Sport / Olympics 2024

Olympics 2024: Athletes to watch on day nine of the Paris Games

13:26 pm on 4 August 2024

Kim Cadzow is expected to finish among the top 10 in the road race. Photo: AFP/DIMITAR DILKOFF

Cyclists and kayakers will be serving up some thrilling competition as day nine of the Paris Olympics gets underway.

Those in New Zealand can watch on Sky Sport, stream on Sky Sport Now, or watch free-to-air on Sky Open (available on Freeview Channel 15 or stream free via Sky Go).

Due to the time difference, day nine of the Games starts on Sunday evening and stretches into Monday morning.

Here's who to look out for. All times are in NZT.

Lauren Bruce, women's hammer throw qualification, 8.20pm Sunday

Lauren Bruce set an Oceania record of 74.61m in Tucson, Arizona in 2021 and came 13th at the 2022 World Championships.

This is the second Olympics for Bruce, who is from Timaru but is now based in Melbourne.

She came 23rd at Tokyo 2020 - can she improve on that this time?

Lauren Bruce in action in 2021. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Kim Cadzow, women's road race, 12am Monday

This is Kim Cadzow's first Olympics, but she's already proving to be one to watch.

She came seventh in the women's time trial last week, but held the third-place position for a solid chunk of the race.

Cadzow's existing accomplishments include a second in the road race at the New Zealand Championships and a win at Trofeo Ponente in Rosa, with top-10 finishes at a handful of other international championships.

It's expected she will again finish in the top 10 in the road race on Monday.

Luuka Jones, women's kayak cross heats, 2.45am Monday

Kayak cross is a new addition to the Olympic Games - and Luuka Jones is the reigning world champion.

We've already had a kayak cross time trial for seeding, then round one on Saturday night to eliminate some of the field. The heats are where the competition begins in earnest.

The event, also referred to as 'boatercross', sees kayakers fight their way down the course, bumping each other out of the way.

For those staying up late, it should make for thrilling viewing.