Live updates: Tokyo Olympics, July 24 - Kiwi cyclist George Bennett takes on Mt Fuji, rowing eights & pairs face heats

Football Ferns celebrate their goal against USA. Credit: Image - Photosport; video - Newshub

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1:18am - Football: Oh dear, another own goal to NZ! Press chases a long ball down the left, but when she crosses into the area, a retreating Bott deflects the ball past Leat.

There's no time to restart the game, before the final whistle sounds, USA 6-1

That concludes the NZ team's efforts on the official opening day of Olympic competition. Join us later today, as the Kiwis make their surfing debut, Lewis Clareburt swims for gold and our rowing scullers continue their campaigns.

1:14am - Football: Annalie Longo replaces Hassett, but Alex Morgan slots a fifth goal for USA, as Press crosses a tired NZ defence and the veteran is too classy, USA 5-1

1:06pm - Football: Cleverley is replaced by Gabi Rennie, who scored against Australia on debut in the Ferns' Olympic opener.

But Ertz threads the NZ defence and finds Press, who slots the ball past Leat for another American goal, USA 4-1

12:58pm - Football: GOAL to NZ!

Satchell pounces on a miscue by the USA defence and finds herself confronted only keeper Naeher. She keeps her cool and crosses to Hassett, who slots it into the open goal to open the Ferns scoring in the 73rd minute, USA 3-1

12:53am - Football: Wilkinson wrestles with Davidson for the ball and bursts clear, with a shot at goal looming, but she's called back for the foul, USA 3-0

12:49am - Football: Erceg gifts USA an own goal, after Horan finds Lloyd with a cross and although her header is going wide, Erceg nods it away from keeper Leat into the net, USA 3-0

Sermanni brings on Paige Satchell for Olivia Chance.

12:46am - Football: Ertz plays a nice ball into the area for Lloyd to chase, but Erceg does enough to crowd Lloyd, whose shot finds the side net, USA 2-0

12:32am - Football: NZ kick off for the second half against USA, trailling 2-0, after conceding a goal right on halfway.

Elsewhere, Great Britain have beaten former World Cup winners Japan 1-0, while Brazile lead Netherlands 3-2 midway through their second half.

12:13am - Football: Bott sends a wonderful ball into the US penalty area and Wilkinson curls a header past Naeher, but also past the right post. So close to an unlikely equaliser.

But next time up the field, just a minute from halftime, Horan finally has the Americans' second goal from a Rapinoe corner and Ertz's header back across goal, USA 2-0

12:04am - Football: Lavelle lofts a nice ball over the defence for Horan to run onto and she finds the net, BUT it's disallowed for offside again. Video review confirms that ruling.

Sheer weight of numbers will surely break the Ferns down eventually, USA 1-0

Midnight - Football: Rapinoe slots one past Leat, but there's an easy offside call ruling it out, USA 1-0

11:57pm - Football: Dunn plays a great ball into the box for USA and Heath slots it past Leat, but Dunns is deemed offside, so another let-off for NZ, USA 1-0

11:50pm - Football: Lavelle sprints into the box again, but can only find the side net with her shot, USA 1-0.

11:47pm - Football: Wilkinson just wide with a header from a long cross. Ferns look OK, despite trailling.

11:39pm - Football:  Rose Lavelle opens the scoring for USA in the ninth minute, after the NZ defence fail to clear the ball and Lavelle strikes from the right, past Ferns keeper Leat.

11:37pm - Football: Ferns are holding their own in the early stages, with Hannah Wilkinson already forcing a good save frok the American goalie.

US star Megan Rapioe unleashes from outside the penalty area, but just over the bar.

11:24pm - Football: Football Ferns and USA take the field for their Group G match, with NZ need a win over the gold-medal favourite to stand a chance of progressing.

The Americans will be stinging from their 3-0 loss to Sweden in their opener, so look out!

Both teams take a knee before kickoff to protest against racism in football.

11:22pm -Swimming: Back at the pool, Kiwis Zac Reid has officially missed out on the 400m freestyle final, finishing with the 23rd-fastest time of 36 entries.

11:09pm - Football: Earlier in the Ferns' Group, Sweden won a 4-2 thriller against Australia, booking a spot in the next round. Elsewhere, Canada beat Chile 2-1, while China and Zambia played out a 4-4 draw.

Netherlands lead Brazil 1-0 early, after scoring in the third minute.

11:05pm - Football: NZ women have named their line-up to face USA and veteran goalkeeper Erin Nayler has made way for youngster Anna Leat.

