Russia wins group rhythmic gymnastics gold

Russia won their third successive Olympic rhythmic gymnastics group gold with two dynamic and intricately choreographed routines on Sunday.

Their flawless exhibition of agility and dexterity earned them 35.550 points, 0.325 more than surprise silver medalists China. Belarus took the bronze.

"We are simply overwhelmed by emotions," Elena Posevina, who was also part of Russia's 2004 gold-winning team, told a news conference.

"It took a lot of training, it's been a long road. We have yet to fully comprehend the significance of this gold."

While world champions Russia were always expected to win, the real shock was China's classy display to claim silver and become the first non-European team to win a group medal in the discipline.

"The silver medal is unexpected. It means that all our efforts paid off," China's Zhang Shuo said. "This is the most glorious day for rhythmic gymnastics in China."

Russia led after their first routine, an exciting series of jumps and pivots using five ropes to the frenzied beat of one of the best known Russian tunes, "Kalinka", which earned 17.750.

They followed it up with the top score of the day of 17.800 for a beautiful display of synchronized pirouettes and innovative throws of their clubs and hoops.

The victory underlined their dominance in the discipline and followed Russian Evgeniya Kanaeva's gold in the individual all-around event on Saturday.

China drew the biggest cheers of the day, having upset the odds to outclass the likes of Athens silver and bronze medalists Italy (fourth) and Bulgaria (fifth).

The Olympic hosts had finished ninth at the last world championships but sounded a warning to their rivals in Beijing when they qualified in third place for the eight-team final.

They were third after the first routine but then edged ahead of Belarus with a theatrical hoop and club routine to the aptly named "Peking Opera" to capitalize on a mistake by their rivals.

IOC says China Games leave positive legacy

China basked in the glow of their 50th gold medal and got a clear thumbs-up from International Olympic Committee on the last day of the Games on Sunday.

The IOC brushed aside criticism of its decision to hold the Games in China. It said Olympics could not solve all the world's problems, but argued they had left a positive legacy for China.

The United States was less enthusiastic, pressing for the immediate release of eight Americans detained for staging protests in favor of Tibetan independence during the Games.

"We are disappointed that China has not used the occasion of the Olympics to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

On the final day of competition, Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru led an African sweep of marathon medals, lifting his arms in triumph as he accelerated around the Bird's Nest stadium for the last lap.

There was emotion too for the American men's volleyball team, settling a score against Brazil who had beaten their compatriots in the women's final the previous day.

The team's determination to win final-day glory had also been reinforced when the father-in-law of the team's coach was stabbed and killed in Beijing on the first day of the Games.

China celebrated their 50th gold, a surprise win by Zou Shiming in the boxing ring, the first time that landmark had been reached since the Soviet Union got 55 golds in Seoul in 1988.

The hosts plan a closing extravaganza later when they will hand over the Olympic flag to 2012 hosts Britain.

They will be pleased with the IOC's verdict. President Jacques Rogge praised an "impeccable" operation that had set the bar very high for London in 2012.

He said the sporting body could not force change on a sovereign state "or solve all the ills of the world". Nevertheless, the host country had been "scrutinized" by the world and had opened itself up, he said.

"The world learned more about China, and China learned more about the rest of the world. And together, we shared the excitement and drama of the Games," Rogge said.

The government was intending to invest heavily in mass sports to harness popular enthusiasm, he said, while the Games had also promoted a heightened awareness of the environment in China.

Rogge, though, had less to say when confronted with the tale of two women in their seventies, who were sentenced to a year's re-education for applying to stage a protest during the Games.

"The reply we received from authorities was that this was an application of Chinese law," he said. "The IOC is not a sovereign organisation and we have to respect Chinese law."

Beijing's polluted air had been one of the biggest concerns in the run-up, and health concerns led Ethiopian world record holder Haile Gebreselassie to pull out of the men's marathon.

In the end, those fears appeared largely unfounded when the race was held, after the government spent billions to clean the air in recent months and an overnight storm did the rest.

Running under blue skies, Wanjiru crossed himself and sank to his knees after finishing in an Olympic record time of two hours six minutes 32 seconds, looking fresh despite the heat and sealing a fifth gold for his country in athletics.

