2012 Summer Olympics

[texan]

Chinese Olympian's world-record swimming performance brings talk of doping.

Chinese swimming star Ye Shiwen, 16, smashed the world record in the women's
400 meter individual medley Saturday, with a a final 50 meter split that was
faster than that of one of the best U.S. male swimmers, Ryan Lochte, raising
suspicions about her speed.

Shiwen swam 28.93 seconds in her final 50 meters, and 58.68 seconds in her final
100 meters of the 400 meter individual medley, compared to Lochte's 29.10 seconds
in his final 50 meters.

In the final 100 meters, Lochte swam 58.65 seconds to Shiwen's 58.68 seconds.

Stephanie Rice, who previously held the women's 400 meter individual medley
record, called the race "insane," saying, "I mean, I didn't see it, I was way over
and behind, so I didn't really see her coming home, but that split coming home
was out of control."

Shiwen took nearly seven seconds off her time from last year's world championships.
And in Monday's 200 meter medley heats, she clocked 2 minutes, 8.90 seconds -- the
quickest in the world this year, AFP reports.

Read more: Chinese Olympian's world-record swimming performance brings talk of doping | Fox News

 

[texan]

Venus, Serena Williams advance at Olympics

Venus Williams began her bid for a record fourth gold medal in Olympic tennis Monday
by beating Sara Errani of Italy, 6-3, 6-1.

It was an impressive showing from Williams, who is unseeded and drew a tough
first-round foe. Errani has won four titles this year, was the runner-up at the
French Open and is ranked a career-high No. 9.

But Williams was in fine form on the Wimbledon grass, where she has won five
of her seven Grand Slam titles.

Twenty minutes after Williams won on Court 2, younger sister Serena closed out
a second-round victory on Court 1, beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland, 6-2, 6-3.
Serena defeated Radwanska's sister, Agnieszka, in the Wimbledon final this month.

Read more: Venus, Serena Williams advance at Olympics | Fox News

 

[texan]

Duhhh..

Brazilian athlete has shower mishap involving his Olympic medal

Sleeping with it under your pillow, maybe. But taking your medal into the shower? Really?
Brazil's Felipe Kitadai says it was done in humor (he just didn't want to put it down.)

But the bronze he won in judo fell as he was trying to protect it from getting wet while in
the shower. The part which holds the string broke and it's now dented.

Now he's asking for a new one.

Brazilian athlete has shower mishap involving his Olympic medal | Fox News

 

[texan]

Germany, US, NZ lead first day of rowing

WINDSOR, England (AP) — Germany set the pace in the blue-ribbon men's eight Saturday
and New Zealand's men's pair had a world-best time as the Olympic rowing regatta at the
London Games got off to a fast start in glorious sunshine.

The Germans, unbeaten in three years, beat a top-quality field containing Olympic
champion Canada and host nation Britain in the second heat in the men's eight, confirming
their status as favorites for the sport's most high-profile event.

The United States also progressed into Wednesday's final by winning the first heat at Dorney Lake
by a half length from Australia. With only one crew advancing from each heat, a host of leading
boats must expend valuable energy by contesting a repechage on Monday.


Germany, US, NZ lead first day of rowing - Rowing News | NBC Olympics

 

[texan]

Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals.

Phelps won silver in the 200 butterfly and capped off the night by winning gold in the
4x200 freestyle relay in the London Games on Tuesday.
Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals – USATODAY.com

In the relay, Phelps had more than a two second lead when
he took over as the anchor. The Americans won in 6:59.70, more than three
seconds faster than runner-up France. Ryan
Lochte swam the leadoff leg, followed by Conor Dwyer and Ricky
Berens.

 

[texan]

London 2012 Olympics: China and South Korea under investigation after
badminton match descends into farce

Chinese top seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang and the South Koreans Jung Kyung-eun
and Kim Ha-na were booed off after an extraordinary match in which players regularly
served into the net or hit wide apparently on purpose.
Both pairs had already qualified for the last 16 and their actions appeared to be an
attempt to manipulate the final standings in Group A.


The reasons for both pairs wishing to do this were unclear but by ultimately losing
the match, the Chinese now cannot play their compatriots and second seeds
Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei until the final.

London 2012 Olympics: China and South Korea under investigation after badminton match descends into farce - Telegraph

Tian and Zhao were sent off their natural path to the final as second seeds after losing to Denmark's Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen earlier in the day.

 

[texan]

[h=1]London 2012 Olympics: Yu Shiwen claims second swimming gold medal amid doping row[/h][h=2]China’s 16-year-old swimming sensation, Yu Shiwen, won her second gold medal
of the London Games amid a general outpouring of support from the Olympic community
after she found herself at the centre of a doping row.London 2012 Olympics: Yu Shiwen claims second swimming gold medal amid doping row - Telegraph[/h]

 

[moreluck]

Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals.

