Beijing Olympics
 

Tomkins leads Australians as Games declared open
Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 2:15 AM

Australia's five-time Olympian James Tomkins led the Australian delegation into Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium before the 2008 Beijing Games were offically declared open after a spectacular opening ceremony this morning (Australian time).

"For a long time, China has dreamed of opening its doors and inviting the world's athletes to Beijing for the Olympic Games," said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"Tonight that dream comes true. Congratulations, Beijing."

Chinese gymnastics champion and business supremo Li Ning lit the cauldron at the end of the ceremony, after he was lifted high off the ground by cables and swung around the stadium.

A final fireworks display followed the lighting of the cauldron, with explosions on the stadium and all around the city.

In an innovation for the Beijing Games, veteran rower Tomkins was followed by a group of five-time Olympians and the athletes followed according to how many Games they had attended.

A group of debutants brought up the rear for the Australian team.

There was widespread concern that rain would dampen the spirits of the 91,000-strong crowd at the opening ceremony but the weather stayed kind apart from the ever-present smog, which was reportedly threatening to delay today's men's cycling road race.

News Limited websites reported that Olympic organisers informed broadcasters around the world that there was a high chance of the event being delayed some hours or even until Sunday.

Cauldron-lighter Li is a national hero in China after winning three gold medals, two silver and one bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He is also the founder of a popular sportswear company bearing his name.

The identity of the person who lights the cauldron is traditionally kept secret until the final moments of the ceremony, and Chinese authorities went to extraordinary lengths to keep details from the public.

But the website for media at the Olympics on this occasion published the details shortly after the nearly three-and-a-half hour ceremony began.

Chinese female table tennis star Zhang Yining and gymnastics referee Huang Liping took the Olympic oaths.

The two took the oaths on behalf of the more than 10,000 athletes who will be competing in the Games, Xinhua reported.

Zhang won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games and Huang is a former world champion gymnast, who will act as a referee in Beijing, the report said.

Dazzling ceremony


An army of 2,008 drummers pounded out the countdown to the Games, which mark among other things China's emergence from impoverished isolation to economic might.

Around 80 world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush, joined 91,000 excited spectators in the majestic Bird's Nest stadium for the opening show. The global television audience was expected to exceed one billion viewers.

Some 14,000 performers and 29,000 firework shells were primed for the show, with film director Zhang Yimou, whose work was once banned in China, offering up a sweeping, cinematic vision of 5,000 years of Chinese history.

According to Olympic tradition Greece kicked off the procession of athletes, with the rest of the nations following according to the Chinese alphabet.

A huge roar accompanied the entrance of the Chinese team into the Bird's Nest, led by basketball superstar Yao Ming.The crowd erupted with thousands of Chinese waving red cloths to welcome their team.

Sudanese refugee Lopez Lomong led the powerful US delegation.

The middle-distance runner was a controversial choice as China has come in for widescale criticism for its support of the Sudanese government in the buildup to the Games.

Iraq's five-strong delegation marched proudly into the stadium, led by rower Hamzah Al-Hilfi.

Iraqi participation at the Games had been in doubt up until the last minute over political interference in the running of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee.

History-making swimmer Natalie du Toit led the South African squad into the National Stadium in Friday's Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

The Games of the 29th Olympiad run until August 24, with 10,500 athletes from a record 204 nations chasing 302 gold medals in 28 sports.

Multi bet - I was going to take a multi bet today, on the olympic tennis. But no money in the tab account. Too lazy, and too cold to venture down to the tab. So I won't be betting today. These were my tips -
1555 Essendon over 15 1/2 pts $1.72
44807 Blake $1.22
44865 CIlic $1.45
44832 Davydenko $1.53
44774 Robredo $1.60
44869 Ferrer $1.38
Odds of $10.27

Like Axe Handle to bounce back in the winners circle @ Port Pirie today also.

Stephanie Rice wins Australia's first medal of the Beijing Games
 

August 10, 2008 12:50pm

STEPHANIE Rice has won Australia's first gold medal of the Olympic Games, smashing the world record in the women's 400m individual medley final
Rice took it out hard and was under world record pace all the way, setting a new mark of 4min29.45sec.

It was more than 1.5sec under the record set by American Katie Hoff at the US trials in June.

Australia third in women's 4x100m freestyle relay
August 10, 2008 01:28pm

Australia's quartet started poorly but finished strongly for third.
AUSTRALIA have finished third in their defence of the women's 4x100m freestyle relay title won in Athens.
The Australian quartet of Cate Campbell, Alice Mills, Melanie Schlanger, Libby Trickett won the bronze medal behind the word record-holding Netherlands team and the United States.

Australia seemed unlikely to win a medal at the halfway point, but Schlanger produced an outstanding effort on the third leg to improve from seventh to third, and Trickett saw the team to a spot on the dais.

Trickett takes gold in 100m fly
 

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 1:23 PM

Libby Trickett secured Australia's second gold medal of the Olympic Games with victory in the 100 metres butterfly at the Water Cube in Beijing.

Trickett won in a time of 56.73 after splitting the 50m in 26.77, while Jess Schipper, the world record holder in the 200m butterfly, finished third in 57.25 behind American Christine Magnuson (57.10).

It is Trickett's second Olympic gold medal after winning with the women's 4x100m freestyle relay team in Athens in 2004, and she becomes the third Australian gold medallist in the event following Lyn McClements (1968) and Petria Thomas from Athens.

Trickett says her victory was a dream come true, but followed some extremely nervous moments.

"It's more than I could have dreamed," she said. "I just feel probably more than anything relieved.

"Before the race I felt like I was going to vomit, I was probably that nervous!

"But then just before I walked out I had an amazing sense of calm."

The 23-year-old world champion was under world record pace at the 50m and finished just .12 of a second outside the world record set by Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn at the Sydney Olympics.

Trickett punched the water in frustration when she looked at the screen and saw that she had just missed out on breaking the eight-year world record, but then the realisation of her first Olympic gold medal sunk in.

Suit trouble


After the race Schipper told the media she had had trouble doing up her suit in the lead-up to the race and had to switch to an alternative suit.

Trickett, who was a favourite at the Athens Games but failed to produce her best when it counted most, said she just wanted to do her best.

"I just said to myself, more than anything I want to walk away with absolutely no regrets.

"And you know, to come up with not only a gold medal but a personal best time in these sorts of circumstances, honestly it's more than I could have dreamed and hoped for."

She paid tribute to her team-mate, Schipper.

"I'm just so happy, and I get to share the medal presentation with Jess [Schipper] which is really special for me, because I wouldn't be here without her.

"So that's really important for me as well."

Schipper was happy with her efforts.

"I just came in here wanting to go better than I did in Athens and get an individual medal," she said.

"So I'm pretty happy with the way it all turned out."

"I had a bit of a problem in marshalling, my suit wouldn't zip up," she said.

Swimming officials said an alternative suit had to be found for Schipper just minutes before the race started.

Trickett qualified fastest for the final with a time of 57.05 seconds in yesterday's first semi-final, while Schipper posted a time of 57.43 seconds to win the second semi.

Sullivan sets WR but wins bronze
 

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 1:52 PM

Eamon Sullivan set a new world record with a stunning lead-off leg as Australia took bronze behind America in the 4x100m relay.

Sullivan broke the 100m world record with a time of 47.24 seconds to hand the Australians an early lead, but they could not maintain the pace in the final three legs and finished third in 3:09.91.

Sullivan bested the 47.50 set by France's Alain Bernard in Eindhoven on March 22.

Michael Phelps's bid for eight gold medals is still alive after the United States came from behind to win the event in world record time ahead of France and Australia.

Jason Lezak overhauled Bernard in the final 25 metres of the race to secure gold for America in a time of 3:08.24, with France second in 3:08.32.

