Olympics 2012: Live Report

That's it for tonight on AFP's live report. Join is for more tomorrow. Here's a quick recap of today's action: + Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic was overwhelmed with emotion after winning the 400m hurdles at the age of 34. + America's Jennifer Suhr won pole vault gold, in a shock for Russian champion Yelena Isinbayeva who claimed bronze. + Kirani James, aged 19, became the first non-American 400m winner since 1980 handing Grenada its first Olympic medal. + Britain's Jason Kenny won the men's sprint title as he beat France's Gregory Bauge. + Italy's 50km walk champion Alex Schwazer admitted doping and said it was career over after a failed blood test. We'll leave you with our PHOTO OF THE DAY: Dominican Republic's gold medalist Felix Sanchez who can hardly contain his emotion on the podium after winning the 400m hurdles. And our TWEET OF THE DAY from British cycling champion Chris Hoy after his compatriot won the men's sprint title: "I know I said I was off twitter til after 2mro but that was PHENOMENAL by Jason Kenny. So happy and proud of him, well deserved mate." 2304 GMT: FINAL SCORE: USA 126 - Argentina 97. Kevin Durant scored 28 points and the US NBA Dream Team defeated Argentina 126-97 to remain undefeated and book an Olympic quarter-final date Wednesday against Australia. The result completes the entire medal playoff pairings, which will see the Americans face Argentina or Spain in the semi-finals if they defeat the Aussie Boomers, who knocked Russia from the ranks of the unbeaten earlier on Monday. 2250 GMT: "Russell Westbrook gets a technical foul for hanging on the rim after thunderous dunk that ignited a huge cheer," Jim Slater tells us. "Kevin Durant with 17 in the second half takes the score to 107-79 with 8:36 to play. Don't think that 18-point Argentina win to deny the USA a top seed is coming. "Get ready Australian Boomers. Your date with the latest NBA Dream Team in Wednesday's quarter-finals is almost here." 2243 GMT: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield also spotted cheering on the dream team... It's the USA's toughest match yet but they're storming ahead with 107 to Argentina's 79 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. 2229 GMT: USA leads 79-66 just 4:09 into the third quarter after two free throws from Kobe Bryant. "There was a 13-5 US run sparked by LeBron James, who had the first seven USA points of the second half, and a three-point play by Tyson Chandler as well," Jim tells us. 2221 GMT: Looks like American swimming champion Ryan Lochte is among those enjoying the basketball, now that his pool events are over. He tweets: "Chillin at the basketball games with @Ludacris and @conorjdwyer" -- attaching a picture of him with teammate Conor Dwyer and American rapper Ludacris. 2215 GMT: BASKETBALL: In the last event of the night, it's 60-59 USA ahead of Argentina at half-time in the basketball arena. "USA almost certainly will be the top seed from the group," says AFP's Jim Slater. "Argentina has to win by 18 to take the top seed from them even by winning. But it would send a message to the other teams entering Wednesday's start to medal playoffs. "Manu Ginobili of the NBA San Antonio Spurs leads Argentina with 16 points. Chris Paul has 14 to pace the USA NBA stars while Kevin Durant, the NBA's top scorer last season, has 11 points for the red, white and blue." 2211 GMT: Defending two-time Olympic champion Isinbayeva is also among tonight's disappointed after taking bronze with a best of 4.70m but says she's not giving up yet. "I think this bronze tells me 'Yelena, don't quit', as I had planned to do after London," the 30-year-old says "I'm really happy. It's like a gold medal for me. There have been a lot of things which have been disappointing for three years. "I'm just glad the Olympics are finished as they were so stressful." 2205 GMT: Britain's Dai Greene, who missed out on a medal in the 400m hurdles, just tweeted: "Gutted to finish 4th. Thank you for all the support. Sorry I couldn't win GB a medal. So disappointed." 2200 GMT: HOCKEY: In women's field hockey, Argentina and Australia have drawn 0-0. The result means the Brits will play Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday. Here are today's earlier results: Japan 1-China 0; South Korea 3-Belgium 3-1; Great Britain 1-Netherlands 2; New Zealand 0-Germany 0; United States 0-South Africa 7. 2155 GMT: A few last pieces of news before we wrap up though... India's Vijender Singh has failed in his bid to claim a second straight Olympic boxing bronze medal, losing the middleweight quarter-final. Vijender became the first Indian to win an Olympic boxing medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing but had few answers against Uzbekistan's Abbos Atoev in his 17-13 last eight defeat. 2152 GMT: Felix Sanchez, who we saw weeping on the podium earlier after his 400m hurdles win, says he just wanted to make his grandmother proud. "The day she died in Beijing it broke my heart," Sanchez tells reporters. "That's why I ran with the picture close to my heart." 