Olympic Diary : Day 14

An Ancient Record Smashed , Bracing for a Storming finale

The American quartet of  Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter set the track ablaze knocking out the stuffing of a 27 year old world record in the women’s 4x100 m relay , held previously by the erstwhile East Germans. There was immediate talk in the air about how this relay might inspire the US men in their event 24 hrs later. However, the US men’s 4x 400 m relay team suffered a shock defeat over the home stretch of the final leg against an inspired Bahamas. With both Jamaica and USA setting scorching times in the men’s 4 x 100 m  semi-finals without one main man each (Bolt and Gay respectively), the track is set for a rip-roaring finish tonight.

Other team events set themselves up for fascinating gold medal matches with Brazil set to encounter Mexico in the men’s football final , while the Gasol brothers’ Spain come up against the US dream team in the basketball final. The Netherlands men’s hockey team will be hoping for a double delight to follow up last night gold medal winning triumph of the women’s team.

Gaff of The day: Great Britain’s relay team finished comfortably 2^nd behind Jamaica in the relay semi-final but bungled up the final baton exchange to be disqualified. The British media have already dubbed the baton exchange a bane equivalent to the football team’s penalty shoot-out.