Rio 2016 Olympics: Day 9

14 August 2012 Sunday. Day 9 of the Rio Olympics.

It was another tumultuous day of competition on day 9 of the Rio Olympics.

First up, the behind the scenes news. The US Olympic Committee has reported that American swimmers Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, & Jimmy Feigen were robbed after their taxi was stopped by criminals impersonating security officers. The swimmers were leaving the French hospitality house & heading back to the athletes' villages when their taxi was stopped by the armed robbers who demanded money & the athletes' personal belongings.

The USOC reports the swimmers are safe & cooperating with authorities.

Olympic organizers report that security forces have detonated a "suspicious package" outside the Rio  Olympics sailing venue at Marina da Gloria. This isn't the first a suspicious package was detonated by security forces--yesterday, another package was detonated.

Good news for the only Russian in track & field. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled early Monday morning that long jumper Darya Klishina is eligible to take part in Tuesday's qualifying. The long jump final is on Wednesday.

Earlier on Friday, the IAAF, track's governing body, banned Klishina on the basis of "new information" that has not been shared. Prior to that, Klishina was the only Russian track & field athlete cleared out of 68 to compete, because she was based in the US over the past three years, away from the massive state sponsored doping that has led to the ban of most of Russia's athletes. The CAS ruled that Klishina was eligible to compete because she fulfilled the requirements set by the IAAF.

Synchronized swimmers were greeted by clear blue water in the competition pool Sunday after officials worked all night to replace murky green, "swamp" water that's become a big embarrassment for Rio Games organizers. The water appears a bit cloudy, but it is clear enough for the judges & the synchronized swimmers to see through the water. The duet free preliminaries started today in the most dazzling & beautiful of all Olympic sports, synchronized swimming!

Russia's duet Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina compete in the Duets Free Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: AFP)

Greece's Evangelia Papazoglou and Evangelia Platanioti compete in the Duets Free Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: AFP)

China's Huang Xuechen and Sun Wenyan compete in the Duets Free Routine preliminaries during the synchronised swimming event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: AFP)

And now to the games contested on Sunday:

Boxing

Men's light-flyweight

Uzbekistan's Hasanboy Dusmatov, 23, won the men's light flyweight gold medal in Olympic boxing when he beat Colombia's Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas. Martinez Rivas takes silver.

This is Uzbekistan's second boxing gold & just its sixth gold in any summer sport. When he was 7, Hasanboy Dusmatov remembered seeing on tv his fellow hometown hero from Andijan, Mahammatkodir Abdullaev, win the first gold medal in Uzbekistan's history at Sydney 2000, winning the Light Welterweight Olympics title. He dreamed of doing the same incredible feat. And he succeeds, winning boxing gold for Uzbekistan again, the first Rio gold for his country.

World champion Joahnys Argilagos, Cuba, takes one bronze. And Nico Hernandez, United States, takes the other bronze, the first medal for the US in boxing since 2008.

Wrestling

Men's Greco-Roman 59-kilogram

Japan's Shinobu Ota (R) wrestles with Iran's Hamid Mohammad Soryan in their men's 59kg greco-roman qualification match on August 14, 2016, during the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena 2 in Rio de Janeiro. / AFP / Jack GUEZ / (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: AFP)

A big surprise upset in men's 59kg wrestling. An unknown Shinobu Ota of Japan stunned & beat seven-time world champion & London 2012 champion Hamid Soryan of Iran in the first round, 5-4 in the opening set of Greco-Roman bouts! Ota would advance all the way to the final to fight number one ranked Ismael Borrero Molina of Cuba. Molina will dominate Ota, & Molina takes the gold. Ota takes silver for a valiant & incredible effort, dispatching higher ranked wrestlers on his way to the final.

Uzbekistan's Elmurat Tasmuradov & Andre-Stige Berge of Norway claimed bronze medals — with Berge giving the Norwegians their first wrestling medal since 1992.