2145 GMT: At the end of another huge day of medal winning -- 18 across eight sports -- China is still comfortably at the top of the table with 64 medals including 31 golds. The USA, in second place, are now on 63, of which 29 are golds. Great Britain is at three, with 18 golds in their collection of 40 medals. 2137 GMT: ATHLETICS: More on those comments from Michael Johnson on young 400m star Kirani James. Johnson, who set the world record in 1999, told the BBC: "I am sure he will have a world record in his sights -- my world record -- and he could very well be the one to break it because he is a tremendous talent." "And he is very young and he has many, many years to learn more about this event." 2131 GMT: FOOTBALL: Ex-footballer Keith Costigan, now a commentator for Fox Soccer Channel, tweets after that US-Canada match: "What a finish!!!! Not an incredible women's football match. This is simply an incredible football match." The official Twitter account of Canada Soccer posts: "The support has been immense. The effort by was, truly, Olympic. Football is a cruel mistress. Post-match coverage to follow." The USA's win puts them through to a final with Japan on August 9 at Wembley. 2124 GMT: DIVING: From a sport dominated by Americans to one traditionally led by China -- though not this time. Russia's Ilya Zakharov breaks the trend as the top qualifier into the semi-finals of the men's 3m springboard. Zakharov -- who took silver in the 3m synchronised springboard with Evgeny Kuznetsov behind China on Wednesday -- relegated defending champion He Chong to second in the top 18 qualifiers for Tuesday's semis. 2119 GMT: FOOTBALL: In women's football, USA beat Canada 4-3 with a dramatic goal in the last minute of extra time -- a header by Alex Morgan . It put the Americans through to their fifth Olympic final, having reached every one since the women's sport was added to the Olympic programme. 2110 GMT: BASKETBALL: Brazil beats Spain 88-82 putting them into a second seed spot in the men's medal playoffs with NBA standout Leandrinho Barbosa scoring 23 points. Brazil finishes level with Russia in Group B at 4-1 but lost the top seed by having lost their head-to-head matchup. Spain finishes 3-2, level with Australia but taking the tie-breaker thanks to a head-to-head win. 2104 GMT: More on that incredible 400m race earlier... James Kirani's win makes him the first non-US athlete to dip under 44 seconds in a race long dominated by Americans. Last year James became the second youngest world gold medallist when he outdipped America's LaShawn Merritt, the defending Olympic champion, who limped out of his heat on Saturday with an injury. James set world age-group records for the 400m when he was 13, 14 and 15, and was crowned 400m world junior champion in 2010. While Usain Bolt ran 45.35sec for the 400m as a 16-year-old, James timed 45.24 at the same age. 2057 GMT: Britain's Holly Bleasdale, who missed out on a podium position after she failed in her third and final attempt at 4.55m, tweeted: "Devastated! Thanks for the support from everyone and sorry for letting people down! Tried my best just wasn't to be!" But she seems to have had a cup of tea and picked herself up as this was followed up with: "Woowww 6th! I didn't realise that! Thanks everyone in the stadium and on twitter and back home and everywhere you help me massively :) RIO!!" 2046 GMT: USA'S SUHR WINS WOMEN'S POLE VAULT. Jennifer Suhr seized gold with a best height of 4.75m while two-time champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia could only take bronze. Cuba's Yarisley Silva claimed silver with 4.75m by virtue of countback, while Isinbayeva failed to clear any height above 4.70m. 2045 GMT: Asked about what it meant to win his country's first Olympic gold, James tells the BBC: "The whole place [Grenada] is probably going crazy right now, I can't believe it." Michael Johnson's, commentating for the BBC , says he believes this young runner has it in him to break his world record. James responds to the comments with admirable modesty: "He just says I am on the right track but you still have to work hard to make sure you achieve because there is a lot of talent out there." 2038 GMT: Kirani James, the reigning world champion, powered ahead taking a massive lead over his competitors and finishing in 43.94secs. It's a national record and the first ever Olympic gold medal for the small nation of Grenada. Santos, aged only 18, finished in 44.46secs to take silver, with Gordon third in 44.52, a personal best. 2033 GMT: TEENAGER KIRANI JAMES WINS MEN'S 400m GOLD FOR GRENADA. Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic takes silver, with Lalonde Gordon of Trinidad claiming bronze. 2030 GMT: Next up on the track is the men's 400m, with Belgium twins Kevin and Jonathan Borlee among the contenders battling it out against Kirani James of Granada.... 2028 GMT: BADMINTON: News just in... China's men will play the final against South Korea, who beat Hong Kong 3-0. 