LIVE: Americans melt down over 49-year nightmare; ‘playground’ sport exposes brutal snub

American swimmer Chase Kalisz has reportedly slammed the Olympic swimming schedule, claiming it hurt his chances of winning gold.

Kalisz claimed United States’ first gold of the games when he took out the 400m individual medley with a time of 4.09.24 ahead of Australian Brandon Smith who finished third.

But rather than rejoicing in his win, the 27-year-old hit out over the event’s scheduling.

Swimming finals are being held in the morning to accommodate the American TV audience.

FOLLOW: ‘Bad blood’ — Fuse lit for showdown as US star slammed as ‘flat track bully’

It wasn’t the only controversy Kalisz has found himself embroiled in.

Earlier IOC officials warned athletes they are not exempt from the strict COVID-19 rules in place at games after swimmers were seen taking off their masks and hugging other competitors on the podium.

IOC Presidential spokesman Mark Adams urged athletes to wear masks at all times, except for when competing, training, eating or sleeping.

“We would urge and ask everyone to obey the rules, whatever stakeholder you are,” Adams said.

“It is not a nice to have, it is a must have, both for the sports and for everyone involved.

“It sends a strong message so please follow the playbooks.

All 12 athletes from Australia, Canada and the United States on the podium for the women’s 4×100 metres freestyle relay did not have their faces covered and were spotted hugging.

Kalisz, however, reportedly claimed members of the television production held up a sign telling athletes to take their mask off during the medal ceremony

GOLF HULK OUT OF GAMES

America’s 49-year Olympic nightmare has taken a fresh twist with news that Bryson DeChambeau has been ruled out with COVID-19.

The 2020 US Open champion tested positive during his final check prior to travelling to Tokyo, in the latest blow for an American team that went without a medal on day one for the first time since 1972.

DeChambeau will be replaced by former Masters champion and golf villain Patrick Reed.

“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA,” DeChambeau said in a statement.

ANDY MURRAY WITHDRAWS

Andy Murray is out of the men’s single draw in Tokyo.

Murray is the men’s two-time defending Olympic champion, defeating Roger Federer in London and Juan Martín del Potro in Rio.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian who dumped Nick Kyrgios from Wimbledon, will now face Aussie Max Purcell in the first round.

ROWING CANCELLED OVER WEATHER CONCERNS

Tokyo 2020 organisers have been forced to cancel two days of rowing as adverse weather conditions are expected to hit Japan’s capital this week.

Temperatures reached 32 degrees on Sunday, playing havoc in the tennis, with players given 10-minute breaks between the second and third sets, with changes of ends extended by an extra 30 seconds.

And now with high winds expected to hit Tokyo on Monday, officials have pushed back two days of rowing as the weather would create “probably unequal and potentially unrowable racing conditions”, according to the IOC.

As a result, races originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday have been squeezed into later in the week and the weekend schedule.

AMERICANS FUME AT BAD START

It’s 49 years since Team USA kicked off the games without something shiny.

The New York Post lamented: “This isn’t the kind of history the United States wanted to set.”

Failed presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used it as an opportunity to deliver a hot take on what he perceives to be politicising of these Games as athletes continue to show solidarity against racism.

Follow all of the big Olympics headlines from day two below!

Kerr adds TWO to her Olympic account | 00:35

DEBUT SPORT DIVIDES FANS

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield isn‘t really feeling 3 on 3 basketball.

The “playground sport” has made its debut at these Summer Games and depending on whom you ask, it‘s either terrible or revolutionary.

Dangerfield asked why netball still couldn‘t get a run.

Some thought the sport was ridiculous and silly.

Others… enjoyed it? Hard to say.

READ MORE

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UNDER-FIRE CHAMPS BOUNCE BACK

The United States bounced back from their embarrassing opening defeat by Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics women’s football competition, thrashing New Zealand 6-1 on Saturday, while Britain and the Swedes reached the quarter-finals.

The previously all-conquering Americans had seen a 44-match unbeaten run ended by a 3-0 loss to Sweden on Wednesday, but with captain Megan Rapinoe restored to the starting line-up, they romped to victory to put their campaign back on track.

They face Australia in Kashima on Tuesday, knowing three points would make sure of a quarter-final place.

First-half goals from Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan put Vlatko Andonovski’s side two goals ahead at the break before New Zealand defender Abby Erceg’s 63rd-minute own goal.

Betsy Hassett got the Kiwis on the scoresheet with 18 minutes remaining, but the reigning world champions brought on the firepower of Christen Press and Alex Morgan late on.

Press and Morgan, who have now scored 175 international goals between them, both found the net and another own goal, this time from Catherine Bott, added further gloss to the scoreline.

The thumping win leaves the US in second place in Group G behind Sweden, who booked a last-eight spot with a dramatic 4-2 success against Australia.

TOKYO DAY 2 MEDALS ON OFFER (All times EST)

Swimming (from 11:30am)

Shooting (12:15pm): Women’s 10m Air Pistol

Skateboarding (1:25pm): Men’s Street

Cycling (2pm): Women’s Road Race

Diving (4pm): Women’s 3m Springboard Synchro

Shooting (4:30pm): Men’s 10m Air Rifle

Weightlifting (4:50pm): Men’s 61kg

Archery (5:15pm): Women’s Team

Judo (from 7:08pm): Women’s 52kg, Men’s 66kg

Fencing (from 8:50pm): Women’s Individual Foil

Weightlifting (8:50pm): Men’s 67kg

Fencing (from 9:20pm): Men’s Individual Epee

Taekwondo (from 9:30pm): Women’s Featherweight 49-57kg, Men’s Featherweight 58-68kg