Friday, August 15th
Rafael Nadal has clinched at least a silver medal by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the Olympic semifinals. Nadal's opponent in the final Sunday will be Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, who beat James Blake of the United States earlier Friday. Djokovic can still win a bronze. The medal will be the first for Nadal, who came to Beijing assured of earning the No. 1 ranking for the first time next week, ending Roger Federer's 4 1/2-year reign.
First-time Olympian James Blake has come up one point short in his bid to reach the Olympic finals, losing to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Blake had three match points with Gonzalez serving at 5-6 in the final set. But the Chilean hit four consecutive winners to hold, and on his fifth match point in the final game, he smacked a serve that Blake hit into the net.
The United States baseball team is in a big hole in these Olympics, and down a key player, too. Jayson Nix fouled a ball off his left eye to start the bottom of the 11th inning of the Americans' 5-4, 11-inning loss to defending champion Cuba, left the game for the hospital and is likely done for the rest of the Beijing Games. Cuba is 3-0 and in strong position for a medal. At 1-2, the U.S. can ill afford many more slipups if it wants to reach the medal stand.
Nastia Liukin won the gold medal in women's gymnastics Friday, beating teammate and friend Shawn Johnson. Liukin, whose father was a double gold medalist for the Soviet Union 20 years ago, finished with 63.325 points, more than a half-point ahead of Johnson, the reigning world champion. Johnson finished with 62.725. Yang Yilin of China won the bronze medal. Liukin and Johnson have been friendly rivals the last two years, with Johnson winning almost everything. But Liukin came through when it counted, and is now an Olympic champion.
Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics on Friday in record time, defeating rivals Laszlo Cseh and teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley. Phelps defended his title from four years ago in Athens, winning in 1 minute, 54.23 seconds and lowering his own world record of 1:54.80 set at last month's U.S. trials. It was the American's sixth world mark in Beijing. Cseh of Hungary took the silver in 1:56.52, his third runner-up finish to Phelps in these games. Lochte earned the bronze in 1:56.53, 29 minutes after he upset defending champion Aaron Peirsol to win the 200 back. It was the 21st world record set during the swimming competition.
Ryan Lochte has upset defending champion Aaron Peirsol in the 200-meter backstroke at the Beijing Olympics, winning in a world-record time and dashing his teammate's hopes of completing a backstroke sweep for the second consecutive games. Lochte took the lead over the final 50 meters and touched in 1 minute, 53.94 seconds, lowering the world mark of 1:54.32 that he and Peirsol had shared for more than a month.
Rebecca Soni of the United States has won a gold medal in the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the Beijing Olympics, beating world record-holder Leisel Jones and erasing the Aussie's world-best time. Soni touched in 2 minutes, 20.22 seconds, a body length ahead of Jones. Both women were under world-record pace throughout the four-lap race. Soni had finished second to Jones in the 100 breast.
Athens gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor overcame five set points in the first set to beat Belgium 24-22, 21-10 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. The win Friday was the 105th consecutive victory for the Americans.
Medal Results:
Women's 10000m
1. Ethiopia - Tirunesh Dibaba - 29:54.68 (OR)
2. Turkey - Elvan Abeylegesse
3. United States - Shalane Flanagan
Women's Doubles
1. China
2. South Korea
3. China
Men's Shot Put
1. Poland - Tomasz Majewski - 21.51m
2. United States - Christian Cantwell - 21.09m
3. Belarus - Andrei Mikhnevich - 21.05m
Men's 10m Air Pistol
1. China - Pang Wei
2. South Korea - Jin Jong Oh
3. United States - Jason Turner
Women's Middleweight 63-70kg
1. Japan - Masae Ueno
2. Cuba - Anaysi Hernandez
3. United States - Ronda Rousey
3. Netherlands - Edith Bosch
Men's 50m Pistol
1. South Korea - Jong Oh Jin
2. China - Zongliang Tan
3. Russia - Vladimir Isakov
Men's 85kg
1. China - Yong Lu
2. Belarus - Andrei Rybakou
3. Armenia - Tigran Varban Martirosyan
Men's Team Epée
1. France
2. Poland
3. Italy
Men's Heavyweight 100kg+
1. Japan - Satoshi Ishii
2. Uzbekistan - Abdullo Tangriev
3. France - Teddy Riner
3. Cuba - Oscar Brayson
Men's Team Pursuit (4000m)
1. Great Britain (United Kingdom)
2. France
3. Germany
Men's C-2
1. Slovakia
2. Czech Republic
3. Russia
Women's K1
1. Slovakia - Elena Kaliska
2. Australia - Jacqueline Lawrence
3. Austria - Violetta Oblinger Peters
Women's Heavyweight 78kg+
1. China - Wen Tong
2. Japan - Maki Tsukada
3. Slovenia - Lucija Polavder
3. Cuba - Idalys Ortiz
Men's Individual (Archery)
1. Ukraine - Viktor Ruban
2. South Korea - Kyung-Mo Park
3. Russia - Bair Badenov
Women's 75kg
1. China - Lei Cao
2. Kazakhstan - Alla Vazhenina
3. Russia - Nadezda Evstyukhina
Women's Individual All-Round
1. United States - Nastia Liukin