2025 GMT: Felix Sanchez can hardly contain the tears as he takes to the podium to collect his gold medal for the 400m hurdles -- regaining the title won in Athens. "Superman" Sanchez -- so-called because of a tattoo of the super hero on his shoulder -- paid an emotional tribute to his late grandmother after he finished the race, falling to his knees kissing her photo. He learned of her death on the day of the 2008 Olympic heats meaning. Sanchez won in a time of 47.63sec, taking a title he first collected at the 2004 Athens Games. 2020 GMT: Zaripova timed a personal best of 9min 06.72sec to finish ahead of Tunisian Habiba Ghribi, who ran a new national record of 9:08.37. Ethiopia's Sofia Assefa took bronze in 9:09.84 in what was reportedly the third fastest race in history. 2015 GMT: RUSSIAN YULIYA ZARIPOVA WINS WOMEN'S 3000M STEEPLECHASE. Habiba Ghribi of Tunisa wins silver, bronze goes to Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia. 2009 GMT: Just setting off on the track now are the women's 3000m steeplechase runners. Defending champion Gulnara Samitova-Galkina of Russia, has strong competition from some strong Kenyan and Ethiopian runners . 2004 GMT: CUBA'S MIJAIN LOPEZ WINS GRECO-ROMAN -120KG WRESTLING GOLD. She beat Estonia's Heiki Nabi in the final of an event that's been held at every Olympics since 1908. Turkey's Riza Kayaalp and Johan Euren of Sweden took bronze medals. 1959 GMT: USA's Angelo Taylor -- who won the title in Beijing -- came just fifth in that race with 48.25 while his compatriot Kerron Clement, who holds the indoor world record, finished last in 49.15. 1952 GMT: Sanchez, of the Dominican Republic stormed ahead after the last hurdle to finish in 47.63 secs. USA's Michael Tinsley took silver in 47.91 with Puerto Rica's Javier Culson claiming bronze in 48.10. Britain's hopeful Dai Greene was left out of the medals in fourth. 1947 GMT: FELIX SANCHEZ WINS 400M HURDLES GOLD. 1944 GMT: Next on the track, the men's 400m hurdles final, in a race with a strong line up including several Olympic and world champions, with Dominican Felix Sanchez and Puerto Rica's Javier Culson among the favourites. 1938 GMT: The medal ceremony for the men's 100m final is currently under way and there's a massive roar from the stadium as Usain Bolt receives his gold, flanked by teammate Yohan Blake with silver and America's Justlin Gatlin claiming his bronze. 1933 GMT: The semi-finals of the women's 400m hurdles is under way and USA's Lashina Demus has won her heat in 54.08secs to qualify along with Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer who came second in 54.20secs. 1928 GMT: UKRAINE'S TOROKHTIY WINS MEN'S -105kg WEIGHTLIFTING GOLD. Oleksiy Torokhtiy of Ukraine, a shock winner, lifted a total of 412kg to beat Iran's Navab Nasirshelal by just one kilo. Bartlomiej Bonk of Poland was a close third place with 410kg. 1920 GMT: RUSSIA'S ALAN KHUGAEV WINS -84kg GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING GOLD. She defeated Egypt's Karan Mohamed Gaber Ebrahim in the final while Poland's Damian Janikowski and Danyal Gajiyev of Kazakhstan took bronze. 1915 GMT: Belarus' Nadezhda Ostapchuk, 31, threw 21.36m, inflicting the first defeat in nearly two years on defending champion Adams who threw 20.70m, while Russia's Yevgeniya Kolodko got a personal best of 20.48m. 1913 GMT: BELARUS' OSTAPCHUK WINS WOMEN'S SHOT PUT TITLE. Valerie Adams of New Zealands wins silver, with Evqeniia Kolodko of Russia taking bronze. 1908 GMT: Jamaica's Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, who won gold in the women's 100m, wins her heat of the 200m in 22.7secs. 1903 GMT: Veronica Campbell-Brown, who won bronze in the 100m on Saturday, says she's just happy that she's qualified for the next round of the 200m. She tells the BBC: "It's the first round, the objective is always to advance to the next and I've achieved that tonight." 1856 GMT: Defending 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica finishes her heat in a surprising third place in 22.58secs. In first place was Ukraine's Mariya Ryemyen, with Myriam Soumare of France in third place. 1846 GMT: ATHLETICS: The evening athletics session is under way in the stadium. Coming up we've got: + Women's shot put final. + Women's 200m heats. + Final of women's pole vault, with Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva, France's Vanessa Boslak and Britain's Holly Bleasdale hoping for podium places. + Semi-finals of the 400m women's hurdles + Men's 400m high hurdles, with Dominican Felix Sanchez, Puerto Rican Javier Culson, Briton Dai Greene and American Angelo Taylor in contention. + Men's 400m final, with Kirani James of Granada and the Belgium borther Kevin and Jonathan Borlee fighting for gold. 1838 GMT: In case you missed this story earlier... A man has been charged after a bottle was allegedly thrown towards Usain Bolt and co. at the start of the 100m final. The bottle landed behind the blocks in lane five, a few metres behind Bolt's fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake, coming to a halt just as the sprinters set off. Dutch former judo world champion Edith Bosch, in disbelief at the incident which unfolded in front of her, says she gave the man a good slap on the back. Edith Bosch, who won the London 2012 under-70kg bronze medal, said a man in front of her became agitated and then threw the plastic bottle towards the sprinters. 