Today we are proud as can be of our Team Canada, with two more medals added to our tally. Plus, the sum up of the day, with medals for China and new records for runners!
Can you believe it? It’s day 13 of the Olympics! Loads to catch up on: two more medals for the homeland, some gold for Russia and China as well as a new world record for a Kenyan runner.
Soccer
To begin with, this has been a soccer-licious day for Canada. Our ladies beat France 1-0 for the bronze medal — as promised — successfully earning their spot on the podium after all, but not without challenges. This team is now a soccer force with a fierce reputation.
“They were just remarkable. They were possessed,” stated John Herdman, the team’s head coach. “I hope we can just chill out now, enjoy the moment and get ready for 2016.”
Wrestling
Another podium spot was earned by Tonya Verbeek, who picked up a silver medal in women’s wrestling, 55 kilogram class. The gold went to Japan’s Saori Yoshida, the bronze to Colombia’s Jackeline Renteria Castillo and Yuliya Ratkevich of Azerbaijan. This is going to be Verbeek’s third time on the podium in her Olympic career, having won another silver medal in the 2004 Olympics and a bronze in 2008. Canada’s medal tally is sittin’ purdy at 16.
Russia’s beaming proud today after 21-year-old Natalia Vorobieva impressively pinned her opponent, five-time world champion Bulgarian Stanka Zlateva Hristova, in the gold medal match in women’s wrestling 72 kilogram finals. Hristova was left with a silver, Spain’s Maider Unda and Kazakhstan’s Guzel Manyurova with bronze. Raw power right there. Well done, ladies!
Swimming
Another gold for China, the country once again owns the swimming match. Chen Roulin has been top dog since the qualification rounds and proved her skill again in the final with an overall score of 422.30, earning her second gold medal at London 2012. Just to put that incredible score in perspective, the silver medal was awarded to 16-year-old Australian diver Brittany Broben who, although closest to challenge Chen, was 55.80 behind! You cannot help but applaud Chen for the intricacy of skill in this sport. The bronze went to Malaysian Pandelela Rinong Pamg.
Track
In men’s athletics 800 metre, Kenya’s David Lekuta Rudisha claimed the gold medal after setting a new world record in the sport with 1:40.91 (beating his own old record). The 18-year-old Nigel Amos of Botswana picked up a silver in 1:41.73, setting a new national record. Kenyan Timothy Kitum picked up another medal for the country — a bronze — in 1:42.53. While some of us cannot run for the bus in the morning, these athletes are setting world records. Colour us in awe.
Eventful day, loads of medals. Special shout-out to our Canadian ladies and the record-breakers, high fives all around! Opinions?
Photo courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Photographer: Mike Ridewood
More on the Olympics
London 2012 Olympics: Early wins and new records
Gold for Canada at the London 2012 Olympics!
London 2012 Olympics: Day 2 – Canada wins!
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