The Australian team of Sullivan, Ashley Callus, Andrew Lauterstein and Matt Targett were off the pace in the heats and semi-finals, but stepped up to claim the bronze on the back of Sullivan's stunning opening leg.

Jones wins 100m breaststroke gold
 

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 2:28 PM

Leisel Jones claimed her first individual Olympic gold medal and Australia's third in Beijing with a thumping victory in the women's 100 metres breaststroke final at the Water Cube.

Jones went into the final as a red-hot favourite after swimming more than a second faster than her nearest rival in the semi-final, and comfortably took gold in an Olympic record time of 1:05.17.

Jones says all that mattered today was to hit the wall first, something she could not manage as an individual in an Olympic event at either the Sydney or Athens Games.

"A little bit of shock, and probably more relief I guess," she said.

"It has been a long journey. It's been a long eight years.

"And I think just a lot of relief that the training was definitely worth it. I couldn't care less about the time.

"An Olympic gold is an Olympic gold. It really didn't matter how it went, how I raced I couldn't care less."

Jones says she was excited before the race.

"I had a pretty bad sleep last night," she said.

"I woke up and I was just so excited. I think I was excited about racing.

"I was almost skipping out there I was so excited. I really enjoyed it."

Aiming for London


Jones suggested she would keep swimming with London in 2012 in mind.

"I think I've enjoyed it so much, I think I would hate to finish and know there was still a flame burning inside," she said.

"I think I've still got so much more growing to do, and so much more learning.

"Amanda Beard's on her fourth Olympics, so it's certainly not out of the question."

Jones emerged from the blocks at the head of the field slightly in front of compatriot Tarnee White, and split the 50m inside world record time.

She powered away in the final 50m to finish well ahead of American Rebecca Soni (1:06.73) and Austrian Mirna Jukic (1:07.34).

White faded towards the back end of the race to finish in sixth position in a time of 1:07.63.

While she was happy with the gold, Jones says it was her win at the World Championships in Canada in 2005 that remains her proudest achievement.

"Olympic golds are important, but in terms of personal experience and in terms of personal growth I think that was my most important swim.

"Olympic gold is really nice, it's what we all come here for.

"But certainly Montreal was more about my personal experience.

"And I think that will still reign over this Olympic gold, because I found out so much of myself.

"After Athens I learned so much. And that was my first individual World Championship [gold].

"I think that one probably still is more important to me than this."

After bursting onto the scene with a silver medal in the 100m in Sydney as a 14-year-old, Jones could not crack gold in the 100m or 200m in Athens.

Jones swam 1:05.80 to comfortably win the second semi, ahead of second-fastest qualifier Soni. Jukic started from lane three after recording 1:07.27 in the semis.

Dead-heat bronze for Stoeckel, Peirsol wins backstroke gold
 

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 2:02 PM

Australia's Hayden Stoeckel has dead-heated for bronze in the men's 100 metres backstroke with American Aaron Peirsol breaking the world record to win gold.

Another American, Matt Grevers, finished just 0.07 of a second ahead of Stoeckel and Russian Arkady Vyatchanin.

Peirsol, the defending champion, led from start to finish to set a new world mark of 52.54 seconds.

Stoeckel reacted to his by saying he had over-achieved. "It's just amazement, really," he said.

"I came into the Olympics not really thinking I'd get a medal or anything. I just wanted to make the final. I'm just thrilled."

Stoeckel says he initially thought he had missed out on a medal.

"I saw four next to my name, and then I realised it was the lane," he said.

"Then I saw Arkady [Vyatchanin] with third and I thought, I didn't get a podium.

"And then I saw I got equal third, and I was like - 'yes' - so I got up there. It was just an amazing feeling."

He also paid tribute to his family.

"I've had really supportive parents, and I love them dearly, and also my sister she's been really supportive," he said.

"That's been really great, just to get me up there, and it's paid off."

Stoeckel says moving home to Adelaide and working with a sports psychiatrist has been integral to his improvement as a swimmer.

"Pain. Nobody likes pain. But I don't mind it now," he said.

"Bring it on."

Stunning swim


Stoeckel stunned his rivals yesterday by swimming what was then the second-fastest time in history to win his semi-final.

Stoeckel set a new Olympic record and narrowly missed out on Peirsol's world mark with a time of 52.97.

Fellow Australian Ashley Delaney snuck into the final with the eighth-fastest time of 53.76.

He improved to finish fifth in the final.

Melissa Wu and Briony Cole have won silver
 

August 12, 2008 05:36pm

Melissa Wu and Briony Cole have won silver at the Beijing Olympics 10m platform diving final.

AUSTRALIAN Olympic rookies Melissa Wu and Briony Cole have claimed the Olympic silver medal in the women's synchronised 10m platform.
The duo delivered a superb performance to amass 335.16 points and finish behind only the dominant home team which continued China's undefeated run at the Water Cube.

Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin were near faultless throughout and won the gold medal with an outstanding 363.54 points while Mexico's Paola Espinosa and Tatiana Ortiz took bronze with 330.06 points.

The Australians were just over one point ahead of the Mexicans heading into the final round but nailed a wonderful 87.72 point dive to hold off their rivals.

It was also Australia's first diving medal at these Games following two previous days of disappointments in synchronised events.

Cole combined with Sharleen Stratton for fifth place in the 3m springboard last Sunday while men's 10m platform pairing Mathew Helm and Robert Newbery missed bronze yesterday by less than half a point.

Wu and Cole however had been the biggest medal hopes of the dive team after claiming silver at last year's world championships in this event.

At just 16 years of age Wu is one of the youngest members of the Australian Olympic team and considered the star of the future.

Australian canoe battler Robin Bell wins bronze
 

Australian canoe battler Robin Bell wins bronze in C1 class at Beijing Olympics
August 12, 2008 06:45pm

AUSTRALIA'S battler of Beijing, Robin Bell, has created history by becoming the first Australian to win an Olympic whitewater medal with bronze in the C1 final.
The 30-year-old from Sydney who struggles to pay his rent, claimed the historic medal with one of the performances of his career.

Placed fifth going into the final after clocking 91.16secs in the semi final, Bell grabbed bronze with a final combined time of 180.59secs.

A remarkable final run by 1996 Gold medallist Michael Martikan elevated him above Great Britain's David Florence (Silver) to take Gold.

World number three Bell qualified for the final in fifth place after a sluggish start out of the blocks, but he battled to complete the tricky course in 89.16s before being handed a two-second penalty, well after his time was posted.

If he hadn't been hit with the penalty, the Sydney paddler would have been sitting second going into the final, just 0.18s behind Martikan and with an excellent chance to claim Gold.

Australia, which has enjoyed 15 Olympic podium finishes in kayaking, has never claimed a canoeing Gold medal in Games history.

Its only medal in canoe or kayak slalom events came 16 years ago when Danielle Woodward picked up silver in the K1 slalom at the Barcelona Games.

Aussies ride to equestrian silver
 

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 6:06 AM

Australia's equestrian team won silver in the eventing competition in Hong Kong on Tuesday evening after an imperious display from the Germans in the showjumping final secured a win in the three-day tournament.

Hinrich Peter Romeike dropped just one rail on a superb final run for the Germans, giving them a 5.10 penalty buffer over Australia's team of Shane Rose, Sonja Johnson, Lucinda Fredericks, Clayton Fredericks and Megan Jones.

Jones came agonisingly close to a silver medal in the individual equestrian event, but was forced to settle for fourth after her horse Irish Jester clipped the very last rail on the course.

A flawless run from Romeike atop his horse Marius in the individual event secured him a second gold medal for the evening with a total of 54.20 penalty points, ahead of American Gina Miles and Britain's Kristina Cook.

Clayton Fredericks finished seventh in the individual standings with Johnson back in 10th.

In the team event, Germany had led after the cross-country section on Monday, and Australia took top spot in the opening dressage event.

