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Merritt leads US gold rush in athletics
Source: Xinhua |
August 9, 2012, Thursday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
AMERICAN Aries Merritt ran a personal best of 12.92 seconds to win the Olympic men's 100m hurdles title yesterday as the US closed in upon China on the medals table thanks to victories in track and field.
Merritt got a flying start and held off the challenge of world champion Jason Richardson and Jamaica's Hansle Parchment to secure what in the end was a comfortable win. It is the first gold medal that the US has taken in the event since Allen Johnson took gold in Atlanta in 1996.
The race ended in sadness for Cuba's Dayron Robles, the 2008 winner and world record holder, as he limped out after pulling his hamstring to add more drama to the event, which had witnessed Chinese favorite Liu Xiang injured his Achilles tendon in Tuesday's heat.
Meanwhile, Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt cruised into the 200m final with a comfortable win.
He clocked 20.18 seconds, which was slower than his main rival, Yohan Blake, in the opening semifinal, but Bolt got off to an excellent start and ran a fast 100 meters to have the race under control before easing off in the closing straight.
With just four days to go, China leads the gold medal count with 36, ahead of the Americans who had 34 gold. But the US has 81 medals overall, four more than China.
With table tennis considered China's number one sport, anything less than gold in all four events is regarded, by millions of Chinese fans and officials alike, a failure.
The Chinese paddlers eventually lived up to their expectations when Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Wang Hao had little problems against South Korea Wednesday in the men's team final, dropping just two sets en route to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
China has won 24 of 28 gold medals since the sport was introduced to the Olympic program in 1988.
"I am very excited. Thanks to everyone who supported us. There may only be three people on this team but this is for the millions in China watching us," said Wang Hao, who also won the men's singles silver here.
China's Wu Jingyu successfully retained her Olympic crown in the women's 49kg taekwondo when she overwhelmed three-time world champion Brigitte Yague of Spain 8-1 in the final.
"I was especially calm and relaxed in my matches today. Back in 2008 I wasn't so mature but in the past four years I have grown so much," said the 25-year-old Wu.
Merritt got a flying start and held off the challenge of world champion Jason Richardson and Jamaica's Hansle Parchment to secure what in the end was a comfortable win. It is the first gold medal that the US has taken in the event since Allen Johnson took gold in Atlanta in 1996.
The race ended in sadness for Cuba's Dayron Robles, the 2008 winner and world record holder, as he limped out after pulling his hamstring to add more drama to the event, which had witnessed Chinese favorite Liu Xiang injured his Achilles tendon in Tuesday's heat.
Meanwhile, Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt cruised into the 200m final with a comfortable win.
He clocked 20.18 seconds, which was slower than his main rival, Yohan Blake, in the opening semifinal, but Bolt got off to an excellent start and ran a fast 100 meters to have the race under control before easing off in the closing straight.
With just four days to go, China leads the gold medal count with 36, ahead of the Americans who had 34 gold. But the US has 81 medals overall, four more than China.
With table tennis considered China's number one sport, anything less than gold in all four events is regarded, by millions of Chinese fans and officials alike, a failure.
The Chinese paddlers eventually lived up to their expectations when Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Wang Hao had little problems against South Korea Wednesday in the men's team final, dropping just two sets en route to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
China has won 24 of 28 gold medals since the sport was introduced to the Olympic program in 1988.
"I am very excited. Thanks to everyone who supported us. There may only be three people on this team but this is for the millions in China watching us," said Wang Hao, who also won the men's singles silver here.
China's Wu Jingyu successfully retained her Olympic crown in the women's 49kg taekwondo when she overwhelmed three-time world champion Brigitte Yague of Spain 8-1 in the final.
"I was especially calm and relaxed in my matches today. Back in 2008 I wasn't so mature but in the past four years I have grown so much," said the 25-year-old Wu.
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