Shock throws competition wide open - London Olympics 2012

The shadows lengthen as the sun sets over Italy vs USA

Daniele Lupo of Italy spikes the ball during the men's Beach Volleyball round of 16 match between United States and Italy at Horse Guards Parade.

Horse Guards Parade was the scene of a huge upset as reigning Olympic Games champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the USA crashed out of the men's Beach Volleyball competition, while in the women's tournament the quarter-final line-up also began to take shape.

Italians Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo only reached the knockout stage by virtue of winning a Lucky Loser play-off against Canada, having finished third in Pool A after one win and two losses.

But they served up by far the biggest win of their careers as they prevailed in straight sets against the Beijing 2008 gold medallists, 21-17 21-19.

At 23 and 21 respectively, Nicolai and Lupo are the youngest team at the Games, but they defied their youth to produce a performance heavy on both powerful attack shots and improvised dinks.

In the form of the tall Nicolai, they also boast one of the standout blockers at the tournament, and he was at the top of his game as he repeatedly denied USA's Rogers and Dalhausser's kill shots.

Italy's win must rank as one of the biggest surprises in the sport at Olympic Games level, with the experienced Rogers and Dalhausser 23-time winners on the World Tour, while Nicolai and Lupo's best result came with a second place in Beijing earlier this year.

The USA's shock defeat looks to have opened the way for the Brazilians, Ricardo Santos and Pedro Cunha, who showed all the weapons in their formidable armoury as they saw off the challenge of a strong Spanish team to reach the last eight, 2-0.

The Spanish pair of Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira looked in good form during the preliminary phase but had no answers as the Brazilians, among the favourites for gold, posted a 21-18 21-19 win.

Brazil's second-ranked team have reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set, with their perfect record owing much to the imperious form of 37-year-old Ricardo, who is bidding for a fourth Olympic Games medal.

Elsewhere in the men's competition, Poland's Grzegorz Fijalek and Mariusz Prudel booked their place in the quarter-finals after prevailing 21-18 21-17 in the early encounter over Switzerland's Sascha Heyer and Seba Chevallier.

Latvia's Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins also eased into the last eight with a straight-sets dismissal of Norway's Tarjei Viken Skarlund and Martin Spinnangr.

The women's competition is shaping up to be equally enthralling, with Germany having already been guaranteed a place in the last eight as Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig became the first pair to reach the quarter-finals with a routine win over their countrywomen Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler.

Reigning world champions Larissa Franca and Juliana Silva of Brazil are also through, making short work of advancing with a win over the Netherlands.

Jennifer Kessy and April Ross of the USA also saw off the stern challenge of Switzerland's Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr to seal their progress, before Austria's Doris and Stefanie Schwaiger earned a repeat of their quarter-final berth at Beijing 2008 as they defeated Anastasia Vasina and Anna Vozakova of Russia.

Qualifying battle heats up - London Olympics 2012

Neslihan Darnel of Turkey celebrates the win over Republic of Korea

Neslihan Darnel of Turkey celebrates the win over Republic of Korea during women's Volleyball on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court.

The race to qualify in the women's Volleyball tournament took another twist on Day 7, as several contenders recorded crucial wins.
Turkey turned up the heat in Pool B by getting the better of Republic of Korea over five thrilling sets.

Marco Aurelio Motta's side are slowly growing in to the tournament, having gone through the first two games without victory.

They had shown promise in an opening-day loss to Brazil, though, and have since recorded a pair of wins, with today's marathon effort taking a little over two hours after they twice let a one-set lead slip.

The victory puts them above Brazil in the table, pushing the reigning champions back out of the qualification places despite their tense triumph over China in the morning.

Brazil now have to beat Serbia in their last game and even then progression would not be a certainty, while Turkey could still go through even if they lose to leaders the USA in their final game, depending on how Brazil fare.

The defending champion Brazilians survived an almighty scare against China to keep their gold medal defence alive.

The South Americans have been below their best so far in this tournament and a third defeat would have ruled them out of quarter-final qualification.

But they found a way to stay in touch through to their final fixture with so-far winless Serbia, with progression now in their own hands.

It had not looked that way when they squandered a fourth-set match point, but they responded well by getting an early jump on China to take the decider.

Meanwhile, Russia continued their excellent form by seeing off Japan over four sets to preserve their unbeaten record.

Having taken the first two sets, they offered up the third to a quick and agile Japan, before exerting their considerable height advantage again in the fourth.

