Monday, August 18, 2008
Tennis: Rafael Nadal overcame two set points in the second set and held every service game to beat Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3, for the men’s singles gold. The Williams sisters won the women’s doubles title by romping past a Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-0. In women’s singles, Russia’s Elena Dementieva won over Dinara Safina 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 for the bronze.
Fencing: After missing out on a medal four years ago because of consecutive 45-44 losses, Keeth Smart and the U.S. men’s saber team got to the gold-medal bout with a pair of 45-44 victories. But they couldn’t get past the French in the finals. Smart, Tim Morehouse and James Williams celebrated the silver — especially Smart, who endured the death of both parents and a rare blood disorder since 2004.
Women’s basketball: Tina Thompson scored 10 points during a 21-0 run, sending the U.S. women past New Zealand 96-60. The Americans went 5-0 in pool play, winning by an average of 43 points. Lauren Jackson scored 16 points, helping Australia rally past Russia 75-55 to clinch the top seed in its pool and avoid playing the U.S. until the championship game. Becky Hammon, an American turned naturalized Russian, led her team with 20 points. Russia dropped to 4-1.
Softball: The U.S. women won their 20th straight Olympic game with as little drama as they usually provide. Monica Abbott pitched five perfect innings and Crystl Bustos, Jessica Mendoza and Tairia Flowers homered in an 8-0 victory over the Netherlands. The Americans have outscored opponents 44-1, posted five shutouts and hit 12 homers. The latter stat breaking one of the few Olympic records they didn’t set in Greece.
Boxing: The Americans won’t be going home empty-handed, thanks to heavyweight Deontay Wilder getting to the semifinals, assuring him of at least bronze. The only other U.S. boxer left, Demetrius Andrade, was ousted by South Korea’s Kim Jung-joo, a bronze medalist in Athens.
Beach volleyball: There won’t be an all-American women’s finals. Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh were ousted with a loss to a Chinese team. Earlier Sunday, Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor advanced to the final four with a straight-sets victory over Brazilians Ana Paula and Larissa.
Diving: China’s Guo Jingjing defended her 3-meter springboard diving title and became the most decorated female diver with her sixth career medal. It’s also her second of these games, having teamed with Wu Minxia to win the women’s 3-meter synchronized title last weekend. Wu got the bronze in this event.
Rowing: The U.S. women’s eight took gold and the U.S. men’s eight took bronze. Canada won the men’s eight, becoming the first world champion crew to follow up with Olympic gold in 35 years.
Cycling: Rebecca Romero — a silver-winning rower in Athens — gave Britain its fourth gold in five events, taking the women’s individual pursuit. Also, their men’s and women’s pursuit team broke the world record on their way to the final. American Jennie Reed advanced to a sprint quarterfinal, continuing her bid for the first medal by a U.S. woman in 20 years. Michael Blatchford didn’t make the quarterfinal.
Wrestling: Japan’s Kaori Icho repeated as champion of the women’s 63-kilogram division. American Randi Miller, wrestling in her first world-level senior international tournament, took bronze; it was the only medal for America in the four women’s weight classes.
Women’s volleyball: The U.S. closed preliminary play by beating Poland in five sets. The Americans already secured a spot in the quarterfinals.
Weightlifting: Ilya Ilin of Kazaksthan won the men’s 94-kilogram title. Ilin finished with a total of 406 kg (895.1 pounds) Sunday, sealing the win with the last of his six lifts. European champion Szymon Kolecki of Poland took second place and Russia’s Khadzhimurat Akkaev won the bronze.
Associated Press