2. United States - Shawn Johnson
3. China - Yilin Yang
Men's 50m Rifle Prone
1. Ukraine - Artur Ayvazian
2. United States - Matthew Emmons
3. Australia - Warren Potent
Women's 100m Freestyle
1. Germany - Britta Steffen - 53:12 (OR)
2. Australia - Lisbeth Trickett - 53:16
3. United States - Natalie Coughlin - 53:39
Men's 200m Individual Medley
1. United States - Michael Phelps - 1:54.23 (WR)
2. Hungary - Laszlo Cseh - 1:56.52
3. United States - Ryan Lochte - 1:53.53
Men's 200m Backstroke
1. United States - Ryan Lochte - 1:53.94 (OR)
2. United States - Aaron Peirsol - 1:54.33
3. Russia - Arkady Vyatchanin - 1:54.93
Women's 200m Breaststroke
1. United States - Rebecca Soni - 2:20.22 (WR)
2. Australia - Leisel Jones - 2:22.05
3. Norway - Sara Nordenstam - 2:23.02
Thursday, August 14th
The United States stopped the pick-and-rolls _ and just about everything else _ to beat Greece 92-69 Thursday at the Beijing Olympics. These Americans that looked so lost two years ago appear to have found their Olympic defensive way. Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to win big. Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States (3-0), which clinched a spot in the medal round and moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens Saturday against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group's top seed for the quarterfinals. Dwyane Wade added 17 points and LeBron James scored 13.
Venus Williams was another upset victim in Olympic tennis, losing to Li Na of China in the quarterfinals. Williams, who won gold medals in singles and doubles at the 2000 Games, was beaten 7-5, 7-5. She followed to the sideline her sister Serena and top-seeded Roger Federer, who both lost earlier Thursday.
Serena Williams has lost her quarterfinal match at the Olympics to Elena Dementieva of Russia. Dementieva, who won a Silver in Sydney in 2000, beat Williams 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in their singles match Thursday night.Williams now pins her medal hopes on doubles. She was to play a second-round doubles match later with sister Venus. They won gold in doubles in Sydney.
Roger Federer's bid for his first Olympic singles medal has ended with a loss to American James Blake. With the sort of lackluster performance that was once unthinkable for Federer, he was eliminated in the quarterfinals on Thursday night. The upset was a stunner in that Blake had won only a single set in their previous eight matches. But the top-seeded Federer is battling a yearlong slump that has left him stalled at 12 major titles, two shy of Pete Sampras' record. Federer's latest defeat means no rematch in Sunday's final against Nadal, who won in epic fashion when they met for the Wimbledon title.
China's Yang Wei won the all-around gold medal in men's gymnastics Thursday, finally getting the title that has eluded him for eight years. It wasn't close, either. Yang, the two-time defending world champion, finished with 94.575 points, nearly three points ahead of Kohei Uchimura of Japan. Benoit Caranobe of France won the bronze. Yang had finished second to Alexei Nemov in 2000, and fell apart at the Athens Olympics. But this one was never in doubt, and Yang began his victory celebration before his final score was even posted.
Stephanie Rice has led Australia to a gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle relay at the Beijing Olympics, smashing the world record by nearly 6 seconds. Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda Mackenzie touched in 7 minutes, 44.31 seconds Thursday, lowering the old mark of 7:50.09 set by the U.S. at last year's world championships in Australia. Rice earned her third gold medal of these games, having swept both individual medleys with world-record times.
Pau Gasol scored 13 points to help lead world champions Spain to a 72-59 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in Olympic basketball men's Group B play. Gasol, of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, scored 13 points Thursday, while the Toronto Raptors' Jose Manuel Calderon led Spain with 15 points and Alex Mumbru shot 67 percent from the floor for 14 points, draining all three of his three pointers.
Alain Bernard of France has won the 100-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics, beating out world record-holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia. Bernard touched in 47.21 seconds Thursday morning, with Sullivan taking the silver in 47.32
Michael Phelps has advanced to the 200-meter individual medley final at the Beijing Olympics, setting himself up to win his sixth gold medal. The American won his semifinal heat Thursday morning in 1 minute, 57.70 seconds. Phelps' teammate and main rival, Ryan Lochte, won his heat in 1:57.69, making him the top qualifier, with Phelps second overall. They will swim the final Friday morning.
Liu Zige has given China its first swimming gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, winning the women's 200-meter butterfly in a world record with her teammate Jiao Liuyang taking the silver. Liu touched in 2 minutes, 4.18 seconds, bettering the old mark of 2:05.40 set by Jess Schipper of Australia at the 2006 Pan Pacific championships in Canada.
