18th
Olympics Highlights, Day 9
Top highlight: the Jamaican women sweeping the 100m dash - a powerful performance by the suddenly-dominant sprinting power. Jamaica has been a force in sprinting for several Olympics now, but this kind of performance is what we Americans used to aim for. Now, we feel lucky to have won a single bronze in the men’s and women’s 100m. Hopefully, the US team will perform better in the 400 and 400 hurdles.
Other highlights:
- The US women’s eight winning gold in the premier rowing event. During the medal ceremony, the entire team was belting out the Star-Spangled Banner with inspiring joy.
- A victory by the US men’s water polo team against Germany - incredibly,and against all odds, winning their pool (over Italy, Serbia, and Croatia) and earning a bye into the semifinals.
- A gutty, come-from-behind win by the US women’s indoor volleyball team against Poland.
In general, though the US track team has been pretty disappointing during the first two years, the US has been performing well in team sports: men’s and women’s water polo, basketball, beach volleyball, and indoor volleyball; women’s soccer; and softball have all been good. Baseball is doing decently against tough competition, and even women’s field hockey managed a win and 3 draws to achieve a .500 record.
Also, heartfelt sympathy goes to Liu Xiang, who had to literally walk away from the starting blocks and was unable to defend his 110m hurdles title.
