Rafa Maciel

Team competition resumes this afternoon... Men's Team Bracket: (1) v (16) (24) v (8) (5) v (12) (13) v (4) (3) v (19) (11) v (6) (7) v (10) (18) v (8) Women's Team Bracket: (1) v (17) (9) v (8) (5) v (12) (13) v (4) (3) v (19) (22) v (6) (7) v (10) (15) v (2)

So all the Brits bow out by the quarter final stage. In a surprising turn of events, Megan Havers - who going into the competition was perhaps expected to be our weakest archer - got the furthest. She lost in the quarter finals to French 12th seed Lisa Barbelin. There were some decent results for the team - Penny Healy took out the Italian 2nd seed in the last 32 and Havers dispatched the French 4th seed. That could bode well for this afternoon's team matches

Last up, the Sculling crews... apologies in advance for what could be a rambling post. Men's Single: Given the size of the field, I won't list all of the nations. The draw is going to be all important here and it will be critical to avoid having to go in the repechage. At last year's World Champs, none of the single scullers who had to go through the repechage were able to progress any further than the quarterfinals. This result was repeated at the recent Europeans, where again, the crews who had to go through the repechage weren't able to raise their performance in the next round, and all missed out on the A-Final. Based on the performances at the Europeans, are pretty well placed to secure one of the quotas and I would love to see take the other but I do have doubts about the GB sculler's (George Bourne) ability to maintain his form through the competition - he ran out of steam at the Europeans after he had to sprint to make the final. Men's Double: - Given the size of the field I wont go through all the crews. Although Moldova just missed out on qualifying last year, I don't think this will be their regatta. Instead, I think will start as the favourite. They have stuck with the same crew from last year's world champs and should be able to secure the first quota. The conditions at the Europeans weren't ideal and may have impacted some of the results making it difficult to evaluate current form. So, a lot is going to come down to the draw. The heat winners will have the benefit of not having to race the repechage on the afternoon of day 1. The results at the Europeans would suggest that Greece should get the second quota but I think could spring a surprise. Men's Quad: - Norway and Spain are unlikely to figure in the battle for quotas and I think the competition will be too strong for Czechia. New Zealand and France are both new crews and could spring a surprise but will have their work cut out for them against more established crews. USA are sticking with the same crew from last year, but they will need to have made significant steps forward if they are going to challenge for a quota. Ultimately, I think they will come up short. will likely start as favourites - they just missed out on automatic qualification at the World Champs last year and finished 6th at the recent Europeans - and I think they have shown the consistency that will take them to a quota. The second will probably be a fight between Australia and Ukraine. Australia were 5th in Varese whilst Ukraine were down in 8th and they weren't able to show any real improvement at the Europeans so at the moment, I would suggest that will edge it. Women's Single: - As with the men's single, the quotas could go anywhere. Czechia were the highest placed finisher at the recent Europeans but Switzerland won the B-Final in a quicker time. As above, the draw is going to be hugely important - as with the men, at last year's world champs, none of the repechage rowers were able to progress beyond the quarterfinals - so whoever wins the 3 heats and progresses straight to the semifinals is going to have a huge advantage as they'll avoid the afternoon repechage. Worth bearing in mind that the repechages will start only 3 hours after the heats finish - that's not a huge amount of time to recover. If I was pushed to make an early prediction, I'd be tempted to go with and perhaps Women's Double: - It's all change for these crews - looks like every nation has made changes to their crews compared to who they fielded at the World Champs last year with the exception South Africa making it difficult to predict performance. GB are a new crew for 2024 with Hodgkins-Byrne back from maternity break being joined by new name Becky Wilde. They've only raced once this year - the European Champs - where they won the B-Final, but they were beaten by both Czechia and Switzerland. It may be that they weren't able to adjust to the cross-wind conditions as well as the other crews or that they simply need more time to gel as a crew. Czechia will be keen to avoid another Boat Underweight relegation. Despite that, they were able to fight their way to the A-Final of the Europeans and finished ahead of Switzerland. Switzerland should be able to make it to the final, but they haven't shown the consistency that would put them in the frame for a quota. My heart wants me to say that GB will get a quota, but I haven't seen enough of them to be able to say they are on a path to winning a spot in Paris so I think instead, I'd opt for and taking the quotas. Women's Quad: - To my mind, should start as favourites for the first quota as they are the most consistent crew in the field. They were the first non-qualifier at last year's worlds and are coming off a silver medal at the Europeans. Both Canada and the USA have made a couple of changes to the crews that competed at last year's world champs when they both ended up in the B Final and the Poland crew is another new setup for 2024. Having not seen any of them racing in 2024 it's difficult to gauge what impact that will have New Zealand is a new crew for 2024 but they are up against some pretty formidable crews so if they want to make an impact, they will need to hit the ground running - or should that be hit the water rowing? Either way, I don't see them booking a spot in Paris. I think the second quota could well go to - they showed good form at the Europeans where they finished 4th and were just behind the German boat. The motivation to row at a home Olympics could well give them the extra turn of speed to be able to hold off their North American rivals.