Kosuke Kitajima of Japan has won the 200-meter breaststroke, becoming the first swimmer to sweep the breaststroke events at consecutive Olympics. He won the 200 Thursday in 2 minutes, 7.64 seconds, lowering the Olympic record time of 2:08.61 he set in the semifinals. Kitajima won the 100 in world-record time Monday.
Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor wrapped up the beach volleyball round-robin with a perfect record on Thursday, beating Norway in straight sets to head into the medal round with a 3-0 record. May-Treanor and Walsh, gold medalists in Athens, beat Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen 21-12, 21-15. The other American women's team, Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, was also 3-0 after completing pool play on Wednesday. The medal round begins Friday with 16 teams.
Medal Results:
Mixed Team (Equestrian)
1. Germany - 72.916
2. Netherlands - 71.750
3. Denmark - 68.875
Women's Half-Heavyweight 70-78kg
1. China - Xiuli Yang
2. Cuba - Yalennis Castillo
3. France - Stephanie Possamai
3. South Korea - Gyeongmi Jeong
Men's Half-Heavyweight 90-100kg
1. Mongolia - Tuvshinbayar Naidan
2. Kazakhstan - Askhat Zhitkeyev
3. Azerbaijan - Movlud Miraliyev
3. Netherlands - Henk Grol
Women's Team Sabre
1. Ukraine
2. China
3. United States
Men's 96-120kg
1. Cuba - Mijain Lopez
2. Russia - Khasan Baroev
3. Lithuania - Mindaugas Mizgaitis
3. Armenia - Yuri Patrikeev
Men's 84-96kg
1. Russia - Aslanbek Khushtov
2. Germany - Mirko Englich
3. United States - Adam Wheeler
3. Kazakhstan - Asset Mambetov
Women's Individual (Archery)
1. China - Juan Juan Zhang
2. South Korea - Sung-Hyun Park
3. South Korea - Ok-Hee Yun
Men's 74-84kg
1. Italy - Andrea Minguzzi
2. Hungary - Zoltan Fodor
3. Turkey - Nazmi Avluca
3. Sweden - Ara Abrahamian
Women's Skeet
1. Italy - Chiara Cainero
2. United States - Kimberly Rhode
3. Germany - Christine Brinker
Men's Gymnastics Individual All-Round
1. China - Wei Yang
2. Japan - Kohei Uchimura
3. France - Benoit
Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions
1. China - Li Du - 690.3
2. Czech Republic - Katerina Emmons - 687.7
3. Cuba - Eglis Yaima Cruz - 687.6
Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
1. Australia - 7:44.31 (WR)
2. China
3. United States
Men's 100m Freestyle
1. France - Alain Bernard - 47.21
2. Australia - Eamon Sullivan - 47.32
3. United States - Jason Lezak - 47.67
4. Brazil - Cesar Cielo Filho - 47.67
Women's 200m Butterfly
1. China - Zige Liu - 2:04.18 WR
2. China - Liuyang Jiao - 2:04.72
3. Australia - Jessicah Schipper - 2:06.26
Men's 200m Breaststroke
1. Japan - Kosuke Kitajima - 2:07.64 OR
2. Australia - Brenton Rickard - 2:08.88
3. France - Hugues Duboscq - 2:08.94
Wednesday, August 13th
Federer Moves Past Athens-Ouster Berdych to Reach Quarters
Perhaps Roger Federer's not washed up yet. Signaling his recent tailspin may be over, Federer avenged a defeat four years ago at the Olympics by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (4) Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals. It was Federer's biggest victory since he lost to Rafael Nadal in an epic Wimbledon final last month. Federer wept after losing to Berdych in the second round at the Athens Games. This time he was shouting "Yes!" and punching the air after he smacked a service winner on match point.
Nigeria Eliminates U.S. from Olympic Soccer with 2-1 Win
Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna scored Wednesday to lead Nigeria over 10-man United States 2-1, earning a place in the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament and eliminating the Americans. Isaac scored in the 39th minute with an easy tap-in off Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi's centering pass, and Obinna curled a right-footed shot into the top of goal in the 80th. Sacha Kljestan converted an 88th-minute penalty for the Americans and substitute Benny Feilhaber headed onto the post in the 90th, as the United States was eliminated from Group B after the Netherlands beat Japan.
• South Korea Over Honduras, But Still Out
• 10-Man Cameroon Draws Italy, Reacher Quarters
Nadal Into Quarterfinals with Win Over Russia
Rafael Nadal advanced Wednesday into the quarterfinals at the Olympics, digging out of a hole in a pivotal service game and beating Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-4, 6-2. The No. 2-seeded Nadal is seeking his first Olympic medal to complement the French Open and Wimbledon titles he has won this year. No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who could meet Nadal in the semifinals, beat No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Kristin Armstrong of U.S. Cycles Her Way to Gold in Time Trial
Kristin Armstrong of the United States has won the gold medal in the women's time trial, making her just the second American women's cyclist ever to become an Olympic champion. Armstrong finished the 14.6-mile course in 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds Wednesday -- 24.29 seconds better than Emma Pooley of Great Britain. Switzerland's Karin Thuerig was third, almost a minute behind the time set by Armstrong.
