London 2012, Day 8:

Super Saturday: Six gold beacons

of Great British light

This is Ennis: 2012

The nations sweetheart Jessica Ennis took the day by storm, in the Athletics events to power through, leading the table and reaching out for an Olympic gold medal for Team GB. Evangelic Ennis yesterday added over 4000 points to start strong in Shotput, 200m sprint, women’s bar and hurdles events, with javelin, long jump and 800m to come today. Expectation was piled onto Ennis for the last three years with huge expectations. While she powered through with her determination to win, the media continue to hype individuals in the wrong way, where it needs to re-consider the effect longstanding. Rebecca Adlington had immense pressure onto her, as had Tom Daley to a degree.

Ennis stamped her mark on the games

Next to the girl next door, was Greg Rutherford, who launched into first for the long jump flying into first, with an 8.31m to return gold to Team GB once more for the guys.

Go Far-tha-r!

Mo Farah relayed the gold back to Team GB after a bout of stamina secured his 10,000m victory run to first place, bringing back the sixth in a day now hailed as “Super Saturday” for Great Britain from our Heptathlon heroes.

King, Trott and Roswell

The Women’s team (Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell) over in the velodrome for more Team Pursuit who drove further success home, shattering Team USA in the finals with extraordinary speed. They almost lapped them on the other side in a glorious cycle.

Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland began the day’s first victory in the lightweight double sculls at Eton Dorney for the Rowing events. The men continued tradition in the 4 man coxless four vessel where Andrew Triggs Hodge, Tom James, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory rode home with gold also.

Dramatic despair came by INCHES in the lightweight sculls where Brit’s Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter were pipped by Denmark ‘s pair Rasmus Quist (aptly named) and Mads Rasmussen. The Brit pair had to restart after a faulty seat initially. “We gave everything. We tried everything. We wanted to win so badly. Sorry to everybody we’ve let down”, Mark Hunter said. None of the country felt let down by the pair in a tense ride. Fountains of support flooded Twitter and all outlets for them.

The Danish ‘devils’ gave Britain a past-ing…

Mark and Zac for Team GB

The Brits washed away Waterpolo hopes to Hungary, who dominated the event, where our boys in Brit blue put in a good effort since participation centuries ago.

Team GB in 2012

Tennis

Serena Williams fought Maria Sharapova for the hopes of a gold medal at Wimbledon. Williams won.

Andy Murray and Laura Robson wrote their names in the diary for mixed doubles for Tennis action, as Murray plays R-Fed on Day 9 for the gold.

Women’s Triathlon

Swiss Nicola Spirig took gold foiling Sweden’s Lisa Norden in a gripping end. Erin Densham claimed the bronze for Australia after falling out of contention previously in line for potential gold until the final 200 metres.

Helen Jenkins attempted to win in the event, though was unable to stronger competition on the day. “I gave everything, I’m sorry it wasn’t a medal,” Jenkins added, after a fair effort in the gruelling ground gallop of London’s streets.

Weightlifting

Men’s 94kg saw Moldovian Anatoli Ciricu gain the bronze at the Excel centre. Alexandr Ivanov for Russia clinched silver as Ilya Ilyin gave Kazakhstan the gold medal. Kazakhstan also lifted a world record of 233kg clean and jerk.

Swimming

Women’s 50m Freestyle flung into action as Netherlands own power force Ranomi Kromowidjojo proved the one to beat once more, gaining another glorious gold in the pool with an Olympic record to boot at 24.05.

Today’s Goggle Guru

Aliaksandra Herasimenia finished with 24.28 to earn Belarus a silver. Both poked tongues at one another in alight hearted moment on the podium, keeping competition healthy and fun, as third came another Dane, Marleen Veldhuis for bronze also.

Britta Steffen and Francesca Halsall ended fourth and fifth in a tight battle where Brit Halsall almost beat Germany’s Britta. Only one second separated them at 24.46 and 24.47. Steffen still owns the world record in the race at 23.73 from 2009.

Men’s 1500m freestyle started awry as Yang Sun launched into the water as a crowd member became over excited. Unfortunate for the sportsman, however was highly ungentlemanly in attitude afterwards. Restarting the race, Sun kept his lead in the race, eventually widening the gap to swim home with 14.31.02 to claim the gold on offer.

Sunny Horizons

The next available medal was seemingly Ryan Cochrane’s by a landslide, until Tunisian Oussama Mellouli caught the Canadian for an intense silver battle. Cochrane managed to thrust through and claim silver by a fraction, leaving his rival to take bronze. Cochrane raced a 14.39.63 to Mellouli’s 14.40.31.

Daniel Fogg attempted a race for Team GB, though swept away by tough competition in a trying effort.

Girls jetstream to gold

The 4 x 100m medley relay’s for the females saw Team USA rip through the water with a powerful team of gold medallists each from earlier in game events. Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Allision Schmitt tunnel through to top the gold on the podium with a 3.52.05 setting another new world record in the process. Australia entered second and Japan in third.

Team USA swim to gold

The men took to the same event, where the top three remained, though switched places, as Team USA’s held 3.29.35 in Michael Phelps’ last swim at the Olympic’s earning his 22^nd medal, 18 gold overall. His team mates Matthew Greavers, Brendan Hansen and Nathan Adrian also held their own in a strong team unison.

Christian Sprenger, James Magnussen, Matt Targett, Hayden Stoeckel gain bronze for Australia.

Japan fought a tough battle with Australia, who came second and third, respectively. Our one to watch, Aussie James Magnussen, the original goggle guru did not disappoint, as restored Australia to third place among tough competing in the water as the last man in the relay keeping level with Japan for the remainder, in a tight result for victory.

Kiss the gold

Michael Phelps has ended his games at 22 medals and is now the fuly fledged greatest Olympian and dominant swimmer since 12 years ago. Outstanding achievement no one can remove. Congrats!

The Ultimate Olympian of our time

Congratulations to Michael Phelps!

Phelps was presented with a special trophy ceremony at London 2012 to commemorate his immense career. Michael Phelps – “I finished my career how I wanted to.”