Tokyo Wrap With Our F-Team Olympians
Australian Funkita diver Melissa Wu takes to the sky in Tokyo
The most anticipated Olympics in history, the Tokyo 2020 Games has elapsed in what seemed like an instant. Over the two weeks, we watched our Funkita F-Teamers compete in the diving, triathlon and swimming, with divers Melissa Wu and Krysta Palmer leading the charge.
Melissa won bronze in Tokyo to cap an incredible career
Melissa Wu is a household name in Australia. The 4-time Olympian has been chasing an elusive individual Olympic medal since 2008. In Beijing at her first Olympics, Wu collected silver in the Women's 10m Synchro Platform alongside partner Briony Cole. In Tokyo, she made it through the preliminaries and semis comfortably in the 10m Individual Platform, however marginally distant from the top-3 position. The veteran drew from her international experience in the final, performing at her best to win the bronze medal.
A bronze medal and huge elation for Krysta Palmer in Tokyo
American Krysta Palmer also dove for gold in Tokyo, and first calmed the nerves of her maiden Olympics in the Women's 3m Synchro Platform. A finalist with teammate Alison Gibson, Palmer then turned her attention to the individual event. After the semis, she was in the mix and a podium finish was within reach. In the championship event she took it to the next level, claiming the bronze in a contested battle.
Aussie debutante Nikita Hains just missed the semi of the 10m platform
Funkita athletes also diving were debutante Nikita Hains and veteran Angela Leong. In the Women's 10m Individual Platform, Hains tallied 270.00 points across her 5 dives; just a few positions from the semifinal. 5-time Malaysian Olympian Angela Leong contested the Women's 10m Synchro Platform with teammate Pandelela Pamg, and the experienced campaigner showed she still has it, placing 8th.
Team GB veteran Aimee Willmott came 7th in the 400IM
At the swimming, Aimee Willmott of Great Britain was in action on day 1 in the Women's 400m Individual Medley. The 3-time Olympian came into these Games with plenty of international race experience having placed 7th in this event in Rio. At the Tokyo Aquatics Centre she again placed 7th in the same event.
Laura Stephens swam a PB in the 200m fly to make the semis
Aimee's Team GB teammate, 22-year-old Laura Stephens, lined up at her first Olympics in the Women's 200m Butterfly. Stephens swam herself into a semifinal, and clocked 2:09.49 to place 6th in her semi.
Irish swimmer Ellen Walshe just missed the 100 fly Irish record
Irish teenager Ellen Walshe also debuted in Tokyo, and in the Women's 100m Butterfly won her heat to almost break her own Irish record. She improved her ranking in this event and also battled against a hot field in the 200m Individual Medley. Portuguese distance specialist and national record holder Diana Duraes went to war in the Women's 1500m Prelims, and came 6th in her heat at her maiden Games.
In the Tokyo rain, Funkita triathletes Carolyn Hayes and Ainsley Thorpe were in action in the Women's event. Both in their Olympic debuts, Hayes mixed it with the field and was rapid on the run leg. She leapfrogged many in the field in the latter stages, finishing the race in a commendable 23rd. The rain may have been encouraging for those struggling in the heat of Tokyo, however for Thorpe of New Zealand, it lead to an agonizing crash in the inclement conditions. It was heartbreak for the youngster, however in the Mixed Team Triathlon she mixed it with the best to contribute to New Zealand's 12th place finish.
It may be the end of the road to Tokyo 2020, but the next chapter has already begun. The regular season of the ISL, commencing in Naples on August 26, is the next step for many international athletes including several F-Teamers. What would have previously been a 4-year endeavour to Paris 2024 is now just 3, and the race is well and truly back on.