Women's Gymnastics: U.S. Falls to China in Team Competition, Earns Silver Medal
China won its first Olympic gold medal in women's gymnastics Wednesday, taking the most important title in its rivalry with the Americans. China finished with 188.9 points in the women's team final, more than two points ahead of the Americans, who came in as world champions and with the sport's two best gymnasts. The Americans lost any shot they had with multiple mistakes on their last two events, and had to settle for silver for a second straight Olympics. Defending champion Romania was third.
Phelps Wins 5th Beijing Gold, 11th Overall as U.S 4x200 Freestyle Team Dominates
Michael Phelps won his fifth Olympic gold medal Wednesday, swimming the leadoff leg of the 800-meter freestyle relay and helping the United States smash the old world record by 4.68 seconds. Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Peter Vanderkaay led the entire race, winning in 6 minutes, 58.56 seconds. That bettered the old mark of 7:03.24 set by the U.S. at last year's world championships in Australia. Russia took the silver in 7:03.70. Australia earned the bronze in 7:04.98.
Michael Phelps Become Greatest Olympian of All Time With 10th Career Gold
Michael Phelps has become the winningest Olympic athlete ever, earning his fourth gold medal of the Beijing Games with a world record in the 200-meter butterfly. The American touched in 1 minute, 52.03 seconds, breaking his old mark of 1:52.09 set at last year's world championships in Australia. It was Phelps' 10th career gold medal, breaking a tie with Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis and two others for most golds. He is 4-for-4 so far, setting world records in each of his events. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took the silver in 1:52.70. Takeshi Matsuda of Japan got the bronze in 1:52.97.
Italy's Pellegrini Breaks World Record in 200-meter Free, Wins Gold
Federica Pellegrini of Italy has won the 200-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics, lowering her own world record set a day earlier. She won in 1 minute, 54.82 seconds, erasing her previous time of 1:55.45.
France's Bernard Sets World Record in 100-meter Free, Aussie Sullivan Breaks It Minutes Later
Eamon Sullivan has taken back the world record in the 100-meter freestyle semifinals at the Beijing Olympics, about two minutes after Frenchman Alain Bernard lowered it. Sullivan won his heat Wednesday morning in 47.05 seconds, topping Bernard's time of 47.20 set in the first semifinal.
Men's Beach Volleyball: U.S. Team Rogers and Dalhauser Dispose of Argentina
Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser have advanced to the Olympic beach volleyball medal round with a straight-sets victory over Argentina. The reigning world champions and heavily favored Americans, who lost in their Olympic debut to No. 23 seed Latvia, must wait until their pool completes the round-robin on Wednesday night to learn their seed in the Round of 16.
Medal Results:
Women's Individual épée
1. Germany - Britta Heidemann
2. Romania - Ana Maria Branza
3. Hungary - Ildiko Mincza-Nebald
Men's Individual Foil
1. Germany - Benjamin Philip Kleibrink
2. Japan - Yuki Ota
3. Italy - Salvatore Sanzo
Men's 77kg
1. South Korea - Jaehyouk Sa
2. China - Hongli Li
3. Armenia - Gevorg Davtyan
Women's Middleweight 63-70kg
1. Japan - Masae Ueno
2. Cuba - Anaysi Hernandez
3. Netherlands - Edith Bosch
3. United States - Ronda Rousey
Men's Middleweight 81-90kg
1. Georgia - Irakli Tsirekidze
2. Algeria - Amar Benikhlef
3. Switzerland - Sergei Aschwanden
3. Egypt - Hesham Mesbah
Men's 66-74kg
1. Georgia - Manuchar Kvirkelia
2. China - Yongxiang Chang
3. France - Christophe Guenot
3. Bulgaria - Yavor Yanakiev
Men's 60-66kg
1. France - Steeve Guenot
2. Kyrgyzstan - Kanatbek Begaliev
3. Belarus - Mikhail Siamionau
3. Ukraine - Armen Vardanyan
Women's 69kg
1. China - Chunhong Liu
2. Russia - Oxana Slivenko
3. Ukraine - Natalya Davydova
Men's Individual Time Trial
1. Switzerland - Fabian Cancellara
2. Sweden - Gustav Larsson
3. United States - Levi Leipheimer
Women's 25m Pistol
1. China - Ying Chen
2. Mongolia - Gundegmaa Otryad
3. Germany - Munkhbayar Dorjsuren
Men's Synchronized Diving 3m Springboard
1. China - 469.08
2. Russia - 421.98
3. Ukraine - 415.05
Women's Individual Time Trial (Cycling)
1. United States - Kristin Armstrong - 34:51.72
2. Great Britain (United Kingdom) - Emma Pooley - 35:16.01
