The Briefing Room

General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Topic started by: mystery-ak on July 28, 2012, 10:03:34 pm

Title: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mystery-ak on July 28, 2012, 10:03:34 pm: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_SWM_SWIMMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-28-16-01-33 (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_SWM_SWIMMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-28-16-01-33)

Jul 28, 5:54 PM EDT

Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

LONDON (AP) -- Ryan Lochte turned his much-anticipated duel with Michael Phelps into a blowout, pulling away to win the Olympic 400-meter individual medley by more than 3 seconds Saturday night. Even more stunning: Phelps didn't win any medal at all.

After barely qualifying for the evening final in a performance that hinted at trouble ahead, Phelps struggled to a fourth-place finish and was denied his 17th career Olympic medal. When it was done, he could barely pull himself out of the pool.

"It was just a crappy race," Phelps said. "I felt fine the first 200, then I don't know. They just swam a better race than me, a smarter race than me, and were better prepared than me. That's why they're on the medal stand."

Lochte took the gold with a time of 4 minutes, 5.18 seconds. Brazil's Thiago Pereira (4:08.86) settled for silver, while Japan's Kosuke Hagino (4:08.94) claimed the bronze - beating Phelps by a fairly comfortable 34-hundredths of a second for the last spot on the podium.

It was the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games, when Phelps was a 15-year-old unknown who qualified in just one event, that he didn't win at least a bronze in an Olympic race. Since then, he was 16-of-16 - 14 golds and two bronzes.

Lochte climbed out of the pool with a big smile, waving to the crowd and looking about a fresh as he did at the start. He had predicted this would be his year and, for the first race of the Olympics at least, he was right on the mark.

"I think I'm kind of in shock right now," he said. As for Phelps, "I know he gave it everything he had. That's all you can ask for."

Phelps was trying to become the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three straight Olympics. He'll have three more chances at a threepeat before he's done in London, having also won the 200 individual medley, plus the 100 and 200 butterfly, at Athens and Beijing.

But this was shocking, totally out of character for a swimmer who won six gold medals in Athens, then a record eight in Beijing to break Mark Spitz's Olympic record.

"I'm surprised, and not pleasantly," said Bob Bowman, Phelps' longtime coach. "I expected he'd be in the 4:06 range."

Bowman was asked what Phelps said when he got out of the pool.

"It was horrible."

The coach's reply?

"It was."

With first lady Michelle Obama in the house waving a small U.S. flag, everyone expected a duel between the two American stars.

Only Lochte showed up.

Phelps fell behind right from the start in the butterfly, his trademark stroke. From there, it was all Lochte. He stretched his margin in the backstroke and breaststroke, then cruised to the gold in the freestyle, a good three body lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

"It's frustrating, that's all I can say. It's pretty upsetting," Phelps said. "The biggest thing now is to try to look forward. I have a bunch of other races, and hopefully we can finish a lot better than how we started."

China claimed a couple of gold medals on the opening night of swimming at the Olympic Aquatic Centre.

Sixteen-year-old Ye Shiwen set a world record in the women's 400 individual medley - only the third mark to fall since high-tech bodysuits were banned at the end of 2009. She won in 4:28.43, breaking the mark of 4:29.45 by Australia's Stephanie Rice at the 2008 Beijing Games. American Elizabeth Beisel took silver and China's Li Xuanxu grabbed the bronze.

Sun Yang flirted with a world record in the men's 400 freestyle. He took gold in 3:40.14, just off the mark of 3:40.07 by Germany's Paul Biedermann in a rubberized suit three years ago. When it was done, Sun propped himself on the lane rope, pumping his fist and splashing the water.

South Korea's Park Tae-hwan won silver in 3:42.06, fortunate even to take part after initially being disqualified for a false start in the prelims. The ruling was overturned by governing body FINA a couple of hours later on appeal. Peter Vanderkaay of the U.S. won the bronze in 3:44.69.

Australia captured gold in the women's 400 freestyle relay with an Olympic record of 3:33.15, rallying to pass the Americans and hold off the fast-charging Netherlands.

The U.S. got off to a blistering start with Missy Franklin swimming leadoff under world-record pace, and the Americans were still ahead after Jessica Hardy went next. But the Australians rallied behind Brittany Elmslie on the third 100, and Melanie Schlanger held on at the end, with Ranomi Kromowidjojo closing fast to give the Netherlands a silver in 3:33.79.

The other members of the winning team were Alicia Coutts and Cate Campbell.

The Americans slipped to the bronze in 3:34.24, but that was still good enough to give Natalie Coughlin the 12th medal of her career, tying Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson as the most decorated U.S. female Olympians in any sport.

Coughlin swam in the morning prelims, then was reduced to the role of cheerleader in the evening as the Americans went with Franklin, Hardy, Lia Neal and Allison Schmitt. Everyone who swims on a relay gets a medal, though.

There was no medal for Phelps.

His close call in the morning prelims put him in an already uncustomary position - swimming on the outside in the No. 8 lane. He only had one swimmer next to him and no idea what Lochte and the others in the middle of the pool were doing.

Not that it would have mattered.

"I don't think the lane had anything to do with it," Phelps said. "I just couldn't really put myself in a good spot for that race. It's frustrating for sure. ... It's just really frustrating to start off on a bad note like this."

Phelps still has six more events to swim in London, plenty of time to make up for his dismal start. He remains two behind the most medals won by any Olympian - Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's mark of 18.

Phelps put himself in position to swim another eight events with his performance at the U.S. trials, but he decided to drop the 200-meter freestyle, feeling one less race would give his body a better chance to recover and improve his performance in the other events.

Now, he may be regretting that decision.

The 400 IM was an event he has dominated, but he dropped it from his program after setting a world record in Beijing four years ago (4:03.84), vowing never to swim it again.

He should had stuck with that pledge. Clearly, Phelps didn't leave himself enough time to get back in the kind of shape he needed to win the brutal race, having only brought it back earlier this year.

"I was lucky to get in," he said, referring to his slow time in the morning. "I had a chance to put myself in a spot to start off on a good note and didn't do it."

Lochte gave the Americans their first gold medal of the London Games and put himself in position to fulfill the promise he showed at last year's world championships, where he won five golds and beat Phelps in their two head-to-head meetings.

The friendly rivals have one more showdown in London, in the 200 individual medley. Phelps edged Lochte in that race during the U.S. Olympics trials, but Lochte appears to be on top of his game when it really counts.

About a half-hour after the race, the laid-back Floridian returned to the medal podium to receive the fourth gold medal of his career.

Wearing diamond-studded grillz in his mouth and lime-green sneakers on the feet that powered him through the water faster than anyone else, Lochte strolled around the deck kissing his medal while Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" played over the loudspeaker.

Phelps was nowhere to be found.
Title: Re: Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th
Post by: evadR on July 28, 2012, 10:31:14 pm: Too much blow?
Title: Re: Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th
Post by: Rapunzel on July 28, 2012, 10:49:24 pm: Quote from: evad on July 28, 2012, 10:31:14 pm
Too much blow?

and too much ego.
Title: Re: Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th
Post by: Oceander on July 28, 2012, 11:14:28 pm: Quote from: Rapunzel on July 28, 2012, 10:49:24 pm
and too much ego.

Most likely.
Title: Re: Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th
Post by: Rapunzel on July 29, 2012, 03:36:47 am: Watching the race right now, Lochte swam a hell of a heat ahead of the world record.
Title: Re: Lochte wins 400 IM in blowout; Phelps finishes 4th
Post by: Rapunzel on July 29, 2012, 04:00:10 am: Twitterers are raking NBC's coverage over the coals -- and rightly so... they don't show swimming live, then they lead with it on the 6 o'clock news and show the actual race later..... sheesh! They seem to think this is the 1950's instead of 2012.
Title: Olympics Thread
Post by: Rapunzel on July 29, 2012, 05:03:09 am: I'm going to make one thread to put all the Olympic event news in - for those interested - and pin it until they are over.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread
Post by: Rapunzel on July 29, 2012, 05:06:57 am: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1276495-us-olympic-gymnasts-john-orozco-danell-leyva-in-position-for-individual-glory

US Olympic Gymnasts John Orozco, Danell Leyva in Position for Individual Glory

By Liviu Bird
(Featured Columnist) on July 28, 2012

By the end of the 2012 Summer Olympics, two U.S. men’s gymnasts could go home with all-around medals. Danell Leyva and John Orozco proved that they can compete with the best gymnasts on the biggest world stage.

Leyva’s performance was nothing short of dominant on Saturday. Even in his weakest events, the still rings and vault, he performed well enough to secure his all-around first place.

Orozco finished fourth, but it would have been higher if not for a miss on the parallel bars that caused him to receive just a 14.533. Both he and Leyva scored 15 or better on four of six events.

On a day in which most competitors succumbed to nerves, the top American duo held theirs better than anybody, including defending world champion Kohei Uchimura, who finished ninth. His talent wasn’t enough to overcome his poor mental game on Day 1, leaving the door open for Leyva and Orozco.

