U.S. men miss out on 4x400m gold as replacement runner anchoring relay gets passed by the Bahamas day after sprinter broke his leg during heat

The United States sprint team tried to put a braze face on their first competitive loss in the men's 4X400-meter relay final since 1972.
The day after Manteo Mitchell bravely finished his qualifying lap after hearing his own leg break, the unbeaten men's team were running for their fallen comrade.
However, they couldn't quite make it as replacement runner Angelo Taylor was passed by the Bahamanian team as they took their first gold medal in any sport in the Olympic games.

Angelo Taylor of the U.S. sits on the track after his team finished second in the men's 4x400m relay final to lose the event for the first time in 40-years

Bahamas' Ramon Miller, left, beats Angelo Taylor of the United States as he crosses the finish line to win gold in the men's 4x400-meter relay final

The day after Manteo Mitchell finished out his preliminary lap on a broken leg, the banged-up U.S. team made sure he would get something as a reward.
But it was a silver medal, not gold. Taylor got passed by Ramon Miller of the Bahamas on the final lap – marking the first Olympic men's gold medal in any sport for that island country and the first American loss in that race at the Olympics since 1972.

 

Instead of complaining about the color of their medal, the Americans celebrated their teammate's courage.
'Without him, this wouldn't be possible,' said Tony McQuay, Mitchell's roommate in the athletes village. 'He held it down for the USA. Sorry we couldn't give him the gold. But we want to thank him for getting us to the final.'

Bahamas' Demetrius Pinder (left) celebrates his team's first place win with Ramon Miller as Angelo Taylor of the U.S. reacts after the men's 4x400m relay final

USA's Bryshon Nellum, Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay and Angelo Taylor celebrate their silver medal in the men's 4x400-meter during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London

Bahamas' Ramon Miller, left, and Angelo Taylor of the United States compete in the men's 4x400-meter relay final that ended in victory for the Bahamas

The Bahamas won in 2 minutes, 56.72 seconds, .33 ahead of the U.S. Trinidad and Tobago finished third and the South African team, anchored by double amputee 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius, fell behind well before Pistorius received the baton and finished last.
Mitchell's selfless run kept the United States in the mix for a medal.
In the preliminaries Thursday, he felt a pop in his leg at the halfway point of his lap but stayed on the track to move the baton along to teammate Joshua Mance.
The U.S. qualified easily. Doctors later told him he had a broken left fibula that will take up to six weeks to heal.

Bahamas' men's 4x400-meter relay team Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller celebrate their victory during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium

Mitchell came to the stadium for the race Friday using crutches and wearing a gray walking boot that covered his foot and leg up to the knee. He was part of the celebration after Taylor crossed the line.
'I realize the significance,' said Mitchell, who will receive a silver medal because he ran in the preliminaries. 'But it's not about me. It's not about you.
That's how Team USA operates. A lot of people on outside looking in think that this is an individual sport. But in the end, we're here to serve our countries.'
Mitchell joined the last two Olympic 400-meter champions, Jeremy Wariner and Lashawn Merritt, on the sideline with injuries.

Members of USA's men's 4x400-meter team celebrate their silver medal during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium

That juggled the lineup and left Taylor, a 33-year-old with two Olympic golds in hurdles, to run the anchor leg. He couldn't hold off Miller, who closed out the race with a lap of 44.1 seconds to make history in the Bahamas.
'For me, it's a joyful feeling,' said Chris Brown, who ran the opening leg. 'It's been a long journey for me. I've been here for a long time and this is my first Olympic gold medal. I've gotten silver and bronze before. It took me a long time. The United States is a tough team to beat.'
Not quite as tough with Taylor running the anchor lap.

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius walks with teammate Lj van Zyl after the men's 4x400-meter relay final in which they finished last

He was handed a 10-meter lead when he received the baton, but Miller chipped away. By the final stretch, Miller had passed him and the rest of the race was academic.
The Americans had won gold the previous eight times they had competed, missing out only at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games.
'I felt the second gear come on, but it came on too late,' Taylor said. 'I think I should have moved a little earlier. We gave our best.'
Taylor, running in his fourth Olympics, adds silver to his three golds: 400-meter hurdles in 2000 and 2008, and the 4x400 relay in 2008.
'We took some hits,' he said. 'But even though we took a hit, we were able to put together a team that could take home the silver.'

Flying with water wings: The beauty and stunning acrobatics of synchronised swimmers as they battle it out for Olympic gold

• Synchronised swimming is one of just two events at London 2012 in which all the competitors are female
• First time Great Britain has competed in the synchronised swimming team event in the Olympics
• Russia's synchronised swimmers swept to gold on today with an impeccably executed team routine
• China, an emerging force in the sport, pipped Spain to claim silver

As their glamorous costumes glistened in the water today, the Olympic synchronised swimmers made their sport look deceptively graceful from the poolside.
But they were using their strength, pinpoint precision and stamina to ensure their movements flowed against the backdrop of the aqua blue water at the Aquatics Centre.
Listening intently to the music played out through underwater speakers, they exercised their tremendous breath control, knowing execution is crucial to their success.