"I pushed and pushed, I had to, to tire the others," Wanjiru said. "My plan was to push my body to the limits."

Despite their pedigree of distance running and big-city marathon wins, it was Kenya's first Olympic marathon title. Morocco won the silver, Ethiopia the bronze.

The race began in the capital's massive Tiananmen Square, symbol of Communist rule, site of Mao Zedong's mausoleum and of pro-democracy protests in 1989. It ended in the Bird's Nest, symbol of China's modern face.

REDEMPTION FOR U.S. BASKETBALL?

In the other highlights of Day 16, Russia won golds in men's boxing and the women's group rhythmic gymnastics to cement third place in the medals table.

Shiming won light-flyweight boxing for China and said he was "proud to show the strength of the Chinese people with my fist".

Later, the Americans are hoping for redemption in the men's basketball final, with the giants of the NBA expected to beat Spain to win the gold that eluded them at the 2004 Athens Games.

Victory would bring the United States up to 36 golds, level with their table-topping haul in Athens, but way behind China.

With one fifth of the world's population to choose from, China have poured billions into a Soviet-style training system geared to maximizing medal success.

Their new sporting superpower status reflects their emerging global economic might, and China's government feels the $43 billion investment in the Games was money well spent.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former England soccer captain David Beckham will be at the Bird's Nest on Sunday night as the Olympic flag is lowered and passed to the 2012 hosts, a nation delighted over their fourth place in the medals table.

Beckham said in an interview on Saturday that China could be very proud of what they had done in staging the Olympics, but promised London would do even better, "without a doubt".

Bolt vows he'll keep 200m mark

Sprint star Usain Bolt said his rivals have their work cut out for them if they are aiming to claim his 200 metres world record.

And the 22-year-old, who won three gold medals in world record time in Beijing in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay, insisted there was more to come.

"I don't know how fast I can go. I'm not really worried about that," he said.

"I'm just looking forward to going on and doing better things. I hope to improve every year.

"I'll definitely be going to the London Olympics to defend my title."

Bolt said his win in the 200m, in which he beat American Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record of 19.32 seconds, would stick with him above the others.

"People said the 200m world record would be pretty hard to get. I got it and it's going to be hard to (improve it)," he said.

"The 100m world record will keep going over and over. The 200m will stay with me forever.

"I came out here ready and prepared. When you come to the Olympics, it's the biggest stage. I did my best, the track was great.

"I worked hard to get here. It wasn't an easy road."

The Jamaican, who will go on to compete in the 100m in Zurich, 200m in Lausanne and 100m in Brussels before the end of his season, said it had come as no surprise that world records were broken at the Bird's Nest.

"The track is fast. I said to Asafa (Powell) and my coach (Glen Mills) that anybody who wins is going to break the world record."

Revelling in the moment

Bolt also said the enjoyment factor and his laid-back demeanour were key to his stunning treble gold medal-winning performance.

"A lot of guys came to me and said they've been inspired," Bolt said.

"I said to them 'you have to be relaxed'. We know we're capable of doing it. You've got to enjoy what you do.

"Yes, I guess I've had a little bit of an impact. People have gone out there and enjoyed themselves.

"It's great for the sport," he said, adding: "I wouldn't say I'm a phenomenon, I'm just a great athlete."

Bolt, who set world records of 9.69 and 19.30 seconds to win the men's 100 and 200m, ran the third leg of the Jamaican 4x100m relay squad which won a maiden gold in the event in 37.10 seconds, breaking the United States's 15-year-old record.

"It might change my life, but I won't change," the Jamaican insisted.

"I try and stay relaxed by messing around and not thinking too much about the race.

"I don't allow people to put pressure on me. You might not be focused enough. When I enjoy myself I stay focused.

"I'll still enjoy myself, I'm still young. I'll still train hard. I'll try to keep on top for as long as I can.

"Running is enjoyable. You have to enjoy what you do.

"It's a job for us athletes, it's like working. To not enjoy it, it doesn't make sense.

"I enjoy it, I love it. Sometimes you think about quitting at training because that's hard.

"But it also makes success more great when you work hard for it."

Bolt's outgoing and refreshingly honest outlook has won over fans, pundits and other athletes alike.