3. Switzerland - Karin Thurig - 35:50.99
Women's Gymnastics Team Competition
1. China
2. United States
3. Romania
Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
1. United States - 6:58.56 (WR)
2. Russia - 7:03.70
3. Australia - 7:04.98
Women's 200m Individual Medley
1. Australia - Stephanie Rice - 2:08.45 (WR)
2. Zimbabwe - Kirsty Coventry - 2:08.59
3. United States - Natalie Coughlin - 210.34
Men's 200m Butterfly
1. United States - Michael Phelps - 1:52.03 (WR)
2. Hungary - Laszlo Cseh - 1:52.70
3. Japan - Takeshi Matsuda - 1:52.97
Women's 200m Freestyle
1. Italy - Federica Pellegrini - 1:54.82 (WR)
2. Slovenia - Sara Isakovic - 1:54.97
3. China - Jiaying Pang - 1:55.05
Tuesday, August 12th
Phelps Ties Spitz and Lewis for Most Career Golds With 9, Breaks Record in 200M Free
Michael Phelps won his third gold medal and record-tying ninth of his career Tuesday, breaking his own world record in the 200-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics. The American touched in 1 minute, 42.96 seconds, lowering his old mark of 1:43.86 set at last year's world championships in Australia. He cruised to the wall nearly 2 seconds ahead of silver medalist Park Tae-hwan of South Korea, who finished in 1:44.85. American Peter Vanderkaay earned the bronze in 1:45.14.
Redeem Team Rolls Over Angola 97-76, Greece Up Next
LeBron James and his teammates easily shoved Angola aside. Now come the teams that can push back. Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, James dominated the game with his size and strength on both ends, and the U.S. Olympic team wrapped up the easy portion of its schedule with a 97-76 victory Tuesday night. The United States improved to 4-0 against Angola, starting with the Dream Team's Olympic debut in 1992. That romp is best remembered for Charles Barkley's elbow to an unsuspecting Angolan player in a 116-48 victory.
USA's Piersol Takes Gold, Teammate Grevers Earns Silver in 100 Back
Aaron Peirsol has won the men's Olympic 100-meter backstroke, defending his title with a world-record time and extending the United States' dominance of the event. Peirsol touched in 52.54 seconds, lowering his old mark of 52.89 set at last month's U.S. trials. Teammate Matt Grevers earned the silver in 53.11.
Natalie Coughlin Becomes First Woman to Defend Gold in 100-meter Back
Natalie Coughlin of the United States has won the Olympic 100-meter backstroke, becoming the first woman to ever defend her title in the event. Coughlin finished in 58.96 seconds, briefly going under world-record pace at the 50. World record-holder Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe earned the silver in 59.19.
U.S. Men's Volleyball Wins Second Match Without Coach McCutcheon
The U.S. men's volleyball team, playing with energy and determination after the tragedy that shook them, defeated Italy 3-1 on Tuesday. Still without head coach Hugh McCutcheon, whose in-laws were attacked in Beijing over the weekend, the U.S. team adjusted after a sluggish start to win 24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21.
May-Treanor and Walsh Cruise Past Cuba to Win 103rd Straight Match
Athens gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor cruised to a 2-0 record in the beach volleyball round-robin Tuesday, dispatching a pair of three-time Olympians from Cuba in straight sets 21-15, 21-16. With their 103rd consecutive victory -- the Americans are virtually assured of reaching the Round of 16 that begins on Friday.
Serena Serves Up Second-Round Victory in Singles Tennis
Serena Williams raced into the third round at the Olympics, winning the final 10 games Tuesday to beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-0 in 44 minutes.Williams lost just five points in the second set and dropped only six points on her serve in the match.
American Sets Record in Double Trap Qualifier
Glenn Eller of Katy, Texas, set an Olympic record in qualifying for the double trap final Tuesday. Eller's score of 145 was one better than that of Ahmed Al-Maktoum of United Arab Emirates in the 2004 Olympics. Eller hit 48 targets in the first round of qualifying, 49 in the second and 48 in the third.
U.S. Softball Shuts Out Venezuela in Opener, Mercy Rule Enacted
The U.S. softball team picked up where it left off four years ago as Jennie Finch pitched five no-hit innings and the Americans hit three home runs -- one an inside-the-parker by Caitlin Lowe -- to rock Olympic newcomer Venezuela 11-0 in its tournament opener Tuesday.
