2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 8 — Michael Phelps Wins 18th Olympic Gold Medal in Final Race
Michael Phelps extended his record as the Olympics’ most decorated athlete in London on Saturday, while the host country had its best night yet. Here’s a recap of the day’s events:
US swimmer Michael Phelps won his 18th Olympic gold medal, as the US men’s team was victorious in the 4×100-meter medley relay. Matthew Grevers, Brendan Hansen and Nathan Adrian teamed with Phelps, who finished his swimming career with 22 overall medals, an Olympic record.
American swimmers Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Allison Schmitt earned the gold medal in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay, winning in a new world record time of 3 minutes, 52.05 seconds. The victory brought Franklin’s London Games’ medal total to five, including four golds.
Jessica Ennis of Great Britain won the women’s heptathlon, one of six gold medals won by the host country on Saturday. Brit Mohamed Farah claimed gold in the men’s 10,000-meter race, followed by American Galen Rupp and Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia.
In other track and field results, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica edged world champion Carmelita Jeter of the US to win her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women’s 100-meters, while Jamaican teammate Veronica Campbell-Brown earned the bronze medal. Defending Olympic champ Usain Bolt of Jamaica advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 100-meters.
In the men’s 400-meters, South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, who runs via prosthetic blades, became the first amputee to compete in track at an Olympics. Pistorius finished second in his heat to advance to the next round, while a hamstring injury ended the Olympics for American LaShawn Merritt, the defending Olympic champion in the event.
In tennis, American Serena Williams routed Maria Sharapova of Russia, 6-0 6-1, to win her first Olympic gold medal in women’s singles, and American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan won gold in the men’s doubles by beating Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, 6-4, 7-6. Elsewhere, Jamie Lynn Gray of the US won the gold medal in the women’s 50-meter standard rifle three positions event.
Other US athletes to medal on Saturday were Will Claye, who won bronze in the men’s long jump, cyclists Lauren Tamayo, Dotsie Bausch and Sarah Hammer, who claimed silver in the women’s pursuit and fencers Courtney Hurley, Maya Lawrence and Susannah Scanlan, who earned the bronze medal in women’s team epee.
In other results, LeBron James scored 20 points as the US men’s basketball team struggled to beat Lithuania, 99-94. The Russian men upset Spain, 77-74, to win the Group B title. In men’s volleyball, Russia came from two sets down to beat the US men’s team 3-2, snapping the Americans’ 11-match winning streak in Olympic play. In men’s soccer, South Korea upset Britain, 5-4, in a shootout to advance to the semifinal round against Brazil.
Overall Medal Leader Board
United States — 54 medals
26 Gold, 13 Silver, 15 Bronze
China — 53 medals
25 Gold, 16 Silver, 12 Bronze
Great Britain — 29 medals
14 Gold, 7 Silver, 8 Bronze
Russia — 28 medals
3 Gold, 15 Silver, 10 Bronze
Japan — 24 medals
2 Gold, 10 Silver, 12 Bronze