Tag Archives: Sports News
Usain Bolt, Jamaica Win 4×100-Meter Relay Gold Medal
London Olympics with another gold medal and another world record.
Running the anchor leg in the men’s 4×100-meter relay, Bolt helped the Jamaican team win the gold medal in 36.84 seconds, a new world record. Just days after declaring himself “the greatest athlete to live,” the charismatic 25-year-old sprinter went back to work bolstering his argument.
Bolt received the baton from teammate Yohan Blake and then left behind Ryan Bailey of the United States to reach the finish line ahead of the field. The United States won the silver in 37.04 seconds, a new national record. Canada finished the race third but was disqualified, giving the bronze to Trinidad and Tobago.
Usain Bolt Wins Gold In 200 Meters Final
Bolt’s countryman and training partner, Yohan Blake, gave it his best shot. But, in the end, Bolt remains the guest of honor on the track at the London Olympics just as was in 2008 at the Beijing Games.
Running the 200 meters in a blistering 19.32 seconds, the 25-year-old Jamaican track star won his second consecutive gold medal in the event. Blake won the silver, crossing in 19.44 seconds, with the bronze going to Warren Weir, also of Jamaica, in a time of 19.84 seconds.
“It’s what I came here to do,” Bolt said after winning the 200 meters, via The New York Times. “I’m now a legend. I’m also the greatest athlete to live.”
Bolt is the first man to win two Olympic titles in the 200. He’s also the first man to twice sweep the 100 and the 200. And he’s been telling us all week that he was going to pull it off.
London 2012 last Sunday, the Jamaican insisted he also had to retain his 200m title to achieve such status.
And the 25-year-old did precisely that with another imperious performance, leading a Jamaican clean-sweep ahead of 100m silver medallist Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, both of whom are just 22.
Bolt’s winning time of 19.32 was outside his own world record of 19.19 which he felt might be a possibility, but the 80,000 crowd had already witnessed one such feat as Kenya’s David Rudisha stormed to 800m gold in 1:40.91, taking 0.10 off his own record.
Bolt had lost to Blake over 100 and 200m at the Jamaican trials – and later underwent treatment on a stiff back which was causing hamstring problems – but gained sweet revenge over both distances in London.
Asked about lowering the world record he set when winning the world title in Berlin in 2009, Bolt said: ‘I think it was possible…but I guess I wasn’t fit enough. I was fast but I wasn’t fit enough.
‘I came off the corner, I could feel the strain on my back a little bit so I was trying to keep my form, but I stopped running because I knew it wasn’t going to be a world record. When I came off the corner I could feel it.
‘It was hard. I really dedicated [myself] to my work, I know what London meant to me. I came here and I gave it my all and I’m proud of myself. I didn’t get a world record – I really wanted to do it in the 200m – but I’m happy.’
Sarah Attar, First Saudi Woman To Compete In Olympic Track 800m – Video
Sarah Attar finished last and more than a half-minute slower than her nearest competitor in the women’s 800 meters. Yet hundreds rose to give her a standing ovation as she crossed the finish line.
For the first woman from Saudi Arabia to compete in track and field at the Olympics, the principle was more important than the performance.
Covered in clothing from head to toe, except for her smiling face poking out from her hood, Attar’s debut came five days after a Saudi judo athlete became the ultraconservative country’s first female competitor at any Olympics.
Aly Raisman Wins Olympic Gold 2012
U.S. captain matched Gabby Douglas in gold medals, winning the title on floor exercise Tuesday. Add in the bronze on balance beam from earlier in the day, and she becomes the most decorated of the Fierce Five.
Good thing Raisman had such a big day because the rest of the Americans came up empty-handed. Douglas had another rough day, finishing seventh on balance beam after a fall. World champion Jordyn Wieber, voted most likely to leave the Olympics with the biggest haul, was seventh on floor and finishes without any individual medals.
Danell Leyva and Jonathan Horton were fifth and sixth, respectively, on high bar, leaving the U.S. men with only Leyva’s all-around bronze.
“I’m so happy, going home with two Olympic gold medals and a couple of titles under my belt,” Douglas said. “I’m so happy for Aly, she deserves to be up on that podium. She had a great beam routine and I’m so proud of her.”
Raisman may not have Douglas’ bubbly personality or Wieber’s resume but she is prized her for her steadiness, and that consistency paid off big in London.
Perhaps energized by her surprise bronze on beam, Raisman’s floor routine had an extra spark. Her tumbling passes were some of the most difficult, and she got such great height on them you could have parked a double-decker bus beneath her. Her landings were not only secure, one was so powerful it practically shook the floor.
Coach Mihai Brestyan was hopping up and down and pumping his fist as she finished, and even Raisman was impressed with herself, mouthing “wow” after she saluted the judges. When her score, a 15.6, was posted, teammate McKayla Maroney yelled “whoa!” so loudly from the stands it could be heard across the arena.