Bit of a worrying trend developing for him this season - he no heighted at the indoor trials earlier this year as well.

Whatever the issue was with Jones it is now resolved. Suspension marker has been lifted on the May rankings. The fact it was only there for a month makes me think it was related to concussion protocols.

ETU European Senior Championship - Belgrade Day 1 Results Men's -54Kg: 1.) Furkan ubeyde Camoglu 2.) Konstantinos Dimitropoulos 3.) Josip Teskera 3.) Maksym Manenkov Men''s -63Kg: 1.) Omar Gergely Salim 2.) Hakan Recber 3.) Volodymyr Bystrov 3.) Tobias Hyttel Women's -49Kg: 1.) Adriana Cerezo Iglesias 2.) Merve Dincel Kavurat 3.) Supharada Kisskalt 3.) Bruna Duvancic Women's -73Kg: 1.) Althea Laurin 2.) Sude Yaren Uzuncavdar 3.) Matea Jelic 3.) Yanna Schneider

Adam Hague failed his opening height of 5.00m. Owen Heard finished 5th overall with a clearance of 5.40m. Sophie Cook finished 4th overall with a 4.20 clearance.

Thoughts on Lightweight Classes: Men's Lightweight Double: - This is a fairly open class in my opinion and whilst I would love to see Hong Kong getting another rowing quota, it's not going to happen in this class. Likewise, I think we can discount Indonesia and Brazil. I'm also tempted to eliminate USA - they had a terrible World Champs last year, when they ended up in the D-Final, but they have changed their crew and although we haven't seen them in action yet, they will be looking to finish higher up the field this time. We also haven't seen the crews from France, China, Greece or Poland yet this year, further complicating the prediction. With no New Zealand in the field, Germany are the highest placed finishers from last year's World Champs but their result there was impacted by the fact they capsized in the semifinal. In 2024, they haven't shown great form - in Varese, they were the second placed German crew finishing 6th overall. France had high hopes after showing excellent form in 2023 - winning World Cup III (beating Olympic Champions Ireland in the process) and taking second place in World Cup II. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep that form through the World Champs where they eventually withdrew ahead of their C/D Semifinal. Long story short, the quotas here could go to any of 4 or 5 nations, but I'll stick my neck out and say that will book their ticket alongside but I wouldn't be surprised if either Germany or Poland upset that prediction. Women's Lightweight Double: - Can't help thinking that the best chance for Indonesia or Uzbekistan to qualify for the Olympics was through the Asian qualifier last month but in the end, they were well beaten by Japan and Iran. I don't expect them to figure in the mix for quota this time around. Likewise, I don't think it's likely we will see Spain or Switzerland getting a quota - Switzerland have finished 6th in both of their events this year whilst Spain came last in the B-Final at Varese. That leaves four crews fighting for two quotas. The Australian pairing got the nod to compete after their 4th place finish at the World Cup in Varese - where they were just under a second behind the Italian pair. France will be competing for the first time since they finished 11th at the World Champs. Greece took the silver medal at the Europeans and beat the Italians in the process - but worth bearing in mind that it was a different Italian crew so doesn't mean a huge amount. It's mad to think we've got the gold and silver medalists from Tokyo having to go through the last chance regatta, but I think it is a pretty safe call to say that should get a quota and have a chance to defend their title. I'm less confident saying France will get a spot and at the moment I think that might sneak it.

