The best and the rest of names, Games and media coverage

Day 19 - August 6

A day of rest and recovery for this little soldier (like an athlete it is all about peaking for ultimate performance) and was even introduced to the original version of The Inbetweeners by my new housemates at the Balham Bed and Breakfast 2.

But Olympic wise for London 2012 I was introduced to a marvellous piece of Roy and HG style commentary from an Irish comedian called Francis Higgins.

Click here for his take on the sailing (well worth a listen).

Olympics (day 10):

HUNTER WATCH

*Lake Macquarie sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have all but claimed the gold medal in the 49er class after strong performances on the water on Monday. A first and a third has given them an unassailable 28-point lead heading into the medal race on Wednesday.

*Merewether’s Richie Campbell scored two goals in the Sharks 13-9 victory against Greece in the men’s water polo competition. This sees the Australians progress to the quarter-final stages at London 2012 where they meet Serbia on Wednesday.

*Eleebana discus thrower Benn Harradine progresses to final of his event with a 67.53 metre throw.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Patty Mills with a buzzer beater from the three-point line to score the Boomers an 82-80 victory against Russia and set up the Australian basketball team with a quarter-final showdown against the US on Wednesday.

This is one of many on the highlights reel for the Australian basketballers at London 2012 - check them out here. 

BITS and BOBS

*Tom Slingsby doubled Australia’s gold medal tally at London 2012 with victory in the laser class of the sailing regatta. It was the first time the green and gold had won an individual event in the sport since London in 1948.

 

*Behind Slingsby in the silver medal position was Pavlos Kontides, who won the first Olympic medal for the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.

NAME GAME

Vania Stambolova – the Bulgarian runner who fell in the opening heat of the women’s 400m hurdles and failed to finish the race.

MEDIA WARS

NBC, Channel 9 and the Australian criticism of our medal haul have all come under fire.

And rightly so.

The BBC, NY Times photographs and Twitter (in general), but in particular hash tag #London2012, get the medals from the 14,000 (remember there are only 10,000 or so athletes competing) strong media contingent at the Games.

Links:

*Twitter - @joshuacallinan

*Read the London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic Games

*Tune into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from 7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney

*The Hunter's Road To London - 1233 ABC Newcastle