For the third straight Summer Olympics, Jamaican sprinting star Usain Bolt has won three gold medals after his 4×100-meter team eased to victory late Friday in Rio de Janeiro.
The Jamaican team did not surpass its own world record time in the event, but finished one-third of a second in front of the silver medalists, Japan. Canada earned the bronze after the U.S. team was disqualified for a baton pass outside the designated zone.
Bolt, who also holds world records in the 100- and 200-meter sprints earlier won both of those events in Rio, as he did in the two previous Summer Games, along with Jamaican teammates in the 4×100 relay.
The nine gold medals in track and field ties him with American Carl Lewis and Finn Paavo Nurmi – a long distance runner in the early 1900s. Lewis competed in the 1980s and ’90s.
After Friday’s race, Bolt – who turns 30 Sunday – said “I hope I’ve set the bar high enough that no one can do it again.”
Women’s 4×100
The U.S. women’s 4×100 relay won gold Friday night, just ahead of the Jamaican team. American team member Allyson Felix became the first woman to win five Olympic golds in athletics.
Friday’s Games in Rio also brought gold medals to the U.S. women’s water polo team, U.S. BMX biker Connor Fields, and Colombian BMX biker Mariana Pajon.
Water polo
The U.S. women’s water polo team beat Italy on Friday, 12-5, in the Olympic final, stretching their winning streak to 22 games in a row. U.S. women also won gold in 2012, making them the only two-time winners since the event was introduced in 2000.
BMX biking
Connor Fields became the first U.S. winner of a gold in BMX biking, throwing down his bike and jumping into the arms of his team after crossing the finish line. Asked how he felt, Fields said, “I cannot even describe it. It is a moment that I dreamt about since I was 15 years old.”
Colombia’s Mariana Pajon defended the title she won in London in 2012, becoming the first Colombian to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals Friday. Celebrating her win, she lifted her bike above her head as crowds in the stands chanted their support.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said. “I feel like I was at home with so many Colombian fans in the grandstands. It filled me with energy.”
Badminton
Spain’s two-time world champion in women’s badminton singles, Carolina Marin, defeated India’s Pusarla Sindhu for the gold medal Friday. In men’s doubles, China’s Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan took the title over Malaysia’s Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong.
Football
Germany won the women’s football (soccer) Olympic gold medal for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Sweden.
Pole Vault
The women’s pole vault title went to Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece when Sandy Morris of the U.S. nicked the bar and brought it down on her final vault.
Running
Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot won the women’s 5,000-meter race, setting an Olympic record time of 14 minutes, 26.17 seconds.
Hammer Throw
Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov won the men’s hammer throw.
Taekwondo
The men’s taekwondo gold medal in the 80-kilogram division went to Cheick Sallah Sisse of Ivory Coast.
On the women’s side, South Korea’s Oh Hye-ri took the 67-kilogram title.
Basketball
And the U.S. men’s basketball team advanced to the final round with a win over Spain, 82-76. The final round is scheduled for Sunday, when the Americans will face either Australia or Serbia for a possible third consecutive gold medal.
The U.S. womens’ basketball team goes for a sixth straight Olympic gold medal Saturday, taking on Spain, which is already assured the country’s first medal in the sport.
Saturday finals
Other events Saturday include the much-anticipated men’s football (soccer) final when Brazil takes on Germany.
Seven track and field gold medals will be awarded, along with finals in boxing, golf, volleyball, water polo, diving, mountain bike, badminton, canoeing, rhythmic gymnastics, handball, wrestling, taekwondo and the women’s triathlon.
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