Midfielder Daisy Cleverley replaces defender Anna Green, so a bit of a reshuffle through the line-up for coach Tom Sermanni.

NZ: 18-Anna Leat (gk), 2-Ria Percival, 4-CJ Bott, 5-Meikayla Moore, 7-Ali Riley, 8-Abby Erceg, 11-Olivia Chance, 12-Betsey Hassett, 14-Katie Bowen, 15-Daisy Cleverley, 17-Hannah Wilkinson

Replacements: 1-Erin Nayler (gk), 3-Anna Green, 6-Claudia Bunge, 9-Gabi Rennie, 10-Annalie Longo, 13-Paige Satchell, 16-Emma Rolston

10:56pm - Swimming: Mestre from Venezuela takes out heat two with 3m 47.14s - a personal best and faster than Reid's best.

The Kiwi is in lane two of the third heat, between Estonia Kirk and Norwegian Christiansen.

Reid sits third at the 50m, but is already slower than Mestre.

The Kiwi is second at 100m in 54.55s, Mestre was 54.24s. Swiss Djakovic is actually at world record pace.

Reid has fallen off the pace - he's now fifth at 200m and struggling to keep up. He's sixth at 300m and more than a second slower than Mestre, so his chances of qualifying are not good.

Djakovic wins in 3m 45.8s, but Reid is sixth with 3m 49.85s - that's seventh fastest so far, but still two heats to come.

10:48pm - Swimming: First heat of the 400m freestyle is underway, with Reid in heat three, bringing a time of 3m 47.74s to the event.

Cisternas of Chile wins the first race in 3m 54.10s, so well off Reid's standard. Again, the fastest eight progress to tomorrow's final.

10:41pm - Swimming: Coming soon, Kiwi Zac Reid in the 400m freestyle heasts.

10:23pm - Swimming: Seto of Japan is faster than Clareburt through 50m butterfly, that's world record pace.

He still leads after 100m and is 1.5 seconds faster than Clareburt, who only needs to beat the last placegetter here.

Seto leads after backstroke, still faster than Clareburt, but Aussie Smith has closed on him.

They're lining up down the last lap of breastroke, but Seto still leads, 1.5s faster than Clareburt with 100m left.

Seto has faded and Smith takes the heat in 4m 09.27s - faster than Clareburt and an Olympic record. The Kiwi finishes with the second-fastest time of the heats, stamping his medal hopes.

Incredibly, Seto, who was on world record pace early, was swamped over the final 50m of that race and will not make the final.

10:16pm - Swimming: Clareburt's entry time is 4m 09s, but he's not the fastest in this heat - has Ikari from Japan and former world champion Kalisz from USA on either side.

Clareburt off to a good start and leads at 50m of butterfly. The American comes back at him and overhauls him before the 100m turn in 56.41s, Clareburt just 0.07s back.

Clareburt retakes the lead over the first lap of backstroke and has 1.28s at halfway.

Kalisz seems better over breastroke and catches the Kiwi towards the 300m mark, leading by 0.60s.

Clareburt turns in third, but he's roaring down the penultimate lap and takes the lead down the home stretch. He wins in 4:09.49s, with Kalisz second (4m 09.65s) and Hungarian Verraszto third (4m 09.80s).

That's a national record for Clareburt, but he'll watch this next heat nervously.

10:15pm - Swimming: Heat two goes to Spaniard Pons Ramon, who passed Aussie Se-Bom Lee on the breastroke leg and powered away in 4m 12.67s. Clareburt should still finish clear of that time - he's up next.

10:08pm - Swimming: Lopes from Portugal takes out the first heat with a time of 4m 16.52s, which is faster than his entry time, but still seven seconds slower than Clareburt, so that shouldn't trouble the Kiwi.

10pm - Swimming: We're at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, as NZ swimming's best medal hope takes to the water for the first time in his specialty event - 400m individual medley.

Clareburt won a bronze medal at the last world championships in this event and is currently ranked fifth in the world this year.

Four heats, usually running from slowest to fastest, with Clareburt in lane three of the third. Fastest eight will progress to tomorrow's final.

9:15pm - Gymnastics Men's All-Round: Confirmation that Kiwi Misha Koudinov has slipped outside the top 24 placings in qualifying and will not progress to the final, so his Olympics are over. He finished 31st.

8:31pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Bennett crosses the line alongside Jumbo-Visma teammate Primoz Roglic, 6m 20s in 26th, after six hours' racing.