Men's Greco-Roman 75-kilogram

Defending London 2012 champion, Russia's Roman Vlasov, successfully defends his title, though with some controversy. In an earlier match against Hyeonwoo Kim of South Korea, Vlasov blew  6-3 point lead. But a controversial judges' ruling awarded Hyeonwoo Kim 2 points, instead of 4. A challenge to the judges decision did not favor Hyeonwoo Kim, so Vlasov advanced to the semifinals with a 6-5 lead.

Yet in the semifinals, Vlasov had a 6-0 lead against Croatia’s Bozo Starcevic, when Starcevic put him in a choke hold, causing Vlasov to pass out! The officials pulled Starcevic off once they realized that Vlasov was passed out.

This is where it gets weird. Usually, pinning a wrestler with both shoulders flat to the mat for two seconds counts as an automatic victory, so the judges could have ruled Starcevic the winner despite Vlasov’s 6-0 lead. But submission holds are illegal in Greco-Roman wrestling, so there was debate whether it was a legal head pinch, or an illegal choke across Vlasov’s throat. In the end, the judges favor Vlasov again.

Roman Vlasov goes on to win gold over Mark Overgaard Madsen, Denmark, who gets the silver. Hyeonwoo Kim, South Korea, would get one bronze. And Saeid Morad Abdvali, Iran, gets the other bronze

Fencing

Men's team epee

France won its third consecutive men's team epee gold medal over Italy. France has medaled in team epee at every Olympic Game since it has been contested at Atlanta 1996.
France won bronze at the Atlanta 1996, silver in Sydney 2000 & back-to-back gold in Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008. In 2008, the IOC made a ridiculous effort to limit fencing medals, created a rotation of fencing events. For London 2012, the men's team epee was removed & not contested. It returned to competition in Rio 2012.

The gold winning French team comsisted of Yannick Borel, Gauthier Grumier, Daniel Jerent, & Jean-Michel Lucenay.
The silver Italian team was made up of Enrico Garozzo, Marco Fichera, Paolo Pizzo, & Andrea Santarelli.
And the bronze Hungarian team included Geza Imre, Gabor Boczko, Andras Redli, & Peter Somfai.

Golf

After a 112-year absence, golf returns to the Olympics. And the first gold is won by Justin Rose of Great Britain. Henrik Stenson, Sweden, takes silver. And Matt Kuchar, United States, claims bronze.

Gymnastics

Individual apparatus finals

Men's Floor exercise

Max Whitlock of Great Britain competes in the Men's Floor Exercise Final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images South America)

It was an incredible day for Great Britain & Brazil in the men's individual apparatus finals. In floor exercises, Max Whitlock wins the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the British in gymnastics. Brazil's Diego Hypolito earned silver while teammate Arthur Mariano earned bronze, much to the joy of the very partial crowd who jeered the foreign athletes, hoping their own could medal.

The reigning world floor exercise champion Kenzo Shirai of Japan was fourth, & two-time Olympic all-around champion Kohei Uchimura was fifth. It appeared as if the Japanese were just worn out compared to the Brit & Brazilians who seemed much more calm & rested, & who ended up on the podium. And it didn't help that the loud, rude Brazilian crowd kept booing the competition, jeering them, & applauding every time the foreigners made a mistake. That kind of rude behavior just sullies the wins tonight & makes them look petty & rude. Nothing good ever comes from disrespecting other people. What goes around, comes around.

Men's pommel horse

Max Whitlock of Great Britain wins a second gymnastics gold in the pommel horse. Teammate Louis Smith gets silver, to add to his London 2012 pommel horse silver & team bronze, along with his Beijing 2004 pommel horse bronze. Alexander Naddour, United States, takes bronze.

And the British media being the British media, is all ready stirring up trouble, trying to claim a rift & major problems between its own two medalists. Not even an hour had passed & all ready, the media is trying to tear these two medalists down. That's just sad & pathetic & disrespectful to the achievements these athletes have worked so long to accomplish under very challenging circumstances.

If you need to tear someone down to make yourself look good, then you're just an ugly person who'll never ever find true happiness in life. You'll always be miserable, & people will always turn their backs on you. Nobody likes a bully. Nobody likes to be around backstabbers & liars & awful people. Treat people the way you want to be treated. For every action, there is an opposite & equal reaction. You get what you put out. It's the cosmic law.

