The Best Photos from London 2012 Olympics

The full moon rises through the Olympic Rings hanging beneath Tower Bridge during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 3, 2012. (REUTERS/Luke MacGregor)

Fireworks explode over the stadium during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

McKayla Maroney of the United States stands on the podium with her silver medal during the medal ceremony following the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Vault final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

United States' Michael Phelps swims in his last Olympic race, the men's 4 X 100-meter medley relay, at the Aquatics Centre during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

David Boudia of the United States competes in the Men's 10m Platform Diving Semifinal on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win gold during the Men's 200m Final on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 9, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

South Korea's Hyeonwoo Kim bites his gold medal at the podium of Men's 66Kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 7, 2012. (REUTERS/Damir Sagolj)

United States' Ryan Lochte reacts after finishing first in the men's 400-meter individual medley swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Saturday, July 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

(L-R) McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Alexandra Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on July 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)



The Steps towards Glory always start with 'G'

Phelps beats Lochte in 200 IM to secure Another Gold Medal

By PAUL NEWBERRY | Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Michael Phelps spent the day thinking about all the things he's doing for the final time at the pool. It turns out that included one last win over Ryan Lochte.

Phelps finally has a gold all his own at his final Olympics.

Adding to an already unprecedented medal collection, he claimed his first individual victory of the London Games and handed Lochte a double disappointment on his rival's final night in the pool Thursday.

Phelps set the tone right from the start with a dominating butterfly leg to become the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three straight Olympics in the 200-meter individual medley. He claimed his 20th career medal — and 16th gold — in 1 minute, 54.27 seconds, just off his winning time in Beijing but still good enough for gold, just ahead of Lochte.

When it was done, there wasn't that water-pounding celebration we've seen so many times from Phelps — just a slight smile as he hung on the lane rope, gazing up at the stands and soaking it all in.

"Going into every call room, I said it's my last semifinal or my last prelim," Phelps said, reflecting on a busy day that included a morning swim, then two more races in the evening. "We're kind of chalking up all the lasts of certain things."

As he stepped on the medal podium — yep, that familiar top rung — Phelps' eyes were glassy and he whispered something to Lochte. Then, staring up at the U.S. flag while the nation anthem played, he bit his lip and seemed to be struggling to hold back the tears.

Phelps has never been too revealing with his emotions away from the pool.

But, with just two days to go in his swimming career, there's a definite chink in the facade.

He's starting to look as human out of the water as he is superhuman in it.

The Steps towards Glory always start with 'G'

Mitt Romney plans to Raise taxes on 95% of Americans.

US men beat Nigeria 156-73 in Olympic basketball

By TOM WITHERS | Associated Press


LONDON (AP) — The last group in England with this many records was The Beatles.

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team beat Nigeria 156-73 Thursday night, an epic blowout that answered the Americans' detractors and sent a clear message to let them be.

After two opening routs that provoked criticism of their slow starts and outside shooting, the Americans rewrote the record books.

They led by 26 in the first quarter, had an Olympic-record 78 points in the first half and Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, to break the U.S. single-game scoring record in less than three quarters.

"Our guys just couldn't miss," said coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Incredibly, they eclipsed the 100-point mark with 5 minutes still left in the third.

"When we get hot, it's a big problem," Kobe Bryant said. "So you have all these guys on one team and then all get hot on the same night, it's tough."

They broke the Olympic record for most points in a game with 4:37 still to play, and set U.S. records for 3-pointers (26), field goals (59) and field-goal percentage (71).

When Andre Iguodala hit a 3-pointer with 4:37 left, the Americans had surpassed the previous Olympic record of 138 points set by Brazil against Egypt in 1988. When the record was announced to the mesmerized crowd, all the players seated on the U.S. bench got up and walked single file past Krzyzewski, slapping hands with him and his staff.

Gentlemen, take a bow.

