BC-AP London Olympics Digest
The supervisor in London is Noreen Gillespie. Questions concerning the Olympics report should be directed to the New York Sports desk at 800 845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636; agate, ext. 1635. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, also can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are available from the Service Desk (800 838-4616) or your local AP bureau.
All times EDT.
Day 14 of London Olympics: Sixteen gold medals are at stake.
TOP STORIES:
SOC-GOLD MEDAL MATCH
WEMBLEY, England - In the closing minutes of the Olympic final, goalie Hope Solo flung her body toward the ball and managed to push it away. The lead stayed intact. The Americans would win the gold medal and redemption from a year-old World Cup heartache. The U.S. women's soccer team puts up with a lot from Solo. The candid comments. The Twitter tangents. The pause she put on her training to appear on ''Dancing With the Stars.'' But when the game is on the line, she's still hands-down - not to mention hands-up and hands-to-the-side - the best goalkeeper in the world. By Sports Writer Joseph White. AP Photos OSOC456, OSOC580, OSOC576. AP Video.
ATH-TRACK AND FIELD
LONDON - As far as Usain Bolt is concerned, it's a done deal. ''I'm a legend now,'' he said. With the 200-meter gold medal in his pocket after a winning run of 19.32 seconds, The World's Fastest Man now gets ready for the 4x100 relay. If he can lead the Jamaicans to a victory there, he'll be 3 for 3 at these Olympics, same way he was in Beijing four years ago. By National Writer Eddie Pells. AP Photos OATH252, XOATH145, OATH253. AP Video.
OLYMPIC TIME SUCK
NEW YORK - Chores piling up. DVRs stuffed and groaning with unwatched favorites. Late, bleary strolls into the office. Welcome to the Great Olympic Time Suck, that unsung sport that has millions glued to coverage of the London Games rather than tending to real life. By Leanne Italie. AP Photos.
BKO-US-ARGENTINA
LONDON - The only way the U.S. men's basketball team fails to reach the gold-medal game is if Argentina figures out how to be 30 points better in five days. No chance, right? At the very least, it's highly unlikely given how easy it's been for the high-scoring Americans during most of their time in London. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. AP Photos OBKO190, OLY530, OBKO185. Eds: Game starts at 4 p.m.
With:
- BKO-LUCKY CHARM - The Americans will have a very special guest sitting on the bench for the game against Argentina: A 1948 Olympian who competed with the U.S. the last time the games were played in London. AP Photos.
COMMENTARY:
OLY--JOHN LEICESTER-080912
LONDON - Commentary on Usain Bolt's bid for a sweep of the 100 and 200 meters at a second straight Olympics. By Sports Columnist John Leicester.
OLY--TIM DAHLBERG-080912
LONDON - Commentary on the women's soccer final between the U.S. and Japan. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg.
OLY--JIM LITKE-080912
LONDON - Commentary on U.S. middleweight Claressa Shields at women's boxing. By Sports Columnist Jim Litke.
DEVELOPING:
US-WOMEN'S MEDALS
WEMBLEY, England - Abby Wambach and the rest of the U.S. women's soccer team lined up and bowed one by one to receive their gold medals. It's becoming an increasingly familiar scene for American women at the London Games. Women outnumber men on the U.S. Olympic team for the first time, and they're coming up big on the international stage. By Sports Writer Tim Reynolds. AP Photos OSOC525, OSWM588, OTEN139, OGYM286.
- EYES ON LONDON - Frequently updated feed of news, details and color from around the Olympics.
COMPETITION:
Twenty-three gold medals were awarded in competition Thursday.
Coverage will be expedited from the sports where 16 gold medals are at stake Friday: open water swimming, synchronized swimming, track and field, BMX cycling, field hockey, sailing, taekwondo and wrestling.
BOXING
BOX-WOMEN'S FINALS
LONDON - Katie Taylor collapsed to her knees after winning the ninth gold medal in Ireland's Olympic history, and the ecstatic crowd seemed to raise the lightweight boxer back up with its roars. Blinking back tears, Taylor wrapped a green, white and orange flag around her shoulders and later took a slow walk through the overjoyed masses. She'd made history for Ireland, but became the first women's gold medal winner in boxing, too. By Sports Writer Greg Beacham. AP Photos OBOX186, OBOX138, OBOX139, OBOX136, OBOX137.
WATER POLO
WTP-WOMEN'S FINAL
LONDON - In her first Olympics, Maggie Steffens wanted to make sure Brenda Villa and Heather Petri won that long-elusive gold medal in their last. The 19-year-old Steffens capped a stunning two-week performance in London, scoring five goals to power the U.S. past Spain 8-5 and giving the Americans their first ever Olympic women's water polo title. By Ryan Lucas. AP Photos OLYAJG163, OLYAJG161, OLYJC169, OLYJC168, OLYAJG144, OLYJC166, OLYJC164.
BASKETBALL:
BKW-US-AUSTRALIA
LONDON - Sue Bird had seen enough. Her team was facing its first halftime deficit in the Olympics in 12 years, so and the usually quiet point guard spoke up and gave an animated halftime speech to her teammates. They listened, then rallied past Australia 86-73. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. AP Photos OBKO309, OBKO101, OBKO103, OBKO116.
IN THE WATER:
DIV-DIVING
LONDON - It won't be a sweep, but China will try and claim its seventh gold in the last diving event of the London Games. China has won all but one diving event at the Olympics, and now it's up to Lin Yue to try and finish strong when the men's 10-meter platform preliminaries kick off. By Sports Writer Beth Harris. AP Photos ODIV610, ODIV609, ODIV611, ODIV213. Eds: Preliminaries begin at 2 p.m.
SYN-SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
LONDON - Four sweeps in four consecutive Olympics: That's the goal for Russia in the free routine of the synchronized swimming team event. Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina already secured gold for Russia in the duet event at the London Games, and the Russians lead the team event following Thursday's technical routines. By Sports Writer Andrew Dampf. AP Photos OSWM513, OSWM910, OSWM502, OSWM906, OSWM209.
SWM-OPEN WATER
LONDON - The British know how to throw a party at Hyde Park. Imagine the celebration if they pull out a gold in the final swimming race of the London Games. By National Writer Paul Newberry. AP Photos OLYMG103, OLYMG108, OLYMG110.
Also:
- FIELD HOCKEY: Top-ranked Dutch face No. 2 Argentina. 3 p.m.
- BMX CYCLING: Riders advance to final after crash-filled day. 10 a.m.
- WRESTLING: U.S. hopes for 1st wresting gold rest on Jordan Burroughs. 8 a.m.
- TAEKWONDO: US star Steven Lopez trying to win back Olympic taekwondo gold. 8 a.m.