His signature Jamaican "To the world" dance performed during his victory laps, ending with him leaning back and pointing two fingers up into the sky, was widely anticipated by the 91,000-crowd at the National Stadium and has even been mimicked by other winning athletes.

- AFP

Mitcham gold spoils Chinese party

Australia's Matthew Mitcham has snatched gold from Chinese favourite Zhou Luxin on his final dive to win the men's 10 metres platform and deny China a sweep of all eight diving golds at the Beijing Games.

The 20-year-old trailed Zhou through the first five dives and was more than 30 points adrift prior to the final dive.

Zhou, perhaps feeling the weight of a nation's expectations, fluffed his final dive, a reverse three-and-a-half somersault.

World number three Mitcham nailed a sublime back two-and-a-half somersault with two-and-a-half twists, with a 3.8 degree of difficulty, achieving four perfect 10s.

He finished with 537.95 points to claim the gold and Zhou was left with a silver medal with 533.15 points.

"It's going to take a while to sink in," Mitcham said.

"My cheeks hurt from smiling, my face hurts from the chlorine, my legs are sore from jumping up and down.

"I'm in pain and I'm tired, but I'm so happy."

Zhou admitted he had started to become nervous in front of his home crowd.

"At the beginning I wasn't nervous, so I started well," Zhou said.

"The last dive was not as good as I could have done because I started to get nervous."

World champion Gleb Galperin of Russia snagged the bronze with 525.80 points as China's Huo Liang, first after the semi-finals, was shut out of the medals in fourth.

China, with seven titles already in the bag, was trying to become the first country since 1952 to win every diving gold on offer at a Games.

Australia's other competitor Mathew Helm finished in sixth, unable to add to his silver medal in the event in Athens four years ago.

Mitcham has become the first Australian man to win a diving gold medal since 1924.

Mitcham says he is completely surprised by his win.

"I'm going to watch the footage when I get home and I suppose I'll be impressed then because I don't even know how I dived, I don't even know what scores I got," he said.

"Because you just, you're not really in there. In the moment. You're just concentrating on your dive so much."

Wanjiru gives Kenya Olympic marathon gold

Samuel Wanjiru made it a full house of Olympic titles in middle distance and long distance races for Kenya's men in Beijing on Sunday as he ended their title drought in the marathon and broke the long-standing Olympic record as well.

The 21-year-old timed 2 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, breaking the 24-year-old Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes.

He beat home Morocco's two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib (2:07:16) for the gold while Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia took the bronze.

Australia's Lee Troop finished in 60th place.

The race came alive at the 20 kilometres mark when five runners split from the leading pack.

The quintet comprised Gharib, two Kenyans in three-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel and Wanjiru, second in this year's London Marathon.

The other two were Eritrean Yonas Kifle and Ethiopia's Deriba Werga, who had timed his personal best at the London Marathon but had been over a minute behind Wanjiru.

Several of the favourites failed to cope with the hot conditions especially defending champion Stefano Baldini of Italy.

The 37-year-old was out of contention early on as the European champion failed to find the spark he had in Athens four years ago and was to finish 12th.

America's hopes of ending on a winning note also died around that time as Ryan Hall, who has impressed since he switched from running the mile, also found nothing when the quintet split.

By the 30km mark, though, the picture had dramtically changed as Wanjiru and Werga upped the pace and Gharib, Lel, who should on form have been able to go with them as he owned the fastest time this year among those running, and Kifle could not find anything.

However, while Lel and Kifle floundered, 36-year-old Gharib drew on all his championship winning experience and somehow managed to reel in the front two setting up what looked sure to be a thrilling climax.

The trio were still intact as they passed the 35km marker with Wanjiru leading them out.

Behind them Kifle had squirmed free of a tiring Lel, who was beginning to look behind him in a sure sign of desperation, but the Eritrean faced a tough task in getting back to the leaders as he was nearly a minute-and-a-half adrift.

Shortly after that Wanjiru went up a gear to test out the other two and found Werga wanting, though, Gharib stuck to him like a limpet.

But even he could not keep up the pace and the young Kenyan had by the time they got to 40km established a clear gap between himself and the Moroccan.

