Olympics 2012 - Good Luck London

[Barbara Fan]

What an amazing guy!! well done!!

Michael Phelps beats Ryan Lochte to win 20th Olympic medal
Michael Phelps won his first individual gold at London 2012 and his 20th Olympic medal by beating Ryan Lochte in the men's 200m individual medley.

The American led from the front and looked as if he might break the world record but touched for a historic 16th gold medal in 1:54.27.

Phelps also becomes the first man to defend an Olympic swimming title twice, having won in Athens and Beijing.

Hungary's Laszlo Cseh was third, while Britain's James Goddard was seventh.


"I tried to go for it and paid for it down the back but it's a been a fantastic experience," said Goddard, who clocked a time of 1:59.05.

Lochte, 27, was made to pay for entering the men's 200m backstroke final, which finished roughly half an hour before this race.

In the earlier distance he finished third, but his silver behind Phelps means he has won two golds and five medals in all at London 2012.

Phelps, 26, has now won two golds and two silvers at the Aquatics Centre and beat Lochte in this instance by 0.63 seconds.

Phelps told BBC Sport: "The President of the United States Barack Obama called me on Wednesday. It was pretty cool.

"Someone called me up and asked me to hold it on as they had the President waiting to speak to me. He told me that everyone is supporting me. It was very special and he said to say hi to my mum."

[Barbara Fan]

Great Britain won three gold medals and three silvers at the London Olympics to cap one of the country's greatest days in the history of the Games.

The men's sprint cycling team twice broke the world record on their way to victory in a packed Velodrome - a result that also saw Sir Chris Hoy equal Sir Steve Redgrave's British record of five Olympic titles.

"We just timed it perfectly." said Hoy. "And I knew the importance of what it was. I didn't want to let the boys down - they've been riding so well today.

"It's just immense pride to be able to do it here in the UK, in front of this crowd who have been phenomenal."

It came just hours after Britain had claimed two golds and a silver within the space of five minutes in the men's canoe slalom and the men's double trap shooting.

Earlier in the day, Britain won a rowing silver in the men's lightweight four at Eton Dorney.

Team GB's overall medal tally is now 15, putting them fifth in the table, after lying 11th overnight. Thursday's haul is one of Britain's greatest, but falls short of "super Saturday" four years ago in Beijing when they won four gold medals, a silver and four bronzes.

Play mediaSouth Africa pip GB to gold in men's four
Friday could be even better for Britain with four genuine gold medal prospects, starting with rowers Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins in the women's double sculls at 12:10 BST, the men's team pursuit (17:55) and the women's keirin (18:40) in cycling and swimmer Rebecca Adlington aiming to retain her 800m title (19:43).

Canoeists Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott triumphed mid-afternoon with countrymen David Florence and Richard Hounslow second at the Lee Valley Water Centre.

Moments later, shooter Peter Wilson won in the double trap at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

The host nation, now with five golds at these Games, came close to adding another just 35 minutes after Wilson's triumph, but Gemma Gibbons had to settle for silver in her judo final.

It was not all good news for Britain though. Track cyclists Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish were disqualified from the women's team sprint for an illegal takeover during their semi-final contest with Ukraine.

[Maria - Noele Gordon Fan]

It's been a very good day today. It's been just fantastic watching it on the telly.

[Barbara Fan]

Great Britain made it four golds in 24 hours at the London Olympics to go fourth in the medal table as the rowers again delivered success at Eton Dorney.

Three-time Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins took Britain's gold tally in London to six with victory in the double sculls.

Either side of that triumph, the men's pair of George Nash and Will Satch, and Alan Campbell in the single sculls - won bronze.

Great Britain's Karina Bryant also claimed a bronze medal in the women's +78kg judo, taking the overall haul of medals to 19 - 11 better than at the same stage in Beijing four years ago.

Earlier, Jessica Ennis broke the British record for the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.54 seconds in the opening event of the heptathlon at the Olympic Stadium.

Her high jump of 1.86m took her to 2,249 points - 25 points ahead of the United States' Hyleas Fountain - and 103 in front of British team-mate Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who is in third.

Her time was the fastest recorded for the 100m hurdles in the heptathlon. The next events are the shot put at 19:00 BST and the 200m at 20:45

[Barbara Fan]

Maria Sharapova booked her place in the London 2012 women's singles final with a straight-sets victory over fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, competing at an Olympic Games for the first time, came through 6-2 6-3.

Top seed Victoria Azarenka meets Serena Williams in the second semi-final later on Friday, with the winner going on to face Sharapova in Saturday's showpiece.