A strong all-round performance saw Germany's mixed team of Romeike, Peter Thomsen, Frank Ostholt, Andreas Dibowski and Ingrid Klimke restrict itself to just 166.10 penalty points.

Jones had the penultimate ride of the evening and Australia's last, producing a near-flawless display atop Irish Jester to record just 4 penalty points.

Romeike needed to knock off at least three rails to put Australia into gold medal contention, but a fine run completed the strongest individual performance of the tournament and saw the Germans to safety atop the medal podium.

Rose says it was too hard to peg the Germans back on the tough Hong Kong course.

"It proved very difficult for most of the combinations out there. The rest of the team did a great job, and it's great to have that silver medal," he said.

Great Britain finished third on 185.70 points, 14.5 adrift of the Australians.

Clayton Fredericks, linchpin of the Australian team aboard Ben Along Time, said his team came to Hong Kong to win gold, describing it as "everything we have worked for".

But he conceded an Olympic medal, whatever the colour, was worth the work.

Romeike, on his gelding Marius, clinched the gold for his team as the last of 57 riders to take on the 13 fences.

His one fault, which cost him 4 penalty points, may have been a personal disappointment for a man who has taken his hobby to Olympian heights.

This victory was consolation of sorts for Germany's bitter loss in the Athens Games in 2004, when the gold medal was taken away from the team and given to France after Bettina Hoy, one of the best-known riders in the world, was penalised for crossing the start line twice.

Two of the Germans jumped clear rounds - Andreas Dibowski on Butts Leon and Frank Ostholt on Mr Medicott.

The British knew early on they were playing for third place, with team anchor William Fox-Pitt telling reporters after his own imperfect round he hoped he had done "enough to keep us in the hunt for the bronze medal".

Rice claims medley double
 

August 13, 2008 - 1:19PM

Australia's Stephanie Rice claimed a golden medley double after winning the 200 metres individual medley in world record time at the Water Cube.

Following up from her win in the 400m event on the opening day of the finals, Rice trailed Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry by .09 of a second at the final turn but powered home in the freestyle leg to win in a time of 2:08.45.

The time took almost half-a-second off the 2:08.92 record she set at the Olympic trials in Sydney.

Coventry took second in 2:08.59 with early pacesetter American Natalie Coughlin third home in 2:10.34.

Rice said the result made the long hours of training in the lead-up to the Games worthwhile.

"It's something I've dreamed about for a long time," she said.

"I put a lot of effort into this preparation so I'm really excited to see the results.

"It was a great battle, and that's what the Olympics is all about.

"Having Natalie Coughlin there really take it out was really good for me to get me out there.

"I knew that Coventry was going to be there the whole race and I knew she's extremely tough.

"It was really great for me to have her there pushing me along."

Rice says the race was even closer than she thought.

"It was extremely close and I didn't realise how close it was until I saw the scoreboard at the end.

"It was a phenomenal race."

But she says there will be no celebrations - at least, not yet.

"I've got the relay yet so no celebrating until I'm done."

Coughlin got out quickly to lead Rice at the first turn by 0.55, but lost the lead in the second 50m allowing Coventry to assume the lead after a strong backstroke leg.

Rice's fellow Australian Alicia Coutts started from lane two and finished fifth in 2:11.43.

Coventry set an Olympic record to qualify fastest for the final ahead of Rice and American duo Katie Hoff and Coughlin.

Rice vanquished Hoff in the 400m IM and finished ahead of Coventry to claim Australia's 400th Olympic gold medal.

US smash WR to win 4x200m relay gold
 

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 1:55 PM

The United States, led by Michael Phelps, have smashed the world record to win the 4x200m relay with Australia winning bronze.

It was the fifth gold medal in the four days of the meet for Phelps so far and his 11th career Olympic gold.

He remains on track for a record eight swimming gold medals at one Olympic Games.

The Americans led all the way and finished several body lengths in front of Russia, who just pipped Australia for bronze.

The Australian quartet of Patrick Murphy, Grant Hackett, Grant Brits and Nick Ffrost were pushed hard in the final stages by Italy. But Ffrost, swimming the anchor leg, responded to hold third place.

The American quartet of Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens and Peter Vanderkaay broke the world record by more than four seconds, hitting the wall in 6:58.56. Russia was second in 7:03.70.

Brenton Rickard second in 200m breaststroke
 

August 14, 2008 12:07pm

Brenton Rickard won a surprise silver medal with a superb swim in the 200m breaststroke final at the Beijing Olympics.
AUSTRALIA'S Brenton Rickard won a surprise silver medal with a superb swim in the men's 200m breaststroke final.
The fifth-fastest qualifier into the final, Rickard went hard from the gun and was in a medal position all the way.

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima won the gold medal in 2min 07.64sec, an Olympic record.

Rickard broke the Australian record, swimming 2:08.88. He came under severe pressure down the last 50m but kept his cool, out-touching two other rivals on his glide.

"I couldn't have taken another stroke,'' Rickard said.

"My heart was in my mouth. To see second next to my name was fantastic. I'm just so happy.

"I did a PB when it mattered most."

Hugues Duboscq of France, the 100m breaststroke bronze medallist, finished third again.

Aussie girls take shock relay gold
 

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 4:15 PM

Australia has taken a surprise gold medal in the women's 200-metres freestyle relay in world record time at the Beijing Olympics.

The team of Stephanie Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda McKenzie blew away the previous record by 5.78 seconds in a time of 7.44.31.

China finished in second 1.62 seconds behind, with defending champions the United States in third, 2.02 seconds behind the Australians.

Rice, who claimed her third gold medal of the Games, led the Australian team into second after a fantastic opening leg of 1.56.57 before Barratt took the lead in the second 200m.

But Palmer proved to be the major surprise packet with an exhilarating swim of 1.55.22 setting up a 3.14-second advantage going into the final 200m.

Anchor swimmer McKenzie hung on in the closing stages to smash the US's world record from March 2007 and win Australia's first gold medal in the event.

It also ended the Americans' unbeaten sequence of three Olympic titles in the event since Atlanta in 1996.

China took the silver medal in 7:45.93 ahead of the United States in 7:46.33.

It was 20-year-old Rice's third gold in the Beijing pool following her medley double win, with all her gold medals coming in world record time.

"It's so exciting. This is my last Olympic event here so what a great note to finish on - world record and a first place," Rice said.

"We went in knowing we had a really good chance and I wasn't nervous even though I have never led off a relay before. I was trying to enjoy the moment.

"I feel amazing, I finished such a great meet as part of the relay."

The United States broke a national record but it was nowhere near good enough to compete against the strong Aussie women's team, which now has won five gold to the United States's one.

"I did my best and ran out of room at the end and that's all I could do. It's tough but we broke the American record by four seconds so we can't complain," US anchor swimmer Katie Hoff said.

In the record splits, Rice swam 1:56.60, Barratt 1:56.58, Palmer 1:55.22 and MacKenzie 1:55.91.View historical results of the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Chinese quinella denies Schipper
 

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 2:09 PM

Jessicah Schipper has taken bronze in the women's 200-metres butterfly at the Beijing Olympics.

Chinese pair Zige Liu and Liuyang Jiao completed the quinella, both going under Schipper's two-year-old world record of 2:05.40.

Liu, 19, clocked an astonishing 2:04.18 in winning the gold medal, ahead of Jiao in 2:04.72.

It is only the second time in Olympic history that China has finished first and second in an Olympic swimming event.

"I didn't feel pressure before the competition, I just tried to relax," Liu said.

"In the race I just swam at my own pace, not caring about the others.

"My coach told me that we have two Chinese swimmers in the final, so I didn't need to force myself to win gold, but that I just needed to try my best."

Schipper, who was under world record pace up to halfway, could not sustain her challenge and dropped back slightly to finish third in 2:06.26.

Nevertheless, she says she was very happy with her performance. "I came into this meet wanting an individual medal and I've got two of them," she said.