With two kilometres to go as they appeared under the shadow of the stadium the game was clearly up for Gharib, who had an 18-second gap to make up if he were to add Olympic gold to his two world titles.

But Wanjiru was not for cracking and strode to a memorable victory - raising his left arm in celebration upon entering stadium and was still full of running as he rounded off a highly satisfying Games for the Kenyans.

Werga faded so badly that what had looked at one point could be gold turned to nothing as Kebede passed him on the final lap round the track.

-AFP

U.S. beats Japan to claim baseball bronze

The United States won an 8-4 slugfest over Japan to exit the final Olympic baseball tournament with the bronze medal on Saturday, meeting the Americans' minimum medal requirement.

Shortstop Jason Donald had said that if his team had failed to win a medal, he had considered not returning home.

"Before we came out I said, if I don't win a medal I think I'm going to stay here," said Donald, who contributed a fifth-inning two-run homer to the U.S. cause.

"We did a great job of coming back, we could have easily folded and given the game away but the fortitude of this team is amazing."

After failing to qualify for the Athens Games, the bronze restored a bit of U.S. pride before the sport is dropped from the Olympic programme following the gold medal game between Cuba and South Korea later on Saturday.

While baseball was born in the United States and holds the lofty status as the "national pastime", Americans have enjoyed only modest success on the Olympic diamond.

Since becoming part of the Summer Games in 1992 the U.S. has won just one gold medal (2000) while Cuba has dominated the event, claiming top spot on the podium in 1992, 1996 and 2004.

After falling behind 4-1, U.S. bats suddenly came to life, Matt Brown triggering the rally with a three-run homer. Matt LaPorta also had a solo shot for the Americans.

"Our bats finally woke up," said U.S. manager Davey Johnson. "Our big bat, Matt Brown got the job done."

Bolt wins a third gold for Jamaica in relay

Usain "Lightning" Bolt powered the Jamaican men to a world record victory in the 100 meters relay on Friday, sealing his place as the dominant track athlete of the Beijing Olympics.

It was the third world record for Bolt, who has stolen the show in the second week of the Games with his dazzling victories in the 100 and 200 meters and his theatrical celebrations.

Bolt gave an assured performance on the third leg of the relay, safely handing the baton to former world record holder Asafa Powell, who powered home in 37.10 seconds, knocking a solid three tenths of a second off the 15-year-old American record.

Just getting round the track safely was a priority for the men after the Jamaican 4x100m women bungled their baton handover to hand gold to Russia and snuff out the Caribbean island's chance of winning all athletic speed events at the Olympics.

Sherone Simpson failed to get the baton across to Kerron Stewart, the woman she shared the 100m silver medal with, and the Russian sprinters seized their chance.

Jamaica had won both women's individual speed events as well as the two individual golds seized by Bolt.

The new men's relay record underlined by how far the Jamaicans have eclipsed the United States, the traditional track superpower, at this Olympics. The American men and women were knocked out of the relay heats by embarrassing baton fumbles.

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba stormed to victory in the 5,000m, becoming the first woman to win both long distance races at the same Olympics. She won the 10,000m a week ago in the second fastest time recorded.

Her great rival and compatriot Meseret Defar was pushed into third by Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse, who runs for Turkey, who also won silver in the 10,000m.

The anticipated dominance of long distance track running by the Ethiopians should be continued by 10,000m gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele who is aiming for the double in the men's events. The 5,000m is on Saturday, the last full day of competition.

AGE QUESTIONS

China have barely featured in the track events, where they had hoped to score some success to match their medal dominance in sports like table tennis and diving.

Big hope, 110m hurdler Liu Xiang, pulled out of his heat with injury, devastating legions of Chinese fans who had prayed for a repeat of his 2004 win, the country's first track gold.

Concerns have resurfaced over how far China would go to deliver a Games of which the Chinese can be proud.

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into allegations Chinese authorities falsified the age of a double gold medal winning gymnast because she was too young to compete.

China's He Kexin, who won team gold in artistic gymnastics and an individual title on the asymmetric bars, was registered as being born on January 1, 1992, meeting the rule that gymnasts must at least turn 16 in the year of the Olympics.

There have been persistent media allegations He competed in earlier tournaments under a later birth date. On Thursday an American computer expert said he had uncovered Chinese state documents that proved she was 14 and not 16.

