2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 15 — Usain Bolt Wins Third Gold Medal, Helps Relay Team Set World Record
The United States surpassed the 100-medal mark during another record-setting day at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Saturday. Here's a recap of the day's highlights:
Led by anchor Usain Bolt, who earned his third gold medal of the London Games, the Jamaican team ran past the US sprinters to win the men's 4x100-meter relay in a world record-time of 36.84 seconds. Bolt and teammates Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Nesta Carter defeated the American team of Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey, as Bolt blew by Bailey on the home straight. The US silver medal-winning time of 37.04 seconds tied the previous world record. Trinidad and Tobago captured the bronze medal in the event after the Canadian team was disqualified for a lane violation on the last curve.
In the women's 4x400-meter relay, the US team of DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross easily won gold with a time of 3:16.87 minutes. It was the Americans' fifth straight Olympic win in the event. Russia grabbed the silver medal, and Jamaica earned the bronze.
Among the other track highlights, Anna Chicherova won gold in the women's high jump, with Brigetta Barrett of the US capturing the silver medal. Russia's Mariya Savinova defeated South African Caster Semenya to win gold in the women's 800 meters. Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago won the men's javelin with a national record throw of 84.58 meters. Britain's Mo Farah held off Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel and Kenya’s Thomas Longosiwa to win the 5,000 meters. The victory gave Farah gold medals in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meters.
In an upset, US diver David Boudia became the first American man to win gold in the 10-meter platform event since Greg Louganis' victory at Seoul in 1988. Boudia, who nabbed the last qualifying spot in Friday's preliminaries, outperformed silver medalist Qiu Bo of China and Britain's Tom Daley, who took the bronze.
Several team sports handed out their Olympic medals on Saturday.
The United States women's basketball team routed France, 86-50, on Saturday night to win the gold medal at its fifth straight Olympic Games and extend their Olympic winning streak to 41. Leading by just a dozen points at halftime, the Americans pulled away in the third quarter, as Candace Parker of the US led all scorers with 21 points. Australia beat Russia, 83-74, to win the bronze medal.
For the second straight Olympics, Brazil's women's volleyball team upset the US team, 3-1. After a dominant 25-11 first set, the American team could not get back on track, as Destinee Hooker of the US was held to 14 points. Japan beat South Korea to claim the bronze medal in the event.
Oribe Peralta scored two goals as Mexico beat Brazil, 2-1, for the gold medal in men's soccer. Mexican goalkeeper Jose Corona was spectacular in net, keeping the Brazilians scoreless until the closing minutes. South Korea topped Japan, 3-0, on Friday to win the bronze medal.
Other US medal winners on Saturday were Coleman Scott, who grabbed the bronze medal in the 60 kg class of men's freestyle wrestling, and Georgia Gould, who finished third in women's cross-country cycling.
Overall Medal Leader Board
United States — 102 medals
44 Gold, 29 Silver, 29 Bronze
China — 87 medals
38 Gold, 27 Silver, 22 Bronze
Russia — 78 medals
21 Gold, 25 Silver, 32 Bronze
Great Britain — 62 medals
28 Gold, 15 Silver, 19 Bronze
Germany — 44 medals
11 Gold, 19 Silver, 14 Bronze