London Olympic Fever On Days 9 And 10
By Keith Malone guest reporting for Space Coast Daily.com // August 7, 2012
LIVE REPORT FROM THE 30TH OLYMPIAD
EDITOR’S NOTE: SpaceCoastDaily.com’s Keith Malone, is now reporting from England, covering the Olympic Games. He is providing his unique perspective of the games, and his native country, as he travels to the various venues to report back to the Space Coast news fans on all the glamour and excitement of the 30th Olympic Games.
THE OLYMPIC GAMES• LONDON, ENGLAND — On day 9 of the Olympics, USA has lost its place at the top of the medals table, slipping behind China – who are on a total of 30 golds and 61 medals to USA’s total 28 golds and 60 medals. But day 10 was to be another story.
The sporting world held its breath at the London Games on day 9 as possibly the most anticipated event of the 2012 Olympics reached its climax in the Olympic Stadium.
Could USA recapture the 100 metres men title? The answer was No as Usain Bolt of Jamaica became the first man in Olympic history to retain his 100 metres crown.
Lightening Bolt Strikes London
In a stunning final in front of 80,000 fans, Bolt set an Olympic record as he beat his Jamaican training partner Yohan Blake into second place – with USA’s Justin Gatlin taking the bronze. USA’sTyson Gay was fourth in 9.8.
Bolt’s time of 9.63 was just 0.05 outside his own world record. Gatlin’s time of 9.79 would have won most other Olympics.
Seven of the eight runners broke the 10-second mark – only Asafa Powell failing to make it a truly history-making race as he pulled up injured.
But there was gold for Team USA in the final of the women’s 400 metres as Sanya Richards-Ross won in a time of 49.55secs, while compatriot DeeDee Trotter took bronze.
Britain’s Christine Oruruogo – defending her Olympic title – prevented a clean sweep for USA as she took the silver.
Serena Gets Down At Wimbledon
More golden moments for USA came at Wimbledon as Venus and Serena Williams made Olympic history as they became the first pair to win the women’s doubles three times.
“We’re definitely planning on Rio. We’re going out with a bang in Rio. Hopefully we will make it four, you never know,” said Venus Williams.
Despite being short of their best form, they beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-4.
Serena, who won her fifth Wimbledon singles crown last month, adds doubles gold to her singles title.
The sisters first won the doubles at Sydney in 2000, then again in Beijing in 2008 after missing Athens because of an injury to Serena.
Venus believes they can go on to record a fourth victory at the Rio Games in 2016.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “Coming off Serena’s victory, I think most of all we are happy to add to our country’s medal count and be a part of it.
“We’re definitely planning on Rio. We’re going out with a bang in Rio. Hopefully we will make it four, you never know.”
Serena, 30, becomes only the third female tennis player to win a pair of gold medals at the same Olympics, emulating Venus, 32, in 2000 and compatriot Helen Wills Moody in 1924.
These Olympics are the first for women’s boxing. Natasha Jonas became Great Britain’s first female Olympic boxer, emphatically beating USA’s Quanitta Underwood 21-13, to move through to the quarter finals.
I’m watching Olympic fever continuing to grow in our home Games and the people of the United Kingdom are holding our breath as we watch more fabulous performances unfold in our brilliant stadia and venues that are hosting a vast array of sports at London 2012.
Day 10 Great For TEAM USA
On Day 10 of the Olympics, I can tell you there’s been more golden triumph for US in the Olympic Stadium and sweet victory over Canada for USA’s women’s football team.
The stadium known as The Theatre of Dreams was the scene of one of USA women’s greatest soccer victories as they beat neighbours and fierce rivals Canada 4-3 to reach the Olympic final, where they will meet Japan.
The stadium is the home of Manchester United, which has hosted many epic encounters – and this was a match that thrilled the packed terraces.
USA’s Alex Morgan scored in the last minute of extra-time as USA dramatically defeated Canada to seal a place in the Olympic final, which they’ve won three times before.
Christine Sinclair scored a superb hat-trick as Canada led three times. But Megan Rapinoe scored direct from a corner and later with a fierce strike – before Abby Wambach converted a penalty to make it 3-3.
And with a penalty shoot-out looming, the defending Olympic champions struck through Morgan’s late header.
It was a classic game of football and now gives USA’s women the chance to avenge their penalty shoot-out defeat by Japan in the final of the 2011 World Cup.
Canada coach John Herdman had apparently angered the US players after suggesting that they “are very good” at using illegal tactics, so this victory was so sweet for the US.
They keep up their record of reaching every Olympic final since the sport was admitted. The win over Canada makes it five out of five. The US will now face Japan on Thursday at Wembley.
In the packed Olympic Stadium where the fans are generating a huge volume of noise to inspire competing athletes, USA’s Jennifer Suhr edged a tight women’s pole vault final at London 2012 to improve on her silver medal from the Beijing Olympics.
The 30-year-old cleared 4.75m along with Cuba’s Yarisley Silva, but Suhr took the gold on countback.
This was USA’s only gold medal on Day 10 – and they now trail China in the medals table by two gold medals: China have 31 compared to USA’s 29 and the overall total is 64-63 in favour of China.
Michael Tinsley took silver for Team USA in the final of the men’s 400 metres hurdles – finishing behind Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who won this event eight years ago.