“We're here to get something,” Leyva said after the competition (via Sports Illustrated). “We said we'd be pretty disappointed if we didn't get on that podium.”

While he was talking about the team, that attitude extends to the individuals on the team, all of whom qualified for at least one individual final.

The team recovered from a slow start with its confidence and swagger, on full display through the athletes’ body language.

The lack of pressure on the Americans helped them. All eyes were on Uchimura in the individual competition and reigning Olympic and World champion China as a team.

The U.S. men have also taken a backseat to the American women, with Jordyn Wieber and Gabby Douglas getting more attention from fans and media than any other individuals. In a sport where the tenths matter and inches are the difference between gold and obscurity, handling pressure is important.

Leyva and Orozco were feeling good on Saturday, but now that they qualified in the top four and their team is No. 1, the pressure will increase. If they can handle it, the result will be golden.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread
Post by: Rapunzel on July 29, 2012, 05:07:31 am: Both Leyva and Orozco did great today... not a sign of nerves. My favorite venues are Gymnastics, swimming, diving and horse events.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on July 30, 2012, 01:23:02 am: Womens' gymnastics is on!
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 30, 2012, 01:56:35 am: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/29/zara-phillips-olympics-royal-dressage-london-2012_n_1715342.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Zara Phillips Makes Olympic Equestrian Debut With Princess Anne, Royals Looking On

By NICOLE WINFIELD 07/29/12 02:00 PM ET AP

LONDON — Zara Phillips did her royal family proud.

The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II wowed the home crowd and a few relatives in her Olympic equestrian debut Sunday, riding her appropriately named horse, High Kingdom, to a respectable finish in the eventing dressage competition.

The 31-year-old Phillips registered a slight mistake and earned 46.1 penalty points at Greenwich Park, placing her 24th out of 74 riders with two disciplines to go.

Her grandfather, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and her mother, Princess Anne, were in the VIP seats as Phillips put High Kingdom through the paces of a standard dressage test to demonstrate the horse's obedience.

Cheers and applause broke out as Phillips, 14th in line to the British throne, rode into the stadium, and cheers erupted again when she finished. Anne, wearing a bright red canvas hat, applauded politely.

"To be here at home is an amazing feeling, and you just want to try and do your best for the team," Phillips said.

Three other British riders did better, and their scores contributed to Britain's third-place finish at the end of dressage.

Germany was in the lead with 119 penalty points, followed by Australia with 122.1 and Britain with 127. The United States was seventh with 138.8. As in golf, the low score wins.

The competition continues Monday with the dangerous and unpredictable cross-country portion, followed by show jumping Tuesday.

High Kingdom made a mistake toward the beginning of the canter in the first of a maneuver known as the flying change. The horse is supposed to change the sequence of its steps, but High Kingdom didn't respond immediately to Phillips' cues.

"It was disappointing about his first change, but his other ones were really good," she said. "But he coped with all the crowd and is only getting better."

Phillips, a former world and European eventing champion, performed early under a sunny sky. Later, storm clouds and lightning moved in, forcing a brief suspension of competition and drawing complaints from some riders who had competed through the rain.

Phillips said High Kingdom's mistake had nothing to do with the enthusiasm from the stands – a rousing welcome that prompted the announcer to remind the audience to keep applause to a minimum until the test was finished.

"He's very chilled," she said of her bay gelding. "That was nothing to do with the crowd. It was just inexperience and getting stronger, and he's getting stronger all the time."

She said she was looking forward to Monday's cross-country event, which she said was High Kingdom's strongest because he is a good jumper. The 28-obstacle course over 3.5 miles through the bucolic Greenwich Park is hilly with several tight turns.

"He's quite quick and easy to turn, so hopefully it'll be good," Phillips said. "I think he wants to get out there now. He's a bit bored of dressage."

In an indication of the respect the royal granddaughter has in the equestrian world, Phillips was warmly greeted after she competed by Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand.

At the end of the dressage portion, Japan's Yoshiaki Oiwa led the individual competition on Noonday de Conde with 38.1, Stefano Brecciaroli of Italy on Apollo WD Wendi Kurt Hoev was in second place with 38.5, and Todd on Campino had 39.1.

But in eventing, anything goes, and team leader Germany said Monday's cross-country could shake both the team and individual standings around.

"It's a three-day competition, and not a dressage show," said German team coach Hans Melzer. "I think tomorrow is a new competition, and everyone starts with zero."

Phillips' grandmother stole the show during the opening ceremony Friday, appearing opposite Daniel Craig's James Bond in a short film, then formally opening the games. She visited with fawning British Olympians in the athletes village on Saturday.

The gold-medal question was whether the queen would attend Phillips' brief four-minute test. Instead, her husband represented the monarchy. Princes William and Harry and William's wife, Kate, are expected to appear over the next two days.

Equestrian is being held in a regal venue: Greenwich Park dates from 1433 and is the oldest royal park in London. The main equestrian arena sits in front of Queen's House, a 17th-century building designed as a summer palace for Queen Anne of Denmark, the wife of James I.

Horses are big in the royal family. The queen is an accomplished and enthusiastic equestrian and at 86 still rides often – without a helmet.

Princess Anne is not only president of the British Olympic committee but a member of the International Olympic Committee and a former Olympian in equestrian eventing herself.

She competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but her horse fell going over a jump during the cross-country event. Phillips father, Capt. Mark Phillips, fared better, winning team gold at Munich in 1972 and silver in Seoul 16 years later.

Mark Phillips is now a top coach of the U.S. equestrian team and sat a few seats away from Anne, his ex-wife, to watch his daughter compete. Phillips' brother Peter was also in the stands.

In a recent BBC interview, Anne acknowledged the pressure British athletes were under competing on home turf.

"I'd hate to be doing it now – that's all I can tell you!" she said.

But her 31-year-old daughter played down the pressure, telling reporters earlier in the week she would have no trouble competing with other royals in the stands.

"They're my family. It's not weird," she quipped.

Phillips had qualified for the 2008 Beijing Games but had to pull out after her horse, Toytown, got was injured. British equestrian officials have stressed that Phillips is on the team because she's an excellent athlete, not because she's royal.

Phillips and brother Peter have low profiles in the royal family. They hold no royal titles, unique among the queen's eight grandchildren, after their mother turned down the monarch's offer of honors.

Nevertheless, both are very much part of the royal family. The queen and Prince Philip were honored guests at her wedding last year to international rugby star Mike Tindall, who has been photographed playfully wrestling William and Harry until they begged for mercy.

Tindall escorted Phillips to the stable after her ride, and even took a picture for an Olympic technician who wanted a photograph taken with his wife.

The seventh-place U.S. team, heading into Monday's cross-country, faced a double whammy – a disappointing dressage result and a poor draw.

On Sunday, Phillip Dutton of West Grove, Pa., earned 44.3 and 19th place out of 74 riders on Mystery Whisper, while Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Va., scored 46.3 on Twizzel and sits 26th, adding to the scores their teammates earned Saturday.

The Americans must also send their riders out first in cross-country. They will need gallop all out without knowing the standings of the other riders, who can ride more conservatively knowing precisely what kind of score they need.

The time to meet is 10 minutes, 3 seconds. Penalties for exceeding the optimum time will likely separate the eventual winners from the rest of the pack.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 30, 2012, 03:56:45 am: I love The Daily Mail!!!!

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/29/article-2180579-1447DB84000005DC-94_964x508.jpg)

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/29/article-2180579-14475DDA000005DC-149_964x560.jpg)

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/29/article-2180579-14446B2C000005DC-174_964x620.jpg)

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/29/article-2180579-14428F66000005DC-593_964x619.jpg)
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 30, 2012, 03:59:09 am: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

The 16-year-old Chinese girl who is faster than America's Ryan Lochte! Swimming prodigy takes gold after smashing world record

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/30/article-2180836-1448B54F000005DC-862_964x299.jpg)

Ye Shiwen posted such a good time in the women's 400m individual medley that her final 50m was in fact faster than gold medallist Ryan Lochte's performance in the men's event, at just 28.93 seconds. Her achievement was so unprecedented that it even led some broadcasters to question whether Ye had benefited from underhand practices. Her total time was 4:28.43, a world record which was three seconds ahead of her closest rival and five seconds quicker than her own personal best.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 30, 2012, 06:06:26 am: http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Olympic-viewing-NBC-critics-loud-on-social-media-3744551.php

Olympic viewing: NBC critics loud on social media
DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
Updated 11:07 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — In the age of social media, NBC now has millions of television critics who make their opinions known about every aspect of Olympics coverage instantly.

They've even set up their own hashtag on Twitter: (hash)nbcfail. The online complaints focused Saturday on NBC's decision to air the marquee swimming event won by American Ryan Lochte on tape delay in prime time, and Friday on the network not streaming the opening ceremony online. Sunday's critics started early: people wondering why the U.S. men's basketball team's opening game aired on a cable network while women's cycling was shown on NBC.

The conversation is so active that NBC's executive producer of the games, Jim Bell, took to Twitter to answer critics and even change the way NBC is doing something in response.