Great Britain's first window of opportunity to qualify for the quarter-finals was shut by the Dominican Republic, while the USA continue to sweep all before them after easing past winless Serbia.

Hugh McCutcheon's side, who are aiming for a first gold medal at the 10th time of asking, have been superb throughout the tournament, peaking with a 3-1 victory over Brazil earlier this week.

Their latest performance was not far behind, with their European opponents given little chance despite their imposing height at the net. They remain rooted to the bottom of Pool B.

The result confirms USA as the pool winners, with their round-robin campaign set to wrap up against in-form Turkey on Sunday.

In the final game of the night, Italy extended their unbeaten run to four games, getting the better of winless Algeria in straight sets.

The Europeans needed just 59 minutes to beat the world number 16s, ensuring the continuation of their 100 per cent record in Pool A in the process.

The Netherlands Men's Hockey Team Celebrate Scoring - London Olypics 2012

The Netherlands team celebrate scoring during the men's Hockey

The Netherlands team celebrate scoring during the men's Hockey preliminary match with New Zealand on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Riverbank Arena.

There were plenty of goals on another exciting day in the men's Hockey competition, with big wins for the Netherlands and Germany that put them both on the verge of qualification to the semi-finals.

The Netherlands strengthened their position at the top of Pool B with their first convincing victory of the tournament, 5-1 against New Zealand.

New Zealand began well when Nick Wilson crossed for Simon Child to score from close range.

The Netherlands thought they had equalised when Sander de Wijn, sliding on his knees, brilliantly turned in Teun de Nooijer's lifted shot, but his effort was ruled out as his stick was above his shoulder.

It did not take long for the Dutch to ease past the Black Sticks, though, as De Wijn's short corner rebound hit Blair Hopping's body on the way to goal and Roderick Weusthof converted the penalty stroke.

The Netherlands scored again from the spot in the 27th minute after a foul by Ryan Archibald allowed Mink van der Weerden to slot home his fourth of the tournament.

Within three minutes, the advantage became three as Rogier Hofman picked up a long through-ball to race into the circle and square for Billy Bakker to force the ball home.

Bob de Voogd then hit the post as the Netherlands finished the half strongly, but after the break the game evened out and New Zealand briefly threatened before the Netherlands made certain of victory with 15 minutes remaining.

Picking up the ball in midfield, the Dutch launched a quick attack in which Hofman slipped the ball to Bakker, who beat goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex with a low flick.

Robbert Kemperman rounded off the scoring with a ferocious low reverse-stick shot across the goalkeeper and inside the far post.

Germany produced their best performance of the tournament so far as they blew away eight-time champions India 5-2, thanks to a four-goal first-half display.

Florian Fuchs was the star of the show with a hat-trick, completing it seconds after the interval as India slumped to a third successive defeat and out of medal contention.

Earlier in the day, Argentina sprang a major surprise by taking a point off Australia from a 2-2 draw as the world number ones showed they were not infallible in conceding a 2-0 half-time lead.

Even five-time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer breaking the Kookaburras all-time goalscoring record with his fourth of the tournament - taking his tally to 180 in 281 matches - was little consolation for dropping two points.

Having scored 11 goals without conceding in their opening two Pool A victories, everything seemed to be going to plan again at the interval.

Matt Butturini picked up a penalty corner rebound to open the scoring in the 11th minute and then Dwyer added his record-breaking goal in unspectacular style seconds before half-time. But Argentina, who have only ever beaten Australia once before at the Olympic Games in 1976, produced a rally after the break on the back of some impressive goalkeeping by Juan Manuel Vivaldi.

Great Britain midfielder Ashley Jackson inspired his side to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Pakistan with a performance befitting his stature as one of the world's top players.

The 24-year-old was at the heart of almost everything as the hosts rediscovered their attacking flair, contributing two second-half goals to ensure there was no repeat of their late capitulation against South Africa.

Injury-hit Spain survived a late rally by South Africa to record their first victory, 3-2, which keeps alive their slender semi-final hopes in Pool A, while Belgium's Cedric Charlier scored a fine winning goal as his side belied their low world ranking to stun Republic of Korea 2-1.

Women's line-up decided - London Olympics 2012

Water Polo Arena

A general view of the Water Polo Arena.

The placings in the women's preliminary competition were decided after another action-packed day at the Water Polo Arena.
Australia won Group B by overcoming Russia 11-8.