Phelps won silver in the 200 butterfly and capped off the night by winning gold in the
4x200 freestyle relay in the London Games on Tuesday.
Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals – USATODAY.com

In the relay, Phelps had more than a two second lead when
he took over as the anchor. The Americans won in 6:59.70, more than three
seconds faster than runner-up France. Ryan
Lochte swam the leadoff leg, followed by Conor Dwyer and Ricky
Berens.

Party ! Party ! Party!

 

[moreluck]

8 badminton players expelled from Olympic doubles | Fox News

 

[texan]

8 badminton players expelled from Olympic doubles | Fox News

Excellent. I did not see it, but it was reported they were so obvious, it was pathetic.

 

[texan]

Not recent, but how do they do that?
[video=youtube;m5duXOFsYE0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5duXOFsYE0&feature=results_main&playnext= 1&list=PL1914A8FCB6CC146D[/video]

 

[texan]

What a performance.
[video=youtube;Mqj4kGXTQW8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqj4kGXTQW8[/video]

 

[moreluck]

She comes so close to the edge on that floor exercise.....scary!

 

[texan]

She comes so close to the edge on that floor exercise.....scary!

I know, makes me hold my breath.

 

[moreluck]

I never realized that Olympians have to pay taxes on their wins.....
$9000 on gold
$5400 on Silver
$3500 on bronze
(Approximately)

Sen. Rubio tries to lift tax on Olympic medals


http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/08/rubio-dont-tax-olympic-medals-130796.html?hp=r3_b2

 

[texan]

Olympics Day 5 sees scandal, joy, world records and controversy

London (CNN) -- Wednesday saw scandal at the Olympics as eight athletes were disqualified for
trying not to win matches, joy as the U.S. continued its dominance in swimming and controversy
as the chairman of the Games organizing committee declined to call Michael Phelps the greatest
Olympian of all time.

The disqualifications came in badminton, after two matches Tuesday night in which female
athletes were accused of playing to lose so they could face easier opponents in future matches.

Olympics Day 5 sees scandal, joy, world records and controversy - CNN.com

 

[texan]

Olympics Day 5 sees scandal, joy, world records and controversy

London (CNN) -- Wednesday saw scandal at the Olympics as eight athletes were disqualified for
trying not to win matches, joy as the U.S. continued its dominance in swimming and controversy
as the chairman of the Games organizing committee declined to call Michael Phelps the greatest
Olympian of all time.

The disqualifications came in badminton, after two matches Tuesday night in which female
athletes were accused of playing to lose so they could face easier opponents in future matches.

Olympics Day 5 sees scandal, joy, world records and controversy - CNN.com

I agree with the Chairman. Not saying...Mr. Phelps was the greatest, but..... Now there is the but...

Not like Jesse Owens, Jimmy Thorpe, Mark Spitz, Nadia Comaneci, and others....

But he (the Olympic Chairman) is like Romney, not saying what one wants to hear, or not saying
nothing that echos the media love affair with performance, not character........

Just like OJ Simpson, the best pound-for-pound running back.... but...

 

[Jones]

I agree with the Chairman. Not saying...Mr. Phelps was the greatest, but..... Now there is the but...

Not like Jesse Owens, Jimmy Thorpe, Mark Spitz, Nadia Comaneci, and others....

But he (the Olympic Chairman) is like Romney, not saying what one wants to hear, or not saying
nothing that echos the media love affair with performance, not character........

Just like OJ Simpson, the best pound-for-pound running back.... but...

Well, people are focusing on the medal count which isn't really fair because the way swimming is set up it's much easier for a top swimmer to win multiple medals, there are plenty of Olympic sports where you can only win one gold medal every 4 years. Not taking anything away from Phelps because what he did is pretty amazing, but it makes him the greatest Olympic swimming champion not the greatest Olympian period.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Google Eric Heiden.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I learned something this morning that I never realized---US Olympic team members who win a medal are paid an honorarium and are required to pay Federal income taxes on that honorarium. Medal winners receive $25K for a Gold, $15K for a Silver and $10K for a Bronze and are taxed $8,750 (Gold), $5,250 (Silver) and $3,500 (Bronze). There is also a tax on the medals themselves: $236 (Gold), $135 (Silver) and $2 (Bronze). The total tax bill is $8,986 (Gold), $5,385 (Silver) and $3,502 (Bronze).

The value of the medal(s) and honorarium(s) are added to the taxable income for each athlete so the amounts owed may vary based on their individual tax situation.