"(hash)nbcfail is filled with a lot of crying and snark and humor, but NBC can actually learn something from it," said Jeff Jarvis, a media critic who writes the Buzzmachine.com blog.

Complaints about tape delayed coverage are an evergreen with Olympics held on foreign soil. But the London Games are the first with Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites in full flower, in a mobile phone era where people carry computers that instantly deliver news in their pockets. It has amplified the impatience of viewers who want to see events on their large-screen TVs instantly and haven't been mollified by NBC's decision to stream the events live online.

James Poniewozik, Time magazine TV critic, tweeted that "NBC tape delay coverage is like the airlines: its interest is in giving you the least satisfactory service you will still come back for."

That drew a quick response from NBC's Bell: "You do know that all sports events are being streamed live right?"

"I do, indeed!" replied Poniewozik. "Have enjoyed it. Apparently a lot of folks still prefer watching it on TV."

NBC says it saves big events for prime-time airing because that is when most viewers are available to watch them and where the network makes the bulk of its advertising revenue. Since prime time on the U.S. East Coast coincides with 1 a.m. London time, there are no events to air live then. NBC representatives noted that there were 39 hours of live events Sunday on NBC and its affiliated networks.

Even as it defends its approach, NBC clearly hears those critics. One of Bell's Facebook posts highlighted coverage of Sunday's cycling race by saying it was all-caps LIVE. The network advertised its live streaming on the prime-time broadcast.

Jonathan Wald, who produces Piers Morgan's CNN talk show and used to work at NBC, tweeted that "the medal for most Olympic whining goes to everyone who complains about what happens every four years. Tape delay."

One of those complainers, in fact, was Morgan: He tweeted his disdain Friday for NBC's decision not to make the opening ceremony available live.

The advent of Twitter makes it seems as if there's a lot of unhappiness when the majority of viewers are watching NBC on tape delay and appear satisfied with it, Wald said in an interview.

NBC can point to television ratings justifying their approach. The Nielsen company said the opening ceremony drew more than 40 million people Friday, the most ever for one of those Olympic events. Saturday's first night of coverage was seen by 28.7 million, another record, beating every other first night of Olympic competition. In Beijing four years ago, 24 million watched on the corresponding night.

Jarvis said he believes NBC could satisfy fans by, for example, televising events like Lochte's race live in the afternoon and then repeating it at night. He acknowledges, though, that he's not the one who'd potentially be risking millions of dollars in advertising revenue if such a decision cut into prime-time viewing.

NBC has tried to "hold on to old media strategies in a new media world," Jarvis said. "And that's a mistake."

Some of the online complaints seem to take special glee in bashing NBC, with a few describing it like an Olympic sport of its own. Some are quite personal, like the CNN producer who tweeted Sunday: "No USA basketball in my hotel room. Why they aren't putting it on NBC's main channel is beyond me!"

Bell, in some of his back-and-forth with online critics Sunday, answered one tweeter who described herself as a St. Louis mom and complained about NBC's "Nightly News" on Saturday airing results of events that hadn't been shown on the network yet. Bell tweeted that he'd look into it, and shortly after told her that "Nightly News" would announce a "spoiler alert" to tell people to avert their eyes if they didn't want to see results.

Not everyone online is a critic. On Sunday, the U.S. Olympic sailing team tweeted that it was "by far the greatest sailing TV coverage in Olympic history."

ROWDY vs. PHELPS: Does Michael Phelps need bulletin board material anymore? If so, Rowdy Gaines provided it with his sharp criticism of Phelp's first final this weekend. "He just didn't train for it ... You can't fake that event," Gaines said.

UP CLOSE: Understand NBC's need to help us get to know obscure athletes in obscure sports. But the news about two synchronized divers who both collect rubber ducks felt like self-parody.

UPCOMING: Ryan Lochte's bid for a second gold medal is featured on NBC's Monday night coverage.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 30, 2012, 08:08:44 pm: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/gymnastics/story/united-states-china-japan-britain-ukraine-russia-in-mens-final-073012

US men's gymnastics team finishes 5th
FOX Sports

Updated Jul 30, 2012 3:33 PM ET

LONDON

When there's gold to be had, don't ever doubt the Chinese.

When it comes to silver and bronze, it can get tricky. It did at men's gymnastics on Monday.

The Chinese won their second straight Olympic title and third in four games, making anyone who wrote them off after a dismal performance in qualifying look silly. Their score of 275.997 points was more than four points better than Japan, which needed help from a DVR to finish second.

The Americans, hoping for their first Olympic title since 1984 after finishing No. 1 in qualifying, lost all hopes for any medal with a dismal showing on pommel horse, their second event. They rallied to finish fifth.

Britain was initially announced as the silver medalist, setting off raucous celebrations at the O2 Arena. The British don't have a proud history in gymnastics - they barely have any history - and this was their first men's team medal in a century. But Japan questioned the score of three-time world champion Kohei Uchimura on pommel horse, the team's very last routine.

While judges huddled around a video screen, Uchimura and his teammates sat stone-faced while the British partied. About five minutes later, Uchimura's score was revised and Japan was awarded the silver while Britain was bumped down to bronze.

It was of little consolation to the Japanese, who were bested by the Chinese yet again.

Just like everybody else.

China also won the last five world titles, and now has gone eight years without losing at a major competition.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mystery-ak on July 30, 2012, 08:11:07 pm: Even the British soldiers look bored.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on July 31, 2012, 09:36:23 pm: Finally wins a gold
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/31/phelps-wins-record-1th-olympic-medal-after-dominating-relay/
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on July 31, 2012, 09:40:47 pm: Quote from: evad on July 31, 2012, 09:36:23 pm
Finally wins a gold
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/31/phelps-wins-record-1th-olympic-medal-after-dominating-relay/

Yep... after blowing the butterfly - his strongest event - he wins gold with a lot of help from his teammates...
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on August 01, 2012, 12:46:48 am: Quote from: Rapunzel on July 31, 2012, 09:40:47 pm
Yep... after blowing the butterfly - his strongest event - he wins gold with a lot of help from his teammates...
Have a heart Rapunzel. He's an "old timer" :laugh:
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mystery-ak on August 01, 2012, 12:55:56 am: Hate to say this but I am burned out on Phelps...if he wasn't so cocky I would feel better about him...he showed up thinking the gold was a given...(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/argorider/Emoticons%205/zwemmen.gif)
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 03:27:51 am: Badminton tournament marred by teams trying to purposely lose a match (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--badminton-tournament-marred-by-teams-trying-to-purposefully-lose-a-match.html?fb_action_ids=470191636333287&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_ref=type%3Aread%2Cuser%3A7qp6-q9j2qbN45zsugkZc23nsvo&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%22470191636333287%22%3A10151007262141158}&action_type_map={%22470191636333287%22%3A%22news.reads%22}&action_ref_map={%22470191636333287%22%3A%22type%3Aread%2Cuser%3A7qp6-q9j2qbN45zsugkZc23nsvo%22}&code=AQDWmbuwNOc2GryPQYOo7DSr9EHou9LidMzfD7HE_y75VULDMi5HRmPMAkApfjzvDdwblZqvotXTgaBUW-)

LONDON – Eight badminton players could be disciplined for their sub-par Olympic effort after embarrassing scenes Tuesday saw them appear to deliberately throw their matches. (AP)(AP)

Angry fans at Wembley Arena booed and jeered once it became clear that No.1 seed Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China and Jung Kyung-eun and Kim Ha-na of South Korea were trying to purposefully lose their contest in the final round of the group stage in order to obtain an easier draw in the next round.

Both teams, along with a second doubles team from South Korea and one from Indonesia have all been charged by the Badminton World Federation with "not using one's best efforts to win a match," according to the BBC.

If the Olympics are supposed to be about the pursuit of excellence and honesty, this was anything but, especially the duo of Wang and Yu which looked to be making no attempt whatsoever to win. Serves were skewed wide on purpose. Shots were allowed to drop to the floor with little effort to retrieve them.

The best team in the world performed worse than a pair of rank amateurs and cast shame on their sport in the process. Tennis legend John McEnroe, working as an analyst for the BBC, was utterly incredulous.

"They need to change this now," McEnroe said. "People who are watching the badminton right now will be turning off in droves and losing even more interest."

Badminton officials had already come under fire for adopting a group system for this event instead of single elimination as in previous Games. Given Tuesday's saga, it is unthinkable that group play will be retained.

[ Related: Full video coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games in London ]

The sorry situation came about because both the Wang-Yu pairing and the Jung-Kim duo had already qualified for the quarterfinal after winning their first two group games, and because the second-ranked Chinese pairing of Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei had already been upset by a team from Denmark. That meant that the winner of the China vs. South Korea match would earn the dubious honor of facing Tian and Zhao, offering the genuine advantage of an easier draw for losing on purpose.

At one point in the first set there was the ludicrous sight of three straight fault serves being committed, unthinkable for teams of this caliber. Match referee Thorsten Berg took the step of striding furiously onto the court and issuing a formal warning to both teams.

