USA Takes Lead In Medal Count
By Keith Malone // August 9, 2012
London 2012 Olympics
(VIDEO: AssociatedPress)
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 — What a night I can report for you on in the Olympic Stadium at the London Games – as Team USA went to the top of the medals table above China with 39 gold and 90 medals in total. China have 37 gold and a total of 79 medals.
Bolt Best Ever
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt became the greatest sprinter in history when he added the 200 metres gold to his 100 metres crown – making it a sprint “double double” after winning both titles in Beijing four years ago. Jamaica made it a clean sweep as Yohan Blake and Warren Weir took silver and bronze.
David Rudisha of Kenya set a new world record in the 800 metres final – his time of 1.40.91 taking one tenth of a second off the old record. He’s the first man to run two laps under 1.41.
This was Day 13 at the London Olympics: unlucky for some maybe, but not for USA’s triple jumper Christian Taylor, who leapt to the Olympic triple jump title with a distance of 17.81m – the biggest in the world this year.
The American, 22, won the world title in Daegu last year and was in trouble when he fouled his first two efforts – before finding his best jump. US compatriot Will Claye took silver with a leap of 17.62m.
Team USA Womens Soccer Wins Gold
Not unlucky 13 either for USA’s women soccer team as they beat Japan in the final to add another gold to USA’s total and help overtake China in the medals table.
The USA beat Japan 2-1 at Wembley to avenge their 2011 World Cup final defeat and claim their fourth Olympic gold in women’s football.
Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the US, an early header and a powerful strike after the break.
Yuki Ogimi scored to reduce the deficit for Japan, who hit the opposition woodwork twice.
Japan had a chance to equalise late in the game but Hope Solo made an excellent save to deny Mana Iwabuchi.
It was enough for the USA to add to previous Olympic victories in 1996, 2004 and 2008.
Despite being outclassed for large periods of the game, they showed a resilience and determination that their coach Pia Sundhage described earlier this week as “unique”.
The match was played in front of 80,203, a record crowd for a women’s Olympic football fixture.
And the near full-house at Wembley was served up a treat as two teams of contrasting styles produced a relatively open final brimming with passion and skill.
Day 13 was not unlucky either for USA’s track and field star Ashton Eaton, the world record holder, as he won gold in the decathlon to earn the title greatest all-round athlete in the world.
But 13 was most certainly an unlucky number for USA’s 400 metre runner Manteo Mitchell.
He’s revealed he ran the last 200m of his opening lap in the US team’s 4x400m relay heat with a broken left leg.
But despite his horrific injury, USA still went through to Friday’s final as the second fastest team.
“As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark, I felt it break.” Manteo told the USA Track and Field website.
“I didn’t want to let the three guys or the team down, so I just ran on it.”
Mitchell still managed to finish his lap in 46.1 seconds as the US team, also featuring Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum, went on to set a qualifying time of 2. 58.87 seconds.
“It hurt so bad,” the 25-year-old added. “I’m pretty amazed that I still came close to 45 seconds on a broken leg.”
USA Track and Field chief executive Max Siegel said: “Manteo has become an inspiration and a hero for his team-mates.
“Without his courage and determination to finish, Team USA would not be at the starting line in the final. The team has rallied around him and we are all looking forward the final days of competition.”
The US men’s team are the defending champions and have won every 4x400m Olympic title that they have contested.