1832 GMT: IRAN'S OMID HAJI NOROOZI WINS GRECO-ROMAN 60kg TITLE. He beat Georgia's Revaz Lashkhi, who took silver while Russia's Zaur Kuramagomedov and Ryutaro Matsumoto of Japan were both awarded bronze. 1827 GMT: CYCLING: A quick update on the women's omnium -- that six discipline event. Britain's rising star Laura Trott has won the third race -- the elimination stage. In this race the rider sits at the back of the pack after every two laps. When the red light comes on and they're eliminated. Justin Davis reports: "Bring it on! says Laura Trott, as she win the elimination race. Well done to the 20-year-old, but also to Sara Hammer -- the American who is 39 years old and returned to racing for London after having her baby boy two years ago. She won gold in the women's road race time trial." Trott and Hammer end the day at the top of the standings. 1822 GMT: TABLE TENNIS: More results just in... China have beaten Germany 3-1 to reach the final of the men's team event -- albeit after a few wobbles. Olympic champion Zhang Jike suffered a shock defeat, losing in four games to Timo Boll, the former world number one. But China recovered to win the semi-final -- matching their women, who reached their final by beating South Korea 3-0 this morning. 1812 GMT: DOPING: Italy's reigning 50km walk champion Alex Schwazer has admitted doping and says his career is over. He was withdrawn from the Olympics for failing a drugs test. "My career is over. I made a mistake. I wanted to be stronger for this Olympics, I was wrong," Schwazer told the ANSA news agency. 1807 GMT: FOOTBALL: Japan's defending champions in the women's football have taken a step closer to a double gold with a 2-1 win over France. They survived a late onslaught from France to reach the final where they face a showdown with either the United States or Canada. 1802 GMT: Jason Kenny, speaking on his gold in the sprint cycling, says: "It's amazing. I hadn't even thought about it until the last round and it dawned on me. I did it for the team. "We were really close and he's been faster at the Worlds. Three days ago I qualified quicker and I like racing against Bauge." His gold takes Britain's tally to 18. 1755 GMT: The evening athletics session will be getting under way in the stadium shortly with plenty of highlights to look out for, including the men's finals in the 400m and 400m hurdles, plus the women's pole vault final, where Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva is going for her third Olympic gold. 1746 GMT: BASKETBALL: Some results just in -- hosts Britain have won their first-ever basketball game at the Olympics, beating China 90-58, although both teams have no chance of reaching the medal playoffs. 1741 GMT: Here's a quick recap of the main highlights from today's action so far: + Britain's Jason Kenny has just won gold in the track cycling sprint, capping an extraordinary run of success for his country, which has now won five out of seven finals at the velodrome. + Italy's reigning 50km walk champion Alex Schwazer was withdrawn from the Olympics for failing a drugs test, while American judoka Nicholas Delpopolo was kicked out after admitting eating food spiked with marijuana. + In gymnastics, Yang Hak-Seon won South Korea's first ever Olympic artistic gymnastics title in the men's vault, Brazil's Arthur Zanetti took the men's still rings and Russia's Aliya Mustafina won the women's uneven bars. 1724 GMT: That change in rules doesn't seem to have affected the Brits medal chances too much. Kenny's gold is the fifth for Britain after seven finals at the velodrome. The hosts also have gold medal hopes in the three finals which are held on the last day of competition Tuesday. 1719 GMT: Chris Hoy, who won the title in Beijing, is straight on Twitter to congratulate his successor, tweeting: "I know I said I was off twitter til after 2mro but that was PHENOMENAL by Jason Kenny. So happy and proud of him, well deserved mate." Kenny was given the nod over Hoy to defend Britain's chances of sprint gold after the rules were changed to limit each nation to one rider per event. 1711 GMT: BRITAIN'S JASON KENNY WINS TRACK CYCLING SPRINT GOLD. "Kenny wins triumphantly! He took a lead over Bauge with 3.4 of a lap to go and despite his efforts the Frenchman couldn't close the gap," reports Justin Davis. "Bitter defeat for Bauge but a maiden Olympic individual gold for Kenny." 