TV5 to replay full London Olympics closing ceremony twice today

MANILA - TV5 will air the full closing ceremony of the London Olympics at 12 noon today on TV5 and also at 8 p.m. on AKTV on IBC.

The closing ceremony, showcasing the best of the world's athletes and the best of British music, was aired live on TV5 from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and highlights were incorporated into its morning program, Good Morning Club.

Aptly called “A Symphony of British Music,” the celebration featured some of the country’s best artistic exports in the past half-century. More than 4,100 performers, including 3,500 volunteers and 380 schoolchildren will be present during the lavish gathering to cap off the quadrennial games.

Academy Award-nominated film and Tony Award-winning theater director Stephen Daldry is the creative director and executive producer for the closing ceremonies.

More than 10,000 athletes will also march together in a symbol of unity forged in the past two weeks of the games. Representatives from 2016 Olympic host country Brazil also received the torch in a formal turnover ceremony for the next Games.

Despite the unsuccessful mission to capture the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, the 11-member contingent competed alongside the world’s best in this year’s Olympics. This year’s performance only motivates the national athletes to do better in time for 2016, officials said.

source: interaksyon.com

Obama lauds hosting of ‘extremely successful’ Olympic Games

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama congratulated British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday for hosting an “extremely successful” Olympic Games in London.

The warm statement was a sharp contrast to the barbed comments Obama’s Republican rival in the November elections, Mitt Romney, made about the Games during a visit to the British capital to attend the opening ceremony.

Obama called Cameron “to congratulate him and the people of the United Kingdom and London on an extremely successful Olympic Games, which speaks to the character and spirit of our close ally,” the White House said in a statement as the games came to a close.

The Americans cemented their place on top of the medal table at the end of the Games — with a total of 104 medals, including 46 gold medals — ahead of China’s 38 gold medals, while Britain finished third in the standings with 29 gold medals.

Obama and Cameron “commended the exceptional performances by both the Olympic teams of the United States and Great Britain and noted how proud we all are of them,” the statement said.

“The president thanked the prime minister for hosting so many US athletes and fans and for the extremely warm welcome shown to First Lady Michelle Obama.”

Romney kicked up a small diplomatic storm with his remarks about London’s Olympic preparations after arriving in Britain on the first stop of an international tour designed to showcase his diplomatic skills.

Within hours of landing, NBC television broadcast an interview in which the Republican said it was “hard to know just how well” the Olympics would turn out and that there were “a few things that were disconcerting.”

He even questioned the British Olympic spirit, adding: “Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? That’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”

Cameron duly responded with what appeared to be a veiled attempt to belittle one of Romney’s crowning achievements, his rescue of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City from financial ruin.

“We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world,” the British prime minister said. “Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.”

source: interaksyon.com

TV5 airs spiced up London 2012 closing ceremonies Monday morning

The closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics promises to be as star-studded as its opening a couple of weeks ago.

Come Monday morning (August 13, Philippine Standard Time), the world will once again witness the best of the world’s athletes in a ceremony that showcases the best of British Music. Aptly called “A Symphony of British Music,” the celebration will feature some of the country’s best artistic exports in the past half-century. More than 4,100 performers, including 3,500 volunteers and 380 schoolchildren will be present during the lavish gathering to cap off the quadrennial games.

Academy Award-nominated film and Tony Award-winning theater director Stephen Daldry is the creative director and executive producer for the closing ceremonies. George Michael, Muse and Ed Sheeran have confirmed participation, while The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies and the Spice Girls have been tipped as among the roster of performers.

The closing ceremonies will be broadcast live via TV5 starting at 4 a.m.

More than 10,000 athletes will also march together in a symbol of unity forged in the past two weeks of the games. Representatives from 2016 Olympic host country Brazil will also be introduced during the formal turnover ceremony for the next Games.

Despite the unsuccessful mission to capture the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, the 11-member contingent competed alongside the world’s best in this year’s Olympics. This year’s performance only motivates the national athletes to do better in time for 2016, officials said.

Aside from watching TV5’s live broadcast of the closing ceremonies on Monday, viewers can also catch it during its primetime replay at 8:30PM the same day on AKTV on IBC 13.

source: interaksyon.com

London Olympics theme song available as free download

Relive the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat right in your own personal computer or digital music device as “Anywhere In The World”, the official anthem for the London 2012 Olympic Games is now available as a free download at MyMusicStore Philippines, the country’s biggest online music store.

