Kurtis cleared 5.85 metres behind Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who set a new world record of 6.25m.

After one miss at 5.90m, Kurtis passed and attempted 5.95m. A clearance at this height would have given him a place on the podium and equalled his personal best set when he won bronze at the 2023 World Championships.

The 27-year-old’s remarkable performance came after he suffered a serious ankle injury at the Olympic Trials in April. In qualifying and again in the final, Kurtis passed attempts to minimise the number of jumps on his ankle. 

He was pleased with his performance after suffering a no-height in the Tokyo final and the injury recovery.

“Honestly, everything felt pretty good. Obviously, I don't have the strength in the ankle yet,” Kurtis said.

“It has literally just come good, literally today. So I couldn't be happier. Obviously, I would have liked a bit more of an ideal prep, but getting to this point where I am and jumping in amongst some of the best guys in the world at the moment is more than I could have asked for.”

Kurtis had nothing but admiration for gold medallist and world record holder Duplantis.

“To be in his wake is more than I could have asked for in this sport.

“Maybe if it was a different era, 5.85 would have got me a medal, but at the moment, it's just ridiculous,” he said.

The only Australian to jump higher at an Olympic Games is Steve Hooker, who cleared 5.96m to win gold at Beijing 2008. 

Davies the first Aussie woman to run sub-15 minutes at a major championships

Rose Davies ran superbly to place 11th amongst a remarkable field in the Women’s 5000m Final.

In her first major championship final, her time of 14:49.67 is the first sub-15 minute run by an Australian at an Olympic Games or major championships. The 24-year-old holds the Australian record of 14:41.65, set in May this year.

“I was confident because I felt so good in the heats and I knew I could go quicker. I just wasn't sure how the race would pan out,” Rose said.

“But if it's a fast race, I'm ready. If it's a slow race, I'm ready. But the first kilometre was slow, and then it just fed up from there. The last two laps, I was stinging, but I was just trying to hold on as best as I can.

“I was so nervous heading into the heats just because I knew what I could do, and I just wanted it so bad.”

In a thrilling race, Kenyan Beatrice Chebet outsprinted 1500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon to win gold in 14:28.56. 

Lewis and Law lapping up the experience while still so young

In the 200m sprints, Australian youngsters Torrie Lewis and Calab Law relished the experience and ran well.

Torrie, 19, was seventh in her semi-final in 22.92 seconds. It was just outside her personal best of 22.89 set in the heats and her third hard run in two days. She will now recover and focus for the 4x100m.

“I feel like it went pretty good. If I hadn't run one in the heat, that would have been a personal best. So I’m happy with that run. Second fastest ever,” Torrie said.

Torrie can now focus on the 4x100m relay where the team is looking to make the final. She has been loving her Olympic experience.

“It's been so fun. I love the village. I don't want to leave it. I just think that it's because Australia put in so much work. I've been to other houses and they haven't been nearly as good as our Australia house. So big ups to Australia for taking care of their athletes, making it feel like home.”

Calab, 20, was seventh in his heat in 20.75 seconds. He now moves to the repechage for this individual event and also has the 4x100m relay to come. 

“I had a good bend and I think I slingshot off it pretty nicely but the last 50 just wasn't good,” Calab said.

It has been a big learning experience for Calab who had never been to Europe before.

“The main goal for me is running this four by one with these boys, getting that Australian record and making the final,” he said.

Difficult day for Clarke and Buckingham in steeple heats

To start the session, Matthew Clarke and Ben Buckingham ran the heats of the 3000m Steeplechase. 
Ben was 10th in his heat in 8:32.12. The 32-year-old needed a top-5 finish to qualify for the final, so his second Olympic Games is complete. When the pace kicked on with 600 metres to go he wasn’t able to go with them.

“It was an incredible experience, it was very special,” Ben said. 

Matthew, 29, also at his second Olympics was running well in a very fast heat before fading badly over the final lap to finish in 8:49.85, well off his best.

He was escorted to medical services after his heat and is being monitored by Australian medical staff.

Andrew Reid