"The last 50 metres was hard work, it hurt quite a bit and the Chinese girls swam an awesome race. I am very happy for them both."

It was China's first win in the 2008 Olympic swimming competition and was greeted with a huge roar by the predominant home crowd inside the Water Cube.

Liu had signalled she was up for the challenge for the gold by posting the fastest qualifying time.View historical results for the women's 200m butterfly.

Bernard pips Sullivan for 100m gold
 

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 3:42 PM

Frenchman Alain Bernard has won the men's 100-metres freestyle, edging out Australian Eamon Sullivan for the coveted sprint gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

In a hotly contested final, Bernard gained the ascendancy in the final 50m and became the first Frenchman to win the event in a time of 47.21 seconds.

World record holder Sullivan enjoyed a great start leading at the turn by 0.05 seconds, only to finish a close second in 47.32 after Bernard stormed back with a 24.68 last 50m.

It is Australia's second silver medal in the 100m, an event the country has not won since Michael Wenden at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

American Jason Lezak and Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho tied for the bronze medal in a time of 47.67, while Sullivan's fellow Australian Matt Targett finished seventh in 48.20.

Two-time champion Pieter van den Hoogenband finished in fifth in 47.75, missing an opportunity to become the first male to win the same event at three Olympic Games.

Bernard helped make up for his disappointment in the 4x100m freestyle relay, when he was mowed down by Lezak to hand the United States the gold medal and keep Michael Phelps's bid for eight alive.

"The best moment is when I turned back and I saw number one next to my name," Bernard said.

"It's huge, unbelievable. I don't know if I realise. At any moment I felt that I could be beaten.

"The relay was a lesson, to be beaten and passed was really shocking. I could have been down then, but after all the work from these last years I didn't want to let it go."

The world record in the event had fallen three times in Beijing.

Sullivan seized the mark from Bernard with a lead-off leg of 47.24 in the 4x100m freestyle relay on Monday.

Bernard regained the mark with a time of 47.20 in the first semi-final on Wednesday, and Sullivan snatched it back with his astonishing 47.05 in the second semi.

"Full credit to Alain, he swam a great race and really worked on my weaknesses," Sullivan said.

"I was maybe caught into swimming other people's races, I gave it 100 per cent, as I always do when I race.

"Putting in that great relay and the world record probably took its toll.

"I am looking forward to the 50m now."

Soni upsets Jones in 200m breaststroke
 

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 2:21 PM

American Rebecca Soni has caused a sensational upset in the women's 200 metres breaststroke, defeating Australia's Leisel Jones at the Beijing Olympics.

Jones was the raging favourite going into the race but the 21-year-old Soni streaked clear in the final 50 metres to claim gold and break Jones's world record in a time of 2.20.22.

Jones claimed silver in 2.22.05 with Sara Nordenstam of Norway finishing with the bronze in 2.23.02.

After the race a smiling Jones shrugged off the defeat.

"I just gave it absolutely everything .. I don't care, I'm all done," she told Channel Seven.

"I've had the best time and I think that's the most important part. I'm just so happy in my life that I couldn't care less.

"No commiserations. It's the Olympic Games, it's what it's all about. It was a great experience, she was the better swimmer on the day, she really did a great job, and I couldnt be more happy."

Soni, who qualified fastest for the final, battled tirelessly to stay on Jones's shoulder before taking the lead in the last turn by only 0.01 seconds.

She then went on with the job leaving a clearly sluggish Jones in her wake to eclipse the previous world mark by 0.32 seconds.

It is the 22-year-old Australian's second silver in the event after finishing behind American Amanda Beard in Athens.

Jones has been the undisputed queen of women's breaststroke and broke through for her first individual Olympic gold in winning the 100m event on Tuesday.

"I really couldn't breathe that last 50, I was just digging deep and couldn't breathe. It was like at the (2006) Commonwealth Games," Jones said.

"Rebecca is a pretty good competitor, she was always going to go fast, it's good to see people swimming so fast.

"A silver medal is still a silver medal in the Olympics. I gave it everything, I couldn't have given more. It's been a long week and it's hard to get up for that."

Soni's surprise victory over the world champion reversed a run of defeats the American women swimmers had been experiencing against their powerful Australian counterparts.

"It just kind of flowed, it just happened, it felt great. I just kept it strong and powered to the end," Soni said.

"It feels great. The last 15m I had plenty left in me, I saw Leisel behind and just pushed for the wall.

"I didn't know what was going on, I just went for it. I thought I had a chance, but I wasn't over-confident."

Soni, who underwent minor heart surgery in 2006, was the runner-up to Jones in the 100m final, but she was too strong for the Aussie champion over the extra two laps.

Soni said she had been motivated by the sensational gold medal exploits of American team-mate Michael Phelps.

Trickett settles for 100m silver
 

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 2:10 PM

Australia's Libby Trickett had to settle for silver as German Britta Steffen won the women's 100 metres freestyle in the Beijing Olympic pool today.

World record-holder Trickett led at the turn and was in front until the final seconds when the fast-finishing Steffen mowed her down.

Steffen won in 53.12 seconds with Trickett just 0.04 seconds behind.

American Natalie Coughlin was third in 53.39.

Trickett had been put through the emotional wringer yesterday when she thought she had missed qualifying.

She was eventually handed the eighth qualifying spot after a Chinese swimmer was disqualified for a false start.

"I was just really grateful I got the opportunity ... so I really wanted to make the most of it and see what I could come up with," she said.

"And to walk away with the silver, I'm pretty damn proud."

Potent claims shooting bronze
 

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 2:21 PM

Australian shooter Warren Potent has won the bronze medal in the 50-metre rifle prone at the Beijing Olympics.

Ukrainian army officer Artur Ayvazian won gold while American Matthew Emmons took the silver medal.

With 12 of the 15 shooting events over, China have four golds, followed by the Czech Republic with two, and India, Finland, South Korea, Italy, Ukraine and the United States with one

Lawrence kayaks to silver on the whitewater
 

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 7:21 PM

Australia's Jacqueline Lawrence produced a superb run in the women's K1 final at the Shunyi canoeing and kayaking venue on Friday to collect a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Under stunning blue skies on the outskirts of Beijing, Lawrence made it down the whitewater in a time of 206.94 seconds, 14.30 seconds behind gold-medal winner Slovakian Eolena Kaliska.

Austrian Violetta Peters Oblinger claimed the bronze medal.

The result was a stunning one for Big River Canoe Club kayaker Lawrence, whose best results so far in 2008 had been modest ones, including 15th and 28th finishes in World Cup competition.

Phelps equals Spitz's record in nail-biter
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:16 PM

Michael Phelps has won the 100 metres butterfly final at the Beijing Games in thrilling fashion, drawing level with fellow American Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at one Olympics.

Phelps claimed his seventh gold as he came from behind to beat Serbian Milorad Cavic by just 0.01 seconds.

The American touched in a new Olympic record of 50.58 seconds while Australian Andrew Lauterstein produced a magnificent swim to claim bronze in 51.12.

Cavic turned in 23.42 seconds, 0.62 ahead of a seventh-placed Phelps who shared a stare down with his Serbian rival on the starting blocks just seconds before the race start.

With his record bid seemingly slipping away, Phelps conjured his freakish ability to rein in Cavic before timing his touch a fraction better to complete yet another famous victory.

After becoming the leading gold medallist in Olympic history on Wednesday, the 23-year-old swimming sensation now needs victory in the men's 4x100m medley relay, the final event at the Water Cube, to claim his eighth gold.

"It feels like I'm dreaming ... I can't describe it," Lauterstein told Channel Seven after the race.

Adlington swims into record books
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:34 PM

Britain's Rebecca Adlington broke the oldest world record in swimming as she won the women's 800 metres freestyle in Beijing today.

Adlington took the lead early on and was never seriously challenged as she hit the wall in 8 minutes, 14.10 seconds.

