London 2012 wrap: Bolt dominates to win in 9.63, Aussie’s sail towards gold

 
David Lord Columnist

By , 6 Aug 2012 David Lord is a Roar Expert

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    London 2012 wrap: Bolt dominates to win in 9.63, Aussie’s sail towards gold + enlarge image

    Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 100m final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games (AFP PHOTO/ERIC FEFERBERG)



    Usain Bolt stopped the world in the 100m sprint final with an Olympic record 9.63 to cement his name in Games history as the first man to win back to back golds in the blue ribband event.

    World champion Yohan Blake, the youngest at 21, finished second with 9.75, American Justin Gatlin third in 9.79.

    The finish completing a magnificent 100 double for the Jamaicans.

    Gold and bronze in the women’s 100 – gold and silver in the men’s.

    The third Jamaican in the men’s 100 – Asafa Powell – broke down at the 80m mark, and stumbled over the line with 11.99.

    Steve Solomon, the 19-year-old Australian, qualified for the final of the 400 flat with 44.97, his second PB in as many appearances at the Games. The success vindicated his controversial selection over the more experienced John Stefferson.

    The final will feature the Belgian twins Jonathan and Kevin Borlee, an incredible family feat.

    Oscar Pistorius, the courageous South African “blade runner”, received a rousing ovation from the capacity 80,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium when he finished last in his 400 semi in 46.54.

    Australian Lauren Boden qualified for the semis of the 400 hurdles by 2/100ths of a second.

    Tennis and Andy Murray‘s singles gold was the icing on Great Britain’s Olympic Games cake overnight when he overwhelmed Roger Federer 6-2 6-1 6-4 at Wimbledon.

    “That’s number one for me, the biggest day of my life,” the Scot said.

    “I’m happy for him he got the gold. He was better, much better, than I was today,” was Federer’s typically gracious reply.

    Juan Martin del Potro took singles bronze with a surprise 7-5 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic.

    Murray just failed to make it double gold when he teamed up with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles final, to be beaten 2-6 6-3 10-8 by Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka.

    While the Williams sisters Serena and Venus won more gold with a 6-4 6-4 success over Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. The Americans now have four Olympic golds each.

    Around the venues:

    The Opals had a tough time beating Canada 72-63 to finish second in their pool. The overtime loss to France early in regulation translates to meeting the powerful USA in a semi, rather than the final where the two countries have clashed at the last three Olympics.

    The Australian women’s water polo, the Stingers, are into the semis with a 20-18 win over China in extra time.

    Cycling, and Glenn O’Shea saw Omnium gold slip away, bombing out of the scratch-race after leading the competition.

    Shane Perkins has reached the semis of the cycling men’s sprint, and Anna Meares is into the semis of the women’s cycling sprint.

    Australia’s three-time gold medallist Michael Diamond is on top of the leaderboard after the opening day of the men’s trap shooting. Adam Vella is 27th.

    Australia’s sailors look set to hunt down gold with a number of medal chances. The best of them looks to be Outteridge and Jensen, who now lead the 49ers by a massive 20 points after winning both of their races today. They are huge favourites to secure gold.

    Tom Slingsby also races the Laser medal race tonight, and has a commanding 14 point lead.

    Breaking news:

    Five medal winners who recently tested drug positive from the Athens Olympics eight years ago, all of them allegedly from eastern European countries, will be exposed at the completion of the London Games and stripped of their medals.

    Better late than never, but you can’t help feeling sorry for the drug-free athletes who will win recognition eight years too late.

    Australian gold medal history, with just one gold so far in 2012:

    Zero gold – St Louis 1904, Antwerp 1920, Berlin 1936, Montreal 1976.

    One gold – Amsterdam 1928.

    Two gold – Athens 1896, Paris 1900, London 1948, Moscow 1980.

    Three gold – Paris 1924, Los Angeles 1932, Seoul 1988.

    Four gold – Los Angeles 1984.

    London 2012 Olympics – Day 8 Gallery

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