Sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen officially claimed Australia’s fifth London Olympics gold medal last night even though they were the 49er champions two days ago with an unassailable points lead.
All they had to do last night was turn up and cross the starting line.
For Outteridge, it was redemption for Beijing.
He teamed up with Ben Austin and was leading both the final race and the battle for gold when they capsized within sight of the finishing line.
Gutted.
But there’s more gold in store from the scenic Weymouth course with Malcolm Page and Matthew Belcher in the 470 class, and Olivia Price, Nina Curtis, and Lucinda Whitty in the Elliott 6m match race class, making it a probable four golds from the regatta.
It’s been a superb team effort from the Australians, who have gone about their business with quiet confidence, no dramatics, and total professionalism. They have shown the rest of the Australian Olympic team how to succeed.
Their four golds will be earned the hard way, and thoroughly deserved,
There was sheer delight in the 80,000 strong Olympic Park for 26-year-old American Allyson Felix with her gold in the 200. Only last week she said she would give up all her world champion medals for one Olympic gold.
Now she’s got it, with a withering run around the bend to win handsomely in 21.88.
There is no more beautifully balanced athlete at the Games than Allyson Felix, so justice has been done.
Silver went to the 100 champion Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce from Jamaica in 22.09, and bronze to American Carmelita Jeter from the outside lane in 22.14.
Another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, seeking an unprecedented third successive 200 gold, finished fourth in 22.38.
And American Sonya Richards-Rodd, seeking a 200 gold to go with her 400, finished fifth in 22.39.
This was an elite field.
But don’t take any notice of the men’s 200 semi-final times.
Defending champion Usain Bolt looked like he was jogging down to the newsagency to pick up any paper with his photo on both the front and back pages, clocking 20.18.
Yohan Blake turned off 20m out and almost stopped on the line with 20.01.
These two magnificent Jamaicans will blitz the field tomorrow night in the final. The big question: can Bolt break his own world record of 19.19?
With this bloke, anything is possible.
In Bolt’s case, lightning can strike twice.
The 110 men’s hurdles has seen carnage since the opening round. None more so than the world record holder and defending champion from Cuba, Dayron Robles, who snapped a hammie in the final last night clearing the second of 10 hurdles.
That left the most consistent performer this year, American Aries Merritt, with gold, and with 12.87, he gave Robles’ world record of 12.84 a decent shake.
Australians around the venues:
The men’s water polo team lost 11-8 to Serbia in the quarters.
Defending champion Steve Hooker qualified ninth for the final of the pole vault with 5.50. Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe, and Renaus Lavillnie led the way with 5.65.
BMX, with gold medal favourite Caroline Buchanan leading the women’s seeds with 38.434 seconds, Lauren Reynolds ninth with 40,045.
In the men’s BMX, Sam Worthington is sixth with 38.496 seconds, Khalen Young 17th with 39.304, Brian Kirkham 22nd with 39.610.
Gymnast Lauren Mitchell finished fifth in the floor final, despite nailing some very difficult tumbling moves. The 2010 world floor champion, Australia’s first, was a miserly 0.066 points away from a bronze last night she richly deserved which would, and should, have been another Australian first.
Craig Mottram, in his fourth Games, was the best of the three Australians in the opening heats of the 5000, but none of them qualified for the semis.
Mottram, after leading for most of the race faded to finish 16th in his heat with 13.40.23, while David McNeill ran 13.45.88 to finish 13th, and Collis Birmingham clocked 13.50.39 to finish 17th in the other heat.
Diving, and Brittany Broben 339.80 points, and Melissa Wu 337.90, have qualified fourth and fifth for the 10m platform final.
And the Boomers’ campaign is over, beaten 119-86 by the USA in their basketball quarter final – the quarters breakdown (USA first) 28-21, 28-21, 28-28, and 35-16. The Boomers were spirited in the third quarter, but far too many turnovers, and shabby shooting, proved costly overall, with Patty Mills outstanding for the Boomers.
Observation:
In another major officialdom bungle, Sally Pearson’s gold medal presentation from the previous night was scheduled before the 200 women’s track final was decided last night when Olympic Park was chockers with 80,000.
But Sally’s ceremony wasn’t held until very late during the men’s decathlon when there were only about 15,000 still in the stands, after a two hour delay.
Disgraceful LOGOC. Sally Pearson’s career-high moment punted into no-man’s land.
It would never have happened to a Brit.
London 2012 Olympics – Day 13 Gallery
[roargal]
BigAl
Guest
BAHHAHAHAHAAAA ! - the gift that keeps on giving...
NY
Guest
I think it has been acknowleged that Great Britain has a a stronger Olympics team than Australia. Don't know what you're going on about or who you have been listening to??
Worlds biggest
Guest
Hard day was it Tom, have you got anything positive to add mate ! recommend a good bex and a ly down and you'll feel better son.
Banger
Guest
Was lucky enough to be at the game, and to my mind Joe Ingles was best on the court for Australia. Chandler was in all kinds of early trouble even without Bogut there, if or when they play Spain, i think it will go down to the wire. Was very impressive watching the Americans step up the defensive pressure in the second half, in particular Chris Paul. Too me this made the performances of Mills and Ingles even more impressive. Some talk going around that Ingles is playing himself into the NBA
Tom Callaghan
Guest
David Mate, Your whinging about Pearson's medal ceremony seems in line with the antics of the bitterly disappointed Josh Booth or the Australian oarsmen who claimed that the noise at Eton Dorney intimidated them. Or perhaps you are not expressing attitudes but simply satirising them?