The loser will play 14th seed Kirilenko in the bronze medal match.

Kirilenko said: "It's always tough to lose but I can just take positives from this tournament. I'm still in with a chance to compete for the medal.

"She just played great today so it was difficult to do something, but I tried my best and I didn't move as well as I do usually - maybe because I played so long yesterday with doubles and everything, but I'm happy."

Kirilenko is also in the women's doubles semi-finals, where she will face Williams and her sister Venus alongside Nadia Petrova.

"I'm just enjoying it. Everything is going good still," she added.

[Barbara Fan]

Rank Country Total
1 China 20 12 9 41
2 United States 18 9 10 37
3 South Korea 8 2 5 15
5 Great Britain & N. Ireland (selected) 6 6 7 19

medal table

[Sarah]

I'm disgusted at the ITV News at Ten saying Becky Adlington 'only' got a bronze.

You wanna jump in the pool and see how far YOU get?? Doubt you would even get a piece of coal. Moron.

Sickens me. Is it just the Brits who are so cynical?

[Englishboy]

Maria Sharapova booked her place in the London 2012 women's singles final with a straight-sets victory over fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, competing at an Olympic Games for the first time, came through 6-2 6-3.

Top seed Victoria Azarenka meets Serena Williams in the second semi-final later on Friday, with the winner going on to face Sharapova in Saturday's showpiece.

Britain's Andy Murray booked his place in the Men's Singles final yesterday after beating the much fancied Djokovic meaning that he is guaranteed at least a SILVER medal. In a repeat of the finale to this years Wimbledon championships he will face his Wimbledon vanquisher Roger Federer in the final.

However, unlike Wimbledon it will only be played over the best of THREE sets.

[Ome]

I'm disgusted at the ITV News at Ten saying Becky Adlington 'only' got a bronze.

You wanna jump in the pool and see how far YOU get?? Doubt you would even get a piece of coal. Moron.

Sickens me. Is it just the Brits who are so cynical?

It appears the BBC have also been guilty.

BBC presenters have been criticised for lacking empathy when interviewing losing British athletes.

The corporation has received hundreds of complaints accusing interviewers of being negative and insensitive instead of supporting the competitors.

Helen Jenkins, who finished fifth in today's grueling triathlon with the help of teammate Lucy Hall, was told "bad luck" in her post-race interview, which angered many Twitter users.

Sharron Davies also sparked criticism for 'commiserating' with Rebecca Adlington and asking if she was disappointed to have won a bronze medal in the 800m race.

Sports editor David Bond attracted 162 complaints for his interview with Mark Cavendish, who finished 29th in the men's road race last Saturday (July 28).

He asked Cavendish after the 250km race: "Was Tour de France tiredness a factor?"

The cyclist replied: "Stop asking stupid questions. Do you know about cycling?"

Link

[Barbara Fan]

Olympics Tennis: Serena Williams thrashes Maria Sharapova to win gold
Play mediaSerena Williams of the United States dominates the womens' singles final against Russia's Maria Sharapova, winning in straight sets, 6-0 6-1, in just 63 minutes to win the gold medal at London 2012.

Williams dropped just 17 games all tournament and has won all of her 17 matches since losing to Virginie Razzano at the French Open on 29 May.

It was the most comprehensive women's singles final win in Olympic history.

[Barbara Fan]

Great Britain claimed an 11th gold at the 2012 Olympics with another record-breaking win in the London Velodrome.

The team pursuit trio of Laura Trott, Dani King and Jo Rowsell crushed the United States in the final, clocking a world record time of 3:14.051.

The host nation could claim further golds later, when Jessica Ennis rounds off her heptahlon campaign and Mo Farah goes in the final on the men's 10,000m.

GB now lie third in the medals table, behind the United States and China.

Team GB have dominated the track cycling competition in London, winning four of the five golds on offer so far.

The women's team pursuiters have been particularly impessive, setting world records in each of their last six competitive rides.

"It's mad," said Trott. "I can't believe it. It's been my dream since I was eight. We've gone and done it. I don't think we expected it."

Rowsell added: "I could tell we'd done it by the cheer of the crowd."

Britain had taken their gold medal tally to 10 earlier in the day with two victories in the rowing events at Eton Dorney.

The first gold of Day Eight came as the men's four of Andy Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Andy Gregory and Tom James led from the start to win gold.

Just 20 minutes later, the women's lightweight double sculls team of Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland did the same.