A collaboration between two UK artists, namely DJ, musician and producer Mark Ronson and singer-songwriter Katy B, in partnership with Coca-Cola, the upbeat, uplifting song is particularly noted for the sounds of celebrated athletes around the world that Ronson personally recorded for the backing instrumental track.

These sounds include the very own heartbeat of Russian sprinter Kseniya Vdovina’s and the grunts and taps on the table of Great Britain table tennis player Darius Knight.

Katy B then added vocals, singing lines like “As we move our feet in unison/Kicking up the rain or the sand in the sun/It gives my heart that feeling/Could be anywhere/Anywhere in the world”, and giving the song a spirited, soaring feel.

“Sport is music in the way that it has so many different natural rhythms. When I was recording the athletes, I wasn’t really thinking of them in terms of athletes performing a sport. I was thinking of them as people in an orchestra,” said Ronson in describing his connection with the athletes that also included taekwondo player Maria Espinoza, archer Dayyan Jaffar and hurdler David Oliver.

It remains to be seen whether “Anywhere In the World” will join the ranks of popular Olympic theme songs such as Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballe’s “Barcelona” (Barcelona, 1992), Koreana’s “Hand In Hand” (Seoul, 1988), Tina Arena’s “The Flame” (Sydney, 2000), Gloria Estefan’s “Reach (Atlanta, 1996) and arguably the most famous of them all, Whitney Houston’s “One Moment In Time” (Seoul, 1988).

The free download, however, should be an ideal way for the song to enter the consciousness of those earnestly following the Olympic games and trigger what most people nowadays describe as the “last song syndrome (LSS) experience.”

source: interaksyon.com

US bags Olympic football gold

WEMBLEY, England (AP) – Hope Solo found herself enveloped in a group hug at the final whistle. Abby Wambach ran to join the fun in a celebration that unleashed a year of bottled-up frustration.

The U.S. women's football team won its third straight Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last year's World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its history.

Carli Lloyd scored early in both halves, Solo leaped and dived to make saves, and the entire roster found the redemption it had been seeking since that penalty kick shootout loss in Germany last summer.

Before 80,203 at Wembley Stadium, a record crowd for a women's football game at the Olympics, the teams put on a back-and-forth, don't-turn-your-head football showcase, proving again that these are the two premier teams in the world. Women's football is still in its formative stages in Britain, but the match proved more than worthy for the hallowed grounds of the beautiful game.

And the Japanese perhaps played just as beautifully as the Americans, using their speed and discipline to dominate possession and scoring chances for long stretches before finally cutting a 2-0 deficit in half with about a half-hour to go.

Back home, America was paying attention – just as it was last year and despite the rest of the Olympic events. Even President Barack Obama, during a campaign speech at Colorado College during the second half of the game, noted that, “The women are doing pretty good right now in soccer.”

Lloyd's goals came in eighth and 54th minutes, making it four goals in the tournament for the midfielder who lost her long-held starting job weeks before the Olympics. She got back on the pitch when Shannon Boxx injured her hamstring in the opening game and started every game since.

Yuki Ogimi answered in the 63rd minute, and Asuna Tanaka nearly had the equalizer in the 83rd – only to be thwarted when Solo flung her entire body to the left to push the ball away.

The U.S. team has won four of the five Olympic titles since women's football was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games, settling for mere silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney.

In the first half, Japan was unfortunate not to have a penalty kick awarded for a clear hand ball by U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath, who stuck out her left arm to stop a free kick inside the area.

Japan also had two shots hit the crossbar, one off the left hand of a leaping Solo, who was kept consistently busy for the first time this tournament. The closest the U.S. came to doubling the lead in the first 45 minutes came when Azusa Iwashimizu attempted to clear a routine ball played in front of the net – and headed it off the post.

The U.S. goal in the eighth minute began with a run by Heath down the left side. She fed Alex Morgan, who settled the ball near the goal line, spun and chipped it toward Wambach. Wambach raised her left foot for the shot, but Lloyd charged in and got to it first, her strong running header beating goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto from 6 yards out.

Lloyd extended the lead with a 20-yard right-footer just inside the left post after a long run with the ball through the middle of the Japanese defense.

Ogimi soon cut the deficit to one after a mad scramble in front of the net. Captain Christie Rampone saved a shot off the line, but the ball went to Homare Sawa, who fed Ogimi for the tap-in.

Another scramble followed after U.S. defender Amy LePeilbet saved yet another shot off the line in the 74th minute, but this time her teammates were able to corral the ball before a Japanese player could pounce on it.

