Oly: Mixed opening day for Olympic greats

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2004
Oly: Mixed opening day for Olympic greats

Two of Australia's greatest Olympians have had mixed fortunes in their bids for a third
gold medals on the opening day at the Athens Games.

Shooter MICHAEL DIAMOND's chase for history looked shaky after two rounds of qualifying
in the men's trap, while rower JAMES TOMKINS qualified easily for his semi final.

The day after a spectacular and universally lauded opening ceremony, almost 130 of
the 482-strong Australian team were competing in 16 sports, with 13 gold medals to be
decided.

The women's basketballers, beach volleyballers and softballers all had first up wins,
while TOMKINS and DREW GINN easily won their heat in the men's pair.

In swimming, IAN THORPE and GRANT HACKETT won their morning heats of the 400m freestyle,
as did PETRIA THOMAS in the women's 100m butterfly.

AAP RTV pmu/mo

KEYWORD: OLY AUST (ATHENS)

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