1709 GMT: Justin Davis reports on the bronze-medal race, to be followed by the big sprint final: "Superb early attack from Shane Perkins, and the Aussie wins bronze in his race against Trinidad's Nicolas Philipps. "Appreciation from the crowd, but here comes the real match... If Jason Kenny wins this, it's gold for Britain. "This time, it's Kenny who has the theoretical handicap of leading. In sprinting, the power of slipstream is well known. But maybe this time it will mean little. Kenny has looked faster...." 1707 GMT:CYCLING: A bit of a dispute on the track in the women's sprint -- Guo v Guerra -- as the Cuban coach complained to the judges that Guo had left her sprint lane. But the result stands so Guo levels to force a deciding third race. If she goes through all three sprint medallists from Beijing -- Pendleton, Meares and Guo -- will be in the semis, along with Germany's Kristina Vogel. 1659 GMT: ATHLETICS - BREAKING NEWS: 50km walk champion Schwazer withdrawn over doping case. 1655 GMT: Before that second men's sprint, there's more from the women with another British medal contender Victoria Pendleton making it easily into the sprint semis with a win over Belarusian Olga Panarina in the second race of the quarter final. Her coach Jan Van Eijden waves his arms frantically before the finish to tell her to stop her effort and save energy for the next ride, which comes on Tuesday. 1647 GMT: CYCLING: It's Britain v France in the men's cycling sprint final now and the crowds are going wild for Jason Kenny as he takes on Gregory Bauge!! And it looks like Kenny has it... "A little first pump from Kenny to acknowledge the partisan crowd as he takes the first race in the sprint final against Bauge," says Justin Davis. "The Englishman's finishing speed was unbeatable, but Bauge isn't out of it yet." There's still a second race to come. 1643 GMT: BOLT: The Official Twitter communications feed @twittercomms reveals -- to the surprise of few -- that the microblogging site went into overdrive after last night's 100m final. It tweets: "New peak in #Olympics conversation: 74k TPM (tweets per minute) about @UsainBolt winning the 100m yesterday." 1635 GMT: EQUESTRIAN: A classic tweet from Boris Johnson ‏@MayorofLondon after Britain's showjumping gold... He tweets "Magnificent result for the @TeamGB showjumpers. Who knew there was such a thing as a jump-off? Brilliant stuff!" This was only Britain's second ever team title -- 60 years after the first in Helsinki -- and sent the Union Jack flag-waving 23,000-strong crowd into raptures. In that jump-off with the Netherlands Peter Charles went clear to finish, matching the faultless displays of veteran Nick Skelton and Ben Maher. The Dutch side meanwhile knocked down three fences. 1628 GMT: Meanwhile South Korea's Yang Hak-Seon is still in shock from his win in the men's vault final. He says: "I can't actually believe what's happening to me at the moment. "We haven't had a gold medal in Olympic gymnastics before and the training didn't go very well, so I was nervous. But I'm happy that I got over that and won the gold medal." 1619 GMT: GYMNASTICS: Britain's Beth Tweddle says an Olympic bronze to add to her three world titles, six European crowns, and 2002 Commonwealth Games success will do just fine to end her career thank you! "It was the one that was missing from my collection," says the 27-year-old, who finished fourth in the Olympic uneven bars final in Beijing. "I wasn't bothered about what colour it was. I saw myself in third and I thought: 'Please don't be fourth again.' I just can't put into words what it means to me." 1612 GMT: In other news, tennis champion Serena Williams took the opportunity today to big up fellow American gold medallist Michael Phelps, hailing the swimming megastar as the "ultimate Olympian" after he ended his career with 18 golds. "To do what he's done is unheard of," said Williams, who won Olympic singles and doubles gold in London at the weekend. "He is the ultimate Olympian who has taken his sport to a new level." Few would dispute it. 1607 GMT: CYCLING: Back at the women's sprint quarter finals Justin Davis tells us that Lisandra Guerra has caused a minor upset after beating Beijing bronze medallist Guo Shuang in their first race. "That means Guo will have to beat the Cuban twice if she is to have any chance of making the sprint semis," he says. "Could Guo be feeling it after competing in the keirin and team sprint?" 1602 GMT: GREAT BRITAIN WIN TEAM SHOW JUMPING GOLD. The British team had finished the competition in a tie for first with the Netherlands with eight penalty points. But after a gripping jump-off at Greenwich Park it was the hosts who took gold. Saudi Arabia, with 14 points, finished with bronze. 1559 GMT: CROATIA'S CERNOGORAZ WINS MEN'S TRAP SHOOTING GOLD. Giovanni Cernogoraz and Italy's Massimo Fabbrizi both scored the same 146 but the Croatian took gold after winning a shoot-off 6-5. Fehaid Al Deehani of Kuwait took bronze after a shootoff with Australian Michael Diamond, having both scored 145 points. 