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The Steps towards Glory always start with 'G'

Roger Federer gets past Alejandro Falla

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Alejandro Falla of Colombia in a first round match at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Uzbek gymnast expelled from Olympics for doping

Uzbekistan's Luiza Galiulina, gymnast (Reuters)


Uzbek gymnast Luiza Galiulina became the third athlete to be expelled from the Olympics for doping after her B sample also tested positive for the banned substance furosemide.

Uzbekistan's only gymnast at the Games had been provisionally banned on July 29 after her urine sample had showed traces of the diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for other performance-enhancing drugs.

"The athlete's file shall be transmitted to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (International Gymnastics Federation), which is requested to consider any further action within its own competence," the IOC said.

The 20-year-old Galiulina, who also competed at the 2008 Games, faces a maximum two-year ban as a first-time offender.

Furosemide, often sold under the brand name Lasix, can be used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or swelling caused by excess fluid retention. It has also been used to prevent horses from bleeding through the nose during races.

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'Little Pacquiao' comes up big at Olympic boxing

Philippines' Mark Barriga reacts after defeating Italy's Manuel Cappai in the Men's Light Fly (49kg) Round of 32 boxing match during the London 2012 Olympic Games (Reuters)

By GREG BEACHAM — AP Sports Writer

LONDON — Little Pacquiao came up big for the Philippines in the Olympic boxing tournament.

Light flyweight Mark Barriga easily handled Italy's Manuel Cappai in the opening bout for the only Filipino boxer in London, earning a 17-7 victory Tuesday.

Barriga's one-sided win was an encouraging result for a strong boxing nation with little recent history of amateur success. The 19-year-old Barriga trained in Manny Pacquiao's camp to prepare for the Olympics, earning the nickname "Little Pacquiao" in the Filipino media.

The 5-foot-2 slugger's potent punching power suggests he was taking notes from the beloved Filipino congressman. He repeatedly tagged Cappai with shots while showing impressive movement.

Although five of the nine Olympic medals won by the Philippines were achieved in boxing, most of the best young Filipino fighters these days jump straight to the pros - including Pacquiao, who turned pro shortly after his 17th birthday.

Two Cubans also advanced during the afternoon session at ExCel, and Indian light flyweight Devendro Singh Laishram recorded the quickest stoppage of the tournament. U.S. Marine Sgt. Jamel Herring lost his opening light welterweight bout to Kazakhstan's Daniyar Yeleussinov.

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August 1st Boxing Schedule

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
5:30 AM Lazaro Alvarez Estrada - Cuba
Joseph Diaz Jr - USA

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
5:45 AM Sergey Vodopiyanov - RUS
Robenilson Vieira de Jesus - BRAZIL

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
6:00 AM John Joe Nevin - IRL
Kanat Abutalipov - KHZ

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
6:15 AM Oscar Valdez Fierro - MEX
Anvar Yunusov - TAJ

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
12:30 PM Luke Campbell -
Jahyn Vittorio Parrinello -

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
12:45 PM Ibrahim Balla -
Detelin Dalakliev -

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
1:00 PM Mohamed Ouadahi -
William Encarnacion Alcantara -

Men's Bantam (56kg) Round of 16
1:15 PM Satoshi Shimizu -
Magomed Abdulhamidov -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
6:30 AM Artur Beterbiev -
Michael Hunter Ii -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
6:45 AM Tervel Pulev -
Xuanxuan Wang -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
7:00 AM Yamil Peralta Jara -
Chouaib Bouloudinats -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
1:30 PM Teymur Mammadov -
Jai Tapu Opetaia -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
1:45 PM Julio Castillo Torres -
Siarhei Karneyeu -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
2:00 PM Jose Larduet Gomez -
Ali Mazaheri -

Men's Heavy (91kg) Round of 16
2:15 PM Tumba Silva -
Clemente Russo -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
7:15 AM Magomedrasul Medzhidov -
Meji Mwanba -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
7:30 AM Magomed Omarov -
Dominic Breazeale -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
7:45 AM Mohammed Arjaoui -
Blaise Yepmou Mendouo -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
8:00 AM Ytalo Perea Castillo -
Roberto Cammarelle -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
2:30 PM Ivan Dychko -
Erik Pfeifer -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
2:45 PM Simon Kean -
Tony Yoka -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
3:00 PM Zhilei Zhang -
Johan Linde -