The caption on a photograph published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua last year referred to "13-year-old He Kexin", while China Daily reported in May that she was 14.

An IOC official said the gymnastics federation would look into "discrepancies" over He's age but Games organizers were at pains to stress she had already been cleared to compete.

The age rule was introduced in 1997 to protect gymnast's health, and China's gymnastics coach told a news conference all the team "were in total compliance with the age requirement".

"Since Asian bodies are not the same as Westerners', there have been questions, but there shouldn't be," Chinese head coach Huang Yubin said. A finding is likely to come well after the Games end on Sunday and the intense media focus moves elsewhere.

The eight golds of swimmer Michael Phelps, Bolt's superb sprinting and China's dominance of the medal table have been the stories of the Games.

China now have 46 golds to the 31 won by America. The Chinese say this shows they now have the sporting prowess to match their rising superpower status.

THRILLS AND SPILLS

There were thrills and spills on the BMX track on Friday as the Games' youngest competition produced a thrilling finale.

The BMX competition was introduced at these Games to attract a younger audience. France's Anne-Caroline Chausson won the women's gold after a tight race with Britain's Shanaze Reade, who crashed on the final bend as she tried to regain the lead.

The dreadful week for the American sprinters, in which they failed to win gold for the first time since 1976, prompted a post mortem from the "extremely disappointed" chief of U.S. athletics.

"These are professional athletes who are the best in their field and anybody who ever ran a high school relay cringes when that baton hits the track," Doug Logan said.

The Americans hope for more golds in the men's and women's basketball, with the highly-paid NBA players overwhelming favorites to win the gold they embarrassingly missed in Athens.

Hooker vaults to Olympic gold

Steve Hooker has won Australia's 12th gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, leaping to victory in the men's pole vault at the Bird's Nest.

Hooker cleared 5.80 and 5.85 metres on his third attempts to secure himself a medal before vaulting into the history books by clearing 5.90m, becoming Australia's first male gold medallist in the field for 60 years.

John Winter won a gold medal for Australia in the men's high jump at the London 1948 Games.

Hooker then added the icing to his gold, breaking the Olympic record with a third attempt at 5.96m, one centimetre higher than American Tim Mack's record from Athens.

The world record is 6.14m, held by Ukrainian Sergey Bubka.

Russian Evgeniy Lukyanenko took the silver and Ukranian Denys Yurchenko finished with the bronze.

More on this story to follow.

Vijender Kumar wins Olympics bronze

Cuba's Emilio Correa outpointed India's Vijender Kumar 8-5 on Friday to advance to the middleweight final of the Olympic boxing competition.

Britain's James DeGale extended an impressive run by easily outpointing Irishman Darren Sutherland 10-3 on Friday to also reach the final.

"It was a walk in the park for me," DeGale said after outpointing Irishman Darren Sutherland 10-3 to set up a final bout against Correa.

"It was easy," he added. "I'm so fit, four rounds is nothing. I think it's the best I've looked."

DeGale, who had scored the biggest upset so far by ousting Kazakh Bakhtiyar Artayev, the welterweight champion from the 2004 Athens Games, in the previous round, was far too clever for Sutherland.

The Briton stepped up a gear after a cautious start and took control in the third round, displaying superior hand speed and accuracy to move 8-5 up.

Sutherland kept marching forward in the fourth round but his opponent proved an elusive target.

"I had a feeling in my bones," DeGale said. "On my day I can beat anybody in the world and now the weight's perfect, my head's perfect. It's lovely."

DeGale is now a win away from handing Britain their first boxing title since Audley Harrison took super-heavyweight gold in 2000 in Sydney.

Sutherland, who will have to be content with a bronze medal, was not complaining either.

"I'm delighted," he said. "A medal was beyond my wildest dreams. I came here to perform and stay true to my values. I like to get stuck in and fight but unfortunately he didn't want to get involved and he used the tactics that he did."

Sutherland will now turn professional.

"Definitely, this is the last amateur fight," he said. "How can I go home and get myself up for a club fight after an Olympic Games? It's time for a new chapter."

The Irishman, who looked brave but limited against DeGale, said he was looking forward to facing the Briton again, this time in the professional ranks.