Double crab: Spain's team compete in the team free routine final during the synchronised swimming competition

Dancing on water:As their glamourous costumes glistened in the water today, the Olympic synchronised swimmers made their sport look deceptively graceful from the poolside

Graceful: One of the Spanish competitors back flips through the water elegantly

Mid-flight: A synchronised swimmier representing Egypt flies through the air like a bird

Perfection: The team from China hold a pose in the pool. The Chinese won a silver medal earlier in the week and are hotly tipped to be amongst the medalists once again

Synchronised swimming is one of two Olympic disciplines contested only by women - the other is rhythmic gymnastics.
After a closely-fought battle Russia's synchronised swimmers swept to gold today with an impeccably executed team routine punctuated by military drumbeats and spectacular acrobatic jumps, marking their fourth consecutive clean sweep at the Games.

 

China, an emerging force in the sport, pipped Spain to claim silver.
The Russians, who have won every duet and team gold since the Sydney Games, scored 98.93 points out of a possible 100 for their 'free' routine, a sequence which is not prescribed and in which swimmers show off their creative and technical skills.

Flipping and spinning: Teams took to the water today to show off their skills in the water

Made to move: An Egyptian swimmer throws her arms back in time with the music

Today's result was added to their top-scoring routine in the team technical round, taking them to a total of 197.03 points and an Olympic title.

Russia had already won gold in the synchronised swimming duet segment earlier this week.

China have shown dramatic improvement under Japanese-born coach Masayo Imura, known as the 'mother of synchro' and scored 194.01 points to take the country's first silver in the sport.

Spain, silver medallists in the duet segment, were denied second spot by a fractionally lower synchronisation score than their Chinese rivals, despite an ocean-inspired routine - swimmers in fish-scale suits - that had the crowd roaring approval at movements imitating crab pincers and ocean waves.

Japan missed out on the podium, ending the Games without a synchronised swimming medal for the first time since the sport was introduced at the Olympic Games in 1984.

Underwater fun: Australia's team are seen underwater as they perform in the Aquatic Centre

All together: Canada's team line up and point their toes in the air as they do a scissor moment in their routine

Britain's synchronised swimmers today came in sixth place in their first ever Olympics, meeting the target set by their coach.
The squad performed their Peter Pan-themed free routine today, achieving a combined score of 175.4 including yesterday's technical piece.
Jennifer Knobbs, 23, said she was pleased with how the ground-breaking team had done.
'It was an incredible performance, all our highlights functioned and we really felt as a team underwater. Hearing the crowd cheering, supporting us the whole way, really gives you the boost to perform that much more.'

Dress to impress: The costumes of all the competitors were deigned to glisten in the water and be eye-catching

Determined: Precision and strength are both key skills for competitors in the sport

Success: China have shown dramatic improvement under Japanese-born coach Masayo Imura, known as the 'mother of synchro' and scored 194.01 points to take the country's first silver in the sport

The eight-strong British team, pinning their medal hopes on Rio, could not compete with the all-conquering Russian team, who won gold today having done the same in Beijing. China took silver and Spain bronze.
Katie Skelton, 24, was also upbeat about the final result.
'It was a really strong performance, all our highlights worked and we got a really good score.
'We've shown how strong we are and we've improved so much over the last few years. It stands us in good stead for the future.'
British synchronised swimming was given a marked boost in 2007, with lottery funding granted after the successful bid for the London Games.

Great Britain show a team effort as they hold one of their competitors in the air

They are using their strength, endurance and flexibility to ensure their movements flow against the backdrop of the aqua blue water at the Aquatics Centre

Vicky Lucass, 21, said this was vital to the team, who were able to bring in Canadian coach Biz Price.
She said: 'It's made a huge difference. We've been able to bring in Biz Price, get the best coaches in the world, bring in their ideas and knowledge. We've centralised as well, training eight hours a day together every day and that's played a big part.'
The team are now focused on next year's World Championships and beyond that, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Price said: 'We have a couple of competitions this year, then it's preparing for the World Championships in Barcelona. We just want to keep building up.
'For us the weakest thing is artistic, that's what we really need to step up on in the future. That's what our lowest score was here, for the artistic side, so that's what we really want to work on.
'It's a really young group, the oldest is 24 and the youngest is 18. So now it's onwards to Rio.'