Gymnastics

Women's Vault

Simone Biles captured her third gold medal of the Olympics, on the vault, making it the first time a US woman has won gold on the vault. She adds to her team gold & all around gold.

Silver went to Maria Paseka, Russia. And bronze went to Giulia Steingruber, Switzerland.

Women's uneven bars

Aliya Mustafina of Russia successfully defends her London 2012 title, winning gold. Silver went to Madison Kocian, United States, & bronze went to Sophie Scheder, Germany. It all came down to execution & performance. And the top three really outperformed the rest & executed the cleanest, complete routines compared to the rest who made serious mistakes.

Sailing

Men's RSX

Netherlands’ Dorian Van Rijsselberge wins sailing gold in men’s RS:X, beating Britain’s Nick Dempsey. Dorian van Rijsselberghe & Nick Dempsey repeat as gold & silver medalists respectively, successfully defending their London 2012 titles. France’s Pierre Le Coq wins bronze. Just what the heck is RS:X? It's windsurfing!

The gold & silver medalists were assured of their standings from the races the day before. Dempsey becomes Britain's most decorated male windsurfer in Olympic history. Dempsey's silver medal in Rio is his third Olympic windsurfing medal, after bronze in Athens 2004 & silver in London 2012. The flying Dutchman, Dorian van Rijsselberghe, is champion once more, like four years ago at London 2012.

Dorian van Rijsselberghe of the Netherlands celebrates winning the overall Men's RS:X class on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Marina da Gloria on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images South America)

France’s Pierre Le Coq and Greece’s Vyron Kokkalanis were within eight points of Poland’s Piotr Myszka, making it a three way race for bronze. Le Coq would take the bronze.

Women RSX

France's Charline Picon won gold in women's RS:X windsurfing competition, finishing ahead of China's Chen Peina, silver medalist; & Russia's Stefaniya Elfutina, who takes bronze.

Shooting

Men's 50-meter rifle 3-positions final

Italy's Niccolo Campriani is the first shooter to win two gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Games, passing Russia's Sergey Kamensky, 28, on his final shot to repeat as Olympic champion in men's 3-position rifle. France's Alexis Raynaud, 21, captured bronze his first Olympics.

Niccolò Campriani, 28, successfully defends his London 2012 title, adding also to a silver at London 2012 in the 10m air rifle, & Rio 2016 10m air rifle gold.

Tennis

Mixed doubles

In a historic all USA match, Jack Sock & Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeat Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram for gold. The silver for Venus Williams makes it five Olympic tennis medals, tying the record with Great Britain’s Kitty McKane, who won five medals, with one gold, in the 1920s.

Venus Williams was also trying to become the first to win gold in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She won singles gold in 2000, and doubles gold with sister Serena in 2000, 2008 and 2012. She had been feeling ill, & was eliminated earlier in the singles contest.

In the showdown for bronze, Lucie Hradecká & Radek Štěpánek of the Czech Republic defeated India's Sania Mirza & Rohan Bopanna. Czech Republic won three bronzes in Olympic tennis this year, with Petra Kvitova in women's singles & Lucie Safarova & Barbora Strycova in women's doubles.

London 2012 champions Victoria Azarenka &  Max Mirnyi were unable to defend due to Azarenka withdrawing because she just learned that she was pregnant.

Men's singles

Andy Murray of Great Britain defeats Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina to take gold, successfully defending his London 2012 title. Juan Martin del Potro settles for silver.

And Kei Nishikori of Japan beats Beijing 2008 champion & Rio 2016 men's double winner, Rafael Nadal of Spain, to take bronze. It is Japan's first Olympic tennis medal since 1920. Nishikori pressed his advantage over Nadal, who was clearly worn out from all the tennis matches he had played.

Track and field

Men's 100 meters

Jamaica's Usain Bolt made history as the first man to win three consecutive gold medals in the men's 100m sprint. Justin Gatlin, United States, takes silver, amid boos from a crowd who don't like nor forgive his doping past. And Andre de Grasse, Canada, takes bronze.

