Sunday, August 12, 2012

Usain Bolt leads 4x100 relay to world record at Olympics

(AP) LONDON - Five things to know about Saturday, Day 15 of the London Olympics:

-Repeat performance: Bolt closes out world-record relay for Jamaica.

-Drive for five: Mighty US women win fifth straight Olympic basketball gold.

-Boudia wins diving title as United States closes in on medals table win.

-Mexico upsets Brazil to win men's soccer gold.

-The End: Coach K says gold-medal game will be final one as U.S. coach.

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Complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics

Usain Bolt and Ryan Bailey got the baton at almost exactly the same time Saturday night, then sped down the stretch for the final leg of the 4x100-meter relay.

When Bolt reached his top gear, it was over.

The World's Fastest Man powered Jamaica to a world-record time of 36.84 seconds, making him 3 for 3 for the second straight Olympics. He also won the 100 meters and 200 in London and Beijing.

Bolt picked up another victory long after the record-breaking relay was over. After grudgingly handing the baton to an official right after he crossed the finish line, he got it back about 40 minutes later. He responded with a bow of thanks and kissed his new memento.

Bolt leads Jamaica to relay world record

Bailey and the United States got the silver in 37.04, matching the old record that Bolt helped set at last year's world championships. Trinidad and Tobago took the bronze in 38.12 after Canada, which was third across the line, was disqualified for running outside its lane.

Before Bolt and Co. took over the track, Mo Farah sent a charge through the capacity crowd at Olympic Stadium when he won the 5,000 meters to complete an Olympic long-distance double for Britain.

Farah surged ahead late and held on to win in 13:41.66. He still had the energy to do a few playful sit-ups on the track before he grabbed a British flag for the real celebration.

Allyson Felix won her third gold medal as the Americans rolled to an easy victory in the women's 4x400 relay, and Russia capped a big day with wins by Mariya Savinova in the women's 800 meters and Anna Chicherova in the women's high jump — giving the traditional Olympic power six golds on the penultimate day of the games.

U.S. women win 4x400 relay to give Felix 3rd gold

Caster Semenya of South Africa was right behind Savinova to earn a silver medal in her first Olympic final three years after being forced to undergo gender tests.

The U.S. women's basketball team entered the London Games with considerable expectations, and it lived up to the hype by winning its fifth straight Olympic gold medal.

U.S. women's basketball wins 5th straight gold

Candace Parker scored 21 points as the Americans beat France 86-50 in the final. She had eight straight during the game-changing run in the second quarter that put the U.S. in control.

"It's not easy to just be put together and be expected to win a gold medal," guard Diana Taurasi said. "It's a special feeling."

Team USA clinched the top spot in the medals table for the fifth consecutive Summer Games, helped by David Boudia's victory in the men's 10-meter platform for the country's first gold in diving since 2000.

Boudia scored 568.65 points in the six-dive final, edging Qiu Bo of China by 1.8 points. Tom Daley of Britain settled for the bronze.

Mexico earned its first Olympic gold medal in men's soccer and left Brazil wondering if it will ever be able to add the title to its long list of triumphs.

Oribe Peralta scored 29 seconds into the final at Wembley Stadium and added another goal in the second half, leading Mexico to the 2-1 upset.

Hulk scored for Brazil in injury time, but Oscar missed a header in the final seconds to waste the last chance for a comeback in front of 86,162 fans.

"Mexico will be celebrating on the streets," coach Luis Fernando Tena said. "It is a great honor for a coach to see his players singing the national anthem with gold medals around their necks. It's a very important moment for Mexican football. It's a great moment for us."

The U.S. men's basketball team will play Spain for the Olympic title on Sunday, and Mike Krzyzewski told The Associated Press it will be his final game as the national coach.

When asked if he was sure, Krzyzewski didn't hesitate before again saying, "yes," this will be his last game.

With a win, Krzyzewski would join Henry Iba (1964, 1968) as the only U.S. coach to lead the Americans to gold medals in consecutive Olympics.

The rest of the Olympic action Saturday: