Monday, August 11, 2008

2008 Beijing: Results Day 3

In beach volleyball, Misty Mae Treanor and Kerri Walsh won number 103 straight by beating Cuba in straight sets.

The water cube saw lots of activity today with four finals taking place! Team U.S.A. continued their domination in the pool picking up three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes. Michael Phelps tied for the most decorated athlete in Olympic history; he looks to surpass that mark in the next few days.

In the men's 200m freestyle, Michael Phelps set a new world record. Park Tea Hwan of South Korea picked up a silver to add to the gold he already won in the 400m free, and Peter Vanderkaay became an Olympic medalist for the first time.

Men's 200m Freestyle
1. Michael Phelps U.S.A. 1.42.96 World Record
2. Park Tae Hwan South Korea 1.44.85
3. Peter Vanderkaay U.S.A. 1.45.15

California girl, Natalie Coughlin repeated as Olympic champion in the 100m back (she was the first woman ever to do so) holding off Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe who did not swim well in the last 20m. Margaret Hoelzer is a two time Olympian but won her first medal in the 100m back. (Kirsty Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer are actually friends and former teammates; both attended Auburn University).

Women's 100m Backstroke
1. Natalie Coughlin U.S.A. 58.96
2. Kirsty Coventry Zimbabwe 59.19
3. Margaret Hoelzer U.S.A. 59.34

Aaron Piersol also repeated as Olympic champion, and he repeated in the men's 100m back, and he broke his own world record. His teammate Matt Grevers, who considered swimming for the Netherlands, won a silver medal at his first games. Arkady Vyatchanin won the first medal for Russia in this event!

Men's 100m Backstroke
1. Aaron Peirsol U.S.A. 52.54 World Record
2. Matt Grevers U.S.A. 53.11
3. Arkady Vyatchanin Russia 53.18
3. Hayden Stoeckel Australia 53.18

An individual gold medal had eluded Leisel "Lethal Leisel" Jones for two Olympics, in Sydney she won a silver in the 100m breast, and although she was the hands on favorite for the same event in Athens, she finished with a bronze. She came back a few days later and won a silver in the 200m breast in 2004. Finally, in day three of competition at the Beijing games, Leisel not only won individual Olympic gold but set an Olympic record.

Women's 100m Breast-stroke
1. Leisel Jones Australia 1.05.17 Olympic Record
2. Rebecca Soni U.S.A. 1.06.73
3. Mirna Jukic Austria 1.07.34

I am sure we will be seeing more of first time Olympian Rebecca Soni who raced very well against Lethal Leisel. Olympian Amanda Beard credits Soni with motivating her to race again.

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