Can't disagree with the sentiment, but I am in a positive mood today for a change - hopefully this is going to be a good omen for the rest of the team event tomorrow.

into the final of the mixed recurve event. They took out top seeds in the quarterfinals and have just snuck through against in the semis. waiting for them in the final.

men defeat (5-3) in the round of 12 and advance to face 7th seed in the last 16. women had a bye straight through to the last 16 where they will face 22nd seed .

Men's Round of 48: (33) Alex Wise def. (80) Arkadios Damopoulos (53) Niv Frenkel def. (60) Tom Hall (29) Conor Hall def.(84) Arne Collas Men's Round of 24: (33) Alex Wise def. (32) Mathias Kramer (36) Den Habjan Malavasic def. (29) Conor Hall Women's Round of 24: (29) Megan Havers def. (36) Anastasia Pavlova (31) Penny Healy def. (34) Olena Kushniruk

Pulling details of next week's Night of the 10,000m PBs and, although she's not on the entry lists, it led me to do some checking on progress of Eilish McColgan. After 2023 blighted by injury, she returned to action in Paris when she was pacemaker for a 10k road race as part of the Paris Marathon events. From the looks of things, she now in a block of altitude training in Colorado and she posted this week that she was training in spikes for the first time since last year. From a selection for Paris perspective, McColgan has the 10,000m standard from March last year although she may have to prove her form to the selectors to confirm her place on the team. If she is looking to double up, she doesn't yet have the standard for 5,000m.

Will post them tomorrow.

My thoughts.....for what they are worth, starting with the sweep crews: Men's Eight: - I still struggle with the logic of Austria prioritising the Eight over some of the smaller boats where they would have had a better chance of qualifying. So in all honesty it will come down to Canada, USA and Italy fighting it out for 2 quotas. Neither USA nor Canada competed in Varese so it is difficult to gauge where they are. Based on performances last year and should start as strong favourites with likely to get the second spot. Italy and Canada went head-to-head twice last year and both times Italy came out on top. Add to that the turn of speed that they have shown early in the season, and they should have enough to get the better of Canada - but it will be close. Women's Eight: - Denmark are a new crew for 2024 but they haven't been able to challenge their European rivals so far this year and I don't see that changing in Lucerne. Although the German men's eight has been steadily rebuilding, their women's crew are still a bit behind their rivals. got to the A-Final at last year's World Champs, but ultimately missed out on qualification. They should put that right in Lucerne and will probably start as favourites. Germany have competed twice this year - they were about 9 seconds behind GB in Varese, but they struggled at the Europeans (with a different crew). They've reverted back to the Varese crew so have given themselves a decent chance to qualify. The problem is that are a complete unknown - as they always are going into an Olympic regatta - but they have a tendency to effectively navigate their way through the qualifying regatta so may well get the second quota. Men's Four: - Although it was on home water, delivered the surprise of the season when they beat GB twice in Varese. Although they couldn't repeat the feat at the Europeans, they are continuing to show great form so should start as favourites for the first quota. Behind them. After a pretty disastrous World Champs where they ended up in Final C, this is a priority boat for . After they finished 4th in Varese, they skipped the Europeans to focus on this - and I expect them to edge out the second quota. I think we're likely to see South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine and Poland in the final but I don't see them being able to get into the top 2. Women's Four: - In a surprising turn of events, Canada and Germany have elected not to send a crew in this event and with them absent, and should start as favourites based on their performances from last year. Poland could run them close but will likely come up short. Whilst their results this year would suggest that neither Chile or Spain are likely to figure in the quota fight, it's difficult to make a call on Japan as this is another new crew, but the country doesn't have a huge track record in the sweep boats so there is nothing to suggest that they will be able to make the top two. Men's Pair: - Predicting the final for this event is probably easier than predicting the top two as none of the crews have been able to show any real consistency. Denmark were the 1st non-qualifying boat in the World Champs last year and, although they skipped the Europeans to prepare for this after finishing 3rd at Varese, I don't think they'll end up getting a quota. I probably favour and - both have changed up their crews since the World Champs last year and performed well at the Europeans. Women's Pair: - This could be one of the closest races in Lucerne. We haven't seen New Zealand in action yet but they are sticking with the same crew that went to the World Champs last year and finished 13th overall. Italy was the highest finishing non-qualifying crew at the World Champs last year but have struggled for form so far this season. The Jurkovic sisters are possibly the form crew after they finished 3rd at the Europeans and I think they are likely to get one of the two quotas. The second quota should be a fight between New Zealand and Germany and I think should get it.

