Swimming: Men’s 200m Freestyle Final

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7.43pm BBC1, BBC Olympics 1

Michael Phelps has dropped out of the 200m freestyle to focus on winning seven golds elsewhere, leaving the field open for a number of other competitors.

The favourites include team-mate Ryan Lochte, current world number one Yannick Agnel of France and Paul Biedermann, the German who controversially beat Phelps — and the American’s world record — in 2009.

Phelps put the defeat down to Biedermann’s use of an all-body polyurethane suit, a high-performance piece of kit that briefly revolutionised the sport before being banned in 2010. Sharron Davies


Men’s and Women’s 100m Backstroke Finals

7.51pm and 7.58pm BBC1, BBC Olympics 1

It’s hard for Team GB’s Liam Tancock. He’s been world champion and world record holder in 50m backstroke and he’s a great 80m backstroke swimmer.

But this race is 100m. He has the sprint power but for such an out-and-out sprinter that last part of the race can be a struggle. He’ll probably turn first. It’ll be a very exciting race and you can guarantee he’ll give it 100 per cent. I’m hoping the crowd will scream so loudly, they carry him for that last 20m. I would love to see him get a medal because he’s been a great ambassador for British swimming for a long time.

In the women’s final, Missy Franklin is the one to watch. She’s 17 years old, an all-American girl who’s still at high school, with size 13 feet and a lovely personality. She will race the 100m and 200m free, and the 100m and 200m back. She’ll also do relays to make seven races. She could be a superstar. Her main event is the 200m backstroke but she’ll be formidable here.

Britain’s hope is Gemma Spofforth, 24. She's the world record holder. She has suffered family bereavements and a cycling accident, but she finished her degree and now works in a crisis centre where she helps other people. Gemma’s been on an emotional rollercoaster and I don’t think she was convinced she would make the team, but she dug deep at the British trials and found something. Sharron Davies


Unsung hero

Emily Seebohm, 20, Australia: In Beijing, Seebohm was part of the swimming team that won gold in the 4 x 100m medley relay — when she was only 16 years old.

By the age of 18, she also held three world records. To earn her place on this year’s Australian team, she set a new record in the 100m backstroke of 59.28 seconds.


Golds today

Shooting Men’s 10m Air Rifle Finals 12.15pm Diving Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final 3pm Weightlifting Women’s 58kg Group A 3.30pm Judo Women’s -57kg Final 4pm; Men’s -73kg Final 4.10pm Artistic gymnastics Men’s Team Final 4.30pm Weightlifting Men’s 62kg Group A 7pm Fencing Women’s Individual Epée, Gold Medal Match 7.40pm Swimming Men’s 200m Freestyle Final 7.41pm; Women’s 100m Backstroke Final 7.49pm; Men’s 100m Backstroke Final 7.56pm; Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final 8.13pm


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