The men's lightweight double sculls duo of Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter then finished second following a restart after their seat broke.

Britain have won a total of four rowing golds, with two silvers and three bronzes, to set a new record for an Olympic regatta.

On the track, men's 100m champion Usain Bolt reached the semi-finals, strolling to victory in his heat in 10.09 seconds.

American Ryan Bailey qualified fastest in 9.88, with world champion Yohan Blake running 10.00.

British hope Adam Gemili, who was playing non-league football as recently as January, also qualified in 10.11, behind Jamaica's Asafa Powell, who ran 10.04. Briton Dwain Chambers is through in 10.02.

[Barbara Fan]

Go jessica!

At the Olympic Stadium, Ennis leapt 6.48m in the long jump and then threw a personal best of 47.49m in her weakest event - the javelin. That leaves her on 5,971 points - 188 ahead of Lithuanian Austra Skujyte. World champion Tatyana Chernova is in sixth, 314 points down.

The Briton's 800m best is seven seconds faster than Skujyte's, which means gold is all but assured.

"It's been a brilliant day," said Ennis. "There's lots of pressure but it's a nice pressure. It's people wanting you to do well."

[Englishboy]

It appears the BBC have also been guilty.

Sports editor David Bond attracted 162 complaints for his interview with Mark Cavendish, who finished 29th in the men's road race last Saturday (July 28).

He asked Cavendish after the 250km race: "Was Tour de France tiredness a factor?"

The cyclist replied: "Stop asking stupid questions. Do you know about cycling?"

Link

It sounds like a reasonable question to me when an athlete who was being tipped as a possible gold medal winner trails in a disappointing 29th but what do I know

As for Becky Adlington, I think expectations that she could retain her title, somewhat unrealistically, from 4 years ago were so high that when she finished 3rd it was regarded as something of a disappointment.

If I remember correctly, I think both Clare Balding and Mark Foster who were doing the BBC coverage said they too were feeling a little deflated following the result.

It's just human nature I guess.

But at the end of the day, I suppose a bronze medal in the Olympics is a bronze medal in the Olympics and not to be sniffed at

[Barbara Fan]

Michael Phelps

What a champion and what a record

I salute you and your achievements

[Barbara Fan]

What a night for British Athletics



Jessica Ennis was crowned Olympic heptathlon champion in front of an adoring home crowd, as a new British record carried her to gold.

In one of the iconic moments of the London Games, the woman long anointed as the face of the Games fulfilled her destiny with a series of brilliant personal bests that left her rivals helpless.

Ennis knew she was almost certain of the title going into Saturday evening's final event, and she delivered with two minutes 8.65secs in the 800m.

The 26-year-old's total of 6,955 points was a huge 327 clear of world champion Tatyana Chernova in second and 337 better than Lyudmyla Yosypenko in bronze.

[Barbara Fan]

Greg Rutherford wins long jump gold medal for Great Britain
Greg Rutherford won Great Britain's 13th gold medal of the London 2012 Olympics by winning the long jump.

Rutherford's fourth-round leap of 8.31m was enough to take victory on a glorious night for Team GB.

The British athlete finished ahead of Australia's Mitchell Watt, who took silver with a leap of 8.16m.

“This is what I have dreamed of my whole life and to do it in London is just incredible”

Will Claye of the United States won bronze with a leap of 8.12m while Britain's Chris Tomlinson finished sixth with a best of 8.07m.

[Barbara Fan]

I need a lie down, its been such an exciting night for the Brits, well done Mo!

Mo Farah wins Olympic 10,000m gold for Great Britain
Mo Farah became the first Briton to win Olympic 10,000m gold with a tremendous victory in the Olympic Stadium.

The 29-year-old won in a time of 27 minutes, 30.42 seconds.

Farah's triumph ended a run of four successive Ethiopian wins and stopped Kenenisa Bekele from winning a third consecutive title.

Galen Rupp of the United States finished second, while Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele finished third.

[Englishboy]

Andy Murray wins GOLD, avenging his defeat at Wimbledon 4 weeks ago.

Federer WIPED OUT in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, 6-4

Let's party!!!

[Scarlett]

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Olympics...s-1051594.aspx

Olympics Week 1: The Best Tweets

Week 1 of the London Olympics is in the books and it's given us some unforgettable and historic moments. From Michael Phelps' record-breaking 19th medal and Gabby Douglas' all-around gold to the expulsion of eight badminton players for throwing their matches, the first seven days definitely got people talking.

Olympics: The top moments (so far!)

