London Catch-Up, Day 9: Usain Bolt convincingly defends his 100 meters title
1. Usain Bolt proved everyone wrong who said he wouldn't be as dominant in London as he was in Beijing. The Jamaican overpowered a strong field in the second half of Sunday's 100 meters, winning in an Olympic-record 9.63 seconds to become the first man since Carl Lewis to repeat as World's Fastest Man. Reigning world champ Yohan Blake of Jamaica finished second in 9.75 seconds and American Justin Gatlin came in third in a personal-best 9.79.
2. A shocking fall on her second jump forced American McKayla Maroney to settle for a silver medal in the women's individual vault. Maroney entered the competition a heavy favorite after delivering the best vault of the team competition on Tuesday, a remarkable 16.233 that Bela Karoyli called the greatest single vault in the history of the sport. Her first vault Sunday was the highest-scoring jump of the day, but she failed to land her second one, enabling Romania's Sandra Izbasa to surpass her.
3. Sanya Richards-Ross has been the most dominant quarter-miler in women's track and field for nearly a decade, but she entered the Olympics still seeking her first gold medal in the 400 meters. Richards-Ross got the validation she had been seeking Sunday when she surged over the final 100 meters and crossed the line first in 49.55 seconds. It was in stark contrast to the way Richards-Ross faded late in the race at Beijing and had to settle for a disappointing bronze.
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4. Even though Andy Murray couldn't end Great Britain's Wimbledon drought last month, his countrymen will probably forgive him after Sunday. Murray enacted revenge on Roger Federer and finally tasted victory in a final at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, winning the Olympic gold-medal match in straight sets in front of an adoring crowd. Juan Martin Del Potro upset Novak Djokovic in the third-place match to take bronze.
5. With defending Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained in Saturday's preliminary heat, it was up to Bryshon Nellum and Tony McQuay to continue the dominance of the United States in the men's 400 meters. Neither proved up to the task, however, as both failed to qualify for the final. McQuay faded in the final 100 meters to finish fourth in his heat and Nellum had to lean at the line to get third in his, leaving the U.S. without a runner in the 400 meters final.
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius fell short of qualifying for the finals in the 400 meters on Sunday, but the double amputee sprinter didn't leave the track empty handed. In a classy gesture, reigning world champion and gold-medal favorite Kirani James of Grenada embraced Pistorius after the race and asked to trade bib numbers with him.
"I'm so used to being out there in a Speedo, that being on display is nothing new. I'm looking forward to all of it." — U.S. swimming star Ryan Lochte on whether he looks forward to the reality TV and endorsement opportunities he'll have now that his Olympics are over. (SI.com)
Sunday's Gold Medal Moments for Team USA: Sanya Richards-Ross, 400 meters; Venus and Serena Williams, women's tennis doubles
U.S. Olympians with best chance at gold on Monday: Kerron Clement, Angelo Ross or Michael Tinsley, 400-meter hurdles
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Related Olympics coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• IOC looks to crack down on 'results fixing'
• Despite fall, McKayla Maroney shows true grit
• Andy Murray thrashes Roger Federer