Tom Callaghan
Guest
Australian sailors take control? Look, isn't this another example of Australian hubris? You blokes seem to veer between claimiing that you are 'on the charge',that you 'are going to stick it to the Poms', that you are 'going to take control' ,on the one hand,and bleating that 'If Australia even comes close'that will be success. Why do you swervw wildly between these extremes? Do you still lack confidence deep down in yourselves as a nation?
Worlds biggest
Guest
you beauty, finally a gold medal at Eton Dorney as the 4 man canoe win the 1000 metre, congratulations lads, lead from the start and a great race. Hopefully all our athletes competing today get a lift from that.
Tom Callaghan
Guest
Steve looks more like a limbo dancer than a pole vaulter to me Betty love. Nice hair though.
Larry
Guest
surely i could get a re-hash of the stats from somewhere else online? not much substance to the above...
Worlds biggest
Guest
Given Brett Brown is the Spurs assistant coach hopefully he will convince Popp to elevate him to back up behind Parker. Pretty sure Patty is third choice currently. Geeez Katzy when Bogut is fit and firing he is a top 5 centre IMO. Not many centres in the league that can give you 15/10 each night. He is one plus he's a great distributor. No doubt he would have made a big difference in the paint and taken the pressure off Mills. I agree our rebounding was ordinary, it's such an important part of the game. Kevin Love is a beast on the boards. Anyway proud of the Boomers who again punched above there weight in this tournament. Here is hoping the girls can square the ledger.
Pete #205
Guest
You all realise that Channel 9 is doing it on purpose. They want you to compare it to Foxtel so that you will get Foxtel. The TV industry in Australia, both subscription and free-to-air, is one big mish mash mess of the same people, from owners, production houses and even the guys who actually own the equipment. Channel 9's first aim in buying rights to events is not to do a good job with them. It is to sell advertising space and to stop the other free-to-air channels showing them. Has everyone forgotten the RWC2011 coverage already?!
katzilla
Roar Guru
Was a really nice moment at the end of the race when Outteridge got onto the NZ boat and had a laugh and hug with the Kiwis. Then he did a big dive off the Kiwi support boat. They mentioned that the four of them have been training together. Makes sense. I was kinda hoping that seeing as both crews were assured their medals they might stay out of the race and do a victory lap type race at the back. Never mind though, champions always want to be near the front regardless of the situation. The Boomers can be very proud of their effort, and seeing as Patty Mills was a top ten trending twiiter topic in the states this morning, you can believe that some Spurs fans definitely took notice and were impressed with their back up Point Guard. Some Americans would discount the role Bogut would have played in this match, sure he isn't one of the top 5 centres in the NBA, but the USA team was weak inside, and poor on the transition. Every time Chandler got a basket the Boomers quickly ran their forwards through the key at the other end and none of the USA guards dropped in to take a big man, Bogut would have converted those chances and pressured Chandler into foul trouble at a minimum. He also would have been handy on the boards, defensive rebounds were the big let down this morning. Hooker looked the goods in his first jump, a lot of the jumpers were easily clearing the heights, even the ones that knocked the pole off seem to be getting 50 centimetres above the bar. Theres going to be some very good jumps in the final.
Worlds biggest
Guest
congrats to the sailing boys, great stuff lads. Agree Betty B, as these games have shown for Australia, let's not get ahead of ourselves re potential gold in the sailing. The Pole Vault was a bit of a farce. Steve Hooker couldn't get out of there quick enough leading the charge with officials. I would have thought a couple of more jumps is just what he needs in that environment. Anyway he is in the final which is great. They all seem very chummy the vaulters. Good effort by the Men's Water Polo and Edwina Tops. Watched the Boomers who were gallant and stuck with USA for 3 quarters before Kobe unleashed 3's in the 4th quarter. A good tournament by the boys particularly without Bogut. Patty Mills is a great player, amazed he can't get more game time in the NBA. He is good enough to start for some teams. Go Opals !
Mango Jack
Guest
Agreed, but as long as Fox is a monopoly that offers only fixed term contracts, I won't buy it. It will all be different, hopefully by Rio in 4 years, with innovative web delivered content, pay-for-view, etc. Until then, I guess I will have to live with sub-standard coverage.
Jason Cave
Guest
Foxtel has shown why their coverage of the London Olympics is a sign of the future. Whereas Channel 9 had to make choices of which event they want to televise, Foxtel on the other hand had a multi-channel coverage of the Olympics, which meant viewers such as me stayed with the event exclusively. Same applied to the othe parts like the track events and also equestrian as well. Also, one other thing-Peter Donegan has shown why he is the best sports caller since the late Clinton Grybas. His call of Sally Pearson's win (as well as getting the photo finish right) was simply outstanding.
Betty B
Guest
Don't count our sailing chicks before they're hatched David. Just loved the pole vault. Steve looked great in his one jump, but so too did plenty of the others. It's going to be a great final.
Mango Jack
Guest
Our sailors are showing the team not just how to win, but how to celebrate as well, by all reports. I reckon Tom Slingsby is a bloke you'd want to have a beer with. How good would it have been in that old pub last night? Last night was the low point in terms of free to air TV coverage. What the hell was going on in the men's pole vault? We saw half a dozen jumps, then endless footage of the athletes and officials arguing over whether to continue or not. Surely rules are rules, and if they stipulate that 12 should contest the final, then they keep jumping until that number or less have cleared the bar. Apparently this happens a bit, but if this is the accepted procedure, why didn't the broadcasters switch to some other sport until they sorted it out. I realise this is not neccessarily Ch9's fault.