In the women’s 5000m event, Ethiopa’s Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene took the Gold Medal, her second of the Beijing Olympic Games. She was followed to the finish line by Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey for the Silver Medal and Meseret Defar Tola of Ethiopia for the Bronze Medal.

Dibaba also won the Gold Medal in the women’s 10,000 event. She is the first woman to win both long distance events in a single Olympics. American Kara Goucher finished ninth.

In the womens long jump competition, Brazil’s Maurren Higa Maggi took the Gold Medal. The Silver Medal went to defending Olympic champion, Tatiana Debedeva of Russia and the Bronze Medal was awarded to Blessing Okhagbare of Nigeria.

In the women’s 4×100m relay, the drama continued as the Jamaican women botched the hand-off in the final race, causing them the favorites to be disqualified and ruining the Jamaica’s hopes of a perfect eight for eight Gold Medals in the sprinting events. The Russian women prevailed to win the Gold Medal, followed by the Belgians for the Silver and the Nigerian team for the Bronze Medal.

It was all business to the Jamaican men in the 4×100m relay. The team, including Usain Bolt, easily bested the field and set a new world record time of 37.10. It was the third Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing for Bolt.

The men from Trinidad and Tobago took the Silver Medal and the Japanese team took the Bronze Medal.

Australian, Steve Hooker set a new Olympic record of 5.96m/16-6.5 with his Gold Medal performance in the pole vault. Evgeny LUkyanenko of Russia took the Silver Medal and Denys Yurchenko of Ukraine took the Bronze Medal.

Post from: EveryJoe

Scenes from the Bird’s Nest – August 22

The track and field events (properly the Athletes events) began today in Beijing at the Bird’s Nest Stadium. One of the first races was the women’s 10,000m contest.

Two-time world champion, Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopa won the Gold Medal with a new Olympic time of 29:54.66. She was followed by Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey for the Silver Medal.

Shalane Flanagan of the United States earned the Bronze Medal with a new American record time of 30:22.22. Hers is only the second medal ever awarded to an American in that event.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: EveryJoe

Ethiopia’s Dibaba Wins Women’s 10,000m

Chen Xiexia, a competitor in the women’s 48kg weighlifting event, was the first Olympian to win a medal for the host country, China. She bested Silver Medalist Sibel Ozkan of Turkey and Bronze Medalist Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan with a total score of 212kg.

The 25-year-old Chen won three Gold Medals at the 2007 World Weightlighting Championships as well as three Golds at the 2007 Asian Championship.

Post from: EveryJoe

Chen Wins China’s First Medal

In an exhibition game in Macau, China this morning (Thursday night by China time), Team USA showed they were getting ready for the Beijing Games by defeating Turkey 114 to 82. LeBron James’ ankle injury seems to be a thing of the past as the 6′ 8″ team co-captain scored 20 points, seizing control of the game late in the second quarter. Carmelo Anthony added 17 points and Dwight Howard finished with 14.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: EveryJoe

Team USA Soundly Defeats Turkey

So, take the day off from your usual meanderings in the sports world and just focus on family, friends and, yea, FOOD! Can I actually convince you to do that?! LOL.

Anyone kind enough to invite me over to sample some of the turkey? I love roasts.

Post from: EveryJoe

Happy Thanksgiving!