WHEN KATIE TAYLOR was boxing for Olympic glory I made a vow that I would settle for a single gold medal for Team Ireland.
Moments after the Bray boxer was confirmed the winner of her final I reassessed my goals and starting speaking (to anyone that would listen) about coming home with four gold medals.
After today’s action it seems likely, barring any heroics from the remaining Team Ireland members yet to compete, that there will be one gold, three bronze medals and something very memorable for John Joe Nevin.
I can live with that.
Headline of the day
I’ll Have What She’s Having!
John Joe Nevin’s dream of winning an Olympic Gold Medal, and following in the footsteps of Katie Taylor, live on as he defeated Lazaro Alvarez Estrada of Cuba. The Mullingar boxer was the clear winner as the judges awarded his superior technique with a 19-14 scoreline. He faces Luke Campbell of Great Britain in the Bantamweight Final at 8.45pm on Saturday.
What we learned today?
- The final East German world record was surpassed
The United States’ Women’s 4x100m Relay Team blasted away all comers as they streaked to Olympic Gold. The foursome’s time of 40.82 broke the old record, set by East Germany in 1985, by more than half a second. The 27-year-old old record has now been bumped off the record books, marking the final farewell to the East Germans.
- United States’ 400m Relay dominance is over
As Michael Johnson revealed on the BBC, the USA had won 16 gold medals in succession in the Men’s 4x400m Relay. The Bahamas broke the dynasty with a national record time of 2:56.72. The Americans did not have a single male competitor in the final of the individual Men’s 400m so the result did not come as a complete shock. However Johnson declared soon after the race, in which the USA got silver, that there should be an States-side inquest.
- Tunisia salutes an endurance swimmer
Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia became the first Olympian to win gold in the swimming pool and out in the open water. The Men’s 1500m Freestyle champion at Beijing 2008 swam more than six times that distance out at the Serpentine to come home first in the 10km Marathon. The 28-year-old bellowed long and hard on the medal podium as he took in the enormity of his achievement. “I’m a pretty solid guy and I never react but you saw the reaction; that says it all,” he said.
Highlights from Team Ireland
Andrej Jezierski came fourth in his semi-final. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
- Ireland’s Andrzej Jezierski missed out on qualifying for the C1 sprint final after finishing fourth in his semi-final. He will compete in the B final on Sunday morning.
- Paddy Barnes went of the Olympics in a blaze of glory after losing on a count-back to Shiming Zou.
- John Joe Nevin cruised on through his semi-final with a 19-14 masterclass against Lazaro Alvarez Estrada. He’ll fight Luke Campbell in tomorrow’s final.
- Michael Conlan lost his semi-final 20-10 against a classy Cuban opponent and has to settle for bronze.
- Ireland’s Women’s 4x400m Relay Team finished sixth in their heat and missed out on a place in Saturday’s final.
Lost In Translation
“I will wrestle anyone,” declared American wrestler Jordan Burroughs after he qualified for an Olympic Final. “If I was wrestling the Queen of England, I would double-leg her.”
The comment was lost in translation until we learned that a ‘double leg’ is a grab and it is Burrough’s signature move. Still, somebody better warn the Queen.
Tweet of the day
Paddy Barnes retains his sense of humour after an agonising count-back loss to his Chinese nemesis, Shiming Zou.
Best thing we’ve read today
Metro France had nothing but praise for Katie Taylor – The Queen of Ireland – as the world’s press reacted to her gold medal win.
A new friend we made today
The Netherlands’ Women’s Hockey Team, much like many of the beach volleyball stars, drew lots of non-sporting attention for their athletic physiques and good looks. They proved on Friday that they are damn good hockey players as they retained the gold medal they won at Beijing in 2008. The Dutch beat Argentina with Maartje Paumen, our new friend and the team’s captain, scoring both goals.
Maartje Paumen (No.17) celebrates her match-winner. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
You said what?
All I had to do was get the stick around.
- Allyson Felix from the USA Women’s record-breaking relay team.
I seem to be getting better as it goes along and I’m enjoying it.
- John Joe Nevin is in confident form ahead of his gold medal bout.
Medal table
(Table correct as of 10pm on Friday, 10 August)
