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Pro Sports Wrap - by Sam Ruesler

Pro Sports Wrap - August 2008

What were your favorite moments of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing?

There were so very many amazing moments and performances during the 17 days in Beijing that it is hard to narrow it down. Here are a few of my favorite moments, in no particular order.

Michael Phelps: Which moment? Pick one! He had so many incredible moments in the pool. I think my favorite from him was probably the 7th Gold Medal that he won by about a fingernail. The one that caused his mother to nearly have a heart attack as she slipped down into her seat out of utter shock.


Usain Bolt: He is another one that leads you to ask, “Which moment?” It is unreal that he wasn’t a 100M runner until a few months ago when he was trying to get loose for his event, the 200M. He may have showboated a bit near the end of the record-breaking 100M, but it was astounding that as he was “shutting down,” he still crossed the line in world-record time. In the 200M, he broke a Michael Johnson record that no one thought would be broken for a long, long time. My favorite moment of him competing was in the Men’s 4X100M Relay, though. He ran the third leg of the relay. His Jamaican team was in or near the lead by the time the baton got placed in his hand, but after he took it he pulled away from the field. By the time Asafa Powell got the handoff for the anchor leg, they were ahead by 15-20M. At the finish line, Powell crossed 40-45 meters ahead of second place. I loved how the camera view showed Bolt still jogging behind Powell as he ran to the finish. Bolt in a jog would have crossed the line in 4th or 5th I think.


What was even better than his gold shoes, gold medals, and world record times, however, was what he did after he had finished competing in Beijing. He donated $50,000 of his own money to the Red Cross effort to aid the victims of the earthquake in the Sichuan Province. He did this as a way to say thank you for his wonderful experience while in China and at the games which allowed him to shine on a world stage.

I also liked all the diving competitions, even if the Chinese dominated anything that involved jumping into the water with precision. Even though the Chinese controlling it all got a little boring at times, I loved watching Guo Jingjing winning gold in both singles and synchro.

The highlight of diving for me, however, was seeing Australian Matthew Mitcham in the final round of the final diving competition of the games, the Men’s 10M Platform, knock off Zhou Luxin of China for the gold medal. His precision dives and high scores were just enough to be the only person in Beijing able to block a total diving sweep by the host nation. His reaction was so very priceless, as was the silver medalist who happened to be caught in the same shot a few feet behind Mitcham’s elation.

Most American Olympic viewers will, nine times out of ten, list a gymnastics moment as their favorite in most years. I am sure this year will be no different, although Phelps will top many of their lists.

Now, I know I said I was listing these in no particular order. That isn’t totally true. I do believe my #1 moment is the one I am about to list. Sure, I loved seeing the U.S. Men win an unexpected bronze medal in the artistic gymnastics team competition and the women win a silver, as well as an outstanding All-Around Gold Medal win for Nastia Liukin. My favorite moment, though, was Shawn Johnson’s gold medal win on the Balance Beam. After seeing her let down again and again with individual silvers in Floor Exercise and the All-Around competition as well as the Team Silver, it was such a wonderful moment to see her huge eyes and incredible smile get even bigger. It was also very nice to see Nastia and Shawn just happy to go 1-2 regardless of which one was gold and which one was silver.

So, there are some of my favorite moments. What are your favorite memories from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing?
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Australia
Medals Won - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics


