Tokyo 2020: #TeamUNSW powers on in first week
What a week it has been in Tokyo! For those stuck in Sydney's lockdown, the Games has provided some much-needed entertainment, relief and optimism in a tough time.
Published on the 29 July 2021
Australia's favourite Olympic sport - beating the USA - has had a successful start and hopefully there is more to come as the Games continue.
Our #TeamUNSW athletes have been doing the University proud, with their resilience, grit and athleticism throughout the opening week. The men's rugby sevens team, featuring Henry Hutchison (Bachelor of Commerce) and Dylan Pietsch (Bachelor of Arts), had a very tough campaign, losing their quarter final to eventual gold medallists Fiji, but rallied in their final game against Canada to win 26-7 and secure seventh place. While they will be disappointed with their final placing, a win to finish off their Olympic campaign will be a small consolation. They will now turn their attention to supporting their female counterparts as the women's rugby sevens competition kicks off on Thursday.
In the water polo the Aussie Stingers, featuring Amy Ridge (Bachelor of Arts / Law) and UNSW-Wests Water Polo club members Lea Yanitsas and Bronte Halligan, continued their winning ways, beating the Netherlands 15-12 on Monday, with Amy scoring her first Olympic goal. They return to the pool on Friday at 8:50pm AEST to take on Spain.
Meanwhile the Aussie Sharks, featuring Tim Putt (Bachelor of Arts/Commerce), Nathan Power (Master of Commerce), alumni Aaron Younger (Master of Business Administration) and Andrew Ford (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering) and UNSW-Wests Water Polo club members Richie Campbell, Joel Dennerley and assistant coach Tim Hamill, bounced back from their first round loss to beat Croatia 11-8. Tim, Nathan, Aaron and Andrew scored a goal each in the win. Their next game is against Serbia at 8:50pm AEST on Thursday.
Hockey's Kookaburras, featuring Tim Brand (Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Commerce) and Dylan Martin (Bachelor of Construction Management & Property) have also had a successful opening week. They followed up their first win on the weekend with a 5-2 defeat of Argentina on Tuesday. Wednesday's game against New Zealand was a thriller, with the teams locked at 1-1 all three-quarter time, with Tim scoring Australia's only goal in the first quarter. A sensational final quarter from the Kookaburras, which included another goal from Tim, saw them take the win 4-2. They will play Spain at 11am AEST on Friday in their final pool game.
In the football the OlyWhites, featuring Gianni Stensness (Bachelor of Commerce / Science) played out a tough 0-0 draw with Romania on Wednesday. The team has now qualified for the quarter-finals and will play Japan on Saturday at 7pm AEST with the hopes of progressing to next week's semi-finals.
On Thursday alumnus Lisa Darmanin (Bachelor of Commerce / International Studies) swings into action in the mixed multihull nacra 17 foiling, which will start from 2:05pm AEST. Sunday will be our first chance to see alumnus Georgia Winkcup (Bachelor of Arts / Law) when she competes in the heats of the 3000m steeplechase from 10:40am AEST.
There is so much more #TeamUNSW action to come, so stay tuned and keep cheering them on from home!