Ones to Watch for Friday 3rd August
A pick of the ones to watch on Friday 3rd August 2018.
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A preview of the key action at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships on Friday 3rd August.
Italians threaten Russian synchro dominance
Synchronised swimming from 09:00
In the mixed duet technical event, Russia are in the unusual position of facing competition for a synchronised swimming gold medal, as Italian world champions Giorgio Minisini and Manila Flamini look to take the European title from reigning champion Russian Aleksandr Maltsev and his new partner Mayya Gurbanberdieva.
This is only the second time men have competed in synchronised swimming at a European championships. The competition kicks off with the team free preliminary, where Russia will be confident of winning gold, as they will be for the duet technical final, with Svetlana Kolesnichenko and Varvara Subbotina favourites to win the first gold medal of Glasgow 2018.
Great Britain and Sweden aiming to make another splash on first day of swimming
Swimming from 09:30
Two Olympic champions will take centre stage when the action gets under way at Tollcross International Swimming Centre. Britain's Adam Peaty takes his place in the heats of the 100m breaststroke. Barring a shock of seismic proportions, the world record holder should progress to the evening semifinals.
Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem has a busy first day. She goes in the heats and - again barring any shocks - the semis of the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly. The 24-year-old is the world champion in both events. Should Sweden progress as expected, Sjoestroem will also compete in the evening final of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. The women’s 400m individual medley will be decided on the first day. British pair Hannah Miley and Aimee Willmott could battle it out for gold in the absence of Olympic champion, Hungary's Katinka Hosszu. And all eyes will be on another Hungarian, Ajna Kesely, in the women’s 800m freestyle heats, after the 16-year-old swept all the freestyle titles from 200m up at last year’s European Junior Championships.
Heat is on for Croatia
Rowing from 09:30
Crews have a last opportunity to make the semifinals and finals of the rowing regatta when racing resumes at Strathclyde Country Park on Friday. Croatian single sculler Damir Martin complained his heat on Thursday was "just too hard", but he will have to overcome any fatigue in the repechage if he wants to qualify for Saturday's semifinals and have the chance to improve on last year's European silver medal.
British team sprint charge
Track cycling from 13:45
The first track cycling gold medals will be won or lost on Friday at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Emirates Arena, with six-time Olympic Games gold medallist Jason Kenny expected to spearhead Great Britain's challenge in the men's team sprint. The British quartet will be challenged by world champions the Netherlands - who include current world and European 1km time trial champion Jeffrey Hoogland - and European champions France. In the women's event, Daria Shmeleva will lead the charge for the Rio 2016 silver medallists, Russia.
The team pursuit golds will also be decided, with Great Britain, Italy and France having all eased through qualifying for the men's and women’s events on Thursday evening. In the scratch races, the current women's and men's world champion - Duth cycist Kirsten Wild and Yauheni Karaliok of Belarus - are both expected to shine.