Matthew Mitcham is the only athlete to block the Chinese from Diving Gold


Australia
Medal Athlete Event
Basketball
Silver Team Australia Women's Basketball Final
Canoe / Kayak Flatwater
Gold Ken Wallace Men's K-1 500m
Bronze Ken Wallace Men's K-1 1000m
Bronze L. Oldenhof / H. Davis / C. Meek / L. Fogarty Women's K-4 500m
Canoe / Kayak Slalom
Silver Jacqueline Lawrence Women's K-1
Bronze Robin Bell Men's C-1
Cycling Track
Silver Anna Meares Women's Sprint
Diving
Gold Matthew Mitcham Men's 10M Platform Final
Silver B. Cole / M. Wu Women's Sync. Diving 10M Platform Final
Equestrian Eventing
Silver Team Australia Mixed Team
Field Hockey
Bronze Team Australia Men's Hockey Final
Rowing
Gold D. Ginn / D. Free Men's Pair Without Coxswain
Gold D. Crawshay / S. Brennan Men's Double Sculls
Silver M. Ryan / J. Marburg / C. Mckenzie-Mcharg / F. Hegerty Men's Four without Coxswain
Sailing
Gold N. Wilmot / M. Page Men's 470 - Two Person Dinghy
Gold E. Rechichi / T. Parkinson Women's 470 - Two Person Dinghy
Silver D. Bundock / G. Ashby Mixed Tornado - Multihull
Shooting
Bronze Warren Potent Men's 50m Free Rifle Prone (60 shots) Final
Softball
Bronze Team Australia Women's Softball Final Game
Swimming
Gold Lisbeth Trickett Women's 100m Butterfly
Gold Leisel Jones Women's 100m Breast
Gold Stephanie Rice Women's 200m Medley
Gold Stephanie Rice Women's 400m Medley
Gold Team Australia Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Gold Team Australia Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Silver Eamon Sullivan Men's 100m Free
Silver Grant Hackett Men's 1500m Free
Silver Brenton Rickard Men's 200m Breast
Silver Team Australia Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Silver Lisbeth Trickett Women's 100m Free
Silver Leisel Jones Women's 200m Breast
Bronze Andrew Lauterstein Men's 100m Butterfly
Bronze Hayden Stoeckel Men's 100m Back
Bronze Team Australia Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Bronze Team Australia Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Bronze Cate Campbell Women's 50m Free
Bronze Jessicah Schipper Women's 100m Butterfly
Bronze Jessicah Schipper Women's 200m Butterfly
Bronze Team Australia Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Track and Field
Gold Steve Hooker Men's Pole vault Final
Silver Jared Tallent Men's 50km Race walk Final
Silver Sally Mclellan Women's 100m Hurdles Final
Bronze Jared Tallent Men's 20km Race walk Final
Triathlon
Gold Emma Snowsill Women's Individual
Bronze Emma Moffatt Women's Individual
Water Polo
Bronze Team Australia Women's Water Polo Final


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United States of America
Medals Won - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

