American Achievers

By Guest Blogger Bo Durkop

There have been many memorable moments for the Americans in the Beijing Olympics so far. Michael Phelps has secured his place in history as an Olympic legend alongside great athletes Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis today when he won his ninth olympic gold medal. Phelps is slated to swim in two more finals and so has the opportunity to break the record he has just tied.

But the victorious Americans don’t end with Phelps.

U.S. athlete Natalie Coughlin became the first woman to ever defend her title in the Olympic 100-meter backstroke.

Glenn Eller, who hails from Katy, Texas set an Olympic record in the process of qualifying for the double trap final. Eller hit 48 targets in the first round of qualifying, 49 in the second and 48 in the third for a total of 145 points, which was enough for a one point margin of victory.

In tennis, American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan easily beat Bahama athletes Mark Knowles and Devin Mullings in first-round doubles. The match lasted just 52 minutes.

American shuttlers Howard Bach and Bob Malaythong won against the team of brothers, Chris and Roelof Dednam, from South Africa and will play in the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles event.

And finally, though not an American victory, it is worth mentioning that Abhinav Bindra brought to his homeland of India its first ever invidual gold medal by winning the 10m air rifle.

So far Americans have claimed six gold medals, six silver medals, and eight bronze medals for a total of 20. And the Games have only just begun.