Men's Super Heavy (+91kg) Round of 16
3:15 PM Erislandy Savon Cotilla -
Anthony Joshua -

U.S. women win gold medal in gymnastics

London Olympics: U.S. women win gold medal in gymnastics

Gabrielle Douglas of the United States celebrates the gold medal win with teammates and coaches. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / July 31, 2012)


By Diane Pucin
July 31, 2012, 10:40 a.m.

LONDON -- The United States women's gymnastics team built a big early lead on the vault and held it emphatically through three rousing performances on the floor exercise to win its first gymnastics women's team gold medal since 1996.

Alexandra Raisman was well into happy tears even before she finished the final exercise of the night, a bouncy routine set to "Hava Nagila" that was awarded a 15.300.

The Americans beat the silver medalists from Russia by over five points. Romania was third and the defending gold medalists from China were fourth.

PHOTOS: Americans win women's gymnastics team gold medal

The U.S. had a total of 183.596; Russia had 178.530 and Romania 176.414.

The Russians took a lot of pressure off the U.S. by going up first on the final rotation, also their floor exercise.

The second Russian up, Anastasia Grishina, nearly fell out of her first tumbling pass, landed another one on her shoulder and couldn't build on the momentum Aliya Mustafina had given her team with a solid score of 15.100 to begin the floor exercise. She scored only a 12.466.

Grishina's mistake meant she earned deductions for not connecting moves, and the Russian team, almost in unison, dropped their heads before Grishina walked off the floor.

To make it even easier for the U.S., Ksenia Afanasyeva, the final Russian competitor, landed her final tumbling pass almost on her face. Afanasyeva, the defending world floor exercise champion, was given a score of 14.333. The Russians had posted a final score of 178.530.

Gabrielle Douglas kicked-started the U.S. with a sassy and solid opening routine and Jordyn Wieber finished hers without major mistakes and with a huge smile before Raisman rocked the crowd.

ALSO:

U.S. women's gymnastics team in first place after vault

U.S. women's gymnastics team still in first place after uneven bars

U.S. women's gymastics team remains in first place after third rotation

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

Phelps qualifies 5th fastest for 200 fly

By BETH HARRIS (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press – 6 hours ago'

LONDON (AP) -- Michael Phelps opened defense of his Olympic title in the 200-meter butterfly with the fifth-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries Monday.

Phelps has yet to have the quickest time in the morning heats at the London Games four years after he won a record eight gold medals in Beijing.

He finished third in his heat at 1 minute, 55.53 seconds, trailing Dinko Jukic of Austria and U.S. teammate Tyler Clary to the wall.

"I'm pretty happy with that swim," Phelps said. "That's all I needed it to be."

Phelps has won the 200 fly at the last two Olympics and set the world record at the 2009 world championships.

[ Video: Phelps' new workout routine: combat training ]

He was back in the water hours after swimming a solid second leg on the 4x100 freestyle relay that took silver after Ryan Lochte was overhauled by the French on the closing lap.

"Just getting last night sort of out of the way was something that I needed," Phelps said. "I guess I got to bed pretty late. We're all falling asleep pretty late. We're all excited."

Phelps' mother, Debbie, nodded her head slightly when she saw her son had safely advanced. He was the slowest qualifier for the 400 individual medley final on Saturday, and his surprising fourth-place finish kept him off the medals podium.

"I have no idea what it was, but I don't think it had anything to do with confidence," he said. "I felt I was ready to swim faster than that. It just didn't happen."

Jukic had the top time of 1:54.79, while Clary was second-best at 1:54.96 in advancing to the evening semifinals.

"I felt fantastic. The time was faster than it was at trials," Clary said. "I hurt a heck of a lot more at the end of the race in trials. So I had actually said to myself coming into the third wall that I was amazed at how well I felt. Just wanted to see what I could bring it home in."