Boxx was back into the starting lineup after the missing four games with the hamstring injury. Lauren Cheney, who injured an ankle in the semifinals, began the game on the bench for the first time this tournament.

Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday, beating France 1-0 at Coventry.

source: mb.com.ph

Kate Gives U.S. Gymnasts a Thrill

Gymnastics royalty encountered the real thing on Sunday in London, as four of Team USA's female Olympic gymnasts – out of the so-called Fab Five – were starstruck by an unexpected chat with the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Kate, 30, attending the beginning of the event finals at Greenwich Arena, is a huge supporter of Great Britain's athletes at these London Games – but was impressed enough by the gold-winning American team to approach and offer her congratulations.

"Just met princess Kate with @jordyn_wieber @kyla_ross96 & @gabrielledoug she is so beautiful & so nice! I told her I loved her style lol :)," Aly Raisman wrote on Twitter.




"Can't believe I just met Princess Kate Middleton! She was in the crowd at the competition and she stood up to talk to us! #honored," added Wieber.




Indeed, TV cameras caught the young Americans grinning from ear to ear as the duchess, in her official Team GB jacket, smiled and talked with them. And, if they needed confirmation it was really royalty in their midst, they could check out HRH Kate's all-access Olympic badge, which she's been wearing throughout the Games.

McKayla Maroney was the only one of the Fab Five to miss the encounter, as she was busy winning silver in the vault finals.

source: people.com

Phelps extends record breaking spree with first individual gold in London

(CNN) -- The records kept tumbling for Michael Phelps Thursday as he beat arch-rival Ryan Lochte to win the men's 200m individual medley.

It was the 16th gold medal of his remarkable Olympic career, but his first in an individual event at the London Games.

The 27-year-old from Baltimore becomes the first man to win gold in the same event at three consecutive Olympics and extends his record breaking overall medals tally to 20.

It came just 48 hours after he won his 18th and 19th Olympic medals to overtake Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina in the all-time list.

Phelps led from start to finish to hold off Lochte down the final freestyle leg to win in one minute 54.27 seconds, just 0.04secs outside his own Olympic record.

Hungary's Laszlo Cseh claimed the bronze medal.

Lochte had taken bronze behind fellow American Tyler Clary in the earlier final of the men's 200m backstroke and Phelps said his rival for gold would have been feeling that effort.

"That was cool, I knew Ryan (Lochte) would be tough but coming off the 200 back that was a hard double," he told BBC Sport.

Phelps, who revealed he had received a congratulatory phone call from U.S. President Barack Obama, has two more events to add to his tally before retiring from swimming.

He qualified for the final of the men's 100m butterfly later Thursday by winning his semifinal in 50.86 seconds and will be a member of the American medley relay squad.

Earlier, Rebecca Soni broke the women's 200m breaststroke world record for the second time in two days to win Olympic gold.

Soni won in two minutes 19.59 seconds, the first woman under the magic two minutes 20 second barrier.

Japan's Satomi Suzuki took silver and Russian Yuliyia Efimova earned bronze.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo broke the American dominance by claiming the women's 100m freestyle gold for the Netherlands.

She edged out Aliaksandra Herasimenia of the Belarus with Tang Yi of China taking bronze.

source: CNN

Five things to watch at the Olympics on Friday

(CNN) -- As the swimming meet comes to its final days, the action at track and field begins at the Olympic Stadium. Here's what to look for as that competition starts and in four other notable sports:

1) Track and field: Sprint queens begin their quests

A few weeks ago, Allyson Felix watched as Jeneba Tarmoh took a celebratory lap at the Olympic Trials, apparently the third qualifier for the Olympics in the women's 100 meters. But Friday, it's Felix who will take to the blocks in a quest to finally win a gold medal. There was a second look at the photo finish. The two sprinters had tied, officials ruled. Then the track bosses scrambled to figure out a way to break the tie and decide who would run the event in London. On the day of a scheduled runoff, Tarmoh backed out. She's still part of the U.S. team, but she's a member of the relay pool. On Friday, Felix will race twice, seeking a spot in one of Saturday's semifinals.

Track and field begins at 10 a.m. London time (5 a.m. ET)

2) Swimming: Speaking of photo finishes

Four years ago, it became one of the most famous photos of the Beijing Games: Shot from the bottom of the pool, Michael Phelps in one lane, Milorad Cavic in the other, two swimmers lunging for Olympic gold. Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly that day by .01 seconds, after catching the Serbian swimmer gliding to the wall as Phelps took a quick, final stroke. Tonight, they will race again. But also look out for Chad le Clos, who beat Phelps in the last few meters of the 200-meter butterfly.