Medal Results:
Mixed Individual
1. Germany - Hinrich Romeike
2. United States - Gina Miles
3. Great Britain (United Kingdom) - Kristina Cook
Men's Individual Sabre
1. China - Man Zhong
2. France - Nicholas Lopez
3. Romania - Mihai Covaliu
Mixed Team
1. Germany
2. Australia
3. Great Britain (United Kingdom)
Men's 69kg
1. China - Hui Liao
2. France - Vencelas Dabaya-Tientcheu
3. Armenia - Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan
Women's Half-Middleweight 57-63kg
1. Japan - Ayumi Tanimoto
2. France - Lucie Decosse
3. Netherlands - Elisabeth Willeboordse
3. North Korea - Ok Im Won
Men's Half-Middleweight 73-81kg
1. Germany - Ole Bischof
2. South Korea - Jaebum Kim
3. Ukraine - Roman Gontiuk
3. Brazil - Tiago Camilo
Men's 55-60kg
1. Russia - Islam-BekaAlbiev
2. Azerbaijan - Vitaliy Rahimov
3. Kazakhstan - Nurbakyt Tengizbayev
3. Kyrgyzstan - Ruslan Tiumenbaev
Men's K-1
1. Germany - Alexander Grimm - 171.70
2. France - Fabien Lefevre - 173.30
3. Togo - Benjamin Boukpeti - 173.45
Men's -55kg
1. Russia - Nazyr Mankiev
2. Azerbaijan - Rovshan Bayramov
3. Armenia - Roman Amoyan
3. South Korea - Eun-Chul Park
Men's C-1
1. Slovakia - Michal Martikan
2. U.K. - David Florencea
3. Australia - Robin Bell
Women's 63kg
1. North Korea - Hyon Suk Pak
2. Kazakhstan - Irina Nekrassova
3. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) - Ying-Chi Lu
Men's Double Trap
1. United States - Walton Eller - 190
2. Italy - Francesco D Aniello - 187
3. China - Binyuan Hu - 184
Women's Synchronized Diving 10m Platform
1. China - 363.54
2. Australia - 335.16
3. Mexico - 330.06
Women's Synchronized Diving 10m Platform
1. China - 363.54
2. Australia - 335.16
3. Mexico - 330.06
Women's 100m Breaststroke
1. Australia - Leisel Jones - 1:05.17 (OR)
2. United States - Rebecca Soni - 1:06.73
3. Austria - Mirna Jukic - 1:07.34
Men's Gymnastics Team Competition
1. China - 286.125
2. Japan - 278.875
3. United States - 275.850
Men's 50m Pistol
1. South Korea - Jong Oh Jin - 660.4
2. North Korea - Jong Su Kim - 660.2
3. China - Zongliang Tan - 659.5
Women's 100m Breaststroke
1. Australia - Jones - 1:05.17 (OR)
2. China - Ye Sun - 1:06.73
3. Austria - Mirna Jukic - 1:07.34
Men's 100m Backstroke
1. United States - Aaron Peirsol
2. United States - Matt GreversArk
3. Russia - Arkady Vyatchanin
3. Australia - Hayden Stoeckel
Women's 100m Backstroke
1. United States - Natalie Coughlin - 58.96
2. Zimbabwe - Kirsty Coventry
3. United States - Margaret Hoelzer
Men's 200m Freestyle
1. United States - Michael Phelps - 1:42.96 (WR)
2. South Korea - Taehwan Park - 1:44.85
3. United States - Peter Vanderkaay - 1:45.14
Monday, August 11th
By a fingertip, Michael Phelps is still on course for eight gold medals. He can thank Jason Lezak for getting him No. 2. The oldest man on the U.S. swimming team pulled off one of the great comebacks in Olympic history Monday morning, lunging to the wall just ahead of France's Alain Bernard in a race so fast it actually erased two world records.
Katie Hoff of the United States has been upset in the 400-meter freestyle, losing the Olympic gold medal to Rebecca Adlington of Britain. Adlington overhauled Hoff down the stretch to win in 4 minutes, 3.22 seconds Monday. Hoff took the silver in 4:03.29. Adlington's teammate Joanne Jackson earned the bronze in 4:03.52. Defending champion Laure Manaudou finished eighth and last. Hoff is 0-for-2 in finals so far, taking a bronze in the 400 individual medley.
Coventry touched in 58.77 seconds Monday morning, breaking the mark of 58.97 set by American Natalie Coughlin at last month's U.S. trials. Coughlin won her semifinal heat in 59.42. Coventry is the leading qualifier and Coughlin second-fastest going into Tuesday morning's final. Coughlin won the gold medal four years ago in Athens and Coventry took the silver.
Tina Thompson Leads The Way with 27 as U.S. Women Blow Out China
The U.S. women's basketball team quickly dashes any hopes China had of an upset, avenging a loss in April with the second American drubbing of the Chinese in as many nights. Tina Thompson scores 13 of her 27 points during a 23-0 run in the first quarter of a 108-63 rout of China Monday night. Trailing by one midway through the first quarter, Thompson took over. She made two 3-pointers, a jumper from the corner, two layups, and three free throws during the spurt.
