2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 3 — Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers Win Gold Medals
The US swim team captured two gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Monday, while the US men’s gymnastics squad disappointed. Here’s what happened at the London Games:
US swimming sensation Missy Franklin won the 100-meter backstroke to claim her first Olympic gold medal on Monday. Just 14 minutes after swimming a semifinal heat, the 17-year-old Franklin launched back into the pool and conquered the field. American Rebecca Soni won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, her fourth career Olympic medal. On the men’s side, US swimmer Matt Grevers won gold in the 100-meter backstroke by swimming the race in an Olympic record 52.16 seconds, while teammate Nick Thoman captured the silver.
The US men’s gymnastics team, who were first after Saturday’s preliminary round, plummeted to fifth at the end of Monday’s final round, well behind the dominant Chinese squad that won the gold medal. Japan earned the silver, while Britain thrilled the home crowd by capturing the bronze, their first team medal in a century. A Japanese appeal on a score bumped the Ukraine team to fourth to clear way for the Brits.
Other US athletes winning medals on Monday included Nick McCrory and David Boudia, who captured bronze in the men’s 10-meter platform synchro diving event, and Marti Malloy, who won bronze in the 57K class of women’s judo.
In other results, Americans Venus and Serena Williams both advanced in the tennis competition at Wimbledon, as did Roger Federer of Switzerland. Candace Parker led the US women’s basketball team to a 90-38 rout of Angola, while Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings won their 16th consecutive Olympic beach volleyball match.
Overall Medal Leader Board
China — 17 medals
9 Gold, 5 Silver, 3 Bronze
United States — 17 medals
5 Gold, 7 Silver, 5 Bronze
Japan — 11 medals
1 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze
Italy — 8 medals
2 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze
France — 7 medals
3 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze