HPN will be covering the 2024 Paris Olympics, with something coming here every day before or during competition.
Australian sports fans woke up to slightly unexpected news this Sunday morning. There were hopes that Australia would do well early in Paris, but leading the medal tally after day 1 was a stretch goal at best.
Day 1 saw 13 events hand out medals across six different sports. That number is equal to the highest ever handed out on day 1 (according to some sources).
The Olympics usually starts more with a whimper, and finishes with a bang. Paris will see 39 gold medals handed out on the last day of the Games - nearly 15% of all the events resolved. There’s also a peak in the middle of the proceedings, with the second weekend of the Olympics getting a bump for those with days off.
It’s likely that Australia won’t stay at the top forever, with the USA poised with several medal threats (along with China and France).
Event of the day
Women’s Street Skateboarding
How good is skateboarding in the Olympics?
The answer to HPN’s own rhetorical question is “very good”. Even if this shirt goes hard, skateboarding is already one of the must see events in the Olympics.
The podium in Tokyo three years ago was made up of three teenagers under 18 - with two medalists under 14 years old. The format means that there is a fair bit of uncertainty at play, but there will be strong hopes from Japan, the USA and Australia.
One definitely worth watching.
Alternative Medal Tally
It turns out, Australia has made a habit of fast starts over the years, often snagging gold medals at the beginning of the games, sitting fourth behind the three big usual suspects after the first day of events.
This has happened especially in recent years with Australians winning gold on Day 1 in five of the last seven Games. The women’s 4x100 freestyle relay has often been an opening day event and contributed a lot here. Australia has won this event the last four times in a row.
The performance from just this one event from Australia would be equal 11th on this tally for gold medals.