Olympics
Roundup: May, Walsh on the verge of gold

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Beach Volleyball

Misty May and Kerri Walsh want to be first.

Tonight, they will attempt to become the first American women to win an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball after posting their sixth consecutive straight-set victory. The favorites beat fellow Americans Holly McPeak, May's teammate in 2000, and Elaine Youngs last night in Athens, 21-18, 21-15, needing only 41 minutes to do it.

May and Walsh will play Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede of Brazil, the country that has claimed four of the six Olympic medals awarded in the sport, in the final. McPeak and Youngs will play Australia's Natalie Cook and Nicole Sanderson for the bronze.

"We want to be the first," May said. "We want the gold medal. We're kind of making our own footsteps. People have led the way, and Kerri and I have worked very hard. We want nothing less than the gold."

May celebrated the victory over McPeak and Youngs by pouring a little of her mother's ashes out of a prescription bottle into the sand. May's mother was diagnosed with cancer before Sydney, and she died two years ago.

"I've waited four years for this," May said. "This is great. A lot of people doubted I would be back (in good health) in time. This kind of shoves it in their face and lets them know I am back."

Weightlifting

Bulgaria's Milen Dobrev lived up to his top seeding and took the gold medal in the 207-pound (94 kg) division in Athens.

Dobrev, the reigning world champion, made clean lifts on each of his first five tries. He failed on his sixth and final attempt but laughed and kissed the weights, knowing his total of 898 pounds (407.5 kg) had clinched first place.
 
Junior world champ Khadjimourad Akkaev, 19, of Russia, took silver with a total of 893 pounds (405 kg). Russian Eduard Tjukin got the bronze.

Cycling

Australia easily defeated Britain for the gold medal in the 4,000-meter team pursuit in Athens, adding the Olympic title to its three consecutive world championships in the event. Australia finished in 3:58.233. Britain finished in 4:01.760.

Spain beat defending gold medalist Germany for the bronze.

Table Tennis

Ryu Seung-min beat China's Wang Hao in six games in Athens, becoming the first South Korean to win the men's table tennis gold medal since the sport was added at the Seoul Games in 1988.

Ryu, ranked third in the world, won 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 11-9, ending China's long run of men's singles titles. China's Wang Liqin won bronze.

Men's Water Polo

Aleksander Sapic scored three goals to lead Serbia-Montenegro to a 9-4 win over the United States in Athens, ending American hopes of making the Olympic quarterfinals. The United States finished 2-3 after opening with wins against Croatia and Kazakstan.

After placing sixth in Sydney, the best finish the Americans can achieve in Athens is seventh.

"This is better than I expected," said Ratko Rudic, explaining the expectations he had in 2001 when he took over as U.S. head coach. "Not this game, but all our participation was very good.

Boxing

American super heavyweight Jason Estrada gave perhaps the most lackluster performance yet by a U.S. boxer in Athens, losing a chance for an Olympic medal by dropping a 21-7 decision to Cuba's Michel Lopez Nunez.

The U.S. team's fattest boxer eventually resorted to holding — a strategy that garnered boos, but certainly not a win. With six seconds to go, Lopez Nunez broke the 261-pound Estrada's embrace and shoved him limply against the ropes.

Meanwhile, Russian featherweight Alexei Tichtchenko ousted world champion Galib Jafarov of Kazakstan, winning 36-26.

Two world champions advanced with easy wins on the second day of quarterfinals at Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall. Russian super heavyweight Alexander Povetkin and bantamweight Aghasi Mammadov both clinched a medal — since bronzes are given to both semifinal losers.

Two more fighters from the powerful Cuban team advanced to the semis. Bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux and super heavyweight Michel Lopez Nunez encountered no problems, but featherweight Luis Franco was beaten by Germany's Vitali Tajbert.

Synchronized Swimming

Russia and Japan held down their customary 1-2 spots, and the United States was in third after the duet technical routine in Athens.

World champions Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova swam to the theme from "The Matrix" and scored 49.417 points.

The United States' duo, Anna Kozlova and Alison Bartosik, was in third with 48.334.

Seattle Times news services