Swimming begins at 10 a.m. London time (5 a.m. ET); the medley relay heats start at 11:49 a.m. in London (6:49 a.m. ET) followed by four finals in the 7:30 p.m. London time session (2:30 p.m. ET).

3) Tennis: Hopes for happier result at home

Britain's Andy Murray, who reached Wimbledon finals a few weeks ago, plays Novak Djokovic of Croatia in one men's singles semifinal. In the other, Roger Federer of Switzerland matches up with Juan Martin del Potro. The women also play singles semifinals; those matches are Serena Williams of the United States vs. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, and Russians Maria Sharapova vs. Maria Kirilenko.

Both matches begin at noon in London (7 a.m. ET)

4) Soccer: A big Hope here, too

The United States is backed by goalie Hope Solo, who gave up two criticized goals early to France and nothing since. The Americans face New Zealand (nicknamed the Football Ferns), which finished third in Group E. In February the Football Ferns nearly beat the United States, but forward Alex Morgan scored two late goals to rally the Americans. They also played a closed door match a few days later; no results were reported. The highlight match of the day could be Brazil with its great player Marta vs. World Cup champion Japan.

Matches start at noon London time (7 a.m.) with the U.S.-New Zealand match at 2:30 p.m. London time (9:30 a.m. ET)

5) Judo: Saudi female expected to wear headscarf

At first, judo officials said they wouldn't allow 16-year-old Wojdan Shaherkani of Saudi Arabia to wear a hijab during her judo match. Shaherkani's father and Saudi officials insisted she would not compete unless she could wear the headscarf. On Friday, she will be permitted to wear it when she fights Melissa Mojica of Puerto Rico in a round of 32 match. Shaherkani, who is competing at her first major international event, received a special invitation to compete from the International Olympic Committee.

Shaherkani is scheduled to fight at 10:33 a.m. London time (5:33 a.m. ET).

source: CNN

BlackBerry Games!

London 2012: Now you can enjoy more of the ongoing Olympic Games with new BlackBerry Apps. In a bid to join the celebration, and allow its loyal users to fully enjoy what’s happening in the London Games, BlackBerry released a pocket guide to the Games! In the summer of 2012, London and the UK will come alive with events, celebrations and activities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

First up is the Official London 2012 Join In app is a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.

This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

Others now available are:

Endomondo Sports Tracker

By Endomondo

Use your mobile as a free personal coach and training partner! Using the built-in GPS, it tracks your running, cycling, hiking, kayaking, skiing - you name it. As a bonus, you get audio feedback while working out!

With the accompanying free website, you get further analyses, a wide range of social sharing functions (Facebook and Twitter) and the ability to compete against your friends and followers.

This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

FanFeedr Personal sports news by FanFeedr

By Handster Inc.

Do you have five minutes before you need to leave the house? 10 minutes before you go to bed? Some free time at the office? FanFeedr gives you a real-time feed of sports info that matters to you!

FanFeedr allows you to get the latest news, analysis, scores, Tweets, and more by your favorite sports teams and athletes!

This app is free and can be found on Blackberry App world.

Wild Olympics

- Athletics

By Colombia Games S.A,S

Use your concentration and make your gazella jump correctly over all hurdles to win the race!

You have only one chance, it is your opportunity to win the Wild Olympics! This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

Virtual Table Tennis 3D

By Clapfoot Inc.

Fast paced table tennis action comes to your BlackBerry PlayBook!

Perform smashing serves and side-spin shots to take out your opponents in this exciting sports simulation!

source: mb.com.ph

Zara Phillips Makes Olympic Equestrian Debut

Following Queen Elizabeth II's appearance at the Olympics opening ceremony, the royals were back in full force at the games Sunday, watching the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips compete in the Dressage portion of the equestrian event competition at Greenwich Park.

"To be here at home is an amazing feeling, and you just want to try and do your best for the team," Phillips told the Washington Post.

Although the Queen was missing in action this go round, her husband Prince Philip was on hand to watch Zara compete, as was Zara's mother Princess Anne.

