Olympics: Day 6 on Nine

Among the highlights are the gold medal races in rowing at Eton Dorney, the first night of track cycling action at the Olympic Velodrome, two gold medals up for grabs in canoe slalom whitewater events, plus shooting, archery and judo gold, boxing, the Boomers line up in basketball and more Aussies swimming for medals in the pool.

7.30pm* Swimming
– Men’s 50m freestyle: After missing out gold by the narrowest of margins in the 100m freestyle, James Magnussen will be bursting off the block in the 50m freestyle. Joining him will be Eamon Sullivan in a mad race of dash and splash that will last less than 22 seconds.
– Women’s 800m freestyle: Kylie Palmer, who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay here overnight, will be joined in the heats by Jessica Ashwood, who is making her Olympic debut.

– Men’s 100m butterfly: Australia has never won this event and hopes rest with Chris Wright and Jayden Hadler. Michael Phelps will be seeking his first individual gold medal of London.

– Women’s 200m backstroke: Australia’s starters are Belinda Hocking and Meagan Nay.

Rowing
It’s the second day of finals at Eton Dorney, with three gold medals to be decided, as well as semi-finals of the men’s and women’s lightweight double scull.

First up, the Australian men’s four will race for a finals berth. Three-time Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn spearheads the crew.

Kim Crow will be aiming for a strong finish to make the final of the women’s single scull.

Australia’s lightweight men’s four has earned a spot in the final and will be among the medal contenders.

In semi-final action, Bronwen Watson and Hannah Every-Hall compete in the women’s lightweight double scull.

The session concludes with the women’s eight final, with Australia represented.

Basketball
Australia and China were both ranked among the world’s top ten teams last year. The Boomers will be looking to turn their form around after losing to Spain in its last game. This will be a crunch match for the Boomers, with Patty Mills expected to star.

Water Polo
The Australian women play Spain in the third of its water polo preliminaries. The Stingers are unbeaten after two games, and a win here would consolidate their quarter-finals chances.

Equestrian
After the thrills of eventing, dressage competition gets underway at Greenwich Equestrian Park. Australia is represented in the individual event by cousins Lyndal and Kristy Oatley.

Shooting
Six-time Australian Olympian and Atlanta gold medallist Russell Mark returns to the biggest stage of all as he attempts to qualify for the double trap final. Mark also won a silver medal in this event at Sydney 2000.

Qualifying begins in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event. David Chapman competes a day after his daughter, Hayley, made her Olympic debut. The Chapmans are the first father-daughter team to represent Australia on the same Olympic team.

Hockey
Australia’s Hockeyroos play the United States in the third of its preliminary matches at the Hockey Centre.

Volleyball
After an outstanding win against Great Britain, the young Aussie men’s team face a big challenge against a giant Bulgarian line-up. This is the third of their five preliminary matches at Earls Court.

Sailing
The sailing continues on the south coast of England, where the Australian crew of Matthew Belcher and Malcolm Page are set for their first race in the men’s 470 event. Aussie sailors have started the regatta well, with other top performers including Jessica Crisp in the women’s RS:X.

Canoe Slalom
Two gold medals will be decided on the whitewater course.
In men’s C2, Australia’s pair of Kynan Maley and Robin Jeffery will be looking for a strong showing.
In women’s K1, Australia’s starter is 18-year-old Jessica Fox, a world junior and Youth Olympic champion.

Boxing
The lightweights and middleweights step into the ring at the ExCeL Arena as the second round of the boxing gets under way.

Judo
Australia’s Daniel Kelly will be making his fourth appearance at the Olympics in the men’s 100kg event.

Cycling
The six-day track cycling program begins at the 6000-seat Olympic Velodrome. There will be 10 gold medals decided at the venue, five for men and five for women.
Day 1 begins with the men’s and women’s team sprint qualifiers and finals, while Australia’s world champion men’s 4000m pursuit team will make its first appearance.

The two gold medals on offer are:

– Women’s team sprint: Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch won a silver medal at the 2012 world championships held in Melbourne in April, ending a record streak of three consecutive world titles in the event. Germans Miriam Velte and Kristina Vogel produced a world record time to beat them. The British team will also prove hard to beat.

– Men’s team sprint: Australia scored an upset win over a fearsome French trio at the 2012 world championships. Here, Shane Perkins, Scott Sunderland and Matthew Glaetzer. Scotland’s Sir Chris Hoy, the British flag bearer at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, will be the star of the British team.

4.30am*
Swimming
Back to the pool with four gold medals to be decided. Finals:

– Women’s 200m breaststroke: American Rebecca Soni is aiming to become the first woman to successfully defend her title in this event, and set a new world record in the semi-final. Australia’s hopes lie with Sally Foster.

– Men’s 200m backstroke: USA has dominated this event with Aaron Peirsol and Ryan Lochte winning the last two Olympic gold medals. They return to London as the favourites. Australia’s Mitch Larkin starts here.

– Men’s 200m individual medley: Michael Phelps has won this event at the last two Olympics. This could become a classic showdown between Phelps and his celebrated team-mate Ryan Lochte.

– Women’s 100m freestyle: Aussie Melanie Schlanger qualified second fastest for the final in winning her semi-final. Schlanger won a gold medal in the relay on the first night of swimming competition.

Also: semi-finals in the men’s 50m freestyle featuring Australia’s James Magnussen and Eamon Sullivan, women’s 200m backstroke and men’s 100m butterfly.

6.00am-9.00am on Nine and GEM
As day six of competition continues, Cameron Williams and Leila McKinnon host the morning shift. It will include live action and a review of major events.

9.00am-11.00am London Gold on Nine and GEM
Mark Nicholas looks back on the highlights of another great day at London 2012. The program includes gold medal action and a wrap of the Aussies at the Olympics.

3.30pm-5.30pm London Gold (replay) on Nine and GEM
Mark Nicholas looks back on the highlights of another great day at London 2012. The program includes gold medal action and a wrap of the Aussies at the Olympics.

*All times states are for the East Coast