Nastia Liukin & Michael Phelps show off some USA Gold Medals


United States
Medal Athlete Event
Baseball
Bronze Team United States Men's Baseball Final
Basketball
Gold Team United States Men's Basketball Final
Gold Team United States Women's Basketball Final
Beach Volleyball
Gold Team United States Men's Beach Volleyball Final Match
Gold Team United States Women's Beach Volleyball Final Match
Boxing
Bronze Deontay Wilder Men's 81-91kg Final
Cycling BMX
Silver Mike Day Men's Individual Final
Bronze Donny Robinson Men's Individual Final
Bronze Jill Kintner Women's Individual Final
Cycling Road
Gold Kristin Armstrong Women's Ind. Time Trial
Bronze Levi Leipheimer Men's Ind. Time Trial
Equestrian Eventing
Silver Gina Miles Mixed Individual
Equestrian Jumping
Gold Team United States Mixed Team
Bronze Beezie Madden Mixed Individual
Fencing
Gold Mariel Zagunis Women's Individual Sabre Final
Silver Team United States Men's Team Sabre Final
Silver Sada Jacobson Women's Individual Sabre Final
Silver Team United States Women's Team Foil Final
Bronze Becca Ward Women's Individual Sabre Final
Bronze Team United States Women's Team Sabre Final
Artistic Gymnastics
Gold Shawn Johnson Women's Balance Beam Final
Gold Nastia Liukin Women's Individual all-round Final
Silver Jonathan Horton Men's Horizontal Bar Final
Silver Shawn Johnson Women's Floor Exercise Final
Silver Nastia Liukin Women's Asymmetric Bars Final
Silver Nastia Liukin Women's Balance Beam Final
Silver Shawn Johnson Women's Individual all-round Final
Silver Team United States Women's Team Competition Final
Bronze Team United States Men's Team Competition Final
Bronze Nastia Liukin Women's Floor Exercise Final
Judo
Bronze Ronda Rousey Women's Middleweight (63-70kg) Final
Rowing
Gold E. Cafaro / L. Shoop / A. Goodale / E. Logan / A. Cummins / S. Francia / C. Lind / C. Davies / M. Whipple Women's Eight with Coxswain
Silver Michelle Guerette Women's Single Sculls
Bronze B. Hoopman / M. Schnobrich / M. Boyd / W. Allen / D. Walsh / S. Coppola / J. Inman / B. Volpenhein / M. Mc Elhenney Men's Eight with Coxswain
Sailing
Gold Anna Tunnicliffe Women's Laser Radial - One Person Dinghy
Silver Zach Railey Mixed Finn - Heavyweight Dinghy
Shooting
Gold Team United States Men's Double Trap (150 targets) Final
Gold Team United States Men's Skeet (125 targets) Final
Silver Matthew Emmons Men's 50m Free Rifle Prone (60 shots) Final
Silver Team United States Women's Skeet (75 targets) Final
Bronze Jason Turner Men's 10m Air Pistol (60 shots) Final
Bronze Team United States Women's Trap (75 targets) Final
Soccer
Gold Team United States Women's Soccer Final Match
Softball
Silver Team United States Women's Softball Final Game
Swimming
Gold Michael Phelps Men's 200m Free
Gold Michael Phelps Men's 100m Butterfly
Gold Michael Phelps Men's 200m Butterfly
Gold Aaron Peirsol Men's 100m Back
Gold Ryan Lochte Men's 200m Back
Gold Michael Phelps Men's 200m Medley
Gold Michael Phelps Men's 400m Medley
Gold Team United States Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Gold Team United States Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Gold Team United States Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Gold Rebecca Soni Women's 200m Breast
Gold Natalie Coughlin Women's 100m Back
Silver Matt Grevers Men's 100m Back
Silver Aaron Peirsol Men's 200m Back
Silver Dara Torres Women's 50m Free
Silver Katie Hoff Women's 400m Free
Silver Christine Magnuson Women's 100m Butterfly
Silver Rebecca Soni Women's 100m Breast
Silver Margaret Hoelzer Women's 200m Back
Silver Team United States Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Silver Team United States Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
Bronze Jason Lezak Men's 100m Free
Bronze Peter Vanderkaay Men's 200m Free
Bronze Larsen Jensen Men's 400m Free
Bronze Ryan Lochte Men's 200m Medley
Bronze Ryan Lochte Men's 400m Medley
Bronze Natalie Coughlin Women's 100m Free
Bronze Margaret Hoelzer Women's 100m Back
Bronze Natalie Coughlin Women's 200m Medley
Bronze Katie Hoff Women's 400m Medley
Bronze Team United States Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
Taekwondo
Silver Mark Lopez Men's Feather (58-68kg) Final
Bronze Steven Lopez Men's Welter (68-80kg) Final
Bronze Diana Lopez Women's Feather (49-57kg) Final
Tennis
Gold S. Williams / V. Williams Women's Doubles
Bronze B. Bryan / M. Bryan Men's Doubles
Track and Field
Gold LaShawn Merritt Men's 400m Final
Gold Angelo Taylor Men's 400m Hurdles Final
Gold Team United States Men's 4x400m Relay Final
Gold Bryan Clay Men's Decathlon Final
Gold Dawn Harper Women's 100m Hurdles Final
Gold Stephanie Brown Trafton Women's Discus throw Final
Gold Team United States Women's 4x400m Relay Final
Silver Shawn Crawford Men's 200m Final
Silver Jeremy Wariner Men's 400m Final
Silver David Payne Men's 110m Hurdles Final
Silver Kerron Clement Men's 400m Hurdles Final
Silver Christian Cantwell Men's Shot put Final
Silver Allyson Felix Women's 200m Final
Silver Sheena Tosta Women's 400m Hurdles Final
Silver Jennifer Stuczynski Women's Pole vault Final
Silver Hyleas Fountain Women's Heptathlon Final
Bronze Walter Dix Men's 100m Final
Bronze Walter Dix Men's 200m Final
Bronze David Neville Men's 400m Final
Bronze David Oliver Men's 110m Hurdles Final
Bronze Bershawn Jackson Men's 400m Hurdles Final
Bronze Sanya Richards Women's 400m Final
Bronze Shalane Flanagan Women's 10000m Final
Volleyball
Gold Team United States Men's Volleyball Final Match
Silver Team United States Women's Volleyball Final Match
Water Polo
Silver Team United States Men's Water Polo Final
Silver Team United States Women's Water Polo Final
Wrestling Freestyle
Gold Henry Cejudo Men's -55kg Final
Bronze Randi Miller Women's 55-63kg Final
Wrestling Greco-Roman
Bronze Adam Wheeler Men's 84-96kg


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Final 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Medal Count




If the country name is a link, click to see a detailed list of which medals they won.