Zara will return to the competition Monday for the Cross Country event, which Phillips's cousin, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are expected to attend, according to People.

source: eonline.com

Jordyn Wieber's First Day in Olympic Competition Ends Unexpectedly

Jordyn Wieber was all but a lock to compete in – and potentially win – the all-around final in women's gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

"Her mental toughness, that's what helps her succeed consistently," 1996 gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu told PEOPLE earlier this month. "I think she's got a lot to offer the team and her and Gabby [Douglas] are going to be the ones striving for those all-around medals, definitely."

The current national and world champion, Wieber herself blogged for PEOPLE just days before the Olympics began, saying, "I can't wait for competition to start."

But Sunday, the first day of women's gymnastics competition at the Games, proved to be more dramatic than Wieber, 17, may have expected. (SPOILERS AHEAD …)

After her routines on vault, beam, bars and floor earned what some believe to be questionably low scores, Wieber was edged out of the individual all-around final, leaving her sobbing on the competition floor. Her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas qualified for the final.






But Wieber wasn't the only one stunned by the result. Raisman, who had a stellar day, was in tears as well, and Wieber's coach spoke out on the surprising finish. "I'm basically devastated for her," John Geddert, told reporters after the qualification, Gymnastike.org reports.

"She has trained her entire life for this day and to have it turn out anything less than she deserves is going to be devastating. She has waited her entire career for this. She is happy for her teammates and disappointed that she doesn't get to move on."

Gymnastics fans were abuzz following the tearful result for Wieber, and Geddert addressed what many were thinking: that his athlete was robbed by the judges.

"That's the lowest floor score she's gotten ... ever," said Geddert. "And again, they gave her nothing in her floor routine that was questionable."

Team coordinator Marta Karolyi was sympathetic to Wieber's result, but more accepting of the outcome.

"I would be very disappointed, too," Karolyi told reporters. "Today she wasn't quite as sharp. She was very good but not quite as sharp and the other two girls surpassed her ... What can you do? Sport is sport."

And it appears that Wieber herself is turning her attention to her next competition – the team final, which takes place on Tuesday.

"Thank you all for your love and support," she Tweeted late Sunday. "I am so proud of our team today and I can't wait for team finals!!"

source: people.com

Queen Elizabeth happy to play Bond girl

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth needed little persuading in making her film debut, appearing with the country’s most famous fictional spy James Bond during the London Olympics opening ceremony.

In a brief, tongue-in-cheek film broadcast to a packed Olympic stadium late on Friday – as well as a massive worldwide television audience – Bond actor Daniel Craig entered Buckingham Palace wearing his trademark tuxedo.

After a pause, Her Majesty turns from her writing desk and says simply: “Good evening, Mr. Bond.”

She uttered just four words, but they were seen as a highly personal touch from a monarch once seen as aloof.

“The queen was delighted to be asked, and be involved in something so exceptional,” a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday. “Very pleased to take part, and it was our Olympics and the queen was delighted to be part of it.”

Princess Diana’s death in 1997 was a low-point for the royal family, yet the huge crowds that greeted her during Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June were proof of how far the queen had recovered in the eyes of the public.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who escorted the 86-year-old monarch around the Olympic Park during an official tour on Saturday, said that she was “thrilled” about the film and keen to know if people found her cameo role funny.

“My impression is that she loved it,” the staunch royalist told reporters. “Maybe, you know, there won’t be many film performances that she will give and whether she will get an Oscar, I don’t know,” he joked.

The pre-recorded clip also showed 007 escorting the queen to the stadium in a moment of levity rarely shared by the public, who can only read about her well-reported sense of humor.

The 86-year-old monarch was happy for two of her beloved corgis, Monty, 13, and Holly, nine, to play a role. The depiction of her derring-do arrival was a quirky moment in an eclectic ceremony on Friday.

The opening shot showed the Queen sitting at a writing table in Buckingham Palace, welcoming Bond, played by Daniel Craig.

The pair made their way to a waiting helicopter in the grounds of the central London palace, apparently leaving her doting corgis on the doorstep.

The helicopter zipped across the city and a man dressed as Bond skydived down towards the Olympic Park in east London, followed by a figure in a pale peach dress matching that worn by the queen in the film.

She then appeared for real in the main stadium before 60,000 spectators – and without a hair out of place – before taking her seat.

The film was the brainchild of the ceremony’s director Danny Boyle, but it was London organizing committee (LOCOG) chairman Seb Coe who first approached the palace in 2011.

When asked how much it took to persuade the queen to take part, a LOCOG spokeswoman said: “Not much.”

“I think she really liked the whole concept Danny had put together.”