"He wouldn't last," Sutherland predicted. "You might say a win is a win but I know who they're going to pay to watch and that's me."

U.S. beat Russia to reach final

The United States closed in on their fourth straight Olympic women's basketball gold by beating Russia 67-52 to reach the final on Thursday.

Trailing by as many as seven points in the first half, the Americans opened an eight-point lead at the end of three quarters to break Russia's resistance.

The U.S. pulled away in the final period to avenge a shock defeat by the Russians in the semi-finals of the 2006 world championships.

"From top to bottom, one through 12 we're the best," slam-dunking WNBA rookie sensation Candace Parker told Reuters. "We're the deepest. We just reload whenever we come out. We were never nervous. We didn't panic. We took care of business."

Guard Diana Taurasi scored a game-high 21 points for a U.S. team who had won their first six games by an average of more than 43 points. Maria Stepanova top-scored for Russia with 14.

American-born Becky Hammon, whose decision to play for Russia at the Beijing Olympics triggered dismay in the United States, was a non-factor in the game, scoring just three points on one of six shooting.

"I'm still American," said Hammon, who put her hand over her heart during the pre-game playing of the U.S. national anthem. "I love my country.

"When you play the U.S. you can't afford to make mistakes. They've been pounding teams by 35-40 points so we take a moral victory."

The U.S. will face either world champions Australia or Olympic hosts China in Saturday's final. Russia will play for the bronze in the third-place game.

U.S. misery continues in relays

Tyson Gay's miserable Olympics continued on Thursday when he and U.S. team mate Darvis Patton contrived to drop the baton in their 4x100 meters relay heat.

The U.S. were cruising towards the final and a shot at a 16th gold medal in the event when Patton bore down on Gay for the last changeover, but a mix-up ended with the baton tumbling to the rain-soaked track.

"I don't know what happened," triple world champion Gay told reporters. "The stick was in my hand. I think I felt it hit my hand, but I don't think it was in all the way before I grabbed. It's probably my fault, I take the blame for it."

Gay had also been bidding to make up for his failure to reach the 100m final.

On a night of mishaps in the sprint relay heats, Britain's men, surprise winners in Athens four years ago, were disqualified from heat two after completing their third change outside the box.

Nigeria were also eliminated after dropping the baton in heat one, meaning all three teams on the podium in Athens will take no further part in the event. Trinidad and Tobago won the heat, with Japan second.

The night got worse for the Americans when their women's 4x100m team dropped the baton after a mix-up between the experienced Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams, also on the third handover and also with qualification appearing a formality.

It was an echo of four years ago when Williams was involved in a botched handover with Marion Jones.

"We trained hard, we had great chemistry this time," Williams said. "Things did not go as planned...the stick had a mind of its own."

Edwards said she was "heartbroken".

Jamaica's men and women showed how it was supposed to be done, winning their respective heats with ease. The men's quartet included Asafa Powell but Usain Bolt, winner of the Beijing 100m and 200m in world record times, was rested for the final.

"We were looking forward to running against the Americans in the final because they are one of the best teams out there. But our team is very strong. It would have been hard to beat us," Powell said.

Jamaica sweeps the sprint golds in Beijing

Jamaica made a clean sweep of Olympic sprint golds on Thursday with victory in the women's 200 meters humbling the United States, the traditional track and field superpower.

The Americans had a nightmare night with both the women and the men dropping their batons during the heats of the 4x100 meter relay to crash out. They also lost the final of women's softball, the first time they have failed to win gold in that event.

The Caribbean island's Veronica Campbell-Brown powered to gold in the 200m, taking a meter's lead by the halfway mark.

The 2004 winner's face was creased with pain but broke into a broad grin at the finish, where she dropped to her knees for a prayer.

American world champion Allyson Felix came second and 100 meter silver medalist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica was third.

The victory will bring more rejoicing to an island already exultant over the two world records and double sprint gold of Usain "Lightning" Bolt. His jawdropping speed has brought superlatives pouring forth from media and commentators.

Jamaica also won the women's 100 meters.

"The Americans have dominated (in the past), but this Olympics has been a Jamaican Olympics," said Stewart.