1552 GMT: More on that first women's omnium event... Frenchwoman Clara Sanchez was second with Australian contender Annette Edmondson third. But there are still five races over Monday and Tuesday so it's early days yet. 1547 GMT: Britain's Victoria Pendleton gets a standing ovation after an easy win over Panarina. One more victory over the Belarusian and she's into the semi-finals of what is the final event of her career. 1545 GMT: Bauge defeats Australia's Perkins, putting the Frenchman through... "As expected it's Kenny v Bauge in the final later," says Justin. "And what a final it will be. Bauge is the three-time world champion but has never been in an Olympic final. Kenny won silver behind Sir Chris Hoy in Beijing four years ago." Next up, the women's sprint quarter-finals... 1540 GMT: And the British rider does it... Justin Davis, also on the trackside, tells us: "Jason Kenny makes it look easy as he speeds past the nervous Phillip and into the finals of the Men's sprint. Next up, it's Perkins and Bauge with Bauge leading 1-0." 1539 GMT: CYCLING: "Great Britain's Laura Trott leads the women's omnium, track cycling's answer to the heptathlon or decathlon, by setting the fastest time in the flying lap, the first of six events," AFP's Julian Guyer reports. "Noise as she came round the final bend deafening -- the sound rebounded off every wall in the velodrome. Heaven knows what it will be like if she gets the gold medal. "Fans just warming up for Britain's Jason Kenny, who is on verge of going into the sprint final...." 1534 GMT: GYMNASTICS: On the other placings in that men's rings final... Chile's Tomas Gonzalez narrowly missed out on winning his country's first ever gymnastics medal, finishing fourth, while Sam Mikulak of the United States was fifth. Great Britain's Kristian Thomas was unable to add to his bronze medal from the team final after that sitting down landing, leaving him in eighth place. 1526 GMT: BASKETBALL: France defeats Nigeria 79-73 in the last preliminary round match of the men's tournament with Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum scoring 23 points. The result has no impact on either team's fate however, with France (4-1) set to face Brazil or Spain in Wednesday's quarter-finals and Nigeria (1-4) eliminated from medal playoff contention by Lithuania. France rolled to a 41-30 half-time lead, but Nigeria's Chamberlain Oguchi scored 13 points in a 14-4 run by the Africans to open the second half that evened the game at 44-44 and France led by only 56-54 after three quarters. With the game deadlocked at 62-62, Batum sparked a 13-6 French run, hitting 3-pointers to begin and end the spurt and completing a 3-point play during the span, to put France on top 75-68 with 2:35 remaining. Batum sank another 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to give France a 79-70 edge and seal the fate of Nigeria, which never led. Oguchi finished with a game-high 35 points to pace Nigeria. 1519 GMT: Yang Hak-Seon, 19, scored 16.533 points with his two vaults in the final -- giving South Korea it's first gold in the event. It left leave Russia's Denis Ablyazin with the silver and Igor Radivilov of Ukraine with bronze. 1513 GMT: SOUTH KOREA'S YANG HAK-SEON WINS MEN'S VAULT FINAL. 1509 GMT: "A lot tighter there, but Bauge wins the first race against Perkins after keeping the Australian's back wheel well within his grasp, adds Justin after watching the Frenchman and Aussis battle it out. "Now, the sprinters get a rest as the women's omnium competition starts with a timed flying 250m lap." 1506 GMT: Kenny takes the first race by a bike length, Justin tells us, which means Phillip will have to do a lot better if he is to pull level in the second. 1503 GMT: "Riders are sitting in the pen waiting to start. It's a tense but important moment ahead of only a few minutes of effort that will cap four, and often more years of hard work," Justin adds. "Bauge has been tipped to win gold, but Kenny was fastest in qualifying, and Phillip and Perkins can't be discounted." 1500 GMT: CYCLING: AFP's Justin Davis is back in the velodrome for more high-velocity action. He says: "Here we are day five of the six-day track programme, the crowd is here to see Jason Kenny go for gold in the men's sprint. "He's up against Trinidad's Njisane Phillip, with Gregory Bauge of France facing Australian Shane Perkins. It's track's most coveted event, so the stakes are high. Expect some explosive but tactical racing." 1457 GMT: Ukraine's Igor Radiviolv nails his second vault with massive height and near perfect execution. He scores a huge average of 16.316. But there are still four to come. 1452 GMT: GYMNASTICS: Back at the areana the men's vault final is off to a flying start. Britain's Kristian Thomas, a strong medal contender, makes a huge first vault but his second is marred by a sit-down landing. The judges take an average of the two and he gets 15.533. 