Oscar-winning director Boyle shot the scenes in the palace’s quadrangle, the Grand Entrance, the East Gallery, the Audience Room and the West Terrace, in March and April this year.

“You don’t have to tell her something twice,” Boyle was quoted as saying by British media. “She picks it up straight away, about cameras and angles.”

The queen was then given a viewing before its official showing.

“She was very happy to take part, she was happy to do what she did,” the Buckingham Palace spokeswoman added.

Her off-beat appearance was a hit with the British media.

“It’s been received really well, we always knew it would,” the palace spokeswoman added.

When asked if it might be the monarch’s last appearance in a film, she said: “Never say never, but I imagine so, it was a very special one-off.”

Other members of the Royal Family have had cameo appearances in long-running TV and radio soap operas.

Her stuntman Gary Connery said the part had been exciting, but he’d not been allowed to keep the dress. “It’s all part of it, and you just go with the flow,” he told BBC television.

“Last night was the first time I’d actually had the make-up on. The process of making me the queen … had been three to four months.”

It capped off a successful year for the queen who in June marked 60 years on the throne with a weekend extravaganza that saw millions of flag waving Britons take to the streets to show their affection and appreciation for a monarch more normally renowned for her stately dignity.

source: interaksyon.com

Lochte Takes Gold in Medley; Phelps Is 4th

LONDON — For nearly a decade Ryan Lochte chased Michael Phelps in the pool, picking up bronzes to Phelps’s golds. But all the while, Lochte has been closing the gap, second by precious second.

Lochte took away one of Phelps’s world records, then his world championships.

On Saturday night, he raced past him on the stage Phelps has dominated since 2004.

Lochte crushed Phelps and the rest of the field to win the 400-meter individual medley at the London Aquatics Centre, finishing in 4 minutes 5.18 seconds. Thiago Pereira of Brazil was second in 4:08.86, edging Kosuke Hagino of Japan, who won the bronze.

Phelps — trailing most of the race and caught by Pereira and Hagino in the freestyle, one of his strongest strokes — finished fourth, more than four seconds behind Lochte.

After the race, while Lochte lounged in the pool accepting congratulations from other swimmers, Phelps was the first one out of the water. He slowly walked across the pool deck, never glancing at Lochte. But Lochte said he later offered his congratulations in the locker room and thanked him for keeping the medal in American hands.

“I kind of made Phelps sound like a jerk, and I think he was just massively disappointed,” Lochte said.

Lochte’s victory over Phelps was his first in four head-to-head races at the Olympics dating to 2004, and gave him a leg up at last in their decade-long rivalry. Lochte was 10 seconds behind Phelps in the 400 I.M. at the 2004 Olympic trials, but had cut that deficit in half by the time he won a bronze behind Phelps in Beijing.

This year Lochte beat Phelps by 0.83 second at the trials, and his victory Saturday night seemed to signal that the torch-passing complete.

Phelps was trying to become the first man to win gold in the same swimming event in three consecutive Olympics, but he is not out of chances. He is also the two-time defending champion in the 200 individual medley — a race in which he will again face Lochte — as well as the 100 butterfly and the 200 fly.

His defeat was his first in an Olympic final since 2004, a run of 12 straight gold medals that has made him the most decorated Olympic swimmer.

The showdown between Phelps, the world-record holder in the event since 2002, and Lochte, his colorful heir apparent on the United States team, was the first marquee matchup of the London Games, but it almost did not happen. Phelps qualified eighth in 4:13.33, coming from behind on the final lap to touch out Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, a two-time medalist in the event, in their preliminary heat. Lochte, meanwhile, coasted noticeably in the final meters of his event, finishing in 4:12.35 but allowing Chad Le Clos of South Africa to surge past him.

Cseh, the silver medalist four years ago and the bronze medalist in 2004, wound up ninth, which meant he would not be able to contend for a third consecutive podium finish.

“I would not have thought this would have been the result,” Cseh said.

The preliminary times meant Phelps and Lochte, instead of staring at one another across a lane rope, were on opposite sides of the pool in the final, with Lochte in Lane 3 and Phelps in Lane 8. There would be no staredown, no “cat and mouse game,” as Phelps once described their temptation in their many duels. More important, Phelps would have a harder time tracking all of his rivals from his position far to their right.

