The Olympics: Day 14 Rio

Jenn Suhr, London gold medalist, wasn't even able to clear 4.70m. Surh was battling a virus almost the entire time she was in Rio, and was anxious to get home and deal with her health and getting better. It was Stefanidi of Greece who won with fewer misses than Sandi Morris of the US. When both couldn't clear 4.90m, Stefanidi secured the gold.

Women's Pole Vault Final 

1. Ekaterini Stefanidi, Greece, 4.85m

2. Sandi Morris, USA, 4.85m

3. Eliza McCartney, New Zealand, 4.80m

Team USA had a problem qualifying in the Women's 100m Relay, but it didn't keep them from the final. Allyson Felix had dropped the baton in qualifying, a move that is uncharacteristic for the most decorated female track star, but then it was determined that the reason she dropped is because she was bumped. The US were given a chance to run again and were reinstated. And their run in the finals would not be an easy one, the US Women won on the inside lane defending their title with the second fastest run in history. 

Women's 4x100m Relay Finals

1. USA, 41.01 (Team USA: Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner, Tori Bowie)

2. Jamaica, 41.36

3. Great  Britain, 41.77

 The Men's relay team has been haunted for a little while; and they are fully aware of it. For this Olympics, the US men said that they felt like they were very prepared going into it. And when they made it to the finals, they seemed poised to break a curse that had been in effect since they last won a medal in this event which was a silver in 2004. Why were they disqualified? Apparently the baton was passed outside of the designated passing zone. The curse continues and the men look to change their destiny next time around on one of the biggest stages in the world. For Usain Bolt, he completed what would be his final face at the Games. 

Men's 4x100m Relay Finals 

1. Jamaica, 37.27

2. Japan, 37.60

3. Canada, 37.64

**USA, disqualified (Team USA: Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Trayvon Bromell) 

London Olympics 2012: Day 15

Apologies for the lateness of this post; I've been stressed and under the weather this past week. Day 15 was the last full day of competition at the London Games.

These were the results in some of the team sports finals:

In women's basketball, the U.S. women defeated France to win their fifth consecutive gold.

Women's Basketball

1. U.S.A.
2. France
3. Australia

In men's soccer, the Mexican men proved too tough for Brazil, beating them in the gold medal final.

The U.S. women came close but lost to Brazil in the volleyball gold medal final.

Women's Volleyball

1. Brazil
2. U.S.A.
3. Japan

Diving

David Boudia wasn't expected to medal in these Olympics, let alone win a gold. Boudia became the first U.S male diver to medal in an individual event since Mark Lenzi's bronze in the '96 Games.  The last American male to earn 10m platform gold was Greg Louganis in 1988. “Ending this drought is the epitome of what hard work and planning does,” Boudia said. “Just taking the focus off wanting all these medals and putting the focus on how we compete. That’s just been the main goal.”

Men's 10m Platform

1. David Boudia U.S.A. 568.65
2. Qui Bo China 566.85
3. Tom Daley Great Britain 556.95

Track & Field

Following a fight three years ago about her gender Caster Semenya battled back to win silver in the 800m. World Champion Mariya Savinova from Russia won the gold.

Women's 800m

1. Mariya Savinova Russia 1:56.19 SB
2. Caster Semenya South Africa 1:57.23 SB
3. Ekaterina Poistogova Russia 1:57.53 PB

She took a couple of years off to have children and Anna Chicherova came back to the high jump without missing a beat. In a surprise finish, Brigetta Barrett of the U.S. who competes for the University of Arizona won the silver.

Women's High Jump

1. Anna Chicherova Russia 2.05m
2. Brigetta Barrett U.S.A. 2.03 PB
3. Svetlana Shkolina Russia 2.03 PB
      


Perhaps one of the most proud moments from the host nation was when Somali born Mo Farah won the gold medal in the men's 5000m.  He surged ahead late in the race to capture his second gold in this Games. Farah won the 10000m the previous week.

Men's 5000m

1. Mo Farah Great Britain 13:41.66
2. Dejen Gebromeskel Ethiopia 13:41.98
3. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa Kenya 13:42.36
4. Bernard Lagat U.S.A. 13:42.99
7. Galen Rupp U.S.A. 13:45.04
10. Lopez Lomong U.S.A. 13:48.19

Capping off an amazing night at the track, a final men's relay and a final women's relay were run. They were an exclamation point for track & field in London. The Jamaican men proved that although from a small island country, they are a force to be reckoned with on the track. The U.S. men have come used to only being second best on the track, a habit they have tried hard to break. The U.S. women have come out like warriors in these Games displaying not only talent, but poise, beauty, and intelligence.

Usain Bolt left London three for three, and kept us believing that he will be back in four years in Rio. Will he be as electric? Only time will tell, but it will be entertaining to watch without question. And now, I leave you with a great Usain Bolt story from his time in London:

After crossing the finish line, Bolt pleaded with an official to let him keep the yellow baton he held during the race. The official said "No," and Bolt handed it over to the official while spectators booed. About 40 minutes later, that same official approached Bolt and returned the baton. Bolt bowed with thanks and kissed the baton.

Men's 4x100m Relay

1. Jamaica (Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Johan Blake, Usain Bolt) 36.84 WR
2. U.S.A. (Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Ryan Bailey) 37.04 NR
3. Trinidad & Tobago 38.12
4. France 38.16
5. Japan 38.35
6. Netherlands 38.39
7. Australia 38.43
8. Canada DQ

Someone else besides Usain Bolt went three for three; Allyson Felix won her third gold in the Women's 4x400 meter. Sanya Richards Ross picked up her second gold.

Women's 4x400m Relay

1. U.S.A. (Dee Dee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francesca McCorory, Sanya Richards Ross) 3:16.87 SB
2. Russia 3:20.23 SB
3. Jamaica 3:20.95 SB
4. Ukraine 3:23.57 SB
5. Great Britain 3:24.76 SB
6. France 3:25.92
7. Czech Republic 3:27.77
8. Nigeria DQ