Paris Olympic Games Moreton Bay Coverage – August 4

Alice Williams and Charlize Andrews, from Albany Creek-based North Brisbane Polo Bears, have tonight helped Australia into the quarter-finals of the Olympic water polo.

In a Pool A thriller against Hungary, the sides were locked at 9-9 before going to a nail-biting penalty shootout, which Australia won 5-3.

“The Australia David’s keep finding a way to slay the Goliaths,” said Channel Nine commentator John Harker said.

As a result, the Stingers collected two points and the world-ranked two Hungarians one, rather than the winner taking all three.

That ensured Australia finish top of Pool A before the final fixture between Canada and Netherlands early tomorrow morning.

Early indications are they may face France or Italy in the quarter-finals in their quest for Australia’s first women’s water polo gold since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Goalkeeper Gabby Palm said of the penalty shootout: “We were on the edge of our seats the whole time, but I had the confidence we’d get away with it and we did. It’s incredible.”

Alice Williams, who has played professionally in Italy, was in lethal form scoring four goals from six shots, including two in 30 seconds.

Charlize Andrews, who went to St Paul’s School at Bald Hills, scored one from three and drew praise from commentators for her versatility.

The quarter-finals start on Tuesday night AEST and continue into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Liam Adcock, the former Redcliffe Little Athlete, was unable to qualify for the long jump final in Paris tonight.

The 28-year-old, who went the Redcliffe State High School, had a best of 7.56m from his three jumps, but it was not enough to make the 12-man final.

Now based at Sydney University Athletics Club, Adcock started athletics before taking a break to try football, rugby union and tennis.

Returning in his teens, Adcock and his brother created a sandpit in their backyard to try triple jump and was coached by Gary Patterson at Deception Bay.

His first 8m jump came in New Zealand last year when he recorded 8.05m followed by a personal best 8.15m.

This year he managed 8.03m when second at the national championships and 8.05m to win the Oceania Championships.

Kaylee McKeown, the Redcliffe-born, Caboolture-raised star, has added two more medals to her remarkable Olympic haul today.

The 23-year-old picked up bronze in both her two finals – the 200m individual medley (IM) and 4x100m mixed medley relay.

McKeown adds them to the 100m and 200m backstroke gold medals maintaining her Olympic record of medalling in all eight of her events .... so far!

And there may be more - she is likely to be in the Australian 4x100m women’s medley relay team for tomorrow’s final at 3.32am AEST.

This morning, the former Burpengary swimmer actually finished fourth in the IM but took third after Alex Walsh, of the US, was disqualified.

Walsh was penalised by judges for an illegal turn – not being on her back at the point of turning – and was disqualified.

Ironically, it was the same fate McKeown suffered last year in the world championships.

"It's not the way Kaylee McKeown would want to win a bronze medal," swimming legend Ian Thorpe said on Channel Nine. "But it is the reality of this event."

Stephanie Rice, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, added on Stan Sport: "Incredibly disappointing for her (Alex Walsh).

"Medley swimming is very technical and the back to breast turn is one of the ones you have to be the most careful of.

"You must touch the wall either on your back or your side and she’s just rotated over on to her stomach which is illegal.

"I feel like I can anticipate her conversation with her coach after, 'this is why I tell you every day to not do that'. "

McKeown was fifth at the turn in the butterfly in 27.59 seconds and moved up to second in her favoured backstroke, before slipping back to third in the breaststroke and freestyle.

She stopped the clock at 2 minutes 8.08 seconds, behind winner Summer McIntosh, of Canada, 2:06.56 (Olympic record) and Kate Douglass 2.06.92.

Inside an hour, McKeown was back on the starting block for the 4x100m mixed medley relay, leading Australia out in the backstroke.

The former St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School, Caboolture, student was fifth, behind four male swimmers, but leading the female swimmers on that leg.

Josh Yong closed the gap in the breaststroke and Matt Temple in the butterfly, before Mollie O’Callaghan brought them home third in 3 minutes 38.76 seconds.

Victory went to the US in 3:37.43 closely followed by China 3:37.55.