Michael Phelps became the most successful Olympian ever when he helped the United States to the gold medal in the men's 4x200 metres freestyle relay at the London Games on Tuesday, winning the 19th medal of his storied career. Phelps, who had equalled Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's haul of 18 medals earlier when he won silver in the men's 200 butterfly final, swum the anchor leg in the relay for the Americans. The 27-year-old had already set the record for gold medals, winning six in Athens in 2004 and an unprecedented eight in Beijing four years ago. The relay victory was his first gold in London. France took the silver in the relay, while China won the bronze. Earlier, South Africa’s Chad le Clos upset Phelps to win the 200 metres butterfly final at the London Olympics on Tuesday. Phelps, who was bidding to became the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three Olympics, led all the way but messed up his touch allowing le Clos to get his hands on the wall first in a time of one minute, 52.96 seconds. Phelps took the silver medal in 1:53.01 while Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda was third in 1:53.21. The 200 butterfly is one of the most physically demanding events in swimming but is also Phelps’ favourite and ironically, he is known as the best finisher in the business, famously winning the 100 butterfly final in 2004 and 2008 when he was behind. He swam the 200 at the Sydney Olympics when he was just a 15-year-old and set his first world record and won his first world title in the exhausting four-lap race. Only two swimmers have ever won the same individual event at three Olympics, Australia’s Dawn Fraser, in 100 freestyle in 1956, 1960 and 1964, and Hungary’s Krisztina Egerszegi in 200 backstroke in 1988, 1992 and 1996. It is a feat that has eluded generations of the best male swimmers until Phelps, who had the chance of doing it in four different events in London. He failed at his first attempt when he came fourth in the 400 individual medley but still has the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly to come. Meanwhile, Allison Schmitt of the United States won the women's 200 metres freestyle final at the London Olympics on Tuesday. The American, who trains in Baltimore with Michael Phelps, stormed to the front on the second of four laps and was unchallenged as she won the gold in a time of one minute 53.61 seconds. Frenchwoman Camille Muffat, who just held off Schmitt to win the 400 final on Sunday, took silver in a time of 1:55.58. Australia's Bronte Barratt, a relay gold medallist in Beijing four years ago and the fastest qualifier for the final, finished third in 1:55.81, just edging out Missy Franklin for the bronze. The 17-year-old from Colorado won the 100 backstroke gold the previous night and also picked up a relay bronze on Saturday but missed out on another medal by just 0.01 Ruta creates history Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte became the first 15-year-old Olympic swimming champion for 40 years as she powered to the 100m breaststroke gold medal here on Monday. Meilutyte held off fast-finishing American world champion Rebecca Soni to become the youngest winner of an Olympic swimming gold since Australia great Shane Gould enjoyed a triple triumph at the 1972 Munich Games. The blonde schoolgirl was emotional about her achievement and shed tears on the podium after her country’s national anthem was played to sustained applause from the crowd at the Aquatics Centre. Meilutyte also became the first swimmer to win a gold medal for Lithuania, once part of the former Soviet Union. “I put all my strength into that race. I still can’t believe it. I’m shocked, but in a good way. I started crying on the podium, that’s when it started to sink in. “I can’t believe it. It’s too much for me. It was hard and difficult. But it means a lot to me and I’m so proud,” she said. She surged clear off the starting blocks and led all the way to beat Soni in one minute 05.47 seconds, prevailing by just eight-hundredths of a second. Japan’s Satomi Suzuki was third. Meilutyte, coached in Plymouth, south-west England, arrived at the Games with a best time of 1:07.20 and whittled it down by 1.73secs to become Olympic champion. Her coach, Jon Rudd, said: “She goes to a British school, swims for a British club and has a British coach. We should feel really proud of her: she is a product of our nation’s work.” Soni believes Meilutyte will have a great future in swimming. “It was definitely a surprise, but after her prelim swim, I knew she would be a great competitor. It is amazing to be able to do that at 15. IOC vouch for Ye The International Olympic Committee (IOC) hinted on Tuesday that gold medallist swimmer Ye Shiwen of China had not tested positive for any drugs as the doping controversy triggered by her sensational performances refused to abate. The 16-year-old Ye won the women’s 400 individual medley in world record time, with her final length of the freestyle faster than men’s champion Ryan Lochte. She was also the fastest qualifier for the 200 individual medley final later on Tuesday, setting an Olympic record in qualifying. Asked whether Ye's doping test following her first victory at the Games had come in positive or negative, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “We would only comment if we had any adverse finding. I am