Rio 2016 Olympics: Day 8

13 August 2012 Saturday. Day 8 of the Rio Olympics

Day 8 of the Rio is Olympics saw many thrilling events as the athletes battled for the top spot. Some familiar faces successfully returned to the top. While new faces were crowned champions in other sports.

First up, the news behind the scenes.

The lone Russian, out of 68, cleared to compete for Rio, because she trained in the US, long jumper Darya Klishina, has been barred from competition! The IAAF has announced that new information has come to light that makes long jumper Darya Klishina ineligible to compete.

The entire Russian team has been barred from Rio due to the massive state wide sponsored doping. No specifics on what this new info is; but Darya Klishina has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport & a ruling is expected Sunday or Monday before Tuesday's long jump contest.

May those cheating doping men have their gonads shrink & fall off while they grow gigantic boobs. And may those cheating doping women have their ovaries drop & turn into hairy testicles to match their full beards!

More robberies occur at the athletes village. Thankfully, a large amount of undisclosed stolen money was rightfully returned to the owner. The athletes & federations are reminded to secure their valuables.

Officials are taking drastic action to clear the mucky green pool waters that have plague the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center where the diving & water polo events take place. The pool will be drained & refilled with new water Saturday night.

The IOC has expressed disappointment at US women's goalie, Hope Solo, for her rant dissing the Swedes who knocked the US out of the Olympics. We're disappointed, too.

It's the last day of swimming & rowing at the Olympics. Track & field starts heating up.

Rowing

Men's single sculls

In a thrilling foto finish race, defending London 2012 champion Mahé Drysdale of New Zealand successfully defends his title in a race where a foto analysis determined the winner.

Croatia's Martin Damir was first right out of the block & led til the 1500m when Drysdale overtook Damir for the lead. But in the last stretch, Damir surged & both boats crossed the finish line at 6:41.34!


Eventual gold medalist Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand (top) and silver medalist Damir Martin of Croatia compete in the Men's Single Sculls Final A at Lagoa Stadium August 13, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 12, 2016 - Source: Pool/Getty Images South America)

A foto finish analysis by the officials determined that Drysdale was the winner. Damir would take silver. And Ondřej Synek of the Czech Republic finishes at 6:44.10 for the bronze.

Women's single sculls

Kim Brennan, world champion, of Australia has won Australia's first gold medal in the women's single sculls! The London 2012 bronze medalist in this event & silver medalist in the double sculls, is a lawyer & married to Beijing 2008 Olympic double sculls gold medallist Scott Brennan.

Genevra Stone, a doctor, picked up the silver - the United States' first rowing medal in Rio.

Duan Jingli of China finished third for the bronze.

Women's coxed eight

The US women salvaged the US rowing reputation by winning the coxed eight for the third straight Olympics in a row, continuing an undefeated winning dynasty that started in 2006 & earning 11 world titles & 3 Olympics championships. They finished ahead of the pack by more than two seconds. They are the most successful American dynasty, one of the greatest in rowing history.

The American gold medalists were Emily Regan, Kerry Simmonds, Amanda Polk, Lauren Schmetterling, Tessa Gobbo, Meghan Musnicki, Eleanor Logan, Amanda Elmore, & Katelin Snyder.

Britain takes silver & Romania takes bronze.

The British silver medalists were Katie Greves, Melanie Wilson, Frances Houghton, Polly Swann, Jessica Eddie, Olivia Carnegie-Brown, Karen Bennett, Zoe Lee, & Zoe De Toledo.

The Romanian bronze medalists were Roxana Cogianu, Ioana Strungaru, Milhaela Petrilă, Iuliana Popa, Mădălina Beres, Laura Oprea, Adelina Boguș, Andreea Boghian, & Daniela Druncea.

Men's coxed eight

Great Britain takes another gold in the last day or rowing. The London 2012 silver medalists & Beijing 2008 bronze medalists take the gold by over a half length. It is the fifth rowing gold for Great Britain, making them the dominant force in Rio Rowing.

Germany, London 2012 champions, holds on for silver, & Netherlands takes bronze.

The gold winning world champions British team consisted of Scott Durant, Tom Ransley, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Matt Gotrel, Pete Reed, Paul Bennett, Matt Langridge, William Satch, & Phelan Hill.

The silver medalists Germans were Maximilian Munski, Malte Jakschik, Andreas Kuffner, Eric Johannesen, Maximilian Reinelt, Felix Drahotta, Richard Schmidt, Hannes Ocik, & Martin Sauer

And the bronze Dutch team were Kaj Hendrik, Robert Lücken, Boaz Meylink, Boudewijn Roell, Olivier Siegelaar, Dirk Uittenboogaard, Mechiel Versluis, Tone Wieten, Peter Wiersum.