A bit of a lull in the action for NZ athletes tonight, until Lewis Clareburt contests the 400m medley heats at 10:13pm, then the Football Ferns face USA at 11:30pm NZ.

8:25pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Carapaz finished third at the Tour de France just last week, but is now Olympic champion over the toughest course.

The other riders have slowed right down, before exploding in the sprint for minor medals. Van Aert and Pogacar hit the line together - looks like they gave it to van Aert.

8:20pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Carapaz is making his bid 5km out, but the other contenders are closing fast and gobble up McNulty. They're 30 seconds back and jockeying to sprint for silver.

8:05pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Bennett has passed the 210km checkpoint 3m 28s behind the leaders, inside the top 20. Some of the leaders haven't popped up on the rankings though, so he will slip down at some point.

McNulty and Carapaz have built a 40s lead, and the leaders have a long downhill run, before a sharp clim to the finish, still 15km away.

7:59pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: American McNulty and Ecuadorian Carapaz have built a 24s lead with 23km to go. Bennett has fallen off the pace, two minutes back at the last 199km checkpoint.

7:32pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Pogacar - the Tour de France winner - charges on the climb and has decimated the bunch. Canadian Michael Woods and American Brandon McNulty go with him.

No sign of Bennett, van Aert trying to bring the group back together.

7:26pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: The peloton has split, as the climb begins. Bennett needs to be in the front group, no sign of him dropping off yet.

7:16pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Another lap of the Fuji International Speedway and still a big peloton in contention. The early leaders have been caught and now the contenders are readying themselves for the climb.

Bennett still in the bunch, but not near the front. 

7:05pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Italians and Belgians are forcing the pace, breaking up the peloton. The breakaway has broken up and will be gobbled up within minute.

7:01pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: There's already a new sense of urgency in the pack, after they've been through the feed station and approach the Mikuni Pass climb. Some riders have chosen to pull out at the race circuit, where the race will finish in 50km.

The breakway is only 2m 20s ahead now, but they've had a great day out front.

6:48pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: The lead group are now on the Fuji International Speedway circuit, offering some flat relief before they head back up the mountain to the notorious Mikuni Pass.

The lead is now less than four minutes. The race will finish on this racetrack.

Bennett still in the peloton, but near the back.

6:33pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: 75km to go and Bennett still in the chasing peloton, with the lead down below five minutes. The pack seems to be preparing for the business end of the race.

6:18pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: This climb is taking its toll on the peloton, with some big names disappearing out the back. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde calls it a day, while Brit Geraint Thomas is nowhere to be seen.

The breakway's lead is only five minutes now. 

5:57pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Defending champion Greg van Avermaet is dropping off the front of the peloton, surely conceding his crown, but helping set up teammate Wout van Aert for a gold medal bid.

They're approaching the summit of the Mt Fuji climb and the deficit is now below 10 minutes with less than 100km to go.

5:50pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Bevin swings off and that's his work done. He's lifted the tempo for Bennett and whittled another minute off the lead, so now it's time for him to rest up for his specialty time trial event later in the programme.

5:41pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: Kiwi Patty Bevin takes over at the front of the peloton, keeping the pace honest for teammate George Bennett. They're on the lower slopes of Mt Fuji and nibbling into the breakaway's lead, now at 12m 34s.

Bennett on the wheel of Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia.

5:21pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: 14 minutes now the lead for the five rider breakaway. Bennnett and Bevin in the chasing pack with 118km to go.

4:55pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: The chasing pack has reduced the lead to 15 minutes - that lead pack now just five riders. 138km to go. 

4:25pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: A mid-pack peloton crash has hampered one of the favourites. Great Britain's Geraint Thomas part of a group of four riders who are now a couple minutes behind the pack. The leading group's lead is down to 18 minutes. 

4:16pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: 160km to go. The pack at the front has dropped one rider but has extended their lead to 20 minutes - three big climbs coming uo in the next 120km. 

George Bennett in action Photo credit: Photosport

3:40pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: 185km to go. The eight rider group has extended their lead at the front to 13 minutes, Bennett and Bevin in the chasing pack. 

3:32pm - Great row from the Kiwi crew ... they chucked on the extra gear in the final 500m to just pip the Canadians at the line. That's it for the rowing today. 