Smiles all round: Australia beam as they take to the water

Skill: The sport requires competitors to hold their beneath for long periods under the water

Unity: The Canadian team put on a show of underwater elegance much to the delight of the London crowds at the Aquatics Centre

Not rusty: The Spanish team dazzled the London crowds with their metallic style costumes

Toe-curling: The Russia girls try to hold a pose in the synchronised swimming despite some members of the team clearly having their faces submerged

Bird's eye view: The Egyptian synchro team - as seen from above - clearly enjoyed themselves in the pool despite the strenuous activity

High hopes: Russia had already won gold in the synchronised swimming duet segment earlier this week

Going for gold: Britain's team concentrate on their moves in the final

Best foot forward: Canada show their moves in their fluorescent pink costumes

Revenge for US women's soccer team as Americans beat Japan 2-1 for Olympic gold medal in rematch of 2011 World Cup loss

The U.S. women's soccer team won its third straight Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last year's World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its history.
Hope Solo found herself enveloped in a group hug at the final whistle. Abby Wambach ran to join the fun in a celebration that unleashed a year of bottled-up frustration.
Carli Lloyd scored early in both halves, Solo leaped and dived to make saves, and the entire roster found the redemption it had been seeking since that penalty kick shootout loss in Germany last summer.

Champions! Abby Wambach, right and Hope Solo hug as they celebrate gold medal victory at the London 2012 Games

Victory: A triumphant Abby Wambach is clearly thrilled as the American Women's Soccer team won their final match against Japan, taking home the gold after their Thursday game

Victory! Carli Lloyd scored both American goals to win the United States women's soccer team its third-straight Olympic gold medal

It's good! This is Carli Lloyd's shot in the 54th minute of the match that ensured the American beat their arch-rival Japan at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Wembley Stadium

Before 80,203 at Wembley Stadium- a record crowd for a women's soccer game at the Olympics- the teams put on a back-and-forth, don't-turn-your-head soccer showcase, proving again that these are the two premier teams in the world.
Women's soccer is still in its formative stages in Britain, but the match proved more than worthy for the hallowed grounds of the beautiful game.

 

And the Japanese perhaps played just as beautifully as the Americans, using their speed and discipline to dominate possession and scoring chances for long stretches before finally cutting a 2-0 deficit in half with about a half-hour to go.
Back home, America was paying attention - just as it was last year and despite the rest of the Olympic events.

Golden girl: United States goalkeeper Hope Solo shows her gold medal after beating Japan 2-1 on Thursday

Team win: Thursday's Olympic win was America's third in a row, but it comes after they lost in a surprising turn of events during last year's world championships that left them despondent

Hot ticket: They played before a crowd of 80,203 at Wembley Stadium- a record for a women's soccer game at the Olympics

Even President Barack Obama, during a campaign speech at Colorado College during the second half of the game, noted that, "The women are doing pretty good right now in soccer."
Lloyd's goals came in eighth and 54th minutes, making it four goals in the tournament for the midfielder who lost her long-held starting job weeks before the Olympics. She got back on the pitch when Shannon Boxx injured her hamstring in the opening game and started every game since.
Yuki Ogimi answered in the 63rd minute, and Asuna Tanaka nearly had the equalizer in the 83rd - only to be thwarted when Solo flung her entire body to the left to push the ball away.
The U.S. team has won four of the five Olympic titles since women's soccer was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games, settling for mere silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney.

Loyal supporters: Team USA fans get into the spirit at the side of the pitch at Wembley Stadium today

Sure-footed: Alex Morga moves the ball past Japan's Saki Kumagai during the women's soccer gold medal match

Deflected: American goalkeeper Hope Solo saves the shot attempt by the Japanese

In the first half, Japan was unfortunate not to have a penalty kick awarded for a clear hand ball by U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath, who stuck out her left arm to stop a free kick inside the area.
Japan also had two shots hit the crossbar, one off the left hand of a leaping Solo, who was kept consistently busy for the first time this tournament.
 The closest the U.S. came to doubling the lead in the first 45 minutes came when Azusa Iwashimizu attempted to clear a routine ball played in front of the net - and headed it off the post.
The U.S. goal in the eighth minute began with a run by Heath down the left side. She fed Alex Morgan, who settled the ball near the goal line, spun and chipped it toward Wambach.
Wambach raised her left foot for the shot, but Lloyd charged in and got to it first, her strong running header beating goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto from 6 yards out.

Collision: Wambach and Japanese player Saki Kumagai got caught up during a pursuit for the ball (left) and Wambach helped set up the goal (right)

Range of emotions: American players Lauren Cheney (left) and Wambach (right) celebrate as their Japanese opponents react to the 2-1 victory

Celebration: The team knew it had the match in the bag after the second goal late in the game

Lloyd extended the lead with a 20-yard right-footer just inside the left post after a long run with the ball through the middle of the Japanese defense.
Ogimi soon cut the deficit to one after a mad scramble in front of the net. Captain Christie Rampone saved a shot off the line, but the ball went to Homare Sawa, who fed Ogimi for the tap-in.
Another scramble followed after U.S. defender Amy LePeilbet saved yet another shot off the line in the 74th minute, but this time her teammates were able to corral the ball before a Japanese player could pounce on it.
Boxx was back into the starting lineup after the missing four games with the hamstring injury. Lauren Cheney, who injured an ankle in the semifinals, began the game on the bench for the first time this tournament.
Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday, beating France 1-0 at Coventry.

Proud champions: Carli Lloyd, who scored the team's two goals (left), and goalkeeper Hope Solo (right) who stopped Japanese attempts enjoy their win