Cycling

Women's keirin

The most amazing feat of skill in Rio occurred in a  spectacular crash in the second heat of the women's keirin! It appears that Tania Calvo Barbero of Spain attempted to overtake the the lead, but she lost control, bumping into French rider Virginie Cueff who used her shoulder to push Dutch rider Laurine van Riessen right onto the outer wall & almost into the crowd!  And as Calvo, Cueff, & New Zealand's Olivia Podmore all crash hard, that's when Laurine Van Riessen performed the miraculous escape move to ride up the hoardings attached to the track-side railings & avoid the crash carnage! Check out the crowds shocked faces!


Laurine van Riessen of the Netherlands (in orange) avoids a crash with Virginie Cueff of France (in blue) during the women's keirin first round cycling track event 13 Aug 2012 Rio Olympics REUTERS

All riders were able to walk off on their own power. But the crash did cause slight delay in the qualifiers as officials used duct tape to fix a gouge on the track from the crash.

All the riders eventually walked off the track under their own power. The surface was repaired with the help of duct tape - yes, duct tape - and competition resumed after a few minutes.

In the final, Elis Ligtlee of the Netherlands pulls off a surprise upset, beating the heavy favorites for track cycling kierin gold. Rebecca James of Great Britain takes silver. And Australia's Anna Meares takes bronze. Defending London 2012 champion & heavy favorite Kristina Vogel was in second place during the final lap, but ended up finishing last.

Women's team pursuit

Over in women's team pursuit, Great Britain's Joanna Rowsell-Shand & Laura Trott successfully defend their London 2012 title with the aid of new team members Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald. They take gold & set anew world record of Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald.

United States, which took silver at London 2012, fielded the team of Kelly Catlin, Chloe Dygert, Sarah Hammer, & Jennifer Valente take silver.

And Canada, defending London 2012 bronze medalists, fielded a team made up of Allison Beveridge, Jasmin Glaesser, Kirsti Lay, Georgia Simmerling, & Laura Brown who take bronze.

Fencing

Women's Team Saber

Top ranked Russia has won its fourth fencing gold medal of the Rio Gamesin the women’s team sabre event. Ukraine settles for silver.

It was the seventh overall medal in fencing for the Russians, the most of any nation.

The U.S. took bronze, its fourth medal in the sport in Rio, after defeating Italy.

Russia's gold medal team included Sofya Velikaya, Yuliya Gavrilova, Yana Egorian, & Ekaterina Dyachenko.

Ukraine's silver team was Olena Voronina, Olga Kharlan, Olena Kravatska, & Alina Komashchuk.

And the bronze US team was Monica Aksamit, Ibtihaj Muhammad, & Dagmara Wozniak, Mariel Zagunis.

Shooting

Men's 25-meter rapid-fire pistol

Christian Reitz, the men's 25-meter rapid fire pistol winner, joins 3-positions shooter Barbara Engleder & prone shooter Henri Junghaenel in capturing gold for Germany. Germany has now won 3 shooting golds.

France's Jean Quiquampoix, 20, reached the final round after a three-round shoot-off with China's Li Yuehong. Jean Quiquampoix takes the silver for France. And Li Yuehong, China settles for bronze.

Defending London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Leuris Pupo of Cuba finished fifth. And World No. 1 Zhang Fusheng of China finished fourth.

Men's skeet

In an exciting final showdown, Gabriele Rossetti, 21, of Italy defeated Marcus Svensson,26, of Sweden in a shootout, in which Svensson missed the last shot of a total 16, giving Rosetti the gold. Svensson gets silver.

This is the third gold medal for Italy in the Olympics, as Niccolo Campriani won the 10m air rifle event, & Diana Bacosi won women’s skeet. It is the sixth shooting medal for Italy overall, the country’s largest ever haul of shooting medals & gold medals at a single Olympics.

The crowd favorite Abdullah Alrashidi competing as an Independent athlete (home country Kuwait), takes bronze, defeating Mikola Milchev of Ukraine, Sydney 2000 champion.

Vincent Hancock of the US, Beijing 2008 & London 2012 champion failed to make the finals.

Track & Field

Discus throw

Christoph Harting of Germany took the gold medal in the discus throw, keeping the gold medal in the family. His big brother, Robert, the defending London 2012 champion, didn't make the final. And unlike his extrovert brother who tore off shirt after winning gold in London, Christoph did a little victory dance.

The silver went to Piotr Malachowski of Poland, world champion. And Daniel Jasinski of Germany takes bronze.

Men's 10,000m

Great Britain's Mo Farah, defending London 2012 champion, performed an amazing feat, after he tripped & fell partway through the race, he still managed to recover & beat out Kenya’s Paul Kipngetich Tanui for the gold!


Mo, No!

The Somali Muslim immigrant then fell to his knees & prayed at the finish line. It was a remarkable recovery for the champion. Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia settles for silver.

