Australian athletes have once again proved they will be a force to reckon with in the new Tokyo 2020 disciplines of BMX Freestyle, Surfing and Skateboarding after a number of top results over the weekend.
Plus, the Aussie Boomers have fallen agonisingly short of a podium finish at the 2019 World Cup, and the inaugural Australian Team to compete at next month’s Qatar 2019 World Beach Games has been announced.
Basketball – Boomers finish World Cup in fourth after semi-final heartbreak
The Boomers fell agonisingly short of a historic first ever medal at a World Cup or Olympics, going down 67-59 to France in the bronze medal playoff.
The Australians were backing up after Friday’s double overtime heartbreaking loss against Spain, after a run of six consecutive victories throughout the tournament.
The fourth place matches the Boomers result at Rio 2016.
Find out more at Basketball Australia.
BMX Freestyle – Gold and silver as Aussie pair dominates World Urban Games
Brandon Loupos led an Australian one-two in a thrilling Freestyle BMX final at the World Urban Games in Budapest on Sunday.
A massive run in the final from Loupos included a double back-flip and secured 94.10 points, nearly matched by compatriot Logan Martin who had topped qualifying on Saturday.
Martin also put in a blistering effort but finished short of his colleague on 93.40.
Skateboarding - Aussie skaters in top 5 at World Championships
Poppy Olsen and Keegan Palmer both finished in fourth place at the women’s and men’s Park Skateboarding World Championships in Sao Paulo Brazil.
With the top three finishers earning a Tokyo 2020 quota spot, competition was fierce and brought out the best of the world’s top skaters.
Olsen scored her highest ever score of 56.00 in the final, behind Japanese pair of Misugo Okamoto and Yosozumi and Brit Sky Brown.
Sixteen-year-old Palmer was agonisingly close to the podium, finishing on 84.70, just 0.3 points behind Brazil’s Pedro Quintas in bronze.
BMX Racing – World Cup bronze in Carolina
South Carolina’s Rock Hill hosted two BMX Supercross World Cup events, with Izaac Kennedy securing bronze in his first ever World Cup final on Saturday.
The Australians couldn’t replicate their podium success on Sunday, but Saya Sakakibara and Lauren Reynolds had a strong day, finishing in fourth and fifth respectively in the final.
Find out more at BMX Australia.
Boxing - Boxers progress through opening rounds at AIBA World Championships
Australia had a mixed weekend at the AIBA Boxing World Championships in Russia, with Harry Garside notching a win against DR Congo’s Mulumba Mbuya, while Alex Winwood, Adrian Cammarano and Jack Bowen lost their bouts.
Surfing - Surfers take out teams event at World Surfing Games
The Australian team of Owen Wright, Julian Wilson, Ryan Callinan, Sally Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Gilmore, and Nikki Van Dijk took out the Teams Aloha Cup event at the World Surfing Games in Miyazaki Japan, securing the win over South Africa, USA and Japan.
The surfers had mixed results in individual competition, with the Aussie women surfing through a combined 14 heats in a single day to grind out a solid result. Sally Fitzgibbons was the best-placed Australian female surfer, only one heat away from making the final, which was won by Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich. Ryan Callinan was the best placed Australian in the men’s competition, which was won by Brazil’s Italo Ferreira.
Find out more at Surfing Australia.
Volleyball - Volleyroos off to hot start at Asian Volleyball Titles
The Volleyroos have had an undefeated start to their Asian Cup campaign in Iran, knocking off hosts and volleyball heavyweights Iran 3-1 after earlier defeating Qatar (3-2) and Sri Lanka (3-0).
Australia will move on as top of their pool into the round of eight, with India their next opponent.
Importantly the results have secured Australia’s spot at the final Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in January 2020, with the top two in each pool at the Asian Cup securing their place at the January’s tournament.
Canoe - Sprint canoeists try out Tokyo venue at Test Event
Australian sprint canoeists Alyssa Bull, Alyce Burnett competed at the Tokyo 2020 venue over the weekend as part of the Ready Steady Tokyo Test Event. Bull and Burnett finished 4th in the K2 500m, with Bull taking bronze in her solo K1 500m.
World Beach Games - Australian Team announced for inaugural World Beach Games
The AOC announced the inaugural Australian Team to compete at next month’s Qatar 2019 World Beach Games.
The Games will see more than 1200 athletes from almost 100 nations compete in 14 sports from 12-16 October, with a 41-strong Australian squad competing across Beach Volleyball, Karate, Sailing, Swimming, Sport Climbing, Beach Handball and Water Skiing.
See the full Team HERE.