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States of America 36 38 36 110
2 China 51 21 28 100
3 Russia 23 21 28 72
4 Britain 19 13 15 47
5 Australia 14 15 17 46
6 Germany 16 10 15 41
7 France 7 16 17 40
8 South Korea 13 10 8 31
9 Italy 8 10 10 28
10 Ukraine 7 5 15 27
11 Japan 9 6 10 25
12 Cuba 2 11 11 24
13 Belarus 4 5 10 19
14t Spain 5 10 3 18
14t Canada 3 9 6 18
16 Netherlands 7 5 4 16
17 Brazil 3 4 8 15
18 Kenya 5 5 4 14
19 Kazakhstan 2 4 7 13
20 Jamaica 6 3 2 11
21t Poland 3 6 1 10
21t Hungary 3 5 2 10
21t Norway 3 5 2 10
24 New Zealand 3 1 5 9
25t Romania 4 1 3 8
25t Turkey 1 4 3 8
27t Ethiopia 4 1 2 7
27t Denmark 2 2 3 7
27t Azerbaijan 1 2 4 7
30t Czech Republic 3 3 0 6
30t Slovakia 3 2 1 6
30t Georgia 3 0 3 6
30t North Korea 2 1 3 6
30t Argentina 2 0 4 6
30t Switzerland 2 0 4 6
30t Uzbekistan 1 2 3 6
30t Armenia 0 0 6 6
38t Slovenia 1 2 2 5
38t Bulgaria 1 1 3 5
38t Indonesia 1 1 3 5
38t Sweden 0 4 1 5
38t Croatia 0 2 3 5
38t Lithuania 0 2 3 5
44t Mongolia 2 2 0 4
44t Thailand 2 2 0 4
44t Zimbabwe 1 3 0 4
44t Finland 1 1 2 4
44t Greece 0 2 2 4
44t Nigeria 0 1 3 4
44t Chinese Taipei 0 0 4 4
51t Mexico 2 0 1 3
51t Latvia 1 1 1 3
51t India 1 0 2 3
51t Austria 0 1 2 3
51t Ireland 0 1 2 3
51t Serbia 0 1 2 3
57t Belgium 1 1 0 2
57t Dominican Republic 1 1 0 2
57t Estonia 1 1 0 2
57t Portugal 1 1 0 2
57t Iran 1 0 1 2
57t Trinidad and Tobago 0 2 0 2
57t Algeria 0 1 1 2
57t Bahamas 0 1 1 2
57t Colombia 0 1 1 2
57t Kyrgyzstan 0 1 1 2
57t Morocco 0 1 1 2
57t Tajikistan 0 1 1 2
69t Bahrain 1 0 0 1
69t Cameroon 1 0 0 1
69t Panama 1 0 0 1
69t Tunisia 1 0 0 1
69t Chile 0 1 0 1
69t Ecuador 0 1 0 1
69t Iceland 0 1 0 1
69t Malaysia 0 1 0 1
69t Singapore 0 1 0 1
69t South Africa 0 1 0 1
69t Sudan 0 1 0 1
69t Vietnam 0 1 0 1
69t Afghanistan 0 0 1 1
69t Egypt 0 0 1 1
69t Israel 0 0 1 1
69t Mauritius 0 0 1 1
69t Moldova 0 0 1 1
69t Togo 0 0 1 1
69t Venezuela 0 0 1 1


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Britain
Medals Won - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

[ Click here to read more ]
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Russia
Medals Won - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics


[ Click here to read more ]
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China
Medals Won - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics


[ Click here to read more ]
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Changing of the guard?

August 1st 2008 21:04
It seems unlikely, but Roger Federer may soon lose his No. 1 tennis ranking.

Federer lost in the Cincinnati Masters third round meaning that if Rafael Nadal wins the tournament he overtakes Federer as the top ranked tennis player


[ Click here to read more ]
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