Not sure what the scores were, but the Olympic Diving Test Event started today: Men's 3m Synchro: 1.) Harding / Laugher 2.) Bouyer / Jandard 3.) Marsaglia / Tocci

Latest update from Jessica Gadirova suggests recovery is going well - she's posted video of her back doing some (basic) moves. Looks like the rumours of her going to Paris for uneven bars are finally beginning to die down as the video shows just how slowly and carefully they are taking her recovery.

So not sure whether to post this or not as can't verify it yet but will put it here anyhow and if I need to correct it later I will. Apparently both Holly Mills and Abigail Pawlett are due to take part in the Hypo Gotzis Heptathlon next weekend and Jack Turner is due to compete in the Decathlon. I'm saying 'apparently' because it seems there has been a copy of the entry list doing the rounds on social media but the Gotzis organisers have said that it didn't come from them and they wont be publishing the official entry list until the end of the week. I'm hoping from a British perspective that all three are competing, but would also like to see Jade O'Dowda on the start line given she pulled out of her last comp.

Given the athletes are already beginning to fly into , it's beyond frustrating that the Jamaican Athletics Federation can't find 10 minutes to actually publish the entry lists for this weekend's Jamaica Athletics Invitational - piecing together competitors from local news reports of who has been seen in the arrivals area of the airport is not fun. Sportsmax is reporting the line up for women's 400m hurdles as: Rushell Clayton Shamier Little Dalilah Muhammad Janieve Russell Gianna Woodruff Anna Cockrell Shiann Salmon Andrenette Knight

Scott Lincoln wins the competition in with a put of 21.25m in the last round - 25cm short of OQS but more importantly, 25cm more than the UKA standard so that should be enough for UKA to accept a World Athletics invite if he gets one. He's currently 16th in the road to Paris ranking list and top ranked non-direct qualifier so he is well placed for invite.

No Grand Slam for Oliver Townend - he's had to withdraw Ballaghmor Class from Badminton.

Men's Individual Match-Ups Round of 48: (33) Alex Wise v (80) Arkadios Damopoulos (60) Tom Hall v (53) Niv Frenkel (29) Conor Hall v (84) Arne Collas All of the British women have byes through to the round of 24

Women's Team Bracket: (1) - Bye (17) v (16) (9) v (24) (8) - Bye (5) - Bye (21) v (12) (13) v (20) (4) - Bye (3) - Bye (19) v (14) (11) v (22) (6) - Bye (7) - Bye (23) v (10) (15) v (18) (8) - Bye

Men's Team Bracket: (1) - Bye (17) v (16) (9) v (24) (8) - Bye (5) - Bye (21) v (12) (13) v (20) (4) - Bye (3) - Bye (19) v (14) (11) v (22) (6) - Bye (7) - Bye (23) v (10) (15) v (18) (8) - Bye

men will be up against 23rd seed in the first round of the team competition tomorrow. If they get through that, they will face 7th seed women have a bye to the round of 8 matches on Friday. They will face the winner of Belgium (11th seed) and (22nd seed)