Italy's Pellegrini Breaks 8th Swimming Record of Games in 200 Free
Federica Pellegrini of Italy has set a world record in the 200-meter freestyle preliminaries at the Beijing Olympics. She won her heat Monday night in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds, lowering the old mark of 1:55.52 set by Laure Manaudou of France in March 2007.
Tennis: Nadal and Serena Win First Olympics Singles Matches
Rafael Nadal made a successful debut in Olympic singles Monday, overcoming numerous missed chances by sweeping the final four games to beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Serena Williams won all four games when her match resumed after an overnight wait to complete a rain-interrupted victory over Olga Govortsova of Belarus, 6-3, 6-1.
Medal Results:
Women's Individual Foil
1. Italy - Maria Valentina Vezzali
2. South Korea - NamHyunhee
3. Italy - Margherita Granbassi
Men's 62kg
1. China - Xiangxiang Zhang
2. Colombia - Diego Salazar
3. Indonesia - Triyatino
Men's Lightweight 66-73kg
1. Azerbaijan - Elnur Mammadli
2. South Korea - Kichun Wang
3. Tajikistan - Rasul Boqiev
4. Brazil - Leandro Guilheiro
Women's Lightweight 52-57kg
1. Italy - Giulia Quintavalle
2. Netherlands - Deborah Gravenstijn
3. China - Yan Xu
3. Brazil - Ketleyn Quadros
Men's Team
1. South Korea - 227 OR
2. Italy
3. China
Women's 58kg
1. China - Yanqing Chen
2. Russia - Marina Shainova
3. North Korea - Jong Ae O
Women's Trap
1. Finland - Satu Makela-Nummela
2. Slovakia - Zuzana Stefecekova
3. United States - Corey Cogdell
Men's Synchronized Diving 10m Platform
1. China
2. Germany
3. Russia
Men's 10m Air Rifle
1. India - Abhinav Bindra
2. China - Qinan Zhu
3. Finland - Henri Hakkinen
Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
1. United States - 3:08.24 (WR)
2. France - 3:08.32
3. Australia - 3:09.91
Women's 400m Freestyle
1. United Kingdom (Great Britain) - Rebecca Adlington - 4:03.22
2. United States - Katie Hoff - 4:03.29
3. United Kingdom (Great Britain) - Joanne Jackson - 4:03.52
Men's 100m Breaststroke
1. Japan - Kosuke Kitajima - 58.91 (WR)
2. Norway - Alexander Dale Oen - 59.2
3. France - Hugues Duboscq
Women's 100m Butterfly
1. Australia - Libby Trickett - 56.73
2. United States - Christine Magnuson - 57.10
3. Australia - Jessicah Schipper - 57.25
Sunday, August 10th
The U.S. Olympic basketball team treated President Bush and perhaps a billion more fans to a game to remember. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade soaring for dunks that thrilled the raucous crowd at Beijing's basketball arena, the United States pulled away for a 101-70 victory against host China on Sunday night. Wade scored 19 points and James had 18 for the Americans in one of the most highly anticipated events of these Summer Games. Houston Rockets All-Star Yao Ming scored 13 points for China.
Michael Phelps Wins First Gold in Beijing, Sets New World Record in 400IM
Phelps set a new world record in the 400 individual medley Sunday morning in Beijing finishing in 4:03.84. His U.S. team rival and friend Ryan Lochte won bronze.
Gerald Sibon converted a free kick in the third minute of injury time and salvaged a 2-2 tie for the Netherlands against United States on Sunday, keeping Dutch hopes alive for advancing in the Olympic football tournament. Sibon's low drive from 25 meters eluded U.S. keeper Brad Guzan and sent the Dutch to their final game against winless Japan with renewed hopes of reaching the quarterfinals. The Americans fell into a tie atop Group B with Nigeria with four points each, two better than the Netherlands.
The Netherlands won the gold medal in the women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay Sunday, setting an Olympic record of 3 minutes, 33.76 seconds. The United States, with 41-year-old Dara Torres swimming the anchor leg, took the silver in 3:34.33. Australia was third in 3:35.05. The Dutch broke the Olympic mark of 3:35.94 set four years ago by the Australians.
American Defending Champs in Women's Beach Volleyball Win Opener Against Japan
Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor didn't need any time at all to get used to the Olympics. The defending beach volleyball gold medalists easily won their opener in the Beijing Games on Sunday, beating Mika Teru Saiki and Chiaki Kusuhara of Japan 21-12, 21-15.
