Day 12 began with 4 canoe finals at Eton Dorney.
Tim Brabant won gold in Beijing in the K1 1000m but after having suffered injury problems he was last of the 8 finalists’ today. European champion Hoff was fancied but could only finosh 3rd with Larsen of Norway getting the gold medal.
The men’s C1 1000m gold went to German Brendel. Spain grabbed the silver with the fast finishing David Cal Figueroa becoming most successful Spanish Olympian of all time. Oldershaw won bronze for Canada. His grandfather competed in the London 1948 games.
The men’s K2 1000m went to a photo finish with Hungary just holding off the fast finishing Portuguese. In the Women’s K4 500m Hungary claimed gold in a very close finish with Germany and Belarus in the minor places.
Team GB are guaranteed at least silver in the women’s boxing flyweight division with another accomplished display from Nicola Adams who outpointed her Indian opponent. Later we saw the very talented American teenager Claressa Shields move into the final of the middleweight class defeating Volnova of Kazakhstan.
There have been some close finishes in a lot of sports but the Hungary v Iceland clash in the men’s handball quarter final was quite something. Missed penalties, goalkeepers subbed for outfield players and all manner of shenanigans. It was 27 all after normal time and the teams were still level after extra time. A further 5 minutes each way followed and Hungary finally sealed a famous victory 33.31. The other quarterfinals were also tense close affairs. Sweden beat European champions Denmark 24.22 while France accounted for Spain 23.22. France met Spain in the men’s basketball quarter finals but this time Spain came out on top.
We have also reached the quarter finals of the men’s volleyball. Brazil are through beating Argentina 3.0. They will meet Italy in the semis after the Italians beat the USA.
Italy had a good day in the men’s water polo beating Hungary and will meet Serbia in the semis.
There were six clear round in the first phase of the show jumping and as 2 of those were from Team GB things looked promising for a medal or two. In the end though we finished out of the medals with gold going to Steve Guerdat of Switzerland. In a jump off for the silver Cian O’Connor of Ireland had the last fence down which cost him and he had to settle for bronze behind Gerco Schroder of Netherlands.
There was yet another close encounter in the first women’s hockey semi final with Holland edging past New Zealand in a penalty shoot out after a 2.2 draw extra time. In the second semi GB trail Argentina 2.0 at half time. Argentina are also leading in the men’s basketball against South American rivals Brazil 46.40.
The beach volleyball women’s final is about to get started. An all American match between Ross/Kessy and May’Traenor/Walsh.
Argentina have beaten GB in the hockey 2.1 and meet Holland in the final.
Russia’s Natalya Antyukh claimed the first gold medal of the evening at the Olympic Stadium in the 400m Hurdles.
Mens 110m hurdles final – Aries Merritt looks the one to beat – it’s gold for Merritt of the USA. Another gold for USA as Alison Felix beats the Jamaicans in the 200m.
Usain Bolt is on course for Gold as he qualifies easily for the 200m final.
May- Traenor and Walsh have won gold for the third time in straight sets against their less experienced opponents.
Boxing next and Italy are having a good day across different sports. Their light welterweight Mangiacapre has outpointed his Kazakhstani opponent to progress into the semis. Next up is Thomas Stalker for team GB against a Mongolian. The prize a place in the semis and a guaranteed a bronze at least.
We have a chance of a sailing medal tomorrow. It is the medal race in the men’s 470 and Patience and Bithell are lying second.
Back to the boxing – all square after round 1.
Our only wrestler is in action tomorrow in the women’s 55kg class. She meets a wrestler from Ecuador.
Stalker is 7.8 down after round 2. Hard last round. Has Stalker done enough? The Mongolian has won it 23.22.
ahorse 