Women's Rowing Eight - Heat One: Women's eight heats - Kelsey Bevan, Emma Dyke, Kirstyn Goodger, Jackie Gowler, Kerri Gowler, Ella Greenslade, Grace Prendergast, Beth Ross, Caleb Shepherd, Lucy Spoors, Phoebe Spoors
Result - New Zealand wins heat to quaify for final

Finish - Flying finish from the Kiwis as they surge home to victory just in front of Canada with China fading to thrid. 

1500m - 500 to go and there is nothing in it as China leads from Canada and the Kiwis.... less than a second in it.

1000m - New Zealand back to third as Canada surge to second ... China still leads with the Brits struggling in fourth. 

500m - China out to a quick start and lead by half a boat length from the Kiwis, Canada and the Brits.

Start - The Kiwis up against China, Canada and Great Britain in this heat - only the winner gets automatic entry into the final.

3:18pm - So Germany and the Netherlands straight through to the final - the Kiwis and four other boats will compete for three spots in the final.

Men's Rowing Eight - Heat Two:  Hamish Bond, Sam Bosworth, Michael Brake, Shaun Kirkham, Matt Macdonald, Tom Mackintosh, Tom Murray, Dan Williamson & Philip Wilson
Result: New Zealand finishes second - must go through six-boat repechage to quaify for final. 

Finish - The Kiwis came home strongly but the Dutch held on with the Brits fading badly at the end. New Zealand in to the repechage. 

1500m - The Dutch still lead by half a boat length from New Zealand with the  Brits back a bit. 

1000m - Status quo at the second marker - the Kiwis and the Brits have just pegged back the Dutch slightly.

500m - The Dutch lead New Zealand and Great Britain at the first marker.

Start - The Kiwi crew is up against the Netherlands and the Dutch - only the winner qualifies directly for the final. 

Mikhail Koudinov Photo credit: Photosport

3:06pm - Artistic Gymnastics: New Zealand's Mikhail Koudinov has finished 15th in his quaification group and has missed a spot in the final of the men's comp.

3:01pm - Cycling Men's Road Race: A group of eight riders has a nine minute gap on the peloton, but there is still 200km to go. Kiwi pair George Bennett and Pat Bevin are in the chasing pack. 

2:58pm - Not too far away from the men's eight competing in their heat, then at 3:20pm it'll be the women's eight. 

2:56pm - All over in the hockey and it's a first up win for India despite a great second-half fight back from the Kiwis.

2:55pm - Men's hockey: Final score - India 3 New Zealand 2

Photo credit: Getty

2:53pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - 20 seconds left and NZ have a penalty corner although the Indians are reviewing. 3-2 India 

2:50pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - Another video review as the Kiwis appeal for a penalty corner with a minute left on the clock. 

2:47pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - Save made by the Indian keeper. 

2:46pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - Just had a five minute video review that went the Kiwis way and they will have a penalty corner. Two minutes left - 3-2 India. 

2:42pm - Artistic Gymnastics - Kiwi Mikhail Koudinov completes a 14.43 on the bars on his fifth rotation. He is up to eighth spot overall which will be enough to quaify for the final. 

2:38pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - Still 3-2 to India with three minutes on the clock in the final quarter. 

2:25pm - Cycling Men's Road Race - Bennett and Bevin are in the peloton ... 1:17 behind a breakaway group of eight riders.

2:21pm - Artistic Gymnastics - Mikhail Koudinov has recorded a 13.766 on the vault in his fourth rotation in artistic gymnastics competition. He is currently 11th in the first qualification group. He needs to finish in the top eight to quaify for the final.

2:17pm - Men's hockey: NZ v India - GOAL NEW ZEALAND - Veteran Stephen Jenness gets on the end of a nice flowing NZ movement and rockets the ball to the left of the keeper as the third quarter comes to an end (India 3-2)

2:14pm - The men's cycling road race is underway, featuring Kiwi riders George Bennett & Patrick Bevin.

2:01pm - GOAL INDIA - Video referral for an infringement in the NZ area results in a penalty corner, which is handily converted by Harmanpreet Singh for his second goal of the day. India extend their lead five minutes into the third quarter. (India 3-1)

1:48pm - Halftime in the Black Sticks Men v India hockey showdown, with the Indians holding a 2-1 lead.

1:45pm - Kiwi gymnast Kurdinov sits fifth in the pommel horse early in the event.

1:41pm - GOAL INDIA - The Indians take the lead against the Black Sticks Men with five minutes remaining in the half courtesy of Harmanpreet Singh. (India 2-1)

1:23pm - India defend well to deny the Black Sticks Men from a penalty corner. Score remains 1-1, as the first quarter comes to a close.