There were still five gymnasts to go, but none came close. When reigning world champion Sandra Izbasa landed her final tumbling run on her head, Raisman let herself exhale. And smile.
Catalina Ponor, the 2004 champion on floor, won the silver. Aliya Mustafina of Russia got the bronze, her fourth medal of the Olympics.
U.S. Soccer Defeats Canada In Women’s Olympics Semi With Alex Morgan Goal In Extra Time
She was still shaking in the chilly night outside one of the most famous stadiums in world soccer. Maybe it was due to the cold, or maybe it was just the emotional overload, “wanting to laugh and cry at the same time,” as she put it. Alex Morgan had just scored one of the most famous goals in U.S. soccer history — a 123rd-minute game-winning header to beat Canada 4-3 and send the U.S. to the Olympic final — and if she was having a hard time coming to grips with the enormity of the occasion, well, there haven’t been many like it.
“I can’t remember ever feeling this way after scoring a goal,” Morgan said. “It’s just so exhilarating.”
At the age of 23, Morgan has scored 20 goals in 2012, becoming only the sixth U.S. player to do so in a single year. But for all her talents — including blazing speed and a ruthless right foot — Morgan has been a project for coach Pia Sundhage when it comes to heading the ball. “Heading is something that Pia has always said is one of my weakest points,” says Morgan, “which is probably a true statement.”
In the final minute of a game filled with a bit of everything — goals galore, unexpected comebacks and never-before-seen officiating calls — it seemed like the U.S. and Canada were on the way toward a penalty-kick shootout. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo stood in her penalty box and got ready mentally for spot kicks. “In my head I had decided on a plan of attack,” she said. On the sideline, Sundhage met with her assistants and started putting together a list of penalty-takers.
During the break before extra-time, U.S. forward Abby Wambach had brought her teammates together and delivered a familiar speech: “It really does just take one moment, one chance, one moment of brilliance,” she told them.
There had been so many moments like that already on this remarkable night — and now there would be one more. With the seconds ticking, Wambach pushed the ball out to Heather O’Reilly on the right flank. “It was a little bit heavy of a pass, so I had to get there in a hurry,” said O’Reilly. “Abby’s one of the most prolific goal-scorers with her head in the world, so usually when you put things in the mixer good things happen. And this time there was Alex Morgan to get her head on it.”
Morgan had been a frustrated striker, going four games without scoring, but she put just enough on her header to direct it over Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod into the net. Bedlam. In the U.S. dogpile afterward, Wambach located Morgan and screamed into her ear: “I love you! You just sent us to the gold-medal match!”
Missy Franklin Sets World Record, Wins Gold Medal
American teenager Missy Franklin set a world record in the 200 backstroke Friday for her third gold and fourth medal overall at the London Olympics.
Franklin clocked 2 minutes, 4.06 seconds, 0.75 quicker than the mark set by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe at the 2009 world championships in Rome in a now-banned bodysuit.
It was the seventh world record of the games.
Anastasia Zueva of Russia touched in 2:05.92 to take the silver medal and Elizabeth Beisel of the United States finished in 2:06.55 to take bronze.
Katie Ledecky Wins Gold
15-year-old Katie Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle at the London Olympics on Friday.
The youngest member of the U.S. swim team narrowly missed a world record in the grueling race, falling off pace on the last lap and finishing in 8 minutes, 14.63 seconds.
Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain touched in 8:18.76 to take the silver medal and defending champion Rebecca Adlington of host Britain finished in 8:20.32 for bronze.
USA Basketball Defeats Nigeria, 156-73
Thursday night, an epic blowout that answered the Americans’ detractors and sent a clear message to let them be.
After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans rewrote the record books.
They led by 26 in the first quarter, had an Olympic-record 78 points in the first half and Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, to break the U.S. single-game scoring record in less than three quarters.
“Our guys just couldn’t miss,” said coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Incredibly, they eclipsed the 100-point mark with 5 minutes still left in the third.
“When we get hot, it’s a big problem,” Kobe Bryant said. “So you have all these guys on one team and then all get hot on the same night, it’s tough.”
They broke the Olympic record for most points in a game with 4:37 still to play, and set U.S. records for 3-pointers (26), field goals (59) and field-goal percentage (71).
When Andre Iguodala hit a 3-pointer with 4:37 left, the Americans had surpassed the previous Olympic record of 138 points set by Brazil against Egypt in 1988. When the record was announced to the mesmerized crowd, all the players seated on the U.S. bench got up and walked single file past Krzyzewski, slapping hands with him and his staff.
The Americans even one-upped the 1992 Dream Team. The 83-point margin of victory was the largest in U.S. national team history, eclipsing the 79-point spread when Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Co. beat Cuba 136-57 in their first game.
The U.S. seemed intent on breaking Nigeria’s spirit, and when that was accomplished with ease, the Americans made a profound statement with their marksmanship.
