final of the men's quadruple sculls, alongside Callum Dixon and Matthew Haywood.

The British quartet row from lane two and will hope for a better outcome than the 2023 World Championships, when they placed fourth.

The Netherlands (lane four) are reigning world and Olympic champions and will start as favourites.

Before that, Ollie Wynne Griffith is in the men's pair semi-finals at 09:44 BST.

Just before Wynne-Griffith and rowing partner Tom George compete at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, Sarah Jones will be in action as part of the GB women's hockey team taking on South Africa (09:30 BST).

Team GB’s women start the day bottom of Pool A after a loss to Spain and heavy defeat to Australia, and cannot afford another slip-up at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.

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Matt Richards has failed to reach the 100m freestyle final at the Paris Olympics, but went on to help the 200m freestyle relay team retain their title.

He finished sixth in his semi-final in 48.09 - 12th fastest overall. Only the quickest eight make tomorrow’s final.

The setback came 24 hours after Welshman Richards won silver in the 200m freestyle final.

However, Richards won gold later in the day with fellow Welshman Keiran Bird, who had helped GB qualify for the final, also took home gold.

Cardiff gymnast Ruby Evans just missed out on becoming Wales' youngest Olympic medallist as she finished fourth as part of the GB squad in the women's team final.

Team GB just missed on a bronze medal with the gold going to the United States with Simone Biles part of that squad.

Italy claimed silver while Brazil won a bronze just pipping Evans and the rest of the GB squad.

Evans, 17, competed in the floor and vault exercises in the final.

Boxer Ralph Evans remains Wales' youngest Olympic medallist having won a bronze in Munich in 1972 aged 18 years and 252 days.

Alisha Joyce-Butchers says she is "so proud" of wife Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, who is representing Team GB at a third Olympic Games.

The Wales flanker is among a contingent of supporters from Jaz's home of St Davids, Pembrokeshire who have travelled to Paris to watch the sevens rugby.

GB have missed out on a medal, finishing seventh, but Joyce-Butchers says it does not change "how far they have come".

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Team GB women's rugby sevens team have finished seventh at the Paris Olympics after beating Ireland for a second time in their campaign.

Jasmine Joyce-Butchers was joined in the 28-12 victory by fellow Wales team-mate Kayleigh Powell.

Powell, from Church Village, was called up to the squad after Grace Crompton sustained an injury.

She became the 32nd Welsh athlete at the Paris Olympics.

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Great Britain’s women's rugby sevens team have suffered a last-minute defeat to China.

Wales' Jasmine Joyce-Butchers scored one of three tries for GB, but China were able to score the crucial try in the last few seconds of the match.

It means Great Britain will next compete at 17:00 BST for seventh and eighth place, against either France or Ireland.

Great Britain’s men’s hockey team remain unbeaten at the Olympic Games after they claimed a creditable draw with Netherlands.

The Dutch – who are the top-ranked side in the world – were heading for victory until Lee Morton struck late on to secure a 2-2 draw.

The Netherlands remain top of the Pool A table, with Great Britain two points behind them in third after a draw and two wins in their three games so far. The top four in the six-team pool go through to the last eight.

GB, whose squad includes Welsh trio Jacob Draper, Gareth Furlong and Rupert Shipperley, are next in action against hosts France on Thursday, 1 August at 11:45 BST.

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales

The silver medallist in the 200m free advances in the 100m free.

He admits he's trying to save back as much energy as possible, as a 48.40 sees him qualify 13th fastest for the semi-finals tonight.

Job done.

"I wanted to do something different this year," he told BBC Sport. "Try to ease through the rounds a little bit more.

"The swim felt great, really smooth, a bit close for comfort again but we’re through and that’s all that matters.

"We’re all expecting that last heat to be the fastest one. Probably all of us in the middle were a little bit cagey and not sure when to go.

"Conserving as much energy as possible and so the same in the semi but a bit faster, and then the 4x200m is the big one today."

Sport Wales chief executive Brian Davies has praised the "extraordinary" swim from Matt Richards that earned him Olympic silver in Paris yesterday.

Richards missed out on gold by 0.02 seconds in a thrilling 200m freestyle final won by Romania's David Popovici.

"The favourite in the middle was pushed all the way by one of the slowest qualifiers on the end like Matt," Davies said.

“I think that was the extraordinary bit, a lane-one swimmer nearly won gold last night, fantastic effort from Matt and everyone that supports him.

“There’s a strong quartet there for team GB; Duncan Scott who came fourth last night, Tom Dean and more, there’s incredible strength in depth in the men’s 4x100m and the relay.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing how Matt does today in the 100m freestyle.”

Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and her Team GB sevens team-mates are out of contention for a medal at the Paris Olympics.

They were beaten 17-7 by the United States in the quarter-finals.

Joyce-Butchers impressed with a memorable try-saving cover tackle on American star Ilona Maher shortly before the break at Stade de France.

But after two previous attempts at winning a medal were in vain, Joyce will again go home without a podium finish.

GB can still finish fifth during Tuesday's play-off games.

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, BBC Sport

A silver medal in your first individual Olympic final is an impressive feat.

But Matt Richards has high standards.

After winning the world title in this event - the 200m freestyle - only last year, he wanted the Olympic title tonight.

But after qualifying seventh fastest, he was out in lane one. He told me afterwards he will learn from the experience for his remaining events this week.

“That was probably a tactical error on my part last night," he admitted. "I probably could’ve done with being in the middle of the pool and a little bit closer to what was going on.

"But it’s great learning. I’m young. I’m 21 years old. I plan on being in the sport at least another 10 years yet. I’d like to get to five Olympic Games if I’m able to.

"I will learn from that last night. I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen again this week or every major meet after this.

"So if that means that tonight I was meant to get the silver rather than the gold because of it. Everything happens for a reason."

Image source, BBC Sport

Matt Richards agonisingly missed out on a first individual Olympic gold as he took silver in the men's 200m freestyle.

The 21-year-old was just two-hundredths of a second behind Romania's David Popovici, who took the gold.

Richards was out in lane one after only qualifying seventh fastest, but came within a fingertip of taking the win.

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, BBC Sport

It could be a special night in the pool for 21-year-old Matt Richards, as the 2023 world champion goes for gold in the men's 200m freestyle final.

I spoke to his parents, Amanda and Simon, before tonight's race. They're delighted to be here after being forced to watch his relay gold at the Covid-affected Tokyo Games from their lounge.

They told me he is "calm and composed", determined to win his first individual Olympic medal. And they don't think being in an outside lane will harm his chances.

Not long until we find out.

Sarah Jones and her Great Britain women’s hockey team-mates have suffered a second defeat in their second game at the Olympics, this time going down 4-0 against Australia.

Three-time Olympic champions Australia claimed a comfortable victory as they made it two wins from two at the Paris Games.

But this was another setback for GB following their loss to Spain on Sunday.

Jones, from Cardiff, and the GB team have two pool games remaining, against South Africa on Wednesday, 31 August at 09:30 BST and United States on Thursday, 1 August at 16:30 BST.

Great Britain’s women’s rugby sevens team, which includes Welsh players Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and Megan Jones, will face the USA in the Olympic quarter-finals after finishing second in pool B.

Team GB's place in the last eight was confirmed after Australia beat Ireland 19-14

USA's defeat by France means the Americans will meet Great Britain at 20:30 BST.

An emotional Medi Harris says she's "proud" of her Olympic display despite missing out on the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke.

The Porthmadog swimmer, whose mother passed away earlier this year, told BBC Wales' Janet Ebenezer she is now focusing on the 4x200m relay heats on Thursday.