IT’S YOUR LAST chance to take in Olympic action until it’s boxed away for Rio in four years’ time.
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- Mark Kenneally finishes 57th in the men’s marathon with a time of 2:21:13.
- Natalya Coyle earns ninth place overall in the women’s modern pentathlon.
As Sinatra put it: “And now, the end is here. And so I face the final curtain.”
After two momentous weeks, the London Olympics finishes up tonight and I for one will miss having a constant flow of top class sport on demand from first thing in the morning until last thing at night.
For Ireland, it has been our most successful in nearly 60 years. The final two competitors to don the green singlet are narathon runner Mark Kenneally and Natalya Coyle, in the modern pentathlete.
Trinity College student Coyle, the country’s first ever female representative in the event, is already in the first of four events – fencing. She is currently 11th after 11 wins and 14 defeats.
Mark Kenneally, from Celbridge, Co Kildare, is about 45 minutes away from starting in the men’s marathon. Elsewhere, there is plenty more going on and the rest of the day looks something like this:
- Basketball: Argentina v Russia in the bronze medal match at 11am and Team USA face Spain for gold at 3pm
- Cycling: The men’s cross country mountain biking begins at 1.30pm
- Boxing: Five men’s finals from1.30pm
- Handball: Hungary play Croatia for bronze at 11 and it’s Sweden v France in the final (3pm)
- Gymnastics: Rhythmic group all-round final from 1.3opm
- Modern Pentathlon: The women’s event is on all day
- Volleyball: Bulgaria v Italy for third/fourth and Russia against Brazil for gold
- Waterpolo: bronze and gold medal matches from 2.30pm
- Wrestling: The semi-finals are on right now and the finals follow this afternoon
Read our Olympic Breakfast here
The men’s basketball final this afternoon is a repeat of the Beijing final. Four years ago, the score was 118-107 in favour of the Americans:
For a taste of what’s to come, watch highlights of the fourth quarter when Kobe Bryant (in my best Timmy McCarthy voice) “shaked, baked and scored!”.
YouTube credit: losangelessportsvid
And here’s a preview to ‘Game 7′:
THE US OLYMPIC basketball ‘dream team’ are going for a golden repeat against reigning European champions Spain in this afternoTon’s final.
The Americans have run through the tournament undefeated as they did in 2008 when they beat Spain 118-107 in the Beijing final.
The heroics of Billy Walsh’s boxers means Ireland sit second in the boxing medal table:
Natalya Coyle has finished the fencing and lies in joint 11th, on 856 points, thanks to 19 wins and 16 defeats. Great start from the 21-year-old. Swimming is next at 12.35pm.
The men’s marathon is upon us and it looks as though half of London are out to cheer the athletes on. Somewhere in there is Mark Kenneally. Read our profile on the 31-year-old runner here.
The 42.2km (26.2 miles) marathon begins in The Mall, heads down the River Thames, along by Westminster and back up by Buckingham Palace. Then it’s on into the city and past the Tower of London before repeating an eight-mile loop three times.
On the 15 minute mark, Kenyan pair Emmanuel Mujtai and Wilson KipsangKiprotich lead. Kenneally, sporting a white baseball cap, is back from the main group.
From last night, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt mix it up.
After 5km a few minutes ago, Kenneally was recorded as lying in 78th out of 105 competitors. The leader, Brazil’s Marilson Dos Santos, is 8.7km in.
In the men’s basketball bronze medal game, Russia are two points ahead of Argentina (29-27) in the second quarter. Italy, meanwhile, have clinched bronze in the men’s volleyball event – seeing off the threat of Bulgaria by a score of 3-1.
Kenneally is on the move and has made up 19 places. He crosses 10km in 31:25 and sits next to Lee Merrien of Team GB in 59th. Kipsang out in front on his own with a group of seven not far behind.
Look who’s got himself a ticket for the game…
Through 15km, Keannelly jumps one more position into 58th and is a little over two minutes behind the leaders.
Mark Kenneally has done half the marathon in 1:06:28 and is in 47th place. The man in front, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich of Kenya is 16 seconds ahead of his nearest rival – compatriot Abel Kirui. On his way by the drinks tables, however, he nearly runs straight past his designated area.
Kenneally’s steady progression up the field continues. After 25km, he is placed in 43rd. Kenyans Kipsung and Kirui and Kiprotich of Uganda are the front three.
28 years ago, John Treacy decided to run his very first marathon… in an Olympic final. The result? A remarkable performance to earn silver at the Los Angeles Games.
Relive one of Ireland’s greatest sporting moments:
At halfway, I found myself still up with the leaders. Charlie Spedding was the first to make a move then four of us got away.
“I’m thinking if I can hang in here then I can get a medal. About three miles to go, Lopez makes a move. I was trying to sprint to keep up but had to let him go.”
1:35:45 into his marathon, Kenneally lies in 42nd. In the modern pentathlon, Natalya Coyle swims in Lane 4 of Heat 2 in the next few minutes.
BRONZE – Croatia have beaten Hungary 33-26 to take third place in the men’s handball and get among the medals. France and Sweden play in the final at 3pm.
A brilliant swim from pentathlete Natalya Coyle sees her win Heat 2 in a time of 2:19.17. She moves up to 15th overall going into the riding at 2.35pm.
