Now it's Ryan Lochte, the skateboarding speedster, who has to race two finals. In the 200-m backstroke, he faces Aaron Peirsol. In the 200-meter individual medley, it's Michael Phelps. And in each of those races, he also faces six others who are just as competent.
Conventional wisdom (a logical female hound from hell) calls for a gold/silver in the backstroke, and a silver in the IM, for Lochte, with a 1-2 finish. Don't tell that to Ryan, though. There would be nothing better than for Lochte to stop his fellow countryman's gold-medal record hunt by taking it for himself.
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At last, the track and field events are underway. We start with some heptathlon and shot-put, followed by some qualifying heats for speed.
Delicious.
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Happy birthday, Kerri Walsh. Naturally, she celebrates her 30th year with Misty May as they polish off Belgium's Liesbeth Mouha and Liesbet van Breedam, but it wasn't easy. They were struggling in the first set, winning 24-22, before coming backt oform in the second, 21-10.
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Take that, Australia! Rebecca Soni of the USA sets a new world record in the women's 200-meter breastroke, defeating Leisel Jones. It's a 2:20:22 for Soni.
Now THAT's more like it. Next!
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It was Aaron Peirsol vs. Ryan Lochte vs. the rest of the competition in the men's 200-meter backstroke. Well, another record just had to tumble, right?
And that's exactly what happened. Phelps has to be thinking, "Awww damn." Or, "Okay, we got back a couple medals, next." It's a 1:53:94 for Lochte. And Peirsol finished second. For a few fleeting moments, we were up on China in total medals. Still 10 behind in the gold department.
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I got a bad feeling about Meagen Nay of AUstralia. She has a great opportunity to upstage Kirsty Coventry, Liz Beisel and Margaret Hoelzer in the women's 200-meter backstroke final. Nay finished between Coventry and Hoelzer in her semifinal today.
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Yang Yilin was the catalyst and culprit for China's victory. She's matched with Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson. Meanwhile, the likes of Anna Pavlova (not the ballerina, whose dessert is named in her honor) and Ksenia Semenova can only hope to redeem themselves for Russian decline in women's gymnastics.
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And Michael Phelps cuts the total gold deficit to 8, with another world record slaughtered. I have to despise Lazslo Cseh of Hungary. Bloody spoiler halted a 1-2 finish for the USA. Nonetheless, in the total medal count, we are up by four on China. For now.
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The spoiler at the pool today was Britta Steffen of Germany in the women's 100-meter freestyle. Lisbeth "Libby" Trickett should also thank China for false-starting in the semi. For now, we are 5 ahead in the medal count, but 8 behind in the gold count. Natalie Coughlin got the bronze. At least China was shut out at the pool, for once, today.
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COuld the USA medal in the men's shot-put? All three entries-Christian Cantwell, Resse Hoffa and Adam Nelson-qualified by right.
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I've also got a bad feeling about Milo Cavic of Serbia. His water polo brethren had our number. Could it happen again tomorrow? By the blood of Michael Phelps, I hope not!
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I sometimes don't get the hypocriticism from the commentators in gymnastics. First they say they don't know why, and then they say, "There are [number] areas," thus saying, that they actually DO.
Be honest, Tim. Which is it, pretentious hypocrite commentator?
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Hallelujah! Praise to God! We are gaining ground on the Chinese in the gold medal department (pending archery, badminton, judo, weightlifting and ther like). Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson make it a 1-2 for the USA in the women's all-around, while Yang Yilin gets the bronze. 43 medals so far: 14 gold, 12 silver, 17 bronze. And we will be chipping away at that deficit in the days to come.
Fancy being on a Wheaties box, both of you?
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