[ Photos: Chinese throw badminton match against South Koreans ]

From that point on, an improved effort seemed to have been made, although the South Koreans went on to win 21-14, 21-11.

As the players slapped hands – just as halfheartedly as their efforts on the court – the jeers from an unsatisfied crowd rained down on them and continued as all four players walked off the court. The Chinese pair tried to explain that their lackluster performance was because they were trying to save energy. No one was buying it.

"The Chinese had already started this," said Korean coach Sung Han-kook. "They did it first. It is a complicated thing with the draws. They didn't want to meet each other in the semifinal. The [Badminton World Federation] should do something about it."

[ Related: Controversy surrounds world-record 400 IM of China's 16-year-old Ye Shiwen ]

Later in the session, South Korea's Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung also appeared to be trying to throw a game against Indonesian opposition, but following a warning of expulsion from the referee began to concentrate properly and clinched a three-set victory.

Table tennis abandoned its group format after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and now uses the single-elimination method. The same can be expected from badminton by the time the 2016 Games roll around in Rio.

A badminton magazine recently revealed that of the 99 matches that Chinese players or pairs were due to play against each other in international tournaments in 2011, 20 were walkovers.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 05:50:58 am: (http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/07/31/073112-Olympics-gold-medals-G9_20120731170401350_600_400.JPG)

Golden Girls

US gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber bite their gold medals after taking first place in the team competition. It's the second time a US women's team took home the gold — the first was in 1996.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: DCPatriot on August 01, 2012, 05:54:06 am: Rap.....who is the "star" among the girls? The 'Mary Lou Retton'.

I have not watched any of the Olympics.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 05:58:16 am: (http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/07/31/073112-OLY-Photos-of-Tuesday-G6-AA_2012073113215168_600_400.JPG)

10 of 21
Timing is everything

Mexico's Alejandra Orozco Loza and Paola Espinosa Sanchez compete during the women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving final.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 06:06:21 am: Quote from: DCPatriot on August 01, 2012, 05:54:06 am
Rap.....who is the "star" among the girls? The 'Mary Lou Retton'.

I have not watched any of the Olympics.

It is hard to say, I don't think any of them shine over the others as much as Retton did in those Olympics. We really have an all-around strong women's gymnastic team... but of all the girls --Jordyn Wieber is considered the best on the team, yet in the all-around she didn't qualify -came in 4th on our team - Aly Raisman wasn't considered the gymnast of Jordan yet blew her away in the all-around scoring the other night.. Gabby - the little black girl on our team is a little dynamo and very strong.....but Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney are both very strong, too. This really is our best team in a very long time and in contrast the Rumanians who usually have a great female team is weak right now. The Russians have their typical "diva" who thinks she is better than anyone else on their team, stubborn and doesn't like to listen -- she is also a relatively poor sport...

Our men's team seems weaker than usual (to me)

and I will add that unlike both the Russian and the Rumanian teams our five girls are all very close and seem bonded with each other... the funniest scene I've seen so far this week was Aly Raisman's parents the other night -- they were literally going through all the motions of her routine in their seats while she was on the parallel bars and it was very funny to watch, the camera was fixated on them... the mother "used" to be a gymnast so is probably a "stage" mother.....
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 06:13:02 am: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/01/v-fullstory/2923365/us-women-capture-gymnastics-gold.html

Jordyn Wieber puts disappointment aside, leads U.S. women’s gymnastics team to glory

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WEB VOTE Who's your favorite member of the U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team?
Gabby Douglas McKayla Maroney Alexandra Raisman Kyla Ross Jordyn Wieber

By Linda Robertson
lrobertson@MiamiHerald.com

LONDON -- Jordyn Wieber won’t win the solo gold medal that is the crown jewel of her sport.

She had a good cry about wasting the opportunity for Olympic supremacy that is so fleeting in a sport for teenage girls who can do all sorts of magical tricks with their bodies except stop them from growing.

Then she went out and gave that denied glory to her team.

At the age of 17, when confidence can be as crumbly as a cupcake, Wieber bounced back from personal disappointment to lead the U.S. gymnastics team to a gold medal.

The U.S. women won for the first time since the Magnificent Seven clinched gold with Kerri Strug’s unforgettable sprained-ankle vault in Atlanta in 1996. In the past 16 years, the team has gone through four incarnations and coaching control was taken from Bela Karolyi and assigned to his wife, Martha.

On Tuesday at North Greenwich Arena, it was the Fabulous Five of Wieber, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney that controlled the meet from start to finish, scoring a total of 183.596 points, which was a commanding 5.066 ahead of Russia. Romania finished third and 2008 Olympic champion China was fourth, 9.166 points back.

Whereas the 1996 team had exceptional individual talent, this one was a “bouquet of unity,” Bela said.

Defending world champion Wieber, a reserved and serious girl who was usurped at the Olympic trials by the charismatic chatterbox Douglas, then finished behind Douglas and Raisman in Sunday’s all-around qualification to lose her presumed spot in Thursday’s all-around final, could have injected poison into the team. She could have whined about the bruised foot that has gotten more painful over the past six weeks. She could have underperformed.

But she was the one energizing her teammates Tuesday with her clean routines, her fluid flips and long lines. She encouraged them, steadied them, showed them the way.

She kick-started the United States by opening with a 15.933 on vault, nailing the high-risk Amanar — a roundoff onto the board, back handspring onto the vault and two-and-a-half twisting somersaults into the landing. Two teammates followed by nailing their Amanars; McKayla Maroney, the world’s top vaulter, scored 16.233.

On uneven bars, the team’s weakest event, Wieber set the tone by powering through her catch and release moves like a turbine. On balance beam, Wieber served as cheerleader and the United States regained its lead.

The United States led Russia by 1.299 points going into the last rotation, and had the advantage of following Russia on floor exercise. The Russians could only manage three shaky routines, ending with a groan from the crowd when Kseniia Afanaseva botched her beautiful choreography by crashing hard. She put her head in her hands and rapped her forehead. Aliya Mustafina wiped away tears.

All that remained to be done by the United States was three floor routines with no implosions.

Douglas was speedy, agile, a bouncing ball of fire. She couldn’t stop smiling. Raisman, unflappable as the guards at Buckingham Palace, scored 15.3.

Floor had been Wieber’s downfall Sunday. On one of her tumbling runs her momentum carried her out of bounds. But on Tuesday, Wieber, sensing the moment at hand, flew like a muscled ballet dancer through her first two runs and grinned as her coach yelled, “Yeah!” She maintained her rhythm as spectators howled for a British athlete on the adjacent beam. She concluded with stunning height on her last pass. Relief flooded her face.

“When she came off, I said to her, ‘Redemption. You rock,’ ” said Wieber’s coach, John Gedderts. “She didn’t say a whole lot to me. She doesn’t, ever.”

Cameras circled the nervous Americans while the Russians sobbed.

They waited, held hands. When the official score appeared, they rejoiced, hugging each other and waving to the crowd. Those interminable hours in the gym, miles of tape wrapping their ankles and wrists, years of sacrifice — it was all worth it.

Wieber, from small-town Michigan, had been hailed by Bela as the one gymnast who reminded him most of his protégé Nadia Comaneci in 30 years. He praised her strength, consistency, poker face and her “sturdiness,” the ultimate Karolyi compliment.

“She’s a calculator,” he said. “Nothing disturbs her. Look at her body constitution, the bones — those are Nadia’s ankles. She can land on one leg when everybody else would be carried off in a wheelbarrow.”

She had not missed an all-around final since 2008. But she accumulated enough little mistakes Sunday to finish fourth and behind two teammates in qualifying. Only two athletes per country can advance. The rule needs revision. A country shouldn’t be penalized for depth in a sport, as was the United States, which placed three gymnasts in the top four. Nor should the world’s biggest gymnastics meet exclude the world’s best gymnasts, even if they are from a handful of powerhouses.

“That’s a final? No, that’s an invitational!” Bela said. “That’s not the top 24 gymnasts. This kid got hammered by a stupid rule.”

Gedderts called it an “injustice.” Wieber said the rule “stinks.” Gymnasts who finished 20 places lower than her are in and she’s out.

The Olympics occasionally tries too hard to be inclusive in its high-minded mission to promote world solidarity. It’s one thing to allow Saudi Arabia to send two marginal Olympians — one is the only non-black belt in judo — as a symbolic gesture of equality for women. It’s another to hold a championship without a champion of Wieber’s caliber. It dilutes the quality and credibility of the event.

Before the team competition began Tuesday, Wieber stayed by herself in an empty room, “in my bubble,” she said. She felt sad. Then she cleansed her mind. Mental gymnastics requires as much concentration as the physical part.

Teammate Maroney came by to give Wieber a pep talk.

“Sometimes you just need a friend,” Maroney said. “I wanted her to know we were behind her. She’s the toughest girl out there. She can turn her brain around in two seconds.”

A petite young woman lifted herself from the rubble of crushing pressure.