Check out some of the funniest tweets from Week 1 below, including the best of must-follow Olympics super-fan Samuel L. Jackson. (And keep following the funny during the games with our Olympic Witstream!)

"Gabby Douglas just earned herself a spot in a promo for a new NBC sitcom 4 years from now." — Patrick Ryan (@PatrickRyan) on WitStream

"My wife is watching Olympic rowing or, as I call it, Curling of Summer." — Dylan Brody (@dylanbrody) on Witstream

"But seriously, does anyone really try when playing badminton?" — Jenny Mollen (@jennyandteets) on Witstream

"Bela Karolyi is my favorite Sacha Baron Cohen character." — Jensen Karp (@JensenClan88) on Witstream

"EVERYBODY SHUT UP! SEACREST IS INTERVIEWING MICHAEL PHELPS' MOM AND SISTER," said no one anywhere ever ever." — Danny Zuker (@DannyZuker)

"UPDATE: Thanks to NBC's tape delay, we are just now learning that Jesse Owens' gold medal in the 100-meters may have upset the Führer." — Scott Bateman (@Disalmanac) on WitStream

"I threw my badminton game today so I could get to cocktails faster." — Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo)

"Imagine if NBC had hired Ricky Gervais & Karl Pilkington to be their roving reporters in the field in London." — Josh Charles (@MrJoshCharles)

"I don't know if Nigeria played mostly zone or mostly man last night, but they should have done the opposite." — Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers21)

"The entirety of the female gymnastic commentator's job is to say, 'Just the dismount...'" — Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack)

"Casey Anthony gives warmer hugs than female Olympic gymnasts." — Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5)

"Watching the Olympics on NBC is like watching BREAKING BAD on Monday." — Damon Lindelof (@DamonLindelof)

"Note to @michaelphelps. Channel your inner Walter White. As you look at the water imagine blue crystal and say to yourself, I AM the danger!" — Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston)

Olympic moment: Did Michael Phelps win his last individual event?

The best of Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson):

"OK, so the Russian almost busts her Ass a few times on the BEAM, Damn near FALLS on the dismount & OUR guy says PHENOMINAL?!"

"Okay, that was Drunk Lady Staggering Flip dismount! Made famous by many girls missing the top step in da club!"

"Okaaaay!!! NBC analyst Ato Boldon says he can STILL go 10.8 in the 100 meters, 'probably as fast as the women'! I call BULLSH--!"

"DREAM REALISED!!!!! US Gymnastic GOLD!! Strong performances! Pressure makes DIAMONDS!!! Go USA!"

"Allison Schmitt!!!!! Hope they got pics of her soles, cause that's ALL they saw!!! Go USA!!!!!"

"WAIT A MINUTE! WTF?! Badfuqqinminton players tossed for THROWING games?! Really? ... Strategy My Ass! World Class WUSSES!!!"

"Hater Judge in there somewhere!"

"Commentator says, 'he's really good on Pommel Horse'! Must be in practice! We're still waiting! Another fuggin 12!"

"Uh Oh, Pommel Horse next! Thass like Balance Beam for dudes! Horse def has US men's numba! Oh well, Go USA!"

"Homie SAT DOWN on the horse! For reals...they look scared!"

"I'm baaaaaack! Thanks for the updates! WTF's up w/ the Gymnast dudes?! The big stage is eating that ASS!"

"Looking like the Chinese wz just laying' low till it counted! They goin' NINJA....if that's possible.....for a...u no what I mean!"

"Massive German Facial on high bar! OUCH like a MUPFUGGUH!!"

Some funny gems here.

[Barbara Fan]

Usain Bolt has won the men's 100m final at London 2012 in an Olympic record time of 9.63 seconds.

The Jamaican world record holder, 25, powered to victory ahead of compatriot Yohan Blake and American bronze medallist Justin Gatlin.

Bolt did not start well but surged away from Blake and Gatlin from the halfway stage to run the second-fastest time in history.

American Tyson Gay finished fourth at the Olympic Stadium.

Jamaican Asafa Powell pulled up during the race, finishing in 11.99secs, but the other seven runners broke 10 seconds, with four of the first five running personal bests.

Bolt said: "I was happy when I went out in the first round, I felt I could do this. I was slightly worried about my start. It was not the best reaction in the world but I stopped worrying about it and executed it and it worked.

"I said it on the track, people can talk, all they can do is talk. When it comes to championships I bring it. I knew [the crowd] would be like this, I can feel that energy and I am extremely happy

what an athelete !!