In a stunning display of speed and precision, Australia shattered the men’s team pursuit world record during the first round of the Paris Olympics competition, eclipsing Italy’s previous record set in Tokyo 2021 by a remarkable 1.302 seconds.
“The track is incredible. Seeing 42 seconds (3:42.958) was quite surprising,” remarked Sam Welsford. “We still had more to give towards the end of that race.”
Australia’s team pursued redemption after a crash marred their Tokyo performance, ultimately earning them a bronze medal. Reflecting on their journey, Welsford emphasized the team’s meticulous preparation and focus, which played a pivotal role in their stellar performance in Paris.
During their 4km effort, the Australian squad approached lapping the Italians, a rare occurrence in team pursuit events. Looking ahead to the gold medal final against Great Britain, Welsford anticipated another high-speed showdown.
“I expect tomorrow to be fast. Although we experienced a slight slipstream in the last two laps, I believe the Olympic final conditions will provide an extra boost. The British team will undoubtedly perform well, and we must be prepared to respond,” Welsford added.
While Australia surged ahead, defending champions Italy secured a slot in the bronze medal final against Denmark, showcasing their resilience despite being outpaced by Australia.
In a gripping battle for the gold medal final, Great Britain and Denmark engaged in a neck-and-neck contest, with Britain’s Ethan Hayter leading a late surge to secure victory in 3:42.151, closely followed by Denmark in 3:42.803.
Australia’s stellar performance in the qualification heats set a near-world record pace of 3:42.958, falling just short of Italy’s Tokyo record. The team’s cohesion and determination were evident as they raced towards their goal, driven by Kelland O’Brien’s support from the sidelines after dropping off late in the race.
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