Bolt, 22 on Thursday, collected his second gold in a rain-soaked ceremony in the Bird's Nest stadium and gave his signature lightning bolt gesture for the cameras.

The head of the International Olympic Committee has questioned the Jamaican's sportsmanship, taking exception to his exuberant celebration of his 100 meter win on Saturday when he pounded his chest even before crossing the finish line.

"I think he should show more respect, shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones. Not making gestures like the one he made," Jacques Rogge said. "He still has to mature."

Jamaican coach and former sprinter Don Quarrie defended Bolt, saying his celebrations were just youthful high spirits, from a man who is "playful, funny, happy".

LITTLE CONSOLATION

The United States have won a major sprint medal at every Games since 1984 and this year's collection of silvers and bronzes will be little consolation.

The failure in the relays, an unexpected loss in the final of the women's water polo to the Netherlands and defeat to Japan in the softball will be salt in the wounds for the Americans.

Softball will not be at the 2012 Games and the U.S. had won every gold on offer since it became an Olympic sport in 1996.

There was a win for the U.S. in the men's 400 meters, where LaShawn Merritt beat defending champion Jeremy Wariner to deliver the seventh straight gold in the event for the Americans.

That will do little to chip at the dominance of China in the medals table. The hosts have a commanding 45 golds to the U.S.'s 27, a lead that China says shows it now has the sporting prowess to match its growing economic might and superpower clout.

In Athens, the U.S. team topped the medals table with 36 golds to China's 32, but the hosts have invested heavily in selecting and training athletes intensively over many years.

"The world has to learn to live with a change of geopolitical nature," the IOC's Rogge said, adding that China's sporting success would last "as long as their sports system lasts".

Americans did enjoy success in women's beach volleyball.

An excited home crowd sheltered from torrential rain as China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie lost to the defending champions, U.S. pair Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, in straight sets.

May-Treanor and Walsh, who have dominated the sport for five years, left the door open to a return in London 2012, but said that might depend on plans to have children.

The rain did not matter to the men's marathon swimmers.

Dutchman Maarten van der Weijden, who was given only a slim chance of survival when diagnosed with leukemia seven years ago, won the 10km swim, one of the most testing Olympic events.

A stem cell transplant and chemotherapy saved van der Weijden's life.

"That makes it extra special," he said. "It proves that even after such an illness you can win gold."

As expected Cuba's Dayron Robles won the 110 meters hurdles in a race that had been promoted as a showdown with Chinese sporting idol and defending champion Liu Xiang. But Liu hobbled out of his heat with an injured foot, devastating Chinese fans.

HORSE DOPE TESTS

Equestrian sports were embarrassed by positive drug tests on four horses that could lead to Norway's Tony Andre Hansen losing his bronze medal.

Four horses tested positive for capsaicin, a banned chili derivative which is sometimes pasted onto horse's forelegs to "hypersensitive" them so they try harder to lift their smarting shins over fences and avoid incurring penalties.

Hansen, on his horse Camiro, was a member of the Norwegian team that won bronze in Monday's team show jumping competition. A decision on his team's medal will come after a B-sample test.

"It is certainly a serious blow to the sport and we are very well aware of the possible implications it can have," said Sven Holmberg, the chairman of the International Equestrian Federation's jumping committee.

Dutch cancer survivor wins gold

A Dutchman given only a slim chance of survival after being diagnosed with leukemia won one of the Olympics' most grueling events on Thursday, the marathon open-water swim.

Maarten van der Weijden fell ill seven years ago but a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy saved his life.

He battled back to become the world's leading open-water swimmer and timed his surge to perfection to win a sprint finish after a three-man fight for gold in the Games' inaugural 10km men's race, after a contest lasting nearly two hours.

"That makes it extra special," van der Weijden said when asked about his recovery from cancer. "It proves that even after such an illness you can win gold."

Relentless rain descended on Day 13 of the Olympics, but failed to deter walkers, decathletes and bikini-clad women playing out the medals games in beach volleyball.

The rain did not dampen the buzz around Jamaica's Usain "Lightning" Bolt, celebrating his 22nd birthday on Thursday after winning a second sprint gold and setting another world record the night before, in the 200 meters.

