Another chance to not only watch the great Lisa Carrington, but to also see Sifan Hussan, the best middle and long distance runner in the world. Hussan will continue a challenge that may become the greatest achievement ever seen on the Olympic track since the Games began in 1896.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Phil Gifford - My five events to watch on day 12
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Lisa Carrington, left, and Caitlin Regal celebrate their gold medals after winning the women's kayak double 500m final. Photo / AP
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2) Back to the future?
Lydia Ko - Women's golf, individual stroke play. 10.30am
The 2016 Rio Olympics went brilliantly for Ko, when she won silver. Her travails on the professional circuit have been exhaustively chronicled, but, ranked 11th in the world, with her first Olympics a positive memory, the Kasumigaseki course in Tokyo may mark a return to her field of dreams days.
Updates: nzherald.co.nz.
Live updates: Newstalk ZB.
Watch live: SKY Channel 57, TVNZ.
3) How could you not cheer for this guy?
David Liti - Men's weight-lifting, +109kg. 4.50pm.
If good will and the affection of a nation could help lift weights, the rest of the weight lifting world would be kicking in Liti's wake. He grew up in Tonga, one of 11 children, and says he always tries to follow the wise words he got from his mother when he was young. "If you do something, do it the best you can. If you wash the dishes, do it the best you can. If you vacuum the house, do it the best you can. That affected me in a big way." He lives in Te Kauwhata at the home of his coach, Tina Ball, working out in her garage or on the driveway. Their trust is absolute, and with Liti still only 25 the future feels limitless.
Updates: nzherald.co.nz.
Live updates: Newstalk ZB.
Watch live: SKY Channel 59, TVNZ.
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4) First the calm, then the storming finish
Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell - Men's cycling, individual sprint qualifying. 6.30pm
Mitchell was part of the sprint team that won silver in Rio, but Webster, a world junior champion in 2009, looms as the biggest hope for a podium finish. The individual sprint is easy to follow, hugely difficult to perfect. Two riders at a time on the track, racing for three laps. The trick is in tactics, which can see two riders teetering and barely moving if the leading rider wants to force their opponent to the front.
Updates: nzherald.co.nz.
Live commentary: Newstalk ZB.
Watch live: SKY Channel 55, TVNZ.
5) History is being made every time she runs
Sifan Hussan of the Netherlands - Women's 1500 metres semi-final. 10.12pm
Hussan, a 28-year-old who went to the Netherlands as a refugee from Ethiopia 13 years ago, has taken on a track programme so demanding, many commentators saw it as day dreaming. Yes, she's the best in the world at 1500, 5000 and 10,000 metres, but come on, to run heats, semi-finals, and finals in all three, back to back over eight days? At the Games? But perhaps she's actually a Marvel Comics super hero. She trips over a fallen runner just 350 metres from the end of a 1500 metres heat, does a full roll on the track, jumps up and sprints to victory. Before the 5000 metres final, just 11 hours later, she's asked where she hurts. She just points at herself. "Pain there." Then she sprints to a commanding gold medal. Barring another fall, she'll romp into the 1500 final. How can she do it? Kenyan Hellen Obiri, who took silver in the 5000, says simply, "You can see that she's great." If Hussan takes all three medals she's the greatest runner, male or female, the Olympics have ever seen.
Updates: nzherald.co.nz.
Live updates: Newstalk ZB.
Watch live: SKY Channel 54, TVNZ.