The team title wasn’t just good enough, Wieber thought. It was better. She hadn’t had a moment to feel sorry for herself during the competition and she refused to let regret drag her teammates down. By her brave and generous example, she had shown them the way to be winners.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 06:20:32 am: Summer Games Medals
Select Sport:
Total Medals - we are tied with China... remember the days when we tried to keep up with Russia??? so far they are down in 7th place.

Country            Total
China   13   6   4   23
United States   9   8   6   23
Japan   1   4   8   13
France   4   3   4   11
South Korea   3   2   3   8
Italy   2   4   2   8
Russia   2   2   4   8
Germany   2   3   1   6
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on August 01, 2012, 01:27:34 pm: Tough to beat the Cha-Chings with their doping.
I'm like the other guy, haven't watched any of it.
I've become so jaded over the Olympics and sports in general.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 05:59:24 pm: Quote from: evad on August 01, 2012, 01:27:34 pm
Tough to beat the Cha-Chings with their doping.
I'm like the other guy, haven't watched any of it.
I've become so jaded over the Olympics and sports in general.

They just did a report on Fox about how they take the children who show any talent away from their parents at a very young age and then put them through brutal training programs... I seem to recall Russia "used" to do the same thing.....
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on August 01, 2012, 06:08:09 pm: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 05:59:24 pm
They just did a report on Fox about how they take the children who show any talent away from their parents at a very young age and then put them through brutal training programs... I seem to recall Russia "used" to do the same thing.....
ZAKLY!
Although, being taken away from you parents in China may not be a bad thing, especially if you're a female.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 01, 2012, 06:35:50 pm: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/08/01/serena-williams-plays-zvonareva-to-reach-olympic-quarterfinals/

Serena Williams plays Zvonareva to reach Olympic quarterfinals

Published August 01, 2012

FoxNews.com

Serena Williams hit 12 aces Wednesday and repeatedly rocketed her groundstrokes past Vera Zvonareva to win 6-1, 6-0 and reach the Olympic quarterfinals.

Swinging lustily with almost every shot, Williams hit 32 winners to three for the Russian, who also lost when they met in the 2010 Wimbledon final.

The match was played under the Centre Court roof, and the conditions clearly suited the No. 4-seeded Williams. She swept the final 10 games, and fans unfurled U.S. flags when she closed out the victory after just 51 minutes.

Williams has lost only 10 games through three rounds. The third-time Olympian is the winner of two gold medals in doubles and 14 major titles, but she has yet to win a singles medal.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/08/01/serena-williams-plays-zvonareva-to-reach-olympic-quarterfinals/#ixzz22JxpKIkt
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 01:16:54 am: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/Americans-finding-it-difficult-to-get-Olympic-tickets-at-London-2012

Americans struggle to get Olympics tix

Updated Aug 1, 2012 8:53 PM ET

LONDON

With thousands of Olympics tickets going back for sale in an effort to fill empty seats, you would think scoring just one while in London would be fairly easy.

Think again.

The only happy Americans in London are those who bought tickets before arriving.
Mark Talkington/MSN

If you’re an American, you’re mostly out of luck. And that’s not sitting well with fans of Team USA hoping to catch any action at the games. The reason is almost as difficult to explain as the process. But we’ll try:

Anyone with a US address can’t go through the official Olympics ticketing process. That’s reserved for UK and European Union dwellers. Instead, Americans are being routed through CoSport, the official reseller of LOCOG (the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games). Once there, after filling out the online forms, you can start selecting from available events, purchase tickets and get the address of where will-call is in London.

But a quick check Wednesday of the available tickets for any event between now and the end of the games returned zero results as of 9 p.m. London time. Earlier in the morning, one ticket was available for swimming later this week, with a $450-$650 price range.

Even if an American does score tickets through the official reseller, it’s a bear to connect with them. The will-call location is on a college campus more than seven miles from Olympic Park. It’s a 51-minute journey via the Tube, a bus and foot. And then you repeat the trip.

Inconvenience aside, most visitors from the US are willing to accept them for the opportunity to experience what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But being unable to purchase even one ticket, while their current neighbors in the UK are offered tens of thousands, is not sitting well.

Olympics medals in London
KEEPING TRACK?
Luckily for you, we are. Updated medal count.

“For a non-UK and EU citizen like me, it's harder to get event tix, but they sure are concerned about empty seats at most events,” said Liz Kennedy, a Seattle resident who traveled to London with her family with only a few event tickets in hand. “Don't get me wrong. I'm having a blast. But (the) ticket allocation system that resulted in a lot of empty seats is just funny.

“I can't even buy tickets for rowing today. It sucks.”

Don’t even think about trying to go through the official Olympics site. After completing the necessary online forms, perusing through thousands of tickets and adding some to your cart, Americans are greeted with the following message when they go to pay: “Sorry, you are not eligible to purchase tickets on this website.”

So what’s your best bet to score tickets — Craigslist or eBay? No. Some suggest you make friends with a UK or EU resident for a couple of weeks and funnel them your cash.

From the sounds of it online, though, they’re out of luck, as well. There are rampant reports about the official ticketing site crashing, spinning and showing tickets available that suddenly disappear when you try to buy them.

“Why does the ticket site still offer seats until you try to actually buy them?” asked one UK resident, Chris Marshall. “Olympic tickets is an absolute shambles.”

Maybe it’s not all that bad. There could be a new Olympic competition developing right before everyone’s eyes.

“Trying to get an Olympic ticket should be a sport itself,” said Amiera Ariana of London. “It’s hard work.”
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 03:13:28 am: http://hotair.com/archives/2012/08/01/americas-jewish-gymnastics-star-clinches-gold-to-the-tune-of-hava-nagila/

America’s Jewish gymnastics star clinches Gold to the tune of ‘Hava Nagila’
posted at 5:56 pm on August 1, 2012 by Mary Katharine Ham

The International Olympic Committee, cowed by the threat of a boycott by Arab nations, refused to give a moment of silence in London’s opening ceremony to honor 11 Israeli Olympians murdered 40 years ago by Palestinian terrorists at the Munich Olympics.

(http://“We feel that the Opening Ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident,” Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said Saturday.)

But the IOC, quite sensibly, allowed a moment of remembrance in 2010 for an Olympic luger who died in practice before the Vancouver games and one for victims of Britain’s 7/7 bombing. The rebuff to Israelis was just the latest in a long line of refusals by the Olympics to acknowledge what happened in 1972:

During the early hours of September 5, 1972, eight armed Palestinian terrorists sneaked into the Olympic Village in Munich, Germany, stormed the sleeping quarters of the Israeli delegation, shot a wrestler and coach to death, and took another nine athletes and officials hostage. Twenty-one hours later, during a standoff on the tarmac of a nearby German military airport, one of the kidnappers blew up four of the Israeli hostages with a grenade, and the remaining five were executed by close-range machine gun fire.

Every four years, widows of the victims of this attack petition the IOC for recognition of their loss at the Opening Ceremony, but have been repeatedly rejected. The way they put it, the request is coming from “the wrong country and the wrong religion” to please the international community. There are several memorial events planned for the Olympians, but each with miniscule exposure compared to the Opening Ceremony. Shameful.

In that context, it was a special pleasure to watch Aly Raisman tumble her team to Olympic Gold in women’s gymnastics to a blasting, upbeat version of “Hava Nagila,” the Hebrew folk song and Bar Mitzvah favorite. Raisman, “a nice Jewish girl from Massachusetts,” as she’s affectionately described by the Israeli press is one of the Fab Five who together ended a 16-year drought for American women’s gymnastics atop the team podium Tuesday.

She and her family and coaches chose the song with purpose:

Raisman, of Needham, Mass., is trained by the Romanian couple, Mihai and Sylvia Brestyan, who coached the Israeli national team in the early 1990s and also is training world vault champion Alicia Sacramone. The coaches and Raisman’s mother selected “Hava Nagila” after several exhaustive late-night online searches.

Raisman, a recipient of the Pearl D. Mazor Outstanding Female Jewish High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award given out by the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in New York, says she is proud to be using the Jewish song “because there aren’t too many Jewish elites out there.”

It’s also just a damn good song that gets the audience clapping and cheering along, which is another reason she chose it, Raisman said. Raisman is not the first gymnast to use the song, but she may be the first Jewish gymnast to use it, according to Haaretz, and certainly the first with such great results.

Here she is tearing it up in the qualifying round. I dare you not to clap. (Sorry, NBC inexplicably does not have video of Tuesday’s floor routines, but it’s the same routine. I’ll keep looking.) Click to watch:

Aly Raisman

Watching a strong, beautiful Jewish woman finish her last tumbling pass, triumphant, as the whole stadium clapped along to a Hebrew folk song of celebration was a great moment— a moving, joyous contrast to Munich and an example of the kind of cultural tribute that’s unstoppable in free people, no matter what the IOC says.

Congrats to all the Fab Five, following in the footsteps of 1996′s Magnificent Seven! Do yourself a favor and watch this nearly flawless vault by McKayla Maroney in the finals. Seriously, where are the deductions coming from?
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 05:46:32 am: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/us-gymnast-mckayla-maroney-landed-the-vault-of-her

McKayla Maroney's Vault Was So Good It Literally Dropped A Judge's Jaw

The most impressive moment from the US Women's Gymnastics team's very impressive gold medal night.