not commenting, so you can draw your own conclusions.” The top-five athletes in all events are undergoing drugs tests following their competitions. Ringside view Stay away, Mr. PM British media has suggested that Prime Minister David Cameron should stay away from events where the hosts are hopeful of medals. Since he made an appearance at Wimbledon last month to watch Andy Murray lose to Roger Federer in the final, his visits are being termed the "curse of Cameron", the latest victims to it being divers Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield. Cameron also saw Britain's Mark Cavendish finish 29th in the road race, instead of the predicted first place. All in the family You expect family members to support you from the sidelines but New Zealand kayaker Mike Dawson's mother penalised him instead. He made the semifinals of the kayak slalom despite a two-second penalty by his mother Kay, who is a judge at the games. Dawson joked that he was tempted to get his coach to put in a protest “about that particular judge.” It would have made dinner time at the Dawsons even more awkward. His coach is father Les. “That would've had all sorts of ramifications ... and besides, I like mum's cooking too much!'' Dawson wrote. “I'll be trying my hardest to keep mum unoccupied in my semifinal run,” he added. Made in Japan Don't be amazed if organisers have to spot check for Japanese robots clinching the swimming medals at the next Olympics. For a team at the Tokyo University of Technology has created a 'Swumanoid' robot using a 3D scanner to perfectly map a human swimmer's physique, which has perfected the back-stroke and tries freestyle swimming. The robot can currently swim the backstroke and the front crawl, but he will need a new pair of legs before he can tackle the breaststroke. Teenager arrested A teenager has been arrested for posting malicious Tweets directed at British diver Tom Daley, UK police said. "You let your dad down i hope you know that," was sent to Daley. Daley's father died of brain cancer a year ago and the 18-year-old hoped to win a medal "for myself and my dad." But he finished fourth on Monday. In Britain, tweeting messages considered menacing, offensive or indecent can lead to prosecution. Queen likes hip-hop? Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that during the opening ceremony, Prince William leaned over and said: “I don't know if you know this, prime minister, but my grandmother is a big fan of Dizzee Rascal.” The queen's musical tastes run more to classical than to Rascal, who came to fame through London's gritty grime scene and is best known for his hit ‘Bonkers.’Source: Indian Express
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Greatest of ’em all
Michael Phelps became the most successful Olympian ever when he helped the United States to the gold medal in the men's 4x200 metres freestyle relay at the London Games on Tuesday, winning the 19th medal of his storied career. Phelps, who had equalled Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's haul of 18 medals earlier when he won silver in the men's 200 butterfly final, swum the anchor leg in the relay for the Americans. The 27-year-old had already set the record for gold medals, winning six in Athens in 2004 and an unprecedented eight in Beijing four years ago. The relay victory was his first gold in London. France took the silver in the relay, while China won the bronze. Earlier, South Africa’s Chad le Clos upset Phelps to win the 200 metres butterfly final at the London Olympics on Tuesday. Phelps, who was bidding to became the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three Olympics, led all the way but messed up his touch allowing le Clos to get his hands on the wall first in a time of one minute, 52.96 seconds. Phelps took the silver medal in 1:53.01 while Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda was third in 1:53.21. The 200 butterfly is one of the most physically demanding events in swimming but is also Phelps’ favourite and ironically, he is known as the best finisher in the business, famously winning the 100 butterfly final in 2004 and 2008 when he was behind. He swam the 200 at the Sydney Olympics when he was just a 15-year-old and set his first world record and won his first world title in the exhausting four-lap race. Only two swimmers have ever won the same individual event at three Olympics, Australia’s Dawn Fraser, in 100 freestyle in 1956, 1960 and 1964, and Hungary’s Krisztina Egerszegi in 200 backstroke in 1988, 1992 and 1996. It is a feat that has eluded generations of the best male swimmers until Phelps, who had the chance of doing it in four different events in London. He failed at his first attempt when he came fourth in the 400 individual medley but still has the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly to come. Meanwhile, Allison Schmitt of the United States won the women's 200 metres freestyle final at the London Olympics on Tuesday. The American, who trains in Baltimore with Michael Phelps, stormed to the front on the second of four laps and was unchallenged as she won the gold in a time of one minute 53.61 seconds. Frenchwoman Camille Muffat, who just held off Schmitt to win the 400 final on Sunday, took silver in a time of 1:55.58. Australia's Bronte Barratt, a relay gold medallist in Beijing four years ago and the fastest qualifier for the