1444 GMT: HOCKEY: Great Britain has qualified for the semi-finals of the men's field hockey after Japan beat China 1-0. Patrick Rowley, who watched the match for AFP, reports: "A huge roar greeted a Japanese goal when they scored against China and even bigger roar erupted at the final whistle when Japan beat China by that goal. "China’s failure to win meant that Great Britain had qualified for the semi-finals before their final match against the Netherlands this evening." China finished third in Pool A while Japan gave themselves a chance of being fourth in the group at the end of the day. Netherlands has also qualified for the semi-finals from Pool A, and New Zealand from Pool B, with Argentina and Australia playing later to decide the final semi finalist. 1437 GMT: ATHLETICS: Usain Bolt tweets a picture of himself sitting on his bed in his running kit and writes : "I am up and ready to go again". He is also raising three fingers -- presumably because he wants gold in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay… 1432 GMT: JUDO: American judoka Nicholas Delpopolo says his failed doping test was the result of his "inadvertent consumption of food...that had been baked with marijuana," the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirms. Delpopolo, who finished seventh in the men's 73kg judo, failed a drugs test carried out on July 30 which showed traces of marijuana in his system. Delpopolo has waived his right to a hearing in the case and is hopping on a plane home tomorrow. 1422 GMT: RUSSIA'S ALIYA MUSTAFINA WINS WOMEN'S UNEVEN BAR FINAL. Mustafina delivered a faultless routine, Tom Williams tells us, scoring 16.133. The 2010 world champion finished ahead of defending champion He Kexin of China, with Great Britain's Beth Tweddle claiming bronze. 1417 GMT: ATHLETICS: First it was on the badminton courts, now it's on the track... Algerian 800m medal contender Taoufik Makhloufi has been thrown out of the Games for the unusual offence of not trying hard enough, the IAAF says. Makhloufi, who had already qualified for Tuesday's 1500m final by winning his semi-final, failed to finish his 800m heat. 1410 GMT: Britain's three-time world champion Beth Tweddle is up now and she stuns the crowds with an dazzling routine: "Deafening cheers for Tweddle," says Tom. "It's a brilliant routine, but she takes a huge step back on landing. 15.933 the score to beat... It's 15.916!" 1405 GMT: Next up in the North Greenwich arena is the women's uneven bars final and defending champion He Kexin of China goes first. "He kicks off with a routine that earns her a score of 15.933," reports AFP's Tom Williams. "Impressive stuff, and she flashes the camera a smile." 1358 GMT: GYMNASTICS: More details on those men's rings... Brazil's Arthur Zanetti stunned Chinese defending champion Chen Yibing to claim victory in the final while Italy's Matteo Morandi took bronze. Chen looked set for gold after posting a score of 15.800 points, but Zanetti went one higher with 15.900 in his final routine. And he got an execution score of 9.100, which was 0.100 points better than Chen's. 1352 GMT: Aussie Tom Slingsby took gold ahead of Cyprus's Pavlos Kontides who took silver and Sweden's Rasmus Mygren with bronze. It's the first indidual gold for Australia and the second gold overall. Slingsby, 27, was a disappointing 22nd in the Laser in Beijing, but in May won his fifth world title in the class. 1345 GMT: AUSTRALIA'S SLINGSBY WINS OLYMPIC WINS LASER SAILING GOLD. 1340 GMT: Adams, 29, overcame Stoyka Petrova of Bulgaria 16-7 in the women's fly quarter-finals, which means she's in line for at least a bronze medal in this inaugural year of Olympic women's boxing. 1335 GMT: Nicola Adams of Britain is guaranteed a BOXING medal after winning her 51kg quarter-final bout. 1332 GMT: Back in the SHOOTING, Campriani set an Olympic record as he won the men's 50m rifle three positions gold to add to the silver he earned in the 10m rifle. 1328 GMT: GYMNASTICS: BRAZIL'S ARTHUR ZANETTI WINS MEN'S STILL RINGS GOLD 1319 GMT: American JUDO competitor Nicholas Delpopolo has failed a drugs test, the International Olympic Committee has announced. 1318 GMT: SHOOTING: NICCOLO CAMPRIANI OF ITALY WINS MEN'S 50M RIFLE THREE POSITIONS GOLD. Silver goes to Kim Jong-Hyun of South Korea and bronze to American Matthew Emmons. 1301 GMT: Here's an update from Tom Williams at the GYMNASTICS: "After Louis Smith and Max Whitlock claimed silver and bronze for Great Britain in the men’s pommel horse final on Sunday, Beth Tweddle today seeks to crown her career with an Olympic medal on the uneven bars. "The afternoon begins with the men’s rings final, where China’s defending champion Chen Yibing is the favourite, while 39-year-old Bulgarian Jordan Jovtchev will seek to bow out with a medal on his record sixth Olympic appearance. The final event of the day is the men's vault final, in which South Korea’s Yang Hak-Seon is tipped for gold.” 1256 GMT: NIck Skelton, 54, leads the British challenge in the EQUESTRIAN show jumping medal rides this afternoon. However, Team GB go into the final day in fourth place, behind surprise leaders Saudi Arabia, featuring Prince Abdullah Al Saud, Kamal Bahamdan, Ramzy Al Duhami and Abdullah Al Sharbatly . Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands are the other main challengers for medals. 