Medal Results:
Men's Individual épée
1. Italy - Matteo Tagliariol
2. France - Fabrice Jeannet
3. Spain - Jose Luis Abajospain
Men's 56kg
1. China - Qingquan Long
2. Vietnam - Anh Tuan Hoang
3. Indonesia - Eko Yuli Irawan
Men's Half-Lightweight 60-66kg
1. Japan - Masato Uchishiba
2. France - Benjamin Darbelet
3. Cuba - Yordanis Arencibia
3. North Korea - Chol Min Pak
Women's Half-lightweight 48-52kg
1. China - Dongmei Xian
2. North Korea - Kum Ae An
3. Algeria - Soraya Haddad
3. Japan - Misato Nakamura
Women's Team (Archery)
1. South Korea
2. China
3. France
Women's Individual Road Race
1. United Kingdom (Great Britain) - Nicole Cooke - 3:32:24
2. Sweden - Emma Johansson
3. Italy - Tatiana Guderzo
Women's 53kg
1. Thailand - P. Jaroenrattanatarakoon
2. South Korea - Jinhee Yoon
3. Belarus - Nastassia Novikava
Men's Trap
1. Czech Republic - David Kostelecky
2. Italy - Giovanni Pellielo
3. Russia - Alexey Alipov
Women's Synchronized Diving 3m Springboard
1. China
2. Russia
3. Germany
Women's 10m Air Pistol
1. China - Wenjun Guo
2. Russia - Natalia Paderina
3. Georgia - Nino Salukvadze
Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
1. Netherlands - 3.33.76 (OR)
2. United States
3. Australia
Men's 400m Freestyle
1. South Korea - Taehwan Park - 3:41.86
2. China - Lin Zhang
3. United States - Larsen Jensen
Women's 400m Individual Medley
1. Australia - Stephanie Rice - 4:29:45 (WR)
2. Zimbabwe - Kirsty Coventry
3. United States - Katie Hoff
Men's 400m Individual Medley
1. United States - Michael Phelps - 403.84 (WR)
2. Hungary - Laszlo Cseh
3. United States - Ryan Lochte
Saturday, August 9th
Michael Phelps opened his quest to win eight gold medals by qualifying 1.44 seconds faster than his rivals with an Olympic-record time in the 400-meter individual medley preliminaries Saturday night. The American won his heat in 4 minutes, 7.82 seconds _ 0.44 second better than his gold-medal-winning time four years ago in Athens. Phelps was under his world-record pace after 150 meters of the four-stroke race, but eased off to save something for Sunday morning's final.
Women's Saber Team Fences First Gold Medal for U.S.A.
Thanks to a red, white and blue sweep by saber-swinging women, the U.S. not only landed on the chart, it came out smack dab on top with more medals than anyone else.
Americans were assured of going 1-2 when Mariel Zagunis and Sada Jacobson advanced to the final. Then it was up to Becca Ward to win the bronze. She did, followed by Zagunis taking gold and Jacobson silver.
The United States, led by fist-pumping Jonathan Horton, finished atop its qualifying group and clinched a spot in the team finals by winding up fourth through two subdivisions.
"To make a major team personnel change, compete in the first subdivision and qualify for the team finals is a huge accomplishment, and we are looking forward to competing on Tuesday," U.S. coach Kevin Mazeika said.
Riding an emotional wave that built from the moment they entered the arena, with Horton waving and pumping his arms upon seeing a U.S. flag in the audience, the Americans put on a spirited overall performance, particularly on high bar.
The Americans, who had won 21 straight international matches, must win their next two matches in pool play to be assured of a spot in the medal round.
Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs, former junior world champions who are the first Latvian team to qualify for the Olympics, won 21-19, 21-18 in the best-of-three set match.
Chen Xiexia, last year's world champion, dominated Saturday's competition from start to finish, lifting 95 kilograms in the snatch and 117 kilograms in the clean and jerk. She set Olympic records in the latter event and for the total score.
It was clear already after that event, in which the bar is raised above the head in one continuous motion, that Chen Xiexia was in a class of her own.
Buoyed by chants from the home crowd, the 25-year-old completed her three attempts in the snatch with ease.
Medal Results:
Women's Individual Sabre
1. United States - Mariel Zagunis
2. United States - Sada Jacobson
3. United States - Becca Ward
Men's Extra-Lightweight -60kg
1. South Korea - Minho Choi
2. Austria - Ludwig Paischer
3. Uzbekistan - Rishod Sobirov
3. Netherlands - Ruben Houkes
Women's Extra-Lightweight -48kg
1. Romania - Alina Alexandra Dumitru
2. Cuba - Yanet Bermoy
3. Argentina - Paula Belen Pareto
3. Japan - Ryoko Tani
Men's Individual Road Race
1. Spain - Samuel Sanchez - 6:23:49
2. Italy - Davide Rebellin
3. Switzerland - Fabian Cancellara
Men's 10m Air Pistol
1. China - Pang Wei
2. South Korea - Jin Jong Oh
3, North Korea - Kim Jong Su
Women's 48kg
1. China - Xiexia Chen
2. Turkey - Sibel Ozkan
3. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) - Wei-Ling Chen
Women's 10m Air Rifle
1. Czech Republic - Katerina Emmons
2. Russia - Lioubov Galkina
3. Croatia - Snjezana Pejcic
For a full list of medal results, visit the results page at 08:08:08.
All photos and news courtesy of AP unless otherwise credited.