Athletes in action: Kiwis look to water for more Olympic medals

New Zealand's best medal chances at the Paris Olympics tonight will come on the water, where some of our rowers and sailors have reached the pointy end of their competitions.

At Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, the NZ double scullers and coxless fours face finals, with any of them capable of reaching the podium.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Brooke Francis and new partner Lucy Spoors have looked particularly impressive, winning both their heat and semi, but will need to overcome reigning Olympic and world champions Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis of Romania.

The men's four of Ollie McLean, Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray and Matt Macdonald were also fastest through their heats, while the men's double of Jordan Parry and Robbie Manson and women's four may face a tougher battle to finish among the placings.

At Marseille, our 49er sailors Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie have reached the medal race in third place. This final challenge counts double points and in a tightly packed fleet, they are still capable of gold, but could also fall out of contention altogether.

Trailling the 20-boat field after the opening day, Jo Aleh and Molly Meech have dragged themselves into the top 10 for the women's 49er FX medal race, but are too far back now to push for medals from eighth place.

Golfers Ryan Fox and Dan Hillier begin the men's golf competition at Le Golf National, while Lewis Clareburt is back in the pool for his 200m individual medley heats, with a possible semi looming in the morning.

7.22pm

Golf: Ryan Fox in men's individual round one at Le Golf National

7.30pm

Rowing: Emma Twigg in women's single sculls semifinal at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

7.50pm

Rowing: Tom Mackintosh in men's single sculls semifinal at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

8pm

Judo: Moira Koster in women's 78kg elimination round of 32 at Champ-de-Mars Arena

8.22pm

Golf: Daniel Hillier in men's individual round one at Le Golf National

8.30pm

Hockey: New Zealand vs Australia in men's pool play at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium

9pm

Swimming: Deans/Transom/Fairweather/Thomas in women's 4x200m freestyle relay heats at Paris La Defense Arena

Swimming: Taiko Torepe-Ormsby in men's 50m freestyle heats at Paris La Defense Arena

Swimming: Lewis Clareburt in men's 200m individual medley heats at Paris La Defense Arena

9.18pm

Rowing: Brooke Donoghue/Lucy Spoors in women's double sculls final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

9.30pm

Rowing: Robbie Manson/Jordan Parry in men's double sculls final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

9.50pm

Rowing: Waddy/Spoors/Williams/Gowler in women's fours final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

10pm

Sailing: Thomas Saunders in men's dinghy races 1-2 at Marseille Marina

10.10pm

Rowing: Macdonald/Murray/Maclean/Ullrich in men's four final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

12.43am

Sailing: McHardie/McKenzie in men's 49er medal race at Marseille Marina

1.03am

Sailing: Veerle ten Have in women's foiling races 12-16 at Marseille Marina

1.30am

Canoe Slalom: Finn Butcher in men's K1 semifinal at Vaires sur Marne Nautical Stadium

1.35am

Sailing: Greta Pilkington in women's dinghy races 1-2 at Marseille Marina

1.43am

Sailing: Aleh/Meech in women's 49er FX medal race at Marseille Marina

1.53am

Sailing: Josh Armit in men's foiling races 11-15 at Marseille Marina

2am

Judo: Women's 78kg finals block (Koster) at Champs-de-Mars Arena (potential)

3.30am

Canoe Slalom: Men's K1 final (Butcher) at Vaires sur Marne Nautical Stadium (potential)

6am

Cycling: Rico Bearman in men's individual BMX racing quarterfinal (races 1-3) at Saint Quentin en Yvelines BMX Stadium

6.20am

Cycling: Leila Walker in women's individual BMX racing quarterfinal (races 1-3) at Saint Quentin en Yvelines BMX Stadium

6.44am

Swimming: Men's 50m freestyle semifinal (Torepe-Ormsby) at Paris La Defense Arena (potential)

7.34am

Swimming: Men's 200m individual medley semifinal (Clareburt) at Paris La Defense Arena (potential)

7.48am

Swimming: Women's 4x200m freestyle relay final (Deans/Transom/Fairweather/Thomas) at Paris La Defense Arena (potential)

8.05am

Cycling: Men's individual BMX racing last chance qualifiers (Bearman) at Saint Quentin en Yvelines BMX Stadium (potential)

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8.15am

Cycling: Women's individual BMX racing last chance qualifiers (Walker) at Saint Quentin en Yvelines BMX Stadium (potential)