1247 GMT: More SAILING medals are to be awarded this afternoon, when there are also busy programmes of bouts in women's BOXING and in GRAECO-ROMAN WRESTLING but the biggest focus is in GYMNASTICS, where Beth Tweddle goes for gold in the North Greenwich arena. The three-time world champion flies the flag for Britain in the gymnastics uneven bars final 1242 GMT: Silver goes to Dutchwoman Marit Bouwmeester and bronze to Belgium's Evi van Acker. 1237 GMT: SAILING: CHINA'S XU LIJIA WINS WOMEN'S LASER GOLD 1236 GMT: Veteran racket sports specialist Richard Eaton sends in some details of China's TABLE TENNIS victory in the women's team semi-finals. Li Xiaoxia made it clear that becoming the new and unexpected Olympic women's singles champion does not nearly mean her job is done, as she helped China's women reach the team final in defence of its Olympic title, Richard says. Li's straight games win over Seok Hajung started China off on a 3-0 semi-final victory over South Korea, and her words concluded it with a reminder that hers is a nation which often still regards winning the team event as more important than the individual, he adds. Seok was actually born in China and learned her table tennis alongside Li in Liaoning province. It was evident that the singles gold medallist was blocking most of those memories out during her 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 win, Richard tells me. 1227 GMT: Also at the HOCKEY, South Africa win their final Pool B game against the United States 7-0 to switch places with the Americans at the bottom of the table. It was their biggest win over USA for 18 years. Pietie Coetzee and Tarryn Bright each picked up a brace, but their goals game too late in the tournament to prevent their team being eliminated 1222 GMT: New Zealand qualify for the semi-finals of the women's HOCKEY tournament after 32 years of trying. They draw their final Pool B match with defending champions Germany 0-0 at the Riverside Arena to ensure they will be among the top two in their six-team group. 1215 GMT: Darius Songaila and Sarunas Jasikevicius each score 13 points and Lithuania clinch the last available berth in the men's BASKETBALL medal playoffs with a 76-63 victory over Tunisia. 1206 GMT: Oh no! Here's an opportunity that publicity loving London Mayor Boris Johnson will surely be unable to resist. His office has just sent round a press release saying that a bouncy Stonehenge will go up on Wednesday at Victoria Park, next to the Olympic Park. Given that Boris didn't seem to mind being left to dangle for ten minutes on a zip wire in Victoria Park the other day, he must be strongly tempted to have a bounce on the life-sized inflatable replica of the British ancient monument, made by by the Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller. Boris has vowed to be "shameless" in promoting London during the games and his notoriously tousled blond hair could hardly be ruffled any more. 1150 GMT: World champion hurdler Sally Pearson has defended Australia's performance at the London Games as she starts her quest to put her country back on the Olympic gold medal trail. At the start of day four of ATHLETICS, Australia sits a lowly 24th in the overall medals table -- below the likes of Kazakhstan and North Korea -- with just one gold and 20 medals overall. It is a far cry from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where they finished sixth in the table with a bumper haul of 14 golds and 46 medals in total. Disappointing showings in cycling and swimming have hit their tally in London. But Pearson, who impressed in winning her heat for the women's 100m hurdles, qualifying quickest in a time of 12.57sec, played down the lack of golds, saying it is "exciting in our camp at the moment". "I think Australia's done bloody well in these Games. We've got 20 medals all up. Everyone wants a gold medal but what's wrong with silver?" she asked. 1145 GMT: Here's a recap so far today: + No medals yet, which means 18 golds still to be won today. Keep following this live report! + In ATHLETICS, world champion David Rudisha cruises through the men's 800m first round. + Women's 100m hurdles favourite Sally Pearson, the Beijing silver medallist, wins her heat by several metres. + At the BASKETBALL, Patrick Mills hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Australia an 82-80 victory over previously undefeated Russia, though it doesn't change the medal playoff prospects + China and Japan win the two places in tomorrow's women's team TABLE TENNIS final. + India's HOCKEY chief and Australia's SWIMMING supremo apologise for their squads' poor showing in London. 1138 GMT: Let's hear about the WATER POLO. Croatia chalked up their fifth win out of five by thrashing -- or should that be splashing -- Kazakhstan with a 12-4 score. 1134 GMT: It'll be China versus Japan in tomorrow's women's team TABLE TENNIS final after China beat South Korea and Japan downed Singapore, both in straight sets, in this morning's semi-finals