“The only thing that matters is getting a spot,” Phelps said after the morning session.

source: nytimes.com

China claims first gold, Phelps and Lochte do battle

London (CNN) -- China claimed the first Olympic gold of the London 2012 Games Saturday, with a victory for 23-year-old Siling Yi in the women's 10-meter air rifle shooting.

Meanwhile, rival American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are set to go head-to-head in a battle that will be a highlight of the first official day of the Games.

And Albanian weightlifter Hysen Pulaku became the first athlete to be sanctioned for failing an anti-doping test at the London Games.

Pulaku, 20, tested positive on Monday for the steroid stanozolol, the International Olympic Committee said, and has been excluded from the competition.

Queen Elizabeth II, who officially declared the Games open late Friday, made an appearance at the Aquatics Center Saturday to watch the action.

Phelps and Lochte are competing in the men's 400-meter individual medley -- a race that combines four different swimming strokes -- after both made it through the heats to the final, Phelps only by a whisker.

The 27-year-old Phelps, who already has 14 gold medals from previous Games, is looking to add to his pot of Olympic gold.

Lochte, thought of as the biggest threat to Phelps, is hoping to live up to the hype.

The highly anticipated match-up has had many choosing sides.

Presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he was leaning towards Phelps.

"I think it's more likely to be Phelps but I don't know," Romney said Friday during the opening ceremony.

Legendary swimmer Mark Spitz, winner of seven medals at the 1972 Olympics, said he thinks Phelps' experience will help him in the grueling 400-meter individual medley.

"I put my money on Michael," Spitz said. "It's going to be a good race. Any time they are swimming together it is going to be a great rivalry. A great competition."

But the Phelps-Lochte race is not the only highly anticipated swimming showdown Saturday.

The hosts will get to cheer for their own when Hannah Miley competes in the women's 400-meter individual medley. Miley, who has been called one of Britain's best swimmers, could be challenged by American Elizabeth Beisel and Hungarian Katinka Hosszu.

Team USA's Dana Vollmer set a new Games best of 56.25 seconds in the heats of the women's 100-meter butterfly.

Britain's hopes are high for a medal in Saturday's 250-kilometer cycling road race, in which newly-crowned Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins is expected to aid fellow Briton Mark Cavendish's quest for Olympic gold.

Rowing, another sport in which Britain hopes to excel, also got under way Saturday morning on the lake in Eton Dorney, to the west of London.

Women's basketball begins

Beijing bronze medal winner Russia squared off against Canada Saturday as women's basketball got under way. Later in the day, Team USA plays Croatia.

All teams may be trying to keep the U.S. women from winning their fourth straight gold medal. In fact, at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the 2004 Games in Athens and in Sydney in 2000, the gold medal match-up pitted Australia versus the United States.

Australia, led by 6-foot-5 Lauren Jackson, starts play late Saturday against Team GB.

Women footballers get the ball, men take a break

Women's football comes to the fore Saturday as the men take a break, with Team GB taking on Cameroon fresh from the host nation's rousing 1-0 victory over New Zealand.

Some 25,000 fans showed up to Wednesday's match against New Zealand, the biggest attendance for a women's international match in Britain.

Current FIFA Women's World Cup holder Japan kicked off against Sweden Saturday, with both teams coming off Wednesday victories. Team USA plays Colombia, after surviving a scare against France Wednesday.

source: CNN

Olympics: Phelps seals another London berth

OMAHA - Michael Phelps booked himself into another event at the London Olympics when he won the 200 meters butterfly final at the U.S. swimming trials on Thursday (Friday, PHL time).

The greatest Olympian of all time remained on course to emulate his incredible eight-gold haul from Beijing four years ago with another powerful display in America's midwest.

Showing no sign of fatigue or weariness despite his grueling schedule, the 26-year-old powered away from his rivals over the final two laps to win in one minute 53.65 seconds, more than two seconds outside his world record but still the fastest time in the world this year.

"It's not a good enough time to win a gold medal, but I think I'm okay with it," said Phelps.

"Today was the best my stroke has felt throughout the whole meet. So, in all I'm pleased, but I think I need to go faster if I want to win that at the Olympics."

Phelps's Baltimore club teammate Allison Schmitt, who is rapidly emerging as a star in her own right, clinched her second individual swim in the English capital when she won the women's 200m freestyle final ahead of teenage sensation Missy Franklin.

Schmitt followed up her impressive victory in the 400m freestyle on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) when she led all the way to win the 200m in 1:54.40, the quickest time recorded since synthetic bodysuits were banned at the end of 2009.