The swim finally erased the old record time of 8:16.22 which had stood for almost 19 years since being set by Janet Evans of the United States on August 20, 1989.

Adlington, who won the 400m freestyle earlier in the week, also became the first British swimmer to win two golds at an Olympic meet since 1908.

Trailing in her wake, Italy's Alessia Filippi and Dane Lotte Friis finished second and third respectively more than six seconds behind.

Australia's Kylie Palmer, one of the star's of Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay win, finished sixth in 8:26.39.

Tallent wins bronze in 20km walk
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:57 PM

Australia's Jared Tallent has claimed the bronze medal in the gruelling 20 kilometres walk at the Beijing Olympics.

Tallent finished in 1 hour 19 minutes and 42 seconds behind Russian winner Valeriy Borchin, who gave his country its first-ever walking Olympic gold medal as he claimed gold in 1:19:01.

The 22-year-old Russian soldier beat 1996 Olympic champion Jefferson Perez of Ecuador (1:19:15) into second place.

Australian Luke Adams finished sixth.

Borchin - who served a one-year drugs ban in 2005/06 - had been swept up in a confusing story prior to the Games where his coach said that he had failed a drugs test, a story which was denied by the national team coach.

Rustam Kuvatov of Kazakhnstan set the early pace and was narrowly ahead after two kilometres just after the athletes had left the stadium.

Kuvatov's flirtation with Olympic fame came to an end just after the five-kilometre mark as he was caught and passed by Francisco Fernandez of Spain while Ireland's Robert Heffernan took closer order on his shoulder.

A group of 26 were now clear of the rest of the field.

At the eight-kilometre mark Fernandez - silver medallist in Athens and three times a silver medallist in the world championships - was joined up front by defending champion Ivano Brugnetti with Eder Sanchez of Mexico also prominent while Heffernan and Australia's Adams looked dangerous.

At the halfway mark Brugnetti and Fernandez shared the lead with the dogged Heffernan stalking them and Luis Lopez of Coloimbia on his shoulder in a lead group of 12.

Fernandez received a warning shortly afterwards as Heffernan surprisingly took the lead with Brugnetti in second and Fernandez third as the group contending for medals was whittled down to eight.

This trio alternated the lead but suddenly on the horizon appeared the menacing figure of Perez.

Perez, Brugnetti and Fernandez upped the pace and split the leading pack with Heffernan one of those dropped.

However, the Italian and the Spaniard were blown away as Borchin went up a gear and only Perez was capable of staying with him while Tallent moved into bronze medal position.

Though Perez hung on valiantly the Russian landed the killer blow two kilometres from the finish as he accelerated seemingly at will and opened up a decisive gap.

The Ecuadorean - who became the youngest ever winner of the walk in 1996 - could not reel him back in and dropped to his knees and made the sign of the cross on crossing the line as he bowed out after a glorious career.

Tallent by contrast cut a distressed figure as he threw up down the finishing straight but held on for third.

Coach hails Hackett after record heat
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:24 PM

Australia's head swim coach says Grant Hackett is fit and ready to take on the world's best in the final of the 1,500 metres on Sunday morning.

Rumours of Hackett suffering from a respiratory illness were blown away last night as the two-time gold medallist set an Olympic record to qualify fastest for the final in a time of 14 minutes 38.92 seconds.

"I don't really know where those rumours came from," said head coach Alan Thompson.

"He had a bit of sinus stuff a couple of days ago, but he's been pretty good."

Thompson says Hackett's swim has set Sunday's final up as an epic battle.

"Never before has there been a final where everyone's had to go under 15 minutes (to qualify)," he said.

"Never before has there been a final where everyone's had to go as fast as that. So it's not just going to be, who is the fastest swimmer. It's going to be who can be the fastest swimmer twice."

After his race, Hackett said he had not known how fast he had been going.

"I had to go out there and swim a good pace tonight, place a good time, and it's just a matter of getting ready for the final," Hackett said.

"I was very surprised. I thought it was about seven seconds slower than the pace I was doing."

Thompson says all of the swimmers in the race will be focusing on their recovery regime ahead of the morning final.

"That's going to be the real killer," he said. "Who can back up, who can recover the best? It matters how you pull up again on Sunday."

Thompson said Hackett was a strong chance in the final, but by no means the favourite.

"We won't count our chickens before they're hatched," he said.

"The whole of Australia will be supporting Grant on Sunday in (his) quest. He'll be doing his darnedest."

Ginn and Free snare rowing gold for Australia
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 7:12 PM

Australian pair Drew Ginn and Duncan Free have won the country's sixth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, taking out the men's pairs in the rowing.

Ginn and Free crossed the finish line in 6:37.44, just ahead of Canadian duo David Calder and Scott Frandsen, who clocked 6:39.55.

The Australian and Canadian boats were level pegging throughout the first half of the race but it was once they had passed the 1,000m mark that Free and Ginn pulled clear.

New Zealand's Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater finished third in 6:44.19.

It is Ginn's third rowing gold medal from as many Olympic Games, putting him on par with James Tomkins for the most gold medals by an Australian rower.

He revealed after the race that back pain had limited his training this week and it was touch and go whether he would compete.

"I have to be honest, we had a few touch and go moments," he said.

"I've had sciatica pain down my leg for the week.

"I just said I didn't want to know what the options were and all that sort of stuff.

"I didn't care. I wasn't going to go through the thing like 2000 again. It wasn't an option.

"At the start of the week there were a few hairy moments where we didn't know where it was going to go.

"So we haven't really rowed apart from the races. We were just about having the best row of our lives."

Free was ecstatic to win a first Olympic medal.

"From a week ago, and what's happened in the week, we've had a lot of highs and lows in emotions and thoughts," he said.

"Drew obviously didn't want to talk about it too much in terms of how bad it was, and I didn't want to ask him about it.

"I wanted him to row and it wasn't really an option planning to row with anyone else.

"For him to do what he's done with the injury he's had has been awesome.

"To get through the week in the minimal amount of work that we've done has been great."

The victory is Australia's first gold medal outside of the pool at the Beijing Games.

Tomkins has the chance to make it four gold medals in his career when he races in the final of the men's eight tomorrow.

Aussies Crawshay and Brennan win double sculls gold
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 7:29 PM

David Crawshay and Scott Brennan have won Australia's seventh gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, taking out the men's double sculls in the rowing.

The Australians led from start to finish to win by more than a second in 6:27.77.

Estonians Tonu Endrekson and Juri Jaanson hunted down and passed Brits Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham in the final 500m to snatch the silver.

Slovenia's world champions Luka Spik and Iztok Cop, the champions from Sydney eight years ago, were a huge disappointment, finishing sixth and last in the final.

Australia takes silver in men's fours
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 8:14 PM

The Australian team has taken silver behind Great Britain in the men's fours in the rowing competition at the Beijing Olympics.

The rookie quartet of Matt Ryan, James Marburg, Cameron Mckenzie-Mcharg and Francis Hegerty were mowed down by the more experienced British team of Tom James, Steve Williams, Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge.

It is Great Britain's third successive Olympics gold in the discipline.

The French team of Julien Despres, Benjamin Rondeau, Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette finished third.

Spitz labels Phelps's performance 'epic'
 

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 10:00 PM

Mark Spitz has used one word to sum up the performance of US countryman Michael Phelps who has matched his record of seven gold medals at one Olympics - epic.

Phelps, 23, won his seventh gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday when he touched out Serbia's Milorad Cavic by 0.01 second in the men's 100 metres butterfly final.

It put him on a par with Spitz's record and gives him a shot at topping that tally and bagging eight golds when he competes in his final event on Sunday, the 4x100m medley relay.

Spitz, 58, said he always knew someone would eventually match the benchmark he set at 1972 Munich Games.

"I wondered what I was going to say at this monumental time when it would happen and who I would say it to, and, of course, I thought I was going to say it to you (Phelps) for some time now," Spitz said.