Two videos at this link.... amazing vault

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/us-gymnast-mckayla-maroney-landed-the-vault-of-her
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 08:54:46 pm: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/gymnastics/story/gabrielle-douglas-aly-raisman-victoria-komova-deng-linlin-womens-all-around-080212?from=en-us_msnhp

USA's Douglas wins all-around gold

Aug 2, 2012 4:30 PM ET

Might be time to get Gabby Douglas a new nickname.

Gabby Douglas
AMERICA'S SWEETHEART
US gymnast Gabby Douglas will win your heart in London.

Olympic champ works.

Known as ''The Flying Squirrel,'' Douglas won the women's all-around title Thursday night, becoming the third straight American to win gymnastics' biggest prize and the first African-American. It's her second gold medal of the London Games, coming two nights after she and her ''Fierce Five'' teammates gave the United States its first Olympic title since 1996.

''I wanted to seize the moment,'' Douglas said. ''It hasn't sunk in yet. Team finals hasn't sunk in yet. But it will.''

In the lead from the first event, Douglas finished the night by rocking the O2 Arena with her electric floor routine, flashing a dazzling smile and lots of pizzazz. When her score posted 62.232, coach Liang Chow told Douglas she had won the gold.

But she had to wait another five minutes until it was official because Viktoria Komova of Russia, runner-up at last year's world championships, was still to come.

Komova's floor routine was impressive, as well, and she stood at the center of the arena staring intently at the scoreboard, fingertips pressed to her lips, teammate Aliya Mustafina rubbing her shoulder. When the final standings flashed, Komova dropped her head and hurried to the sidelines, tears falling. She finished about three-tenths behind Douglas, with a score of 61.973.

''I'm still upset because I could have been gold and I didn't get it,'' said Komova, her silver medal buried in the pocket of her warm-up jacket.

Mustafina and Aly Raisman finished with identical scores of 59.566, but the Russian got the bronze on a tiebreak. The lowest scores for both gymnasts were dropped, and the remaining three were totaled. That gave Mustafina a total of 45.933 and Raisman 45.366.

''It's really disappointing, but I'm really happy for Gabby,'' said Raisman, captain of the U.S. team. ''But it's definitely really frustrating because we tied for third place. I was so close.''

ball
HOW FAB!
You saw the US women's gymnastics team win the gold. Now see a different side of them.

Douglas, meanwhile, is poised to become the biggest star since Mary Lou Retton. That smile alone is enough to make Madison Avenue swoon, and her personality might just be bigger than she is. (She claims she used to be shy, but it doesn't seem possible listening to her chatter and giggle.) Throw in her sweet and sentimental backstory, and her two gold medals certainly won't be her only riches.

It was two years ago that Douglas told her mom, Natalie Hawkins, that she wanted to move from their home in Virginia Beach, Va., to train with Chow, who coached Shawn Johnson in 2008. Hawkins said absolutely not; there was no way she was allowing the youngest of her four children to move halfway across the country at 14.

But Douglas' two older sisters lobbied on her behalf, giving their mother a list of reasons why Gabby should be allowed to go. The only reason to stay: They would miss her.

Hawkins finally relented, but not without many second thoughts, including: ''That I was crazy. I must have lost my marbles. But she wanted this more than anything.''

Few could have imagined this result a year ago. Jordyn Wieber was the world champion and heavy favorite, while Douglas was the one who was a total mess at the national championships. But she gained confidence as part of the U.S. team that took gold at the 2011 world championships, and proved to herself she was as good as anyone when she beat Wieber at the American Cup in March, never mind that her scores didn't count because she was competing as an alternate.

Olympic gymnastics gallery
TOE THE LINE
World's best gymnasts point all their efforts toward gold. View photos

After nearly beating Wieber at nationals, she came out on top three weeks later at the Olympic trials. And after Wieber failed to make the all-around because of a rule that limits countries to two gymnasts, Douglas became the one to beat.

''I don't ever recall anybody this quickly rising from an average good gymnast to a fantastic one,'' said national team coordinator Martha Karolyi, who gave Douglas her ''Flying Squirrel'' nickname.

As she did in Tuesday night's team final, Douglas set the tone with the very first event, vault.

Once again doing the difficult Amanar - a roundoff onto the takeoff board, back handspring onto the table and 2.5 twisting somersaults before landing - Douglas took a small hop to the left and then another, putting her dangerously close to the out-of-bounds line. She never looked down, but it was clear she knew how close she was, twisting her upper body to the left to absorb the momentum and keep her legs from moving. She stayed in place - and in bounds - and her 15.966 gave her a lead she never relinquished.

Komova made it close on uneven bars, where she looks more like a little hummingbird as she flies between the bars. Her routine is incredibly difficult, yet she does it with such lightness and style. She took a small hop on her dismount, but camouflaged it by immediately thrusting her hands into the air and turning to salute the judges. When her score of 15.966 was announced, she nodded slightly as she zipped her Russian team warm-up all the way to her chin.

Next came balance beam, where both Komova and Douglas have struggled. Komova's fall during the team competition at last year's worlds hurt Russia's chance of catching the Americans, while Douglas might have won the U.S. title if not for a fall on the second day of competition.

With the stakes higher than ever, however, both were clutch. Most of Komova's tricks were landed with confidence, and her sheep jump - where she thrusts her head and arms back while kicking her feet behind her - was exquisite, the soles of her feet brushing her ponytail.

But Douglas did her one better. She brimmed with confidence as she whipped off a series of back handsprings, landing as easily and confidently as she had when she performed on the arena floor. She did a front somersault with such power the thud of her landing echoed inside the arena.

She took a small hop forward on her dismount, but it hardly mattered. The look on her face said it all: Yeah, I got this. Her score of 15.5 extended her lead over Komova to more than three-tenths of a point going into the final rotation, floor exercise.

And though Chow told her not to look at the scoreboard, Douglas admitted she peaked. A few times.

''After vault,'' she said. ''And bars. And beam. And floor.''

''She's not a good listener,'' Chow chimed in, smiling.

But knowing where she was didn't hurt her performance.

While Douglas' skills on floor are impressive - she gets more air than the NBA's Carmelo Anthony, whom she and her teammates met the other day - it's her personality that makes it a show-stopper. The crowd was clapping almost from the opening notes of her techno music, and she got downright sassy with her dance moves, directing playful grins at the judges.

''I love this routine,'' she said. ''I can express myself.''

Her score of 15.033 meant Komova needed a 15.36 or better to win. She didn't come close, and Douglas grabbed herself another gold.

''I was like, 'All the hard work has paid off,''' she said.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 09:12:32 pm: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/swimming/story/rebecca-soni-united-states-sets-another-world-record-to-win-gold-medal-in-200-breaststroke-080212

Soni sets world record in 200 breast

Aug 2, 2012 3:56 PM ET

LONDON (AP)

Rebecca Soni of the United States set another world record to defend her 200-meter breaststroke title at the London Olympics on Thursday.

Soni clocked 2 minutes, 19.59 seconds to improve on her own mark from Wednesday's semifinals by 0.41 seconds.

It was the sixth world record in the pool at these games.

Satomi Suzuki of Japan touched in 2:20.72 to take the silver medal and Iuliia Efimova of Russia finished in 2:20.92 for bronze.

Soni was also favored to win the 100 breast but took silver behind surprise 15-year-old winner Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania.

Meilutyte did not enter the 200.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 09:13:28 pm: Summer Games Medals
Select Sport:
Total Medals
Country            Total
United States   18   9   10   37
China   18   11   5   34
Japan   2   6   11   19
Germany   4   8   5   17
Russia   3   6   8   17
France   6   4   6   16
Great Britain   5   6   4   15
South Korea   7   2   5   14
Italy   4   5   2   11
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 02, 2012, 09:16:26 pm: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/swimming/story/ryan-lochte-michael-phelps-missy-franklin-rebecca-soni-big-night-us-swimmers-080212

Phelps wins showdown, 20th medal

Aug 2, 2012 5:01 PM ET

LONDON

Olympics medals in London
KEEPING TRACK?
Luckily for you, we are. Updated medal count.

Phelps-Lochte II was a much tighter race than the first showdown ... and it had a different winner, to boot.

Michael Phelps led wire to wire in the 200 individual medley Thursday night, beating his rival Lochte to the wall to claim his 20th career medal and 16th gold. His time of 1 minute, 54.27 seconds gave him his first indvidual gold of the London Games.

Lochte, who had taken bronze in the 200 backstroke earlier in the evening, held on to win the silver in 1:54.90. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary was third in 1:56.22.

Clary beats Lochte in 200 backstroke

Tyler Clary made headlines before the Olympics by questioning Phelps’ training. On Thursday, he made them for taking down Lochte.

Clary beat Lochte in the finals of the 200 backstroke, setting an Olympic record while winning his first medal of any color.
ners.