Both teams came into the match with two wins from their first two matches, but it was the team from Down Under who kept their 100 per cent record.

Australia went ahead in the first quarter, and went on to lead for large parts of the game.

The Russians fought back in the final quarter to come within one goal of their opponents, but Australia managed to see out the match to win by three goals.

The USA edged a narrow 7-6 victory against China later on to finish second in Group A.

China were winning at half-time, but the USA powered to a lead in the third quarter and hung on to a one-goal advantage.

China took the first period 1-0, and the teams went into the half-time break at 3-2 to the Asian side.

The USA stormed in front with three unanswered goals in the third to set up a tense final quarter in which China clawed their way back, but could not stop the USA from claiming victory.

Maggie Steffens scored a hat-trick for the USA, while captain Brenda Villa, Elsie Windes, Kelly Rulon and Annika Dries netted one each.

At the top of Group A, Spain edged out Hungary 13-11 in their last preliminary game.

They looked in control as they took a three-goal lead into the fourth quarter, and survived a fightback by the Hungarians to win the game by two goals.

Anni Espar scored a hat-trick for the winners, while Matilde Ortiz, captain Jennifer Pareja and Pilar Pena netted a brace each.

Four of Hungary's goals came from Dora Antal, while Barbara Bujka scored three.

In the other Group B game, Italy sent Great Britain to a third successive defeat as they ran out convincing 10-5 winners.

Athletics action under way

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia

Tirunesh Dibaba claimed gold in the women's 10,000m on Day 7 of London 2012.

Tirunesh Dibaba and Tomasz Majewski were both celebrating gold-medal success after an exciting opening day of action inside the Olympic Stadium.

Ethiopia's Dibaba held on to her Olympic 10,000m title in stunning style, and Poland's Majewski retained his Shot Put crown.

Dibaba, 27, who won the distance double at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, saw off Sally Kipyego and Vivian Cheruiyot with a final-lap burst to win by more than five seconds.

Dibaba's time was a season's best 30:20.75, with Kipyego taking the silver in 30:26.37, and world champion Cheruiyot bronze in 30:30.44.

In the Shot Put competition, Germany's 22-year-old hopeful David Storl, the reigning world champion, had set the standard with a throw of 21.86m but Majewski responded to claim gold with 21.89m.

USA's Reese Hoffa failed to capitalise on his good form this season and was forced to settle for bronze with his throw of 21.23m.

The prospect of records tumbling on the running track was reinforced by the heats for the women's 100m. No fewer than six women qualified for the semi-finals in under 11 seconds - in the past, the only other women to do that have gone on to win gold.

USA's Carmelita Jeter was fastest in 10.83, but her big rival Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, from Jamaica, slowed down noticeably in winning her heat and still managed 11.0.

In the men's 1500m heats, Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi ran the fastest time, 3:35.15, while Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, the defending champion who is aiming to emulate Sebastian Coe's back-to-back Olympic titles, was a comfortable third-fastest in 3:36.59.

Great Britain's Jessica Ennis turned a sensational start in the Heptathlon into a 184-point lead following the opening four events.

Ennis produced the fastest 100m hurdles ever run in a Heptathlon, clocking 12.54 to smash her personal best and break the GB record with a time which won individual gold in Beijing.

A clearance of 1.86m in the high jump gave Ennis a 25-point lead after two events, before a world Heptathlon best of 17.31m in the shot from Austra Skujyte took the Lithuanian into a 64-point lead.

However, Ennis then set another personal best of 22.83 in the 200m for a total of 4,158 points, her best ever first-day score and enough for a lead of 184 points over Skujyte.

USA trio enjoy golden night - London Olympics 2012

Michael Phelps led from the front as the USA enjoyed a wonderful night in the Swimming pool.

Phelps, competing in the final individual swim of his glittering career, bowed out in style with a stirring victory in the men's 100m Butterfly, sandwiching wins by compatriots Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky.

Franklin won the 200m Backstroke in a new world record and 15-year-old Ledecky cruised to a stunning 800m Freestyle triumph.

Phelps clinched the 17th Olympic gold medal, and 21st overall, when he came from seventh at the halfway point to win in 51.21 ahead of Chad le Clos, his conqueror in the 200m, and Evgeny Korotyshkin, who shared second.

The Baltimore swimmer, who will bow out after the 4 x 100m Medley Relay, said: 'I am just happy that last one was a win, that is all I wanted coming into tonight. I thought it would hit me harder than it is right now, a lot of those emotions haven't gone through my brain over the last week. Once I am done and once tomorrow is over, I think a lot more emotion will come out.'