Franklin, who won the 100m backstroke final on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time), finished second in 1:56.79 to seal her second individual swim and her third overall with the top six finishers all securing places in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Caitlin Leverenz won the women's 200m individual medley to earn her second swim in London after finishing runner-up in the 400m medley. Ariana Kukors, the world record holder, flashed home over the last length to grab second spot.

Favorite event

Phelps has now qualified for London in five events and barring any slip-ups, he will swim the exact eight-event program he contested at each of the last two Olympics, winning six golds and two bronze medals in Athens then eight golds in Beijing.

But of all his events, the 200m butterfly is his favorite and the one he has dominated the most. It was the only event he qualified for at the 2000 Sydney Olympics when he was just 15 and it was the event where he set his first world record and won his first world title.

He won the event at five world championships, has held the world record for more than a decade and won the gold medal at the past two Olympics.

"This is my fourth Olympics Games in this event, so it's special to me, special to my family, special to my mom," Phelps said.

"I have a couple of weeks to perfect some things that I'm going to need if I want to end with a good one."

Tyler Clary, who had finished third behind Phelps and Ryan Lochte in the 400m medley, qualified for his first Olympics when he finished second.

Lochte qualified equal fifth fastest in the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle but later withdrew from the final because he is already swimming the 200m medley and 200m backstroke semis on Friday night.

Lochte could still swim in the 4x100m freestyle relay in London if his time in the semis is not bettered by at least five other swimmers.

"We made a plan going into this meet that I was just going to do semi-finals of 100m free and whatever happens, happens," he said.

Lochte's withdrawal provided a lifeline for Jason Lezak to swim the final. The 36-year-old, whose stunning anchor leg swim in Beijing set the platform for Phelps's record eighth gold medal, was a reserve for the final after qualifying ninth overall. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

'Shattered' Thorpe vows to swim on

ADELAIDE — Ian Thorpe vowed to press on with his comeback despite his dream of swimming in the 200 metres freestyle at the London Olympics turning into a nightmare at Australia’s selection trials.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Thorpe said he was “utterly gutted” after missing out on the 200m final at the trials Friday and with it forfeiting the chance to swim in the event he once dominated in London.

Thorpe’s hopes of competing at July’s Olympics now ride on the 100m freestyle, with the heats at the trials starting on Sunday.

Even if he cannot finish in the top two, he still has a chance of racing in the sprint relay in London by finishing in the top-six.

Thorpe, who launched his comeback after five years out of the sport, took some time to console himself after his 200m heartbreak before facing the media to express his profound disappointment with his performance.

He trailed in 12th fastest in the semifinals and his time of one minute 49.91 seconds was almost six seconds slower than his 2001 world record of 1:44.06 for the event. Thorpe broke the 200m world record six times in his stellar career.

But Thorpe said he would continue his comeback, starting with his daunting challenge in the 100m where he will be up against world champion James Magnussen, former world record holder Eamon Sullivan and the cream of Australia’s top sprinters.

“I intend to. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing. I’ve enjoyed training again, I’ve enjoyed pushing myself in the pool and I’ll keep on swimming until I feel I cannot get any more out of myself,” Thorpe said after Friday’s setback.

“After tonight it would be a lot easier not to, but I have another race and I think I have another couple of preparations in me as well.

“I won’t keep training unless I think I can do that (return to elite level). That’s the thing that has motivated me and it is the only thing that will motivate me in the future.”

Thorpe must first overcome his bitter disappointment to set himself up for a shot at the top six in the hotly-contested 100m freestyle.

“You never know. Of the two races, this will be the tougher one to qualify for. That’s the way that it is,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy, this whole thing was never going to be easy.”

Asked if his comeback had been worth the considerable effort, Thorpe said: “After feeling like that, the first thing is that it would have been a lot easier to have not even tried.

“I think it’s better to attempt something and fail than it is to not even attempt it, so I’m glad that I’ve been prepared to put myself on the line there.”

Australia head coach Leigh Nugent said Thorpe was an “enigma” and he felt for him.

“I feel for Ian. High performance has all sorts of risks to it. You’ve got to go with it and as he said it’s like a fairytale or a nightmare and last night Ian expressed it was a bit of a nightmare for him,” Nugent said at the pool on Saturday.

“Ian brings everything. He brought so much exposure, criticism, accolades, everything to Australian swimming.

“The guy is an enigma here and he’s like no one else in how people respond. The pool was packed last night and I haven’t seen that with anyone else here.”

source: japantoday.com