Velimir Stjepanovic of Serbia was third at 1:54.99. Others who made the semis included Chad le Clos of South Africa (fourth), 2008 bronze medalist Takeshi Matsuda of Japan (eighth), 2008 silver medalist Laszlo Cseh of Hungary (ninth), Wu Peng of China (10th) and Nick D'Arcy of Australia (12th).

Federica Pellegrini qualified fastest in the 200 freestyle, keeping the Italian on course to defend her Olympic title.

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2012 Olympic Equestrian Photos

Peter Thomsen of Germany competes in the equestrian eventing cross country phase at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 30, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Greece's Voula Papachristou expelled from Olympics

Greece's Voula Papachristou expelled from Olympics

Yahoo!7 Sports
Paraskevi "Voula" Papachristou is ‘bitter and upset’ after a racist tweet gets her kicked out of Olympics.

Greece's Voula Papachristou lands in the sand after her jump at the Women's Triple Jump final at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in this file photo dated Friday, June 29, 2012. The Hellenic Olympic Committee has removed triple jumper Voula Papachristou from the team taking part in the upcoming London Olympic Games over comments she made on Twitter making fun of African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right party. “The track and field athlete Paraskevi (Voula) Papachristou is placed outside the Olympic Team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement,” a statement by the Hellenic Olympic Committee says. Papachristou is in Athens, and was to travel to London “shortly before the track events start,” the announcement says. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, file)

IOC Gets Americans Asking for Rule Change

LONDON – American athletes risked disqualification by leading a revolt against the International Olympic Committee on Monday and its draconian laws of forbidding competitors from using social media to promote their sponsors.

Spurred on by the outspoken words of members of the United States team, Olympians from around the world launched a Twitter campaign under the hashtags #Rule40 and #WeDemandChange in an attempt to pressure the IOC into action.

Rule 40 is the section in the athletes’ code of conduct that warns anyone flouting the strict guidelines on the use of social media as a promotional tool will be expelled from the Games.

Dozens of athletes responded angrily, including U.S. 400-meter star runner Sanya Richards-Ross.

"I'd love to show my great sponsors love," Richards-Ross said. "I am one of the very fortunate athletes that work with wonderful sponsors during the Olympic year. [This is an] injustice."

Others took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, although most were careful to avoid any direct mention of the companies that endorse them.

The IOC also frowns upon strong criticism of the organization. National committees warned their athletes that any act of dissent, such as the Rule 40 tweets, could be grounds for disqualification.

That did not stop U.S. 20-kilometer race walker Maria Michta, who gave a heartfelt and eloquent description of how the regulations have affected her.

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Fans disappointed they can't see Olympic flame

The cauldron is made up of pronged components, which rose together when lit by seven young athletes as part of the Opening Ceremony festivities. It will be stationed at one end of the stadium, but, unlike the Bird's nest in Beijing, it's not high enough to be visible from the outside.

London's Olympic budget was cut because of the economic downturn but it's not known whether that contributed to the decision on how to place the flame.

"They have done a disappearing act with it," said Londoner Colin Millard, 58. "We can't wait to see some events, and it doesn't spoil your day, but of course you would like to think it is all part of the experience. You come to the Games, you get a photo with the flame."

Others were similarly bemused at the fact that apart from TV viewers, the only people who will able to see the flame are those fortunate enough to hold tickets for the track and field competition.

"It was like, now you see it, now you don't," said Linda Samuel, of Essex, just outside London. "I loved the Ceremony, and the flame was a dramatic moment. But now it's like it's not here."

The cauldron was the brainchild of designer Thomas Heatherwick and is made up of 204 flames in copper-petal bowls, representing the participating nations. They are mounted on stems of stainless steel, which were then painted in a shade of blue known as "bad black."

The cauldron stands at 25 feet high and weighs more than 35,000 pounds. At the end of the Games, the prongs will be dismantled and each one presented to the nation it represents.