Women's 100m sprint

There is a new queen of speed! Jamaican Elaine Thompson won the women's 100m in 10.71 seconds, ahead of Tori Bowie, US, & two-time defending Beijing 2008 & London 2012 champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica.


Elaine Thompson of Jamaica celebrates winning the Women's 100m Final ahead of Tori Bowie of the United States and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 12, 2016 - Source: Ian Walton/Getty Images South America)

Bowie claims silver for the US & Fraser-Pryce takes bronze. It was a foto finish for bronze! Fraser-Pryce finished with the same time, to the hundredths of a second, as Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast. Officials reviewed finish-line footage from special cameras that can capture thousands of frames per second to award Fraser-Pryce the bronze.

Men's long jump

Britain’s Greg Rutherford, defending London 2012 champion, settles for bronze this time around. South Africa’s Manyonga takes silver, and USA's Jeff Henderson takes gold by one centimeter!

Heptathlon

Defending London 2012 champion Jessica Ennis-Hill wins silver for Great Britain in the heptathlon. Nafissatou Thiam wins gold for Belgium. Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada takes the bronze.

Tennis


Women's singles


Mónica Puig won Puerto Rico's first gold medal ever at the Olympics, & becomes the first Puerto Rican female athlete to medal. She pulled off an incredible victory, bearing out the heavy favorites to make it to the finals. She beat number two ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany, Australian Open champion, who settles for silver.

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic defeated Madison Keys of the United States for bronze.

Defending London 2012 champion Serena Williams of the US was ousted.

Women's doubles

Russia's Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina won the gold medal, defeating Timea Bacsinszky & Martina Hingis of Switzerland, who settle for silver.

Lucie Safarova & Barbora Strycovaof the Czech Republic  defeated fellow countrywomen Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic for bronze.

Two time defending Olympics champions Venus & Serena Williams were knocked out of the finals.

Weightlifting

Men's 94-kilogram

Sohrab Moradi was victorious in the men’s 94-kilogram weightlifting with a combined total of 403kg on Saturday. He delivers Iran it's second fold medal of the games.

Belarusian Vadzim Straltsou takes silver with 395kg & bronze for Lithuania’s Aurimas Didzbailis with 392kg.

The field was thinned out when steroid users were banned. Among them was Ilya Ilyin, reigning Olympic champion & world record holder at 94kg, who failed retests of his samples from his 2008 & 2012 Olympic wins.

Swimming

Men's 1,500-meter freestyle

Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy takes gold, leaving his competitors behind by a wide margin in the 1500m freestyle. Connor Jaeger, United States, takes silver. And Gabriele Detti, Italy, claims bronze.

Men's 400-medley relay

The United States of Ryan Murphy, Cody Miller, Michael Phelps, & Nathan Adrian worked together to win gold, making it the 23rd overall fold for Phelps. Alternates who earned their share of the gold were Kevin Cordes, Caeleb Dressel, David Plummer, & Tom Shields.

Great Britain's Chris Walker-Hebborn, Adam Peaty, James Guy, Duncan Scott take silver.

And Australia's Mitchell Larkin, Jake Packard, David Morgan, Kyle Chalmers with alternate Cameron McEvoy take bronze.

Women's 50-meter freestyle

Pernille Blume, Denmark, takes gold as the fastest swimmer in women's 50m freestyle. And Simone Manuel, United States, takes silver. The bronze went to Aliaksandra Herasimenia, Belarus.

Women's 400-medley relay

The United States team of Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, & Simone Manuel won gold. Alternates were Catherine Meili, Olivia Smoliga, Abbey Weitzeil, & Kelsi Worrell. The gold medal, won by the U.S. women, is also United States' 1,000th Summer Olympics gold medal.

Silver went to Australia's Emily Seebohm, Taylor McKeown, Emma McKeon, Cate Campbell, with alternates Brittany Elmslie, Madeline Groves, & Madison Wilson.

Bronze was claimed by Denmark's Mie Nielsen, Rikke Moller Pedersen, Jeanette Ottesen, & Pernille Blume.

And finally, the most entertaining & most fun sport of the day:

A Belarusian beats Dong for gold!


Uladzislau Hancharou of Belarus performs during the Mens Trampoline on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 12, 2016 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images South America)

Men's Trampoline

Uladzislau Hancharou of Belarus has won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s trampoline, topping defending London 2012 Olympic champion Dong Dong of China during an exciting & entertaining final. Hancharou has been on the rise this year & peaked at the right time to beat Dong & world champion Gao Lei of China to the top.

Dong Dong--the best Olympics name ever!--takes silver, adding to a Beijing 2008 bronze & London 2012 gold. And Gao Lei settles for bronze.

And so ends another exciting day of competition as new champions are crowned & old masters give way to rising stars. More excitement to come as the Rio Olympics continues!