Florent Manaudou won the men's 50m Freestyle in 21.34.

On the first evening of competition inside the Olympic Stadium, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba held on to her Olympic 10,000m title.

The 27-year-old, who won the distance double at the Beijing Games, saw off Sally Kipyego and Vivian Cheruiyot with a final-lap burst to win by more than five seconds.

In the men's Shot Put final, Poland's Tomasz Majewski pulled off a stunning throw to successfully defend the title he claimed in Beijing, while Great Britain's Jessica Ennis turned a sensational start in the Heptathlon into a 184-point lead following the opening four events.

At Eton Dorney, Germany were crowned Olympic champions in the men's Quadruple Sculls with a stunning victory over silver medallists Croatia .The Germans set the pace for the length of the final and then accelerated clear of the Croatians, who had been unbeaten in 2012 up until the Olympic final. Australia's world champions finished with bronze.

Katherine Grainger's quest for Olympic glory is over after she won a sensational gold medal with Anna Watkins in the women's Double Sculls. Grainger and Watkins led from the start, beating Australia by a length, with Poland taking a distant bronze.

New Zealand's dominant crew of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray claimed gold in the men's Pair in stunning fashion. France held on to win the silver medal after fighting off GB's desperate late surge in a thrilling sprint for the line.

Mahe Drysdale claimed gold in the men's Single Sculls ahead of Czech Ondrej Synek and Northern Irishman Alan Campbell.

On the Cycling track, GB's men's Team Pursuit squad claimed a thrilling gold in a world record time.

Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh and Steven Burke clocked 3:51.659 to triumph by a supreme margin ahead of arch-rivals Australia. GB struck gold once more in the women's Keirin finals with Victoria Pendleton powering to victory.

In the Hockey, Argentina surprisingly took a point off world number ones Australia in a 2-2 draw, while the Netherlands strengthened their position at the top of Pool B with a 5-1 win over New Zealand, Spain edged out South Africa 3-2, GB beat Pakistan 4-1 and Germany thrashed eight-time champions India 5-2.

Shooter Sergei Martynov claimed gold in the men's 50m Rifle Prone, while Leuris Pupo of Cuba pulled off a shock to win gold in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol.

Ben Ainslie came into London 2012 as overwhelming favourite to top the podium in the Finn Sailing class but heads into the final race of the regatta behind Jonas Hogh-Christensen, who has sailed the regatta of his life.

The Dane pulled four points clear of Ainslie in race nine, but the Briton responded in some style in the final race of the opening series to halve that.

In the Tennis events at Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams will contest the Singles gold medal match. Sharapova cruised past Russian compatriot Maria Kirilenko in straight sets, while Williams overcame world number one Victoria Azarenka for the loss of just three games.

Roger Federer ousted Juan Martin Del Potro in an epic tussle in the men's event, eventually winning through 19-17 in the deciding set and will meet Andy Murray, who beat Novak Djokovic 7-5 7-5.

China's Dong Dong claimed gold in the men's Individual Trampoline event with a breathtaking sky-high routine and, at Lord's, Republic of Korea's Oh Jin-hyek claimed the men's Individual Archery title.

China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei produced a stunning performance to claim gold in the Badminton Mixed Doubles. The top seeds were far too strong for their compatriots and second seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin as they powered to a 21-11 21-17 victory at Wembley Arena.

France's Judo heavyweight (+100kg) Teddy Riner delivered gold with victory over Russian Alexander Mikhaylin at ExCeL. Cuba's Idalys Ortiz, bronze medallist in Beijing, claimed the women's heavyweight (+78kg) competition after she was awarded a judges' flag decision over Japan's Mika Sugimoto following a scoreless contest.

Kazakhstan weightlifter Svetlana Podobedova won gold in the women's 75kg on bodyweight after her and Natalya Zabolotnaya tied with a total of 291kg. Poland's Adrian Edward Zielinski won the men's 85kg in identical fashion over Russia's Apti Aukhadov.

Germany Win Men's Eight Gold

World champions Germany have won gold in the men's Eight final at Eton Dorney.

Canada overtook the Great Britain crew in the final quarter of the race to claim silver.

That meant the Host Nation finished third and took a Rowing bronze medal to add to the gold won in the first final of today, the women's Pair.