The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) questioned the Jamaican's sportsmanship, taking exception to his exuberant celebration of his 100 meter win on Saturday when he pounded his chest even before crossing the finish line.

"I think he should show more respect, shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones. Not making gestures like the one he made," said Jacques Rogge. "He still has to mature."

Jamaican coach and former sprinter Don Quarrie defended Bolt, saying his celebrations were just youthful high spirits, from a man who is "playful, funny, happy".

Former athletes searched for superlatives to describe Bolt.

"It was the most amazing athletic performance I have ever seen in my life," said former U.S. track champion Michael Johnson, who lost his 12-year world record to Bolt.

The finals of women's beach volleyball went ahead in the rain. An excited home crowd sheltered under umbrellas as China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie lost to the defending champions, U.S. pair Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in straight sets.

May-Treanor and Walsh, who have dominated the sport for five years, left the door open to a return in London 2012, but said that might depend on plans to have children.

JAMAICA, U.S. SHOWDOWN

The limelight returns to the Bird's Nest in the evening, and another intriguing showdown between Jamaica's extraordinarily successful sprinters and the United States.

Jamaican women followed Bolt by sweeping the 100m medals and a trio of strong sprinters are looking to add 200m glory at 7:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. EDT). The Americans, the traditional superpower of sprinting, are desperate for at least one gold.

Cuban world record-holder Dayron Robles says he is confident of winning Thursday's 110m hurdles final, which was shaping into one of the high points of the Games but is now deflated by the absence of Chinese favorite Liu Xiang.

A foot injury forced the Olympic champion to limp from the track before his first race, leaving Chinese fans in tears.

"I'm very calm. I'll win the gold medal," said Robles.

The Chinese can at least console themselves with a look at the gold medal table, where they have built up a seemingly unassailable lead of 45 golds to the Americans' 27.

In Athens the U.S. team topped the medals table with 36 golds to China's 32, but the hosts have invested heavily in selecting and training their athletes over many years, an effort that mirrors the nation's growing global economic and political clout.

"The world has to learn to live with a change of geopolitical nature," the IOC's Rogge said, adding that China's sporting success would last "as long as their sports system lasts".

On a packed day of athletics, Americans Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merrit go head-to-head in the 400m on Thursday too.

Later, the women's soccer tournament wraps up with the U.S. team facing Brazil and hoping to repeat their victory against the South Americans in Athens four years ago.

(Reporting by Beijing Olympics bureau; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

U.S. takes beach volleyball gold

U.S. defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh beat China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie to win the women's Olympic beach volleyball gold medal on Thursday.

The triple world champions screamed, leapt into each other's arms and fell into the sand after Walsh powered down the last spike to become the first team to win two Olympic beach volleyball titles.

"I'm speechless," said May-Treanor after the match.

"This has been Kerri's and my goal since the last ball dropped in Athens. It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of love, a wonderful ride," the 31-year-old added, drenched after playing in a torrential downpour.

May-Treanor and Walsh have not lost a match in more than a year and have never dropped a set at the Olympics, beating Tian and Wang 21-18 21-18 for their second gold.

"We've never defeated a U.S. team in a big final. They're just too strong for us," said Tian. "Hopefully in the next couple of years we can manage to beat them."

They may not get a chance as both May-Treanor and Walsh plan to stop competing to have children after the Games and are not sure they will come back on tour together.

It was still a good day for China, who took their first ever Olympic medals in beach volleyball -- silver for Tian and Wang and bronze earlier for Zhang Xi and Xue Chen.

The Chinese crowd yelled and screamed throughout the match, trying to do Mexican waves with their umbrellas, cheering on both home teams and even trying some beach volleyball on court between the matches.

"It is a great time for Chinese sport. I am honored to have been part of this," said Xue.

Aussie Stingers claim bronze in Beijing

Australia's women's water polo team has taken the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, beating Hungary in a penalty shoot-out.

The Stingers broke away to a 2-0 lead early, but Hungary responded with five straight goals and led 5-3 at half-time.

Australia equalised at 6-6 late in the third quarter and then again with eight seconds remaining in the match via Rebecca Rippon to force extra time.

The Stingers led twice in extra time, with Hungary making it 9-9 with just 20 seconds left to force the shoot-out, which Australia won 3-2.