Usain Bolt (L) of Jamaica wins the Mens 100m final ahead of Justin Gatlin of the United States on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images South America)

Men's 400 meters

More history was made when South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk sprinted to a world record in winning the men's 400-meters. He set a new world-record of 43.03 seconds, lowering the mark set by Michael Johnson in 1999. Even Usain Bolt was stunned at Wayde van Niekerk's new world record!


Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa competes the Men's 400 meter final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images South America)

London 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James gets silver. And Beijing 2008 champion LaShawn Merritt gets bronze.

Wayde van Niekerk, South Africa, is trained by 74 year old Ans Botha, who was once a sprinter & a long jumper, & known to her pupils as “Tannie Ans,” meaning Auntie. The head coach at South Africa’s University of the Free State, she worked with van Niekerk to heal injuries & develop his speed & endurance. The great grandmother succeded in forging a record breaking Olympic champion.

Women's Marathon

Jelagat Sumgong delivered Kenya's first Rio Olympics gold & became the first woman from Kenya to win the women's marathon Sunday. She finished ahead of pre race favorites: Eunice Kirwa, a Kenyan now representing Bahrain, who settles for silver. And world champion Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia who takes bronze.

Triple jump

Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia has won the triple jump at the Rio Games, becoming the first Columbian athlete to win a gold medal! Yulimar Rochas earned Venezuela's first Olympic medal in a women's athletics event by taking silver. And defending London 2012 champion Olga Rypakova, Kazakhstan, takes bronze.

Weightlifting

Women's 75-kilogram

Suping Meng, China, has claimed gold with a combined lift of 307kg. This is the fourth gold for China in the women's over-75 kilos category after Ding Meiyuan in Sydney 2000, Tang Gonghong in Athens 2004, & Zhou Lulu in London 2012.


Doping has plagued the lifting & track & swimming sports. North Korea's Kim Kuk Hyang takes silver with 306kg. And Sarah Elizabeth Robles, United States, takes bronze with 286kg. The North Korean served a doping ban from November 2012 to November 2014.

Sarah Elizabeth Robles is a controversial figure, having just served a two year ban for steroids, completed August 2015. She admits that she faces opposition in her return & that she has learned from her mistakes.

She returned to competition after serving a two year ban for steroid use, & she spent those two years working odd jobs making ends meet & working towards improving herself when she would be eligible to compete again. Her return has been difficult & she still faces resistance. And her bronze is the first US Olympic weightlifting medal in 16 years.

Diving

Women's three-meter springboard

In women's 3-meter springboard, the Chinese dominate again, with Tingmao Shi taking gold, & He Zi taking silver. Tania Cagnotto, Italy, takes bronze, adding to her silver from the 3m synchro springboard.

Shi Tingmao adds her 3m springboard gold to her 3m synchro springboard gold she won earlier with partner Wu Minxia here in Rio 2016.

He Zi has a gold in springboard synchro from London 2012 plus silver in 3m springboard. She repeats silver here at Rio 2016.

For 6 years, He Zi has been dating Qin Kai, the 3m synchro gold medalist at Beijing 2008 & London 2012 with a bronze in Rio 2016, plus a 3m springboard Beijing 2008 bronze & a London 2012 silver.

While she might have been the silver medalist today, she was NOT second best. In fact, He Zi was the true winner of the night, winning something much more valuable than gold. And what's better than gold?

Diamonds, of course!

He liked it, so he put a ring on it!



Chinese diver Qin Kai proposes to silver medalist He Zi of China on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's Diving 3m Springboard Final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 13, 2016 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images South America)

In the most romantic & best moment of the Rio Olympics, Chinese diver Qin Kai proposes to his girlfriend of six years, He Zi, on the podium after the medal ceremony for the Women's Diving 3m Springboard Final. She was shocked, she cried, she made him a bit nervous for her answer. But she said Yes! And the crowd cheered & applauded & highly approved! Best wishes to the happy couple! Much joy & happiness & good fortune to you both! Congratulations!

And so ends another wild & wonderful day of competition & thrills at the Rio Olympics. We're halfway thru all ready, & there is so much more to see & enjoy!