London 2012 Olympics: Today’s highlights

Published on 30/07/2012 03:20

What to watch today

KATHERINE GRAINGER

GREAT BRITAIN ROWING

10.20am-4pm, AT ETON DORNEY

THE Olympic campaign begins for Edinburgh rower Kath rainger and partner Anna Watkins in the double sculls. The two-time world champions who are unbeaten in 21 races and hot favourites to win gold at Eton Dorney. Grainger has claimed three successive silver medals and is determined to go one better this time around. “I won’t be sitting on the start line thinking ‘Beijing is my motivation’,” Grainger said yesterday. “It is very much part of my history. As an athlete all those moments – whether successful, unsuccessful, disappointing or euphoric – they all become part of you and part of your journey. You can’t help but take all those with you. I know how painful it is to lose from a winning position. I know how painful it is to lose when you go in as favourites. But that is not my drive. It is very much about this boat now.”

“It is a whole different world now.”

RYAN LOCHTE

UNITED STATES SWIMMING

7.43pm AT THE AQAUTIC CENTRE

Lochte’s quest for six golds continues tonight with the final of the 200 metres freestyle.

Scotland’s Robbie Renwick also reached the final, four years after finishing eighth.

The City of Glasgow swimmer was equal sixth in the semi-finals in 1:46.65 with Sun Yang fastest through as he looks for his second Olympic title after his triumph in the 400m last night.

Elsewhere in the pool tonight, British world record holder goes in the 100m backstroke. The Florida-based swimmer lost her mother in December 2007, came fourth four years ago in Beijing before claiming the world crown in Rome in 2009 in world record time.

TOM DALEY

GREAT BRITAIN DIVING

3pm AT THE AQUATIC CENTRE

Tom Daley has revealed his desire for Olympic glory was first inspired by his platform synchro partner Pete Waterfield. Daley will bid to win his first Olympic medal alongside veteran Waterfield at the Aquatics Centre today in a wide-open field in the high board team event. But as the duo put the finishing touches on their preparations, Daley made the admission that Waterfield’s silver medal in the event at Athens 2004 was a major motivation in the early part of his career.

The 18-year-old said: “I was 10 years old when Pete won his Olympic silver medal. I was staying in the family caravan down in Newquay,” he said.

“I was sat in the caravan trying to tune the TV in so I could watch it. I was watching the whole thing and thinking ‘wow’ he’s an Olympic silver medallist.

“That is my dream to compete in the Olympic Games and win a medal.

ZOE SMITH

GREAT BRITAIN WEIGHTLIFTING

3.30PM AT THE EXCEL

Zoe Smith insists the recent spotlight placed on her following unwanted social media attention has not distracted her focus as she prepares to compete in her first Olympic Games tomorrow.

Smith was part of the BBC Three television documentary ‘Girl Power: Going for Gold’ which aired last Sunday, following her and fellow lifters Hannah Powell and Helen Jewell as they attempted to qualify for London 2012.

But the 18-year-old was subjected to abuse about her appearance on Twitter following the programme.

Smith, Britain’s brightest weightlifting talent, subsequently hit back on Twitter and later in her online blog, wording an articulate reply to the small minority of critics who were far outweighed by well-wishers.

And the down-to-earth teenager is adamant the episode has not affected her preparations as she looks to impress in the women’s 58kg at ExCeL tomorrow.

“To be honest, that really doesn’t bother me,” Smith told Press Association Sport.

“I’m a fairly strong, level-headed person anyway so I can just box that, put it to one side and concentrate on what’s important, which is Monday.”

LOUIS SMITH

GREAT BRITAIN GYMNASTICS

4.30pm, AT NORTH GREENWICH ARENA

LOUIS Smith leads the GB men into their first Olympic final tonight. After finishing third in the overall standings an historic medal is now a genuine hope .

Britain have not entered a men’s team since Barcelona in 1992 when they finished last. The main competition will come from the Americans and the Russians, with China and Japan also strong contenders. Smith’s pommel horse horse routine will be a key segment. He wept tears of joy after a brilliant display in qualifying on Saturday. “We showed the world what we’re capable of. We all have smiles on our faces - it’s monstrous,” he said. Daniel Purvis will be the home nation’s main man on the floor.

HOCHSCHORNER BROTHERS

SLOVAKIA CANOEING

1.30pm AT LEE VALLEY WHITE WATER CENTRE

Twin brothers Pavol and Peter Hochschorner have won Olympic gold at three consecutive Olympic Games in the men’s C2 Slalom event.

After switching from flatwater racing in 1996 the brothers won the C2 Slalom competition at Sydney 2000, and have since been dominant in the event.

They won the event at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 to prove their status as one of the greatest Canoe Slalom pairs ever seen at the Olympic Games.

The twins come from a family with a rich pedigree in canoe events: their mother and father both represented Czechoslovakia in slalom and their sister represented Slovakia in flatwater canoeing.