Lochte couldn’t even manage silver, as he was touched out by Japan’s Ryosuke Irie.

World record for Soni

Fresh off a world record effort in the semifinals of the 200 breaststroke, Rebecca Soni delivered a worthy encore in Thursday night’s final.

Soni won gold with a time of 2 minutes, 19.59 seconds at the Aquatics Center, breaking the record she set earlier in the meet and defending the medal she won four years ago in Beijing.

Satomi Suzuki of Japan won silver, and Iuliia Efimova took bronze
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 03, 2012, 12:33:26 am: http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/swimming/story/ryan-lochte-michael-phelps-missy-franklin-rebecca-soni-big-night-us-swimmers-080212

Phelps wins showdown, 20th medal

Aug 2, 2012 7:14 PM ET

LONDON (AP)

Olympics medals in London
KEEPING TRACK?
Luckily for you, we are. Updated medal count.

Michael Phelps spent the day thinking about all the things he's doing for the final time at the pool. It turns out that included one last win over Ryan Lochte.

Phelps finally has a gold all his own at his final Olympics.

Adding to an already unprecedented medal collection, he claimed his first individual victory of the London Games and handed Lochte a double disappointment on his rival's final night in the pool Thursday.

Phelps set the tone right from the start with a dominating butterfly leg to become the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three straight Olympics in the 200-meter individual medley. He claimed his 20th career medal, and 16th gold, in 1 minute, 54.27 seconds, just off his winning time in Beijing but still good enough for gold, just ahead of Lochte.

When it was done, there wasn't that water-pounding celebration we've seen so many times from Phelps — just a slight smile as he hung on the lane rope, gazing up at the stands and soaking it all in.

''Going into every call room, I said it's my last semifinal or my last prelim,'' Phelps said, reflecting on a busy day that included a morning swim, then two more races in the evening. ''We're kind of chalking up all the lasts of certain things.''

As he stepped on the medal podium — yep, that familiar top rung — Phelps' eyes were glassy and he whispered something to Lochte. Then, staring up at the US flag while the nation anthem played, he bit his lip and seemed to be struggling to hold back the tears.

Phelps has never been too revealing with his emotions away from the pool.

But, with just two days to go in his swimming career, there's a definite crack in the facade.

He's starting to look as human out of the water as he is superhuman in it.

''To be able to win the gold medal and be the first to threepeat, it means something,'' said Phelps, whose first gold in London was swimming the anchor on the 4x200 freestyle relay. ''It's pretty special and something that I'm very happy for.''

So a farewell games that started as a bit of a disappointment is definitely looking up. He's now won two golds and two silvers in five races — not the eight golds in eight races in China, but a more-than-fitting capper to a brilliant career that still has two more races to go: the 100 butterfly Friday and the 4x100 medley relay Saturday.

Lochte settled for silver in 1:54.90 and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh took the bronze, well behind the Americans in 1:56.22.

''Always chasing Mike and Ryan,'' Cseh moaned. ''It's really hard because those two swimmers are really good.''

Ever the competitor, Phelps had hoped to go even faster, looking to not just win gold but take down Lochte's world record of 1:54.00 from last year's world championships.

''I wanted to push the first 100 as much as I could just to kind of see what would happen,'' Phelps said. ''Somebody told me with like 25 to go I was under world-record pace, so it was kind of frustrating I fell a little short.''

When Phelps was done with Lochte, he hopped out of the pool and dashed to the nearby diving well to warm down, preparing for a semifinal of the 100 fly. He was the top qualifier in that one at 50.86 — more than a half-second ahead of South African Chad le Clos, who upset Phelps in the 200 fly, and setting up an additional rematch with Milorad Cavic, the outspoken Serbian who still seems to think he got to the wall first when he lost to Phelps by a hundredth of a second four years ago.

Cavic is talking a different game now.

He doesn't think he — or anyone else — has a chance against Phelps in the last individual race of his Olympic career.

''Phelps is out of our league,'' Cavic said. ''It's not fair that I'm talking for everybody, but I'm expecting something special tomorrow. I think he's going to go 50.5.''

Lochte went through the same warm-down routine in the diving pool as Phelps, trying to pull off an impressive double 31 minutes apart. He came up short in both races, fading to bronze in the 200 backstroke behind fellow American Tyler Clary, then touching after Phelps in the medley.

Lochte shook hands with his rival before crawling out of the pool for the last time at these games, though he intends to keep on competing through the Rio Games in 2016. In a symbolic gesture, he tossed his cap and goggles into the crowd, his work done. His final tally: two golds, two silvers, one bronze and a fourth-place finish — impressive, but undoubtedly shy of what he had predicted would be ''my time.''

This time still belongs the Phelps. At least for a couple more days.

''Ryan has probably been one of the toughest competitors I've swam against, all-around competitors,'' Phelps said. ''We're seeing a lot more competitors coming up.''

Clary beats Lochte in 200 backstroke

Tyler Clary made headlines before the Olympics by questioning Phelps’ training. On Thursday, he made them for taking down Lochte. Clary beat Lochte in the finals of the 200 backstroke, setting an Olympic record while winning his first medal of any color.

Lochte couldn’t even manage silver, as he was touched out by Japan’s Ryosuke Irie.

World record for Soni

Fresh off a world record effort in the semifinals of the 200 breaststroke, Rebecca Soni delivered a worthy encore in Thursday night’s final.

Soni won gold with a time of 2 minutes, 19.59 seconds at the Aquatics Center, breaking the record she set earlier in the meet and defending the medal she won four years ago in Beijing.

Satomi Suzuki of Japan won silver, and Iuliia Efimova took bronze.

Franklin fifth

Ranomi Kromowidjojo carried on the Dutch tradition of producing top sprinters and prevented a red, white and blue sweep of the night, taking the women's 100 freestyle in an Olympic-record 53.00. Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus claimed the silver in 53.38, while the bronze went to China's Tang Yi in 53.44.

American teenager Missy Franklin got off to a terrible start. She was last at the turn and couldn't rally. She finished fifth, two-tenths off the podium. The other US swimmer, Jessica Hardy, finished last in the eight-woman field.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rivergirl on August 03, 2012, 12:36:19 am: And then we have the ugly running up the score by our basketball team against Nigeria.

What a disgusting display and a total lack of sportsmanship.

Congratulations to our medal winners, they've made us proud to be American.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 03, 2012, 02:04:37 am: (http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/388058_10151001489093811_1392845911_n.jpg)

Gabby Douglas: We Love Your Smile!
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 03, 2012, 02:07:21 am: She's a real cutie, isn't she? Christian values, too.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: DCPatriot on August 03, 2012, 02:28:13 am: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 03, 2012, 02:04:37 am
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/388058_10151001489093811_1392845911_n.jpg)

Gabby Douglas: We Love Your Smile!

WOW!

You just know Obama is going to use her as a prop. She's a cutie. Bless her heart.

That's what I meant the other nite when I asked who the new Mary Lou was. The Flying Squirrel! LOL!
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 03, 2012, 02:35:18 am: She is so tiny compared to the other girls and just bubbles energy.... I'm waiting for them to get to gymnastics tonight on NBC so I can watch her perform.... BTW our female rowing team ROCKS!!! won gold, too.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 04, 2012, 10:13:52 pm: Phelps won another gold today.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on August 04, 2012, 11:58:39 pm: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 04, 2012, 10:13:52 pm
Phelps won another gold today.
so that should be #22?
Boy's gonna owe a lot of taxes.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:38:34 am: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 04, 2012, 10:13:52 pm
Phelps won another gold today.

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/552758_348278595248071_770551660_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:39:49 am: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 03, 2012, 02:35:18 am
She is so tiny compared to the other girls and just bubbles energy.... I'm waiting for them to get to gymnastics tonight on NBC so I can watch her perform.... BTW our female rowing team ROCKS!!! won gold, too.

I am going to have Gaby and Michael Phelps withdrawls after tonight. I'm having trouble getting into the track and field stuff.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 05, 2012, 01:44:02 am: Quote from: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:39:49 am
I am going to have Gaby and Michael Phelps withdrawls after tonight. I'm having trouble getting into the track and field stuff.

I am not into track and field... I like indoor sports......
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:51:16 am: I like the womens' events in track. Beach volleyball is a snoozer to me though--seems like those games never end. :thud:
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Oceander on August 05, 2012, 04:05:33 am: Quote from: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:38:34 am

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/552758_348278595248071_770551660_n.jpg)

:silly:

That's awesome; thanks for posting it!
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: R4 TrumPence on August 05, 2012, 08:11:21 am: Quote from: Lipstick on a Hillary on August 05, 2012, 01:38:34 am

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/552758_348278595248071_770551660_n.jpg)

LOL :silly:
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mountaineer on August 05, 2012, 11:51:49 am: Mr. M ran track in college and has coached it, so I've gotten into it since meeting him. Looking forward to watching the events.

