2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 14 — US Men’s Basketball Will Face Spain For Gold Medal
Several records fell at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Friday, as the United States extended its overall dominance. Here are the highlights of the day’s events:
Kevin Durant scored 19 points and the US men’s basketball team defeated Argentina, 109-83, to advance to the gold medal game. The Americans will face Spain, a 67-59 winner over Russia. The US beat the Spaniards in the gold medal game of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
In women’s track, the US 4×100-meter relay team of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter won a gold medal, finishing the race in a world record-time of 40.82 seconds. The Jamaican team took the silver medal, with the Ukraine capturing bronze. Elsewhere, Tatyana Lysenko of Russia won gold in the hammer throw with an Olympic-record toss of 78.18, and Ethiopian Meseret Defar edged teammate Tirunesh Dibaba to win the gold medal in the 5,000 meters.
On the men’s side, the Bahamas shocked the United States by winning the 4×400-meter relay as Ramon Miller swept past American Angelo Taylor on the race’s final leg. Taylor, Bryshon Nellum, Tony McQuay and Joshua Mance settled for silver, and Trinidad and Tobago took the bronze medal. It was the first time the US was defeated in the event since 1972. The Americans were able to participate in the 4×400 because of the courage of Manteo Mitchell, the US runner who finished his preliminary heat despite a broken leg. South Africa, with double amputee Oscar Pistorius as part of its team, finished last.
Other US medalists were American wrestler Jordan Burroughs, who beat Iran’s Sadegh Goudarzi to win gold in the 74kg freestyle wrestling division, and Paige Mcpherson, who earned a bronze in the women’s welterweight division of taekwondo.
Overall Medal Leader Board
United States — 94 medals
41 Gold, 26 Silver, 27 Bronze
China — 81 medals
37 Gold, 25 Silver, 19 Bronze
Russia — 63 medals
15 Gold, 21 Silver, 27 Bronze
Great Britain — 57 medals
25 Gold, 15 Silver, 17 Bronze
Germany — 42 medals
10 Gold, 18 Silver, 14 Bronze