Matt Chorley: Olympic Diary (05/08/12)

Cold feet

Ian Thorpe is one of the stars of the BBC coverage, combining expert insight with some eye-popping fashion. But how does he keep so cool? By dunking his size 17 feet in icecubes, according to a photo he sent on Twitter to fellow presenter Jake Humphrey with tips on coping with the velodrome heat.

GB or not GB

Someone get Channel 4 News a map. On Friday the newshounds tweeted: "England now third in Olympic medal table after Victoria Pendleton wins gold in keirin cycling event." Whoops. Before it was deleted, many people noted Team GB gold medal winners Sir Chris Hoy, rower Katherine Grainger and canoeist Tim Baillie are all Scottish.

Thieves on the run

Aussie Andrew McCabe is hopping mad. The 4x100m relay runner's spikes have been stolen. He needs them back by Friday.

Hush Hunt

Uh-oh. Has Jeremy Hunt cursed Team GB? His colleague Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, bet his Australian counterpart Kate Lundy that Team GB will win more golds. If he loses, he'll wear the Aussie hockey strip and dribble a ball around Australia House. If she loses, she'll row Eton Dorney in GB colours. Hunt declared on Twitter yesterday that the bet was "starting to look quite canny." Famous last words.

Podium pants

British female medal winners have Stella McCartney to thank for not having to wear men's trousers on the podium. "It was one of the first kits I designed for the women because normally they just get the men's stuff."

One for the road

Cycling hero Bradley Wiggins has revealed one perk of winning an Olympic gold and the Tour de France in the same year: "You don't ever have to buy a drink again," he told fans in Hyde Park.

Keep your mouth shut

US swimmer Ryan Lochte was asked the big questions when appearing on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Does he pee in the pool? "Of course. I think there's just something about getting into chlorinated water that you just automatically go." Dirty boy.