Olympic action: Aug. 10
Men’s hoops team cruises past Argentina, set up for clash in final against Spain
There was a never a doubt during Friday’s semifinal game as to whether the US men’s basketball team would play for gold against Spain on Sunday. Team USA led the entire way as they topped Argentina, 109-83, on Friday. Kevin Durant scored a game-high 19 points while LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony each enjoyed 18-point nights. Team USA has walked all over the competition throughout the Olympics, averaging 116.7 points per game, 29.1 points more than closes competitor Argentina. Spain was 3-2 through group play but beat France and Russia to reach the gold-medal game.
The American women’s hoops team will play for gold against France on Saturday.
Jordan Burroughs celebrates after winning gold in 74kg wrestling. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Jordan Burroughs sees gold in men’s 74kg wrestling
The 24-year-old Jordan Burroughs is not shy about telling people what a good wrestler he is. Burroughs’ website is allIseeisgold.com, and he tweets under the name @alliseeisgold. Indeed on Friday, all Burroughs did see was gold as he bested Iran’s Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi in a 3-0 decision to win gold in the men’s 74kg freestyle event. Burroughs is the first U.S. Olympic wrestler to win gold in London this summer, and for his efforts, USA Wrestling will reward him with a $250,000 prize.
David Boudia secured the last spot to move into the next round in men’s 10m platform diving. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Diving preliminary full of drama for American, British divers
Americans Nicholas McCrory and David Boudia will both have an opportunity to win a second medal in the 2012 Games, as they both made it through the preliminary round in men’s individual 10m platform diving. Boudia just barely made it through, as he seized the last possible spot to qualify after a botched fourth dive earned him scores of 4.5 from the judges as opposed to the desired sevens and eights. McCrory had an easier time qualifying, as his dives put him in eighth place, 10 spots away from the 18-man cutoff. British teen sensation Tom Daley, diving for redemption after finishing fourth in the synchronized diving, had to rely on a strong final dive after a sloppy fifth dive almost dropped him out of the running in the preliminary round. Daley, 18, dives in memory of his father, who passed away from brain cancer in May 2011.
The women’s 4x100m relay team admires its world record finish. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Team USA golden, silver in track relays
The US women’s 4x100m relay track team won gold Friday in world-record style. The quartet of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter shattered the 27-year-old world record time of 41.37 set by the East Germans when the Americans finished in 40.82 seconds. The US edged out Jamaica (41.41) and Ukraine (42.04) to earn gold.
The US men finished second in the 4×400 relay, which was somewhat of a surprise considering the Americans have won gold in the event in every Olympics since 1972 except for the 1980 and 2000 Games. This summer, the Bahamian quartet bested the United States with a 2:56.72 finish, .33 seconds faster than the Americans’ time of 2:57.05.