1:18pm - NZ gymnast Misha Koudinov has completed his attempt to qualify in the men's floor, carding a 13.433.

1:14pm - GOAL INDIA - The Indians strike back to level the score from their own penalty corner (1-1)

1:07pm - GOAL NEW ZEALAND - Kane Russell fires home from the first penalty corner to give the Black Sticks Men an early 1-0 lead over India. (NZ 1-0).

Men's pair heats - Stephen Jones & Brook Robertson 

RESULT: Jones & Robertson finish third in heat two to advance to the semi-finals.

Finish - Very distinct top three, with Australia first, Italy second, and the Kiwis in third - but it's good enough to clinch them a spot in the semi-finals.

1:04pm - Aussies make their push now, edging ahead of the Italians. NZ another boat length back in third at the 1500m mark.

1:03pm - Kiwis well entrenched behind the two leading boats now, almost three seconds off the Italians in first at the 500m mark.

1:02pm - Italy out in front, Australia second, NZ third.

1pm - Here we go. Kiwis out of the gate with a bang, but settle into third.

1pm - Black Sticks Men v India is about to get underway.

12:52pm - Up next in the famous men's pair boat - once dominated by Hamish Bond and Eric Murray - will be Stephen Jones and Brook Robertson in heat two at 1pm.

Women's pair heats - Kerri Gowler & Grace Prendergast 

RESULT: Gowler & Prendergast win heat three to advance to semi-finals.

12:47pm - There was only one boat in this one, as the Kiwis cross for a comfortable win to book their place in the semi-finals. 

12:45pm - Almost seven seconds clear now at the 1500m mark, 500m remain.

12:42pm - Two boat lengths now for the Kiwis, who are five seconds clear of the second-placed Dutch.

12:41pm - Out to a boat-length lead now for the Kiwis, they look to be cruising in third gear.

12:40pm - And they're off! Slowish start for the Kiwis but they soon have their noses in front.

12:32pm - Afternoon sports fans, and welcome to day one of the Tokyo Olympics.

Our first horses in the race for the day, so to speak, will be the women's rowing pair of Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast, due at the line at 12:40pm for heat three.

Be sure to scroll down for a full list of Kiwi competitors.

***

Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Tokyo Olympics' first official day of competition, after three days of early bonus action - a teaser for what's to come.

After last night's opening ceremony, the NZ team have their first shot at medals, when road cyclists George Bennett, Patrick Bevin and 128 other riders take on a hilly 234km Mt Fujiyama course.

Bennett skipped the Tour de France to focus on this event, knowing the mountainous nature of the journey would suit him down to the ground. Bevin is expected to be more of a force in the time trial later in the programme, so will likely ride in support of his teammate.

Taekwondo fighter Tom Burns will also have his eye on a medal, when he contests the -58kg division later today, while gymnast Misha Koudinov faces qualification rounds this afternoon.

Our rowers are back in action, with the pairs and eights taking spotlight, swimmer Lewis Clareburt will try to negotiate 400m medley heats, while the Black Sticks men take on five-time champions India in hockey.

After a 2-1 loss to Australia in their Games opener, the Football Ferns must bounce back against world champions USA, who are also stinging from their shock first-up loss to Sweden.

Today's schedule looks like this:

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

Men's qualification - Misha Koudinov 1pm, 5:30pm & 10:30pm NZ 

CYCLING

Men's road race - George Bennett & Patrick Bevin 2pm NZ

FOOTBALL

Women's first round - Football Ferns v USA 11:30pm NZ

HOCKEY

Men's Pool A - Black Sticks v India 1pm NZ

ROWING

Women’s pair heats - Kerri Gowler & Grace Prendergast 12:40pm NZ

Men’s pair heats - Stephen Jones & Brook Robertson 1pm NZ

Men's eight heats - Hamish Bond, Sam Bosworth, Michael Brake, Shaun Kirkham, Matt Macdonald, Tom Mackintosh, Tom Murray, Dan Williamson & Philip Wilson 3:10pm NZ

Women's eight heats - Kelsey Bevan, Emma Dyke, Kirstyn Goodger, Jackie Gowler, Kerri Gowler, Ella Greenslade, Grace Prendergast, Beth Ross, Caleb Shepherd, Lucy Spoors, Phoebe Spoors 3:20pm NZ

SWIMMING

Men's 400m individual medley heats - Lewis Clareburt 10:13pm NZ

Men's 400m freestyle heats - Zac Reid 10:49pm NZ

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