At 37km, Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich has gone ahead of his two Kenyan rivals. Dos Santos of Brazil remains in fourth. For the first time in the race, Kenneally has dropped a couple of places. He is 46th after 35km.
GOLD – Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda has won the men’s marathon. After opening up a sizeable lead, he picks up his national flag to cross the line in 2:08:01. Kenya’s Kirou and Kipsang take silver and bronze.
He is the first Ugandan athlete to win an Olympic medal beyond 400m.
We’re waiting for Kenneally, who fell to 53rd at 40km, to cross the line now.
IRELAND’S MARK KENNEALLY FINISHES 57th IN THE MEN’S MARATHON After a strong first half, Kenneally drops back in the last 15km and records a time of 2:21:13.
Don’t forget, this is only his third competitive marathon for the former middle-distance and cross-country runner. He will no doubt be disappointed, however, as his PB is 2:13.55, which would have got him 15th today.
GOLD - Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana, the Cuban fighter who beat Ireland’s Michael Conlan, has claimed gold after defeating 17-14 Tugstsogt Nyambayar of Mongolia.
Alongside Ramirez, Tugstsogt Nyambayar, and Misha Aloian, Michael Conlan is presented his bronze medal.
Representing Mullingar…
GOLD – Kazakhstan’s Serik Sapiyev boxes incredibly to overcome his opponent Freddie Evans. Roared on by the home crowd, Evans loses out 17-9. According to the good folk at Infostrada Sports, Sapiyex (at the age of 28) is the oldest winner of the men’s Olympic welterweight title – breaking a 56-year-old record.
Am disappointed with my performance but I’ll pick myself up and move onto the next one. Keep trying to improve, put it right in Rio.” – Read Mark Kenneally’s reaction to today’s marathon.
GOLD – Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu of Japan has won the men’s 66kg freestyle wrestling from Indian Sushil Kumar.
BASKETBALL FANS… The men’s final, between the United States’ ‘dream team’ and Spain, is beginning now.
GOLD – For anyone wondering about men’s cross country mountain biking, the Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Kulhavy has taken gold in the event.
Natayla Coyle, group in Round 2 of the pentathlon riding event, will tackle the course with Skinners Zed at around 4.16pm.
Another boxing gold medal to report – In the light heavyweight category, it’s a win for Russia and Egor Mekhontcev. Level with Adilbek Niyazymbetov at the final bell, a count back cannot separate the fighter so it went to judges’ preference.
The heavyweight final is two rounds in.
In basketball, Team USA lead Spain 35-32 early in the second quarter.
The many wonderful jackets of Kenneth Egan. The Beijing Olympian is auctioning that last stonewashed number for charity, and bidding ends midnight tomorrow.
YouTube credit: RTE
GOLD – The ExCel erupts as it is announced that Londoner Anthony Joshua is the new Olympic super heavyweight champion.
Russia, meanwhile, are the surprise men’s volleyball gold medallists after they upset the odds to overcome Brazil 15-9.
There’s been some drama in the boxing as it seems Italy have appealed the decision to award the fight between Anthony Joshua and Roberto Cammarella to the British representative. A decision is expected shortly.
Spain remain in touch with Team USA at half-time in the men’s basketball. They trail 59-58 with Spanish captain Juan Carlos Navarro wading in with 19 points. Kevin Durant is America’s top scorer on 17.
CONFIRMED: Italy’s appeal over Anthony Joshua’s gold medal win in super heavyweight boxing has been rejected.
Natalya Coyle has just been involved in her riding event and knocked down just two fences to picked up 40 penalty points. That puts her into third place but there are a number of riders still to go.
Very little still between the US and Spain after the third quarter. 83-82 to LeBron, Bryant and co.
GOLD - France are men’s Olympic handball champions after a thrilling 22-21 win over Sweden.
US up by four with six and a half minutes on the clock.
Natalya Coyle now fifth overall with six riders to come. Hopefully she can hold onto a high spot to give her an advantage going into the combined event.
LeBron James with a couple of big scores to give the US a nine point cushion with under two minutes remaining. Score is 102-93.
TEAM USA WIN GOLD IN MEN’S BASKETBALL The ‘Dream Team’ have beaten Beijing silver medallists Spain 107-100.
Going into the final combined event in the women’s pentathlon, Natalya Coyle will go out 11th – 30 seconds behind the leader Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania.
Women’s modern pentathlon about to begin.
NATALYA COYLE FINISHES NINTH in the women’s modern pentathlon! 13th in the combined event has given the 21-year-old an overall score of 5220 to put her inside the top ten on the leaderboard. That’s a tremendous effort at her first Olympic Games.
Read a report on the men’s basketball final here:
THE US Dream Team of NBA stars captured their second Olympic men’s basketball gold medal in a row and the 14th overall for America by beating Spain 107-100 in Sunday’s championship game.
The US multi-millionaire lineup of NBA elite claimed their fifth crown in the past six Olympics, improving to 62-1 since revamping the national team program after settling for bronze in 2004.
That’s a fitting end to what has been a thoroughly enjoyable 16 days of sport. It’s been emotional, thanks as always for joining us.