"The word comes to mind: epic. What you did tonight was epic. I never thought for one moment you were out of that race.

"You represent such an inspiration to youngsters around the world."

As Phelps has bagged gold after gold at Beijing, the world's media has been hunting for Spitz to get his reaction to the swimmer rivalling his record after 36 years.

There were rumours that he was in Beijing, then that he was in Hong Kong, and then that he was at home in California.

However it turned out he was in Detroit, watching one of his two sons play in a basketball tournament.

After Saturday's race Phelps told NBC that he thought he had lost the race that earned him a extra $US1 million from sponsor Speedo which promised him a bonus if he matched Spitz's record.

"As soon as I took the last half stroke, to be honest, I thought I had lost the race," he told the US network that bought exclusive broadcasting rights to the August 8-24 Games.

"And that was the difference, 'cause if I would have glided then I would have come up short. I've been lucky enough over the last four years to have two pretty good finishes in Olympic finals. I guess I'm blessed."

Whether he wins an eighth gold medal or not, Phelps will leave Beijing as the most successful Olympian of all time.

By Saturday he had lifted his gold medal tally to 13, which easily tops the previous record of nine held jointly by Spitz, US sprinter Carl Lewis, Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi and Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina.

Lightning Bolt out of this world
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 2:27 AM

Usain Bolt was so relaxed at the finish of the men's 100 metres sprint at the Beijing Olympics that he slapped his chest before he crossed the line and later said that the world record had not been on his mind.

The 21-year-old Jamaican produced a stunning performance to win the blue riband event in a new world record time of 9.69 seconds, beating his own mark by 0.03 of a second.

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago (9.89secs) took silver with Walter Dix of the United States snaring bronze in 9.91secs.

"I felt the world record earlier on," said Bolt, the first Jamaican to win the title.

"I came here just to win and I did just that. I didn't even know I'd broken the world record until I did my victory lap.

"Now I'm just concentrating on my two races coming up. I came here prepared and I'm going to try and do it the (100m and 200m double).

"I'm just happy. I wanted to please myself and I did that. I simply don't know (how fast I can go)."

Bolt said that the world record had not been on his mind.

"I didn't come here to set the world record because I am the holder, I came here to win," he said.

"I hope to win three gold medals, the 200 plus the relay.

"I am happy to make the country proud and to do it again for them in the 200m," added Bolt, who spoke to the Jamaican Prime Minister on the phone after his triumph.

Exuberant celebrations


Bolt's celebrations were understandably exuberant, taking off his golden shoes, kissing them several times, and draping himself in the Jamaican flag with several extravagant swishes as if he was a bullfighter.

"The celebration? It wasn't planned, I was just celebrating, I was pretty happy."

Dr Herb Elliott, Jamaican team chief doctor, immediately moved to scotch suggestions that the youngster was doped.

"I don't care about the rumours. He's been tested over and over again," said Dr Elliott, who has a PhD in biochemistry.

"I say to them to come down, come down and see our program, come down and see our testing and see how we operate. come down anytime, day or night. we have nothing to hide."

Bolt's compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell came fifth as six of the eight finalists finished under 10 seconds, a record for the Olympic final, which also equalled the 1991 world final in Tokyo when six men also dipped under the 10-second barrier.

Powell, who again failed on the big stage, paid handsome tribute to Bolt, who could well go on and add the 200m title later in the Games.

"He is the best ever sprinter and I've said that before," the 25-year-old said.

"He has run 9.69 and got the gold so he is definitely the greatest.

"It was a spectacular performance and he was definitely the best here. He could have run faster if he had run straight through the line."

Powell admitted he had simply run out of steam.

"I was feeling good but I didn't feel it in my legs. They died on me."

Bolt, who bettered compatriot Don Quarrie's silver medal from the 1976 Olympics when he finished second to a Trinidadian in Hasely Crawford, was headed by Thompson for the first part of the race but there was no contest once he got into his stride and went clear away from the field.

So commanding was his lead he eased up well before the line and held out his hands in celebration.

Rivals in awe


Behind him, Thompson showed the same impressive form the 23-year-old had displayed during the earlier heats to hold on to second, but he too was left in awe of the winner.

"It feels good to be here, to be part of history," Thompson said.

"It was good to finish behind him (Bolt) because there's no way anyone on earth could have beaten him tonight.

"To finish second to him that is a great accomplishment in itself.

"Usain is a great athlete. It was just a matter of time before he proved himself on this stage."

Dix, also an Olympic debutant, came on strong in the final metres to overhaul Powell, who lost out on fourth place to surprise package Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles.

Both Dix and Martina admitted that Bolt had been on another level.

"That was the greatest race ever," beamed 22-year-old Dix, who will take on Bolt again in the 200m.

"I can't be more satisfied with third place. He (Bolt) broke the world record, you can't ask for more."

Martina, who showed his international credentials with fifth and seventh in the 100m and 200m at last year's world championships, said Bolt could take the time down even further.

"Everyone could see what he did, he didn't even push through the line. It's an amazing time," the 24-year-old said.

World champion Tyson Gay, out of action for just over a month after suffering a hamstring injury before the Olympics, exited in the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, when he finished fifth.

Sprint queen Steffen takes 50m gold
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 12:16 PM

Britta Steffen has completed the Olympic women's sprint double, winning gold in the 50 metres freestyle to add to her 100m Beijing title.

The German touched first in a Games record time of 24.06, reining in 41-year-old American Darra Torres by only 0.01 seconds.

Australian teenager Cate Campbell claimed bronze from lane five in a great time of 24.17.

"You can never learn experience, you have to experience it," Campbell told Channel Seven after the race.

"I'm stoked - an individual medal at my first Olympics. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Libby Trickett, who claimed silver in the 100m, finished fourth in 24.25.

One for the ages as Tomescu wins marathon
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 12:55 PM

Romania's Constantina Tomescu became the oldest winner ever in an Olympic marathon when she won the Beijing race today.

The 38-year-old, who bettered compatriot Lidia Simon's silver medal from the 2000 Games, beat home world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya who won her second successive Olympic silver medal while China's Zhou Chunxiu was third.

There was more Olympic misery for Britain's world record holder Paula Radcliffe as she faded to finish 23rd.

Radcliffe finished limping badly on the left leg which she suffered a stress fracture off earlier this year. She is still without an Olympic medal.

Benita Johnson was the best-placed Australian in 21st place. Lisa Jane Weightman finished 33rd while Kate Smyth was 44th.

Tomescu made her move after a large leading group set a plodding early pace and, with nobody choosing to respond, was a minute clear inside the final 10km.

Tomescu, third in the 2005 world championships, stretched that gap further over the closing stages to win in two hours, 26 minutes and 44 seconds.Pre-race favourite Ndereba beat China's Zhou for silver in a down-to-the-wire sprint as around 50,000 patiently-waiting fans cheered the home favourite.World champion Ndereba, silver medallist four years ago, showed little sign of life in the first part of the race.She hit the half-marathon mark in 26th place and briefly faded from the pack only to gather speed again in the closing stages and finish in 2:27.06, a second ahead of Zhou.Kenya, who have dominated the marathon for decades, have never won Olympic gold in the women's event.Radcliffe, Britain's world record holder, was dropped from the chasing pack just past the 30km mark and was clearly not in top form after spending weeks nursing a thigh injury.Radcliffe was forced to stop at one stage but battled on in visible pain to finish 23rd before bursting into tears after crossing the finish line.

Golden girls smash medley relay record
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 1:02 PM

Australia's women's 4x100 metres medley relay has taken gold ahead of the USA in the final women's event at the Water Cube.

The Australian team of Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones, Jessicah Schipper and Libby Trickett finished in a new world record time of 3 minutes 52.69.

The Aussies saw off a stiff challenge from the American team featuring Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Christine Magnuson and Dara Torres which finished in 3.53.30.