Nigeria was the first to get the message.
“When they shoot like this, I don’t know if there is any team that can beat them,” said Ike Diogu, one of the Nigerians who promised not to be intimidated by the Americans.
Bryant scored 16 points – 14 in the first quarter – for the Americans, who scored 49 points in the first, left the floor leading 78-45 at half and then doubled their total in the second half.
Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points, Kevin Love 15 and Kevin Durant 14 for the U.S., which will play Lithuania on Saturday. The Americans have won their first three games with ease, but now things are expected to get a lot tougher as they approach next week’s medal round.
Diogu scored 27 to lead Nigeria (1-2), which was as good as done after Durant hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds in, snapping an 0-for-14 slump by the U.S. in the first quarter in the tourney.
US wins Olympic gymnastics gold in women’s individual all-around Gabby Douglas
16-year-old Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach led over a pair of Russians.
After the vault and uneven bars, Douglas had a score of 31.699. In second was Victoria Komova with 31.432 and in third was Aliya Mustafina with 31.333. The other American, Alexandra Raisman, was in fourth with 30.233.
Douglas was the first competitor on the vault and did her Amanar without any obvious glitches to earn a score of 15.966. Raisman was second and was nearly as good, earning a 15.900. If this was to be a tone-setting start, it was a sour note for Komova, who is the defending world champion all-around silver medalist. She landed her vault almost off the mat and was scored 15.466. Her Russian teammate Mustafina was even worse, starting off with a 15.233 vault.
Photos: London Olympics, Day 6
There was some murmuring about the vault scoring. Douglas’ form and execution of the same vault ill-performed by Komova seemed to warrant a bigger differential.
Going into the second rotation, uneven bars, Douglas had a half-point lead over Komova, who was third. Raisman was second. Komova is the defending world champion on the uneven bars.
Douglas had a long wait before doing her second event, the uneven bars. Because she had been up first on vault, which takes less time than the three other events, and because she was up last on uneven bars, she had plenty of thinking time and also cool-down time, which is not ideal.
Raisman led off on uneven bars and had a mid-routine form-break where she almost lost her swinging power. She was scored 14.333. Komova rebounded from her vault miscue with a confident uneven bars set. Her toes were pointed, her releases were unwavering and her landing had only a bitty step. She earned 15.966 to surge ahead of Raisman.
Phelps vs. Lochte coming up in the Olympic pool as stars face off in 200 IM
London Olympics went to Lochte in a runaway on the opening night of the swimming competition. This one figures to be a lot closer.
The American stars compete against each other for the last time in the 200-meter individual medley on Thursday night. Lochte qualified fastest in 1 minute, 56.13 seconds. Phelps was 98-hundredths of a second back in third.
“We love racing against each other,” said Phelps, who plans to retire after the games. “Neither one of us likes to lose. I like to say we bring out the best in one another.”
In between them again is Laszlo Cseh of Hungary. He’s been the perennial also-ran in the last two Olympics, taking bronze behind Phelps at the 2004 Athens Games and silver four years ago in Beijing when Phelps won and Lochte was third.
Phelps could accomplish one more bit of history on Day 6 at the pool. A victory would make him the first male swimmer to win an individual event in three consecutive Olympics. Japanese star Kosuke Kitajima failed to defend either of his titles in the 100 or 200 breaststrokes, leaving Phelps a chance to accomplish the feat.
He missed on his first two tries at a threepeat, finishing fourth in the 400 IM (Lochte won) and second in the 200 butterfly.
Lochte has a busy schedule on what could be a big night for the U.S. He’ll try to defend his title in the 200 backstroke final, with teammate Tyler Clary pressuring him as the fastest qualifier. Then a short time later, Lochte returns for the 200 IM final.
The night wraps up with a new champion being crowned in the women’s 100 freestyle final, an all-out sprint to the wall featuring Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands and American teenager Missy Franklin.
Kromowidjojo set an Olympic record of 53.05 seconds in the semifinals. Melanie Schlanger of Australia was second-quickest at 53.38 and Franklin was third in 53.59. Defending champion Britta Steffen of Germany failed to make the final.
The U.S. team continued its strong showing with victories by Nathan Adrian in the 100 free and the team of Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Allison Schmitt in the 4×200 free relay on Wednesday.
Adrian won a thrilling race that came down to the end. He got to the wall one-hundredth of a second ahead of James “The Missile” Magnussen of Australia, becoming the first American to win the 100 free since Matt Biondi at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Adrian hit the wall in 47.52 to Magnussen’s 47.53. Brent Hayden of Canada took the bronze in 47.80, his country’s first-ever medal in the event.
“This guy is an incredible closer. I knew that,” Adrian said of Magnussen. “I knew it was going to take a lot more than what I’d ever done before to be able to hang with him those last 5 meters.”
