Michael Phelps is master of the medals. The swimming sensation has set the Olympic record for most medals won, helping the U.S. to the gold medal in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay. That brings his medal haul to 19, including a record 15 gold. Phelps broke the record held by former Russian gymnast Larrisa Latynina. Earlier, Phelps tied the mark when he was edged out for gold by South Africa Chad le Clos in the 200-meter butterfly. Allison Schmitt set an Olympic record to win the 200-meter freestyle. The American was clocked at 1 minute, 53.61 seconds, more than a second better than the old mark. American teenager Missy Franklin finished fourth.
The Americans emphatically claimed their first Olympic gold medal in women's gymnastics since 1996. The favorites lived up to expectations, collecting 183.596 points to earn a whopping five-point victory over Russia. Romania won the bronze medal. The Americans jumped on top on their first rotation with a number of booming vaults to open a 1.7 point lead. With one rotation to go, the outcome was decided and the U.S. women used their floor exercises like a coronation. Aly Raisman, world champion Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross raised their index fingers as the crowd chanted "U.S.A."
Shannon Taylor scored late in the first half and the United States upset second-ranked Argentina 1-0 in women's field hockey.
A new day is dawning at the Olympics with gold medal finals in swimming in the men's 200-meter breaststroke, the men's 100-meter freestyle, the women's 200-meter butterfly and the women's 4X200-mter freestyle relay. In the women's 100-freestyle, American Missy Franklin has qualified for this evening's semifinals. The men's gymnastics all-around is also taking place with the U.S. team looking to rebound after its fifth-place finish in the team competition earlier in the week. In women's beach volleyball the U.S. team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, the reigning two-time gold medalists, are back in action. They wrap up pool play against a team from Austria. Walsh will be competing with a case of pink eye, which she calls, "super minor." And the women's basketball team is back on the court with a game against Turkey.
And no Olympics is complete without controversy; badminton authorities have launched disciplinary proceedings against four women's doubles pairs for appearing to try and lose their matches at the London Olympics to secure a favorable draw.
Back at home, the Mets lose to the NL West leading Giants 4-1 and the Yankees lost their fourth straight, scoring five runs against Baltimore in the 1st inning but fading quickly after that, 11-5 the final score.
And Star tailback Silas Redd is bolting Penn State for Southern California. The 1,200-yard rusher has opted to leave a Nittany Lions program facing stiff sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press