Olympic action: Aug. 12
On Jul. 27, the world watched as London kicked off the 2012 Summer Games with a spectacle-filled Opening Ceremonies. After two weeks of competition including upsets, triumph, and disappointment, we said goodbye to London 2012 Sunday in a Closing Ceremony filled with some of Great Britain’s best musicians. With the closing of the Summer Games came the ringing in of the next host city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which left the audience with a colorful taste of what’s to come in four years. While the main focus yesterday was the ceremonies, there were some athletes still competing on the final day of the games, and the highlights from that action are below.
The Olympic flame was extinguished Sunday in London. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
U.S. men’s basketball takes gold
The American basketball team overtook Spain in the final quarter of what proved to be a close gold medal game. U.S. came up on top with a final score of 118-107, and you can read more about their win here.
Croatia defeats Italy in men’s water polo
For the first time in 12 years, it was a new winner in water polo. Hungary had dominated the sport since 2000, with three consecutive golds. The young Hungary team went a perfect 8-0 while in London and with eight team members under the age of 30, this team could likely be just as good in Rio and start a domination of their own.
Russia continues to shine in rhythmic gymnastics
After Russian rhythmic gymnasts took home gold and silver in the individual competition, their gymnasts continued the medal domination, taking gold in the team competition. It was the fourth straight gold for Russia in the group event. They have won the group title and the individual title in every Olympics since the Sydney Games in 2000, truly dominating the sport at the Olympic level.
Jacob Stephen Varner got the second American wrestling gold Sunday. Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
Jacob Stephen Varner brings home U.S. wresting gold
After Jordan Burroughs brought home U.S. wrestling gold in his 74-kilogram class, Jacob Stephen Varner was next. He defeated Valerii Andriitsev of Ukraine 1-0, 1-0 in men’s 96-kilogram freestyle. This marks the first time Americans have come out of the Summer Games with two Olympic gold medals in men’s wrestling since the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Ugandan wins Olympic marathon to get country’s only medal
Stephen Kiprotich not only won the marathon Sunday, he garnered Uganda’s only medal in the London Games, making sure his country had something to show for the 2012 Olympics. He finished with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 1 second. It was Uganda’s seventh Olympic medal in any sport and their second gold, which came 40 years ago. Kiprotich ran the marathon with a strategy, he stayed with the pack for most of the race, but pulled away with just three miles to go in the 26.2 mile race for gold.
