U.S. fails in water polo
In their last chance for a gold medal, the U.S. came up just short, losing, 14-10, to a Hungarian team that became the first country to win three straight gold medals in the sport since Britain in 1920. An American team that came in ranked ninth in the world that surprised just about everyone by getting to the final kept it close early and had it tied at 9 in the third quarter. But the Hungarians pulled away down the stretch, scoring five unanswered goals and turning a close match into a blowout. Nonetheless, the Americans (5-2) were content with returning to the medal stand for the first time since 1988. Not bad for a program that gets little national attention because the sport is so geographically confined to California and really was trying to regroup after going through four coaches in the last four years.
Boxing
Zou Shiming won China's first gold medal in boxing. Then, Zhang Xiaoping made it two. Zou, a two-time world champion whose bronze medal in Athens was China's first in a sport long banned by Mao Zedong, won the light flyweight title when Mongolia's Serdamba Purevdorj retired early in the second round with an apparent shoulder injury. Zhang, a light heavyweight, upset two medal favorites on his way to the title bout, then beat Kenny Egan of Ireland 11-7. Italy's Roberto Cammarelle kept China from winning three golds, stopping Zhang Zhilei in the final round of the super heavyweight division. Bantamweight Badar-Uugan Enkhbat won Mongolia's first gold medal in boxing, beating Cuba's Yankiel Leon, 16-5. It was only Mongolia's second gold in any sport, with the first coming last week in judo.
Men's marathon
In the day's first event, Samuel Wanjiru added to Kenya's proud distance-running legacy. Wanjiru became the first person from his country to win the gold medal in marathon, and doing so in an Olympic record time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds. "In Kenya we have many medals, but I'm glad I have this one," said Wanjiru, whose country earned five gold medals and 14 total in track and field, behind only the United States (23) and Russia (18).
Rhythmic gymnastics
Russia won the team competition the morning after Russian Evgeniya Kanaeva won the individual event. China got silver for its first medal in the rhythmic team competition. "The silver medal is unexpected," China's Zhang Shuo said. "It's the most glorious day for rhythmic gymnastics in China."
Men's handball
The 302nd and last gold medal went to France, which beat Iceland, 28-23, to deny the small country its first gold in an Olympic event. Iceland's silver is still its best showing in any event since 1956. Iceland has won four medals at Olympics over the years, two silver and two bronze. Spain beat Croatia, 35-29, to take the bronze.