Several of the women on the U.S. team are very devout Christians, e.g., Carmelita Jeter, Allyson Felix, Lolo Jones and several others. NBC heads will explode if they win medals and start praising God.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: evadR on August 05, 2012, 12:12:27 pm: First known pic....LOL...awesome.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 05, 2012, 05:34:25 pm: Quote from: mountaineer on August 05, 2012, 11:51:49 am
Mr. M ran track in college and has coached it, so I've gotten into it since meeting him. Looking forward to watching the events.

Several of the women on the U.S. team are very devout Christians, e.g., Carmelita Jeter, Allyson Felix, Lolo Jones and several others. NBC heads will explode if they win medals and start praising God.

~LOL~ glad to see there is someone to carry on this thread with results :beer:

BTW as of this morning the Chinese are ahead of us in medal count.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: SouthTexas on August 06, 2012, 09:48:43 pm: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 05, 2012, 05:34:25 pm

~LOL~ glad to see there is someone to carry on this thread with results :beer:

BTW as of this morning the Chinese are ahead of us in medal count.

Semifinal Soccer update:

Our girls just beat the Canucks in double OT 4-3!
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 06, 2012, 10:42:53 pm: I see online that Gabby Giffords took last place on the parallel bars - the stress has probably gotten to her is my guess.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: jmyrlefuller on August 06, 2012, 11:22:51 pm: Quote from: Rapunzel on August 06, 2012, 10:42:53 pm
I see online that Gabby Giffords took last place on the parallel bars - the stress has probably gotten to her is my guess.
DOUGLAS!

If Giffords were out on the high bars I'd start getting REALLY suspicious...
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: R4 TrumPence on August 06, 2012, 11:47:19 pm: Quote from: jmyrlefuller on August 06, 2012, 11:22:51 pm
DOUGLAS!

If Giffords were out on the high bars I'd start getting REALLY suspicious...

:silly: :silly:
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mystery-ak on August 06, 2012, 11:49:15 pm: (https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552548_411989928857411_453240470_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 07, 2012, 02:02:58 am: Checking to see if anyone was paying attention.......

at least........... that's my story and I'm sticking to it...... :whistle:
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Rapunzel on August 08, 2012, 03:26:16 am: http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/gymnastics/story/_/id/8242816/2012-london-olympics-questioning-score-aly-raisman-earns-bronze-medal-all-around

Aly Raisman earns floor exercise gold

video at link

LONDON -- Aly Raisman finished the Olympics in style.

The U.S. captain matched Gabby Douglas in gold medals, winning the title on floor exercise Tuesday. Add in the bronze she earned on balance beam from earlier in the day, and she becomes the most decorated of the Fierce Five.

Ford: Tumbling To The Top

Ford Aly Raisman's grand finale to the Olympic gymnastics competition proves yet again that timing is everything in this tough sport, writes Bonnie D. Ford. Story

"It definitely went better than I thought it would," Raisman said.

Good thing Raisman did so well, 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 finished without any individual medals.

"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."

Raisman may not have Douglas' bubbly personality or Wieber's resume, but she is prized for her steadiness, and that consistency paid off big in London.

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 Raisman 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.

"I felt like I had nothing to lose," Raisman said. "It was going to be my last memory for London, so I just wanted to make it count and enjoy it."

(http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0807/oly_g_raisman1x_600.jpg)

Five gymnasts followed her, but none came close. When reigning Olympic champion Sandra Izbasa landed her final tumbling run on her head, Raisman let herself exhale. And smile.

It was the first Olympic gold on floor for a U.S. woman.

"It was definitely the best floor routine that I've ever done," Raisman said. "To have it be at the Olympic Games, in the finals, is just really amazing and just a dream come true. That's what you work for your whole life."

Catalina Ponor, the 2004 champion on floor, won the silver. Aliya Mustafina of Russia got the bronze, her fourth medal of the Olympics.

Deng Linlin won the gold on balance beam, upstaging teammate and reigning world champion Sui Lu. It was the second gold of the day for the Chinese, following Feng Zhe's title on parallel bars.

Raisman had previously just missed a medal in the all-around, finishing with the same score as Mustafina but dropping to fourth on a tiebreak.

But she was on the right end of the rules Tuesday, bumping Ponor off the podium on balance beam.

"It's a huge payback," Brestyan said. "She was a little bit disappointed after the all-around. It takes us two days to put her head back and it was hard work, but she stood up and today it was exactly what she was waiting for."

Raisman initially finished fourth with a score of 14.966. But she questioned it, and judges added an extra tenth to her routine's difficulty after a review. That gave her and Ponor identical scores of 15.066, but Raisman got the bronze because her execution score was higher.

"A gold medal is a gold medal, but I definitely felt like [beam] was redemption from the other night in the all-around," Raisman said. "I was in the same exact position, but it went in my favor this time."

Not so much for Douglas in the event finals.

Douglas' life has been a whirlwind since she won the all-around title last week, with media wanting a piece of her and celebs flooding her Twitter timeline, eager to be her new BFF. There was training to fit in, too, with finals on uneven bars and balance beam. She admitted after Monday's lackluster showing on bars -- she was last -- that it was all catching up with her.

"I'm definitely not going to lie. It was definitely hard to regain your focus," Douglas said. "You're like, 'Yes, I'm the Olympic champion. I'm a world champion.' It's definitely kind of hard to turn the chapter for event finals."

It wasn't a lack of energy that cost her Tuesday -- it was a misplaced foot. Her right foot could only brush the beam as she landed on a leap, and she had no chance to save herself. As the crowd gasped, she fell onto the beam in a straddle, hanging on tight as she swung partly underneath.

Still, she leaves the Olympics without complaint.

"Olympic all-around champion is going to be attached to my name," said Douglas, the first African-American to win the all-around title. "Life is going to be crazy for me. Even though we had a very bad ending of the chapter, the beginning was very strong."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Atomic Cow on August 10, 2012, 01:21:38 am: Well, the US finally passed China in Gold medals and total medals; at least for now.

Russia has passed Great Britain for third place.

GB is 4th and Japan is 5th.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: jmyrlefuller on August 11, 2012, 12:08:43 am: Quote from: Atomic Cow on August 10, 2012, 01:21:38 am
Well, the US finally passed China in Gold medals and total medals; at least for now.

Russia has passed Great Britain for third place.

GB is 4th and Japan is 5th.
And immediately after that happened, the Red Chinese started screaming conspiracy.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: SouthTexas on August 11, 2012, 01:35:18 am: Quote from: jmyrlefuller on August 11, 2012, 12:08:43 am
And immediately after that happened, the Red Chinese started screaming conspiracy.

Well at least they didn't say the following:

Sometimes, some things are best left unsaid:

Weightlifting commentator: "This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing."

Dressage commentator: "This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother."

Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."

Softball announcer: "If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again."

Basketball analyst: "He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces."

At the rowing medal ceremony: "Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew."

Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."

Tennis commentator: "One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them . . . Oh my God, what have I just said?"

And finally, Obama calls Phelps:

"Congratulations Michael, but remember you didn't win all those medals, someone else did. After all, you swam in public pools, built by state employees using tax dollars. You got training from the USOC, and ate food grown by the Department of Agriculture. You should play fair and share your medals with the people who can barely keep their head above water, let alone swim."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/friday-humor-olympics-edition
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: SouthTexas on August 11, 2012, 04:19:23 am: Our girls took the gold and set a new world's record in the 4X100 relay!!!

Old record belonged to the East Germans set in the 80s.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: mountaineer on August 11, 2012, 11:48:22 am: The women's 4x100 team members have such great attitudes and personalities. It was great to see Carmelita Jeter's reaction when she realized they'd broken the record. Sheer joy.

The U.S. men's 4x400 squad came in second. Angelo Taylor ran the anchor leg like an old man. Too bad, too, as we had the lead going into that last leg.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: jmyrlefuller on August 11, 2012, 01:22:16 pm: Quote
"One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them . . . Oh my God, what have I just said?"
Somewhere, Dizzy Dean is smiling...
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: SouthTexas on August 11, 2012, 03:58:59 pm: Mexico just took their first gold in soccer by beating Brazil, 2-1.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: SouthTexas on August 12, 2012, 03:56:59 am: The women's 4x100 team members have such great attitudes and personalities. It was great to see Carmelita Jeter's reaction when she realized they'd broken the record. Sheer joy.

The U.S. men's 4x400 squad came in second. Angelo Taylor ran the anchor leg like an old man. Too bad, too, as we had the lead going into that last leg.

Same song, second verse tonight with the girls 4x400 taking a gold and the men's 4x100, leading into the last leg, picking up a silver. They were up against a lightning Bolt on the last leg though.
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Luis Gonzalez on August 12, 2012, 05:58:29 pm: (http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aKXbCsdqC892/613x459.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000)
Title: Re: Olympics Thread - results and comments
Post by: Atomic Cow on August 13, 2012, 02:20:39 am: Well, it's done. The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia and the 2016 Summer Olympics will be in Rio de Janeiro from August 5th to the 21st.

Final Top 10 in the Medal Count

United States 104
China 87
Russia 82
Great Britain 65
Germany 44
Japan 38
Australia 35
France 34
South Korea 28
Italy 28