final, finished third in 1:55.81, just edging out Missy Franklin for the bronze. The 17-year-old from Colorado won the 100 backstroke gold the previous night and also picked up a relay bronze on Saturday but missed out on another medal by just 0.01 Ruta creates history Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte became the first 15-year-old Olympic swimming champion for 40 years as she powered to the 100m breaststroke gold medal here on Monday. Meilutyte held off fast-finishing American world champion Rebecca Soni to become the youngest winner of an Olympic swimming gold since Australia great Shane Gould enjoyed a triple triumph at the 1972 Munich Games. The blonde schoolgirl was emotional about her achievement and shed tears on the podium after her country’s national anthem was played to sustained applause from the crowd at the Aquatics Centre. Meilutyte also became the first swimmer to win a gold medal for Lithuania, once part of the former Soviet Union. “I put all my strength into that race. I still can’t believe it. I’m shocked, but in a good way. I started crying on the podium, that’s when it started to sink in. “I can’t believe it. It’s too much for me. It was hard and difficult. But it means a lot to me and I’m so proud,” she said. She surged clear off the starting blocks and led all the way to beat Soni in one minute 05.47 seconds, prevailing by just eight-hundredths of a second. Japan’s Satomi Suzuki was third. Meilutyte, coached in Plymouth, south-west England, arrived at the Games with a best time of 1:07.20 and whittled it down by 1.73secs to become Olympic champion. Her coach, Jon Rudd, said: “She goes to a British school, swims for a British club and has a British coach. We should feel really proud of her: she is a product of our nation’s work.” Soni believes Meilutyte will have a great future in swimming. “It was definitely a surprise, but after her prelim swim, I knew she would be a great competitor. It is amazing to be able to do that at 15. IOC vouch for Ye The International Olympic Committee (IOC) hinted on Tuesday that gold medallist swimmer Ye Shiwen of China had not tested positive for any drugs as the doping controversy triggered by her sensational performances refused to abate. The 16-year-old Ye won the women’s 400 individual medley in world record time, with her final length of the freestyle faster than men’s champion Ryan Lochte. She was also the fastest qualifier for the 200 individual medley final later on Tuesday, setting an Olympic record in qualifying. Asked whether Ye's doping test following her first victory at the Games had come in positive or negative, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “We would only comment if we had any adverse finding. I am not commenting, so you can draw your own conclusions.” The top-five athletes in all events are undergoing drugs tests following their competitions. Ringside view Stay away, Mr. PM British media has suggested that Prime Minister David Cameron should stay away from events where the hosts are hopeful of medals. Since he made an appearance at Wimbledon last month to watch Andy Murray lose to Roger Federer in the final, his visits are being termed the "curse of Cameron", the latest victims to it being divers Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield. Cameron also saw Britain's Mark Cavendish finish 29th in the road race, instead of the predicted first place. All in the family You expect family members to support you from the sidelines but New Zealand kayaker Mike Dawson's mother penalised him instead. He made the semifinals of the kayak slalom despite a two-second penalty by his mother Kay, who is a judge at the games. Dawson joked that he was tempted to get his coach to put in a protest “about that particular judge.” It would have made dinner time at the Dawsons even more awkward. His coach is father Les. “That would've had all sorts of ramifications ... and besides, I like mum's cooking too much!'' Dawson wrote. “I'll be trying my hardest to keep mum unoccupied in my semifinal run,” he added. Made in Japan Don't be amazed if organisers have to spot check for Japanese robots clinching the swimming medals at the next Olympics. For a team at the Tokyo University of Technology has created a 'Swumanoid' robot using a 3D scanner to perfectly map a human swimmer's physique, which has perfected the back-stroke and tries freestyle swimming. The robot can currently swim the backstroke and the front crawl, but he will need a new pair of legs before he can tackle the breaststroke. Teenager arrested A teenager has been arrested for posting malicious Tweets directed at British diver Tom Daley, UK police said. "You let your dad down i hope you know that," was sent to Daley. Daley's father died of brain cancer a year ago and the 18-year-old hoped to win a medal "for myself and my dad." But he finished fourth on Monday. In Britain, tweeting messages considered menacing, offensive or indecent can lead to prosecution. Queen likes hip-hop? Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that during the opening ceremony, Prince William leaned over and said: “I don't know if you know this, prime minister, but my grandmother is a big fan of Dizzee Rascal.” The queen's musical tastes run more to classical than to Rascal, who came to fame through London's gritty grime scene and is best known for his hit ‘Bonkers.’Source: Indian Express