The Chinese team finished with the bronze in a time of 3.56.10.

The turning point in the race came courtesy of a poor second 50 from US backstroker Coughlin giving Seebohm the chance to rein in the deficit to just 0.11 seconds.

Jones then delivered a sizzling breaststroke leg against her conqueror in the 100m final Soni, before Schipper handed Trickett a 0.87 second lead heading into the final 100.

The 100m silver-medallist then held off a challenge by 41-year-old Torres to touch first and also claim her second gold for the Games.

The Australian's victory adds to the shock success of the 4x200m freestyle relay team and brings the women's and whole Australia swimming team's gold medal tally to five.

Hackett denied 1,500m hat-trick
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 1:09 PM

Grant Hackett has placed second in the 1,500 metres freestyle behind Oussama Mellouli, denying him the chance to become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Games.

Despite a fantastic Olympic record swim in his heat, Hackett could not answer the challenge by the outsider from Tunisia who finished in a time of 14.40.84.

The Australian finished in 14.41.53 well short of his heat swim of 14.38.92 on Friday.

Canadian Ryan Cochrane, who led up to the 1000m, finished third in 14:42.69.

Mellouli, 24, has only recently served out an 18-month doping ban after becoming Tunisia's first swimming world champion with a come-from-behind win in the 800m freestyle at last year's world championships in Melbourne.

Mellouli was subsequently stripped of the gold medal after testing positive for amphetamines and completed his ban in May in time to swim at the Olympics.

Hackett's silver means Australia has failed to win a male individual gold medal at the Water Cube.

"I've got nothing left," a breathless Hackett told Channel Seven after the race.

"I've got to be happy with that. It's disappointing to get so close and get second. My heats swim would have won me that but it's OK. I know I finished with everything I had.

"I have got no regrets - but jeez it would have been nice to have won this."

Hackett refused to be drawn on his future after the race.

"I'm getting a bit older now and i'll wait and see how I feel after a nice long break."

Mellouli said he has been waiting for his moment of glory for two years since his doping ban.

"It's the redemption I wanted and I got it," Mellouli said.

"I had expectations for the 400m freestyle, but this is a great surprise.

"I felt good in the first 400m of this race and at the 800m and 900m I started believing that I could win.

"It was all calculated. I slowed down in the penultimate 100m to save my energy and attack in the final 50m.

Hackett was attempting to join fellow Australian Dawn Fraser, who triumphed in the women's 100m freestyle at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Games, and Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi as the only athletes in history to complete the rare hat-trick in the pool.

Despite the unexpected result, Hackett's silver adds to Australia's eight golds and 23 medals in the 1,500m, the country's most successful event at the Olympics.

Phelps claims historic eighth gold in Beijing
 

Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 1:43 PM

Michael Phelps has created Olympic history after winning his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games in the United States' 4x100 metres medley relay triumph.

Phelps's eighth victory in the Water Cube eclipses fellow American Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of seven gold medals at the Munich Games.

Swimming the third butterfly leg of the relay, Phelps helped the Americans recapture their lead over the Australian team, who finished with an admirable silver, to win in a world record time of 3 minutes 29.34 seconds.

Australia's team of Hayden Stoeckel, Brenton Rickard, Andrew Lauterstein and Eamon Sullivan finished in 3:30.04 and Japan took bronze in 3:31.18.

Phelps leaves Beijing as the most successful Olympian of all time with 14 gold medals, topping the previous record of nine held jointly by Spitz, Carl Lewis, Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi and Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina.

His emphatic victory came after a mixed final day for the Australians with team captain Grant Hackett falling short of his bid to become the first male swimmer to win three consecutive gold medals in the same event.

Hackett claimed the silver behind Tunisian bolter Oussama Mellouli who finished in a time slower than the 28-year-old Australian's Games record heat time.

The Australian team's campaign was given a lift in the next race however, with a fantastic victory by the women's 4x100 metres medley relay team.

Fitting finale


The Americans were third when Phelps entered the water for the 100m butterfly leg with Australia second, 0.81 seconds behind leader Japan.

But a typically mesmerising second 50m by Phelps helped restore a winning advantage for freestyle anchor swimmer Jason Lezak, who helped secured Phelps's second gold with a famous victory in the 4x100m relay.

Eamon Sullivan tried valiantly to peg back the difference with a 46.65 but fell just short as the swimming meet ended in historic fashion.

Backstroke champion Aaron Peirsol and breaststroker Brendan Hansen completed the other two legs for the US.

Jamaican triple treat in women's 100m
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 1:41 AM

Shelly-Ann Fraser has surged to Jamaica's first Olympic women's 100 metres gold medal and led compatriots Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart to the event's first national podium sweep.

A day after Usain Bolt claimed a first men's 100m crown for the Caribbean island, 21-year-old Fraser clocked 10.78 seconds to claim the title ahead of her compatriots, who were both awarded silver after a photo finish failed to separate them.

"I can't believe I actually won. Nobody expected me to win, so there was no pressure," Fraser said.

"I'm so excited, I really am, I can't wait to get home."

Simpson and Stewart were given the same time of 10.98 ahead of former world champion Lauryn Williams, the first of a trio of Americans in the race that had been billed as US v Jamaica.

"It's wonderful, the first three for Jamaica. History," Simpson said. "To be silver medallist, I'm really happy, it was a challenging time coming to these Olympics."

Stewart, who like her fellow silver medallist is 24, was equally delighted.

"It's about time, we've been waiting for this, so many great athletes have come so close and we were able to pull it off tonight," she said.

American Muna Lee, who won the US trial last month, was fifth and said she thought one of her rivals had got away early.

"It'll be alright, it was just one of those days," she said. "I felt like someone had false started."

The start did look a bit ragged and Simpson made the early running in the inside lane before Fraser came charging down lane four.

Simpson could have clinched the silver on her own if she had dipped for the line and Stewart's lean forward made the pair inseparable after a several minutes of examination by officials.

For Fraser, the youngest member of the trio who kept world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown out of the event in Beijing, it was a first major title.

Former world champion Torri Edwards of the United States, the fastest woman in the world this year, finished last with Jeanette Kwakye sixth for Britain.

Defending champion Yuliya Nestsiarenka of Belarus failed to reach the final after finishing fifth in her semi-final earlier on Sunday evening.

Tomkins bows out after eights defeat
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 10:31 AM

It wasn't the way he wanted to go out, but six-time Australian Olympian James Tomkins has laid down his oars after a disappointing loss in Beijing.

Tomkins, who is 43, announced his retirement from competitive rowing after the Australian men's eight came last in the Olympic final.

The loss is a frustrating career end for the three-time gold medallist, seven-time world champion and last competing member of the Barcelona 'Oarsome Foursome'.

"We had a fantastic season and I would not have swapped that for anything, but a disappointing, disappointing run," he said.

"It's hard to leave it. I'd love to have another crack. But I don't think it's feasible.

"It is easy to say but there are more important things in life."

An emotional Tomkins wiped away tears as he recounted the details of the race, which was won by Canada almost 10 seconds ahead of Australia.

"We had a really good start and I had a look across. I thought, you beauty here we go, we can have a real crack at this," he said.

"Then I don't know what happened, it was just disappointing in the middle of the race.

"We weren't rowing," Tomkins added.

"We could not row because we were getting washed off by the Poms alongside us, so it was basically paddling to the line.

"I actually had a quick look to the screen to see the finish."

Women last


The Australian women's eight also finished last in their final.

Sarah Tait is only team member remaining from the Athens eight that gained notority when Sally Robbins stopped rowing.

She says the 2008 eight was not looking for redemption.

"Obviously we wanted to do better, but you always want to go into a regatta wanting to get a medal. I don't think that came into it," she said.

Sunday was a disappointing day all-round for the Australians at the rowing, in stark contrast to the two gold medals and one silver won on Saturday.

Head rowing coach Noel Donaldson says there will be a post mortem.

"The rowing events are over," he said.

"Australia's next big medal opportunity is likely to be the sailing.

"But some teams are so far head on points they only have to get in the water on the final to win gold."

Snowsill storms to triathlon gold
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 3:39 PM

Emma Snowsill ended Australia's Olympic triathlon drought when she claimed gold with a dominant win in the women's race in Beijing today.

The pint-sized Snowsill, who missed the Australian team for 2004, burned off fierce rival Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal in the final section to close in 1 hour 58 minutes 27 seconds, a lead of 1:06. Australia's Emma Moffatt took bronze in 1:59:55.84.

Snowsill, 27, had such a commanding lead that she took time to celebrate with fans down the final straight, beaming and waving the Australian flag as she crossed the line.

"I didn't feel awesome," she confided. "It was extremely hard, it was hot. I think it was a great course for a triathlon. It was a really tough course.

"I feel very proud and honoured to be an Australian with a gold medal around my neck at the Olympic Games.

"I believe we came so close in Sydney and Athens that this makes up for those very close defeats.

"I don't feel any regret about not going to Athens, you move on and you deal with it. But to come from a nation that's so strong in terms of triathlon, it's a fantastic feeling to finally bring home a gold medal."

The triple world champion had broken away from a 19-strong lead group at the start of the run leg and was never challenged on the way to the finish.

Australia's Erin Densham was 22nd.

The victory is redemption for the 1.61m 'Snowy' who was overlooked for Athens 2004 but has since collected Commonwealth gold and her second and third world titles with nine World Cup series wins along the way.

And the win ended Australia's run of heartbreak since triathlon became an Olympic event at the Sydney Games.

In 2000 Australia's Michellie Jones was the world number one and favourite to win gold, but finished in second place behind Swiss triathlete Brigitte McMahon.

Four years later Australia's Loretta Harrop was the favourite in Athens, but tired in the final stretch to lose the gold medal to Australian-born Austrian Kate Allen by seven seconds.

How it happened


Sarah Haskins hit the front early in the Ming Tomb Reservoir swim but the athletes were tightly bunched at the first change with American team-mate Laura Bennett narrowly landing first in 19:49.

Bennett maintained her lead through the transition onto the bikes with Japan's Juri Ide and Snowsill in close contention along with Moffatt and Fernandes.

An eight-bike pile-up at the end of lap five dashed the hopes of Canada's Laura Groves and Russian Irina Abysova as riders careered over the barrier and into each other at the hairpin stadium turn.

Moffatt led the standings after the bike race at 1:24:38.76 but Snowsill was off like a shot as she opened up a 15-second lead on Fernandes by the end of the first 2.5km lap and doubled her advantage by the halfway stage.

Snowsill took a wrong turn going into the stadium at the end of lap three but could afford to make mistakes with her lead already stretched to nearly a minute.

The gruelling 'splash/mash/dash' - 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run - was held at the scenic Ming Tomb Reservoir near Beijing in sunny conditions with temperatures at about 25 C (77 F).

Aussie pair take 470 gold
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 4:00 PM

Sailors Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page have won Australia's 10th gold medal of the Beijing Games with victory in the men's 470 class today.

Wilmot and Page went into the race with the gold virtually guaranteed, needing only to complete the course as they entered sitting in first place on 42 points, 22 ahead of nearest rival the Netherlands.

The pair held such an advantage after their 10-race opening series that they only had to make a genuine attempt to start the medal race to be assured of gold under racing rules.

They won the title in style, though, taking out the medal race.

Britain's Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield won silver and France's Nicolas Charbonnier and Olivier Bausset took bronze.

Wilmot, 28, and Page, 36, announced earlier this year they would retire from 470 dinghy sailing after the Beijing Games.

Fellow Australians Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson are poised to take gold when the women's event concludes later today.

Snowsill turns tragedy into triumph
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 6:51 PM

Australia's Olympic triathlon champion Emma Snowsill says she poured her "heart and soul" into the sport after being struck by tragedy early in her career.

Snowsill was just 19 when her boyfriend and fellow triathlete Luke Harrop was killed in a hit-and-run accident while bike training on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Several years later, and wearing Australia's first triathlon gold medal in Beijing, Snowsill said the loss had made her realise how lucky she was just to be alive and competing.

"Lessons learned through life are there not necessarily for good or bad reasons, you just have to take them as they are and move on," she reflected.

"I think triathlon is a passion. I've really put my heart and soul into it and every ounce of energy, so I'm very lucky to be able to do that and to be here."

More shocks were to come for Snowsill, who missed Australia's 2004 Olympic team despite winning the first of three world titles a year earlier.

Last year she was staggered to be diagnosed with asthma, raising concerns about her ability to compete in Beijing's notorious smog.

"Everybody has a personal story. I think everybody deals with it in different ways," she said.

"Definitely I can only look forward to tomorrow. You can't change the past, you can only take control of the moment now and the foreseeable future."

The 27-year-old Commonwealth champion ran a blistering road race in clear but hot conditions to seal the title by more than a minute from Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal.

Snowsill's father Garry praised his daughter's hard work, and said she had to make big sacrifices to win gold.

"It's her life, she trains six hours a day, six days a week minimum," he said.

"And you can get a pretty good idea by just looking at her web site, because it shows some of her training programs. She sacrifices a lot."

Double gold for Australia in 470 sailing
 

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 7:45 PM

Women's pair Tessa Parkinson and Elise Rechichi have delivered Australia its second sailing gold medal of the day with victory in the 470 class at Qingdao.

Parkinson and Rechichi, the youngest members of Australia's sailing team, made it an Australian sweep of the 470 class after men's pair Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page won their medal race earlier in the day.

The Australian girls took a huge lead into the medal race over their nearest rivals, Dutch pair Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout.

De Koning and Berkhout won silver and Brazil's Fernanda Oliveira and Isabel Swan claimed bronze.

The only way Parkinson and Rechichi could have lost their grip on gold was if they finished last in the final race and the Dutch pair claimed victory.

But the Brazilian pair won the final race to guarantee Australia gold after they coasted home to finish ninth.

The Australian pair got their medal race tactics right by herding the Dutch out wide on the course in the early skirmishes, relegating their rivals to last at the first mark.

The Dutch were forced to play catch-up and although they steadily worked their way past some stragglers, their chance of gold had gone.

Rechichi said they planned to hook up with Wilmot and Page and party.

"When we crossed the finish line we were screaming and crying and shouting. We're so stunned we cannot stop laughing," she said.

"We're very excited. we're going to the find the boys (Wilmot and Page) and our families and we'll go party."

Parkinson and Rechichi's gold handed Australia its third gold medal on day 10, together with the men's 470 gold and Emma Snowsill's triathlon gold medal.

The women's win took Australia's gold medal tally to 11 so far in Beijing.

Men's gold


Wilmot and Page went into the race with the gold virtually guaranteed, needing only to complete the course as they entered sitting in first place on 42 points, 22 ahead of nearest rival the Netherlands.

The pair held such an advantage after their 10-race opening series that they only had to make a genuine attempt to start the medal race to be assured of gold under racing rules.

They won the title in style, though, taking out the medal race.

Britain's Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield won silver and France's Nicolas Charbonnier and Olivier Bausset took bronze.

Wilmot, 28, and Page, 36, announced earlier this year they would retire from 470 dinghy sailing after the Beijing Games.

Page did leave the door open for a 2012 campaign, but said his first priority was to head for the dining hall.

"We're going to have a nice buffet with lots of food. We plan on getting fat and as far as another Olympics go, we'll have to wait and see," Page told reporters.

Consistency throughout the regatta had put the triple world champions in a commanding position. They failed to win one of the 10 preliminary races but had seven top-five placings.

"Today we were pretty relaxed and we were joking around," Wilmot said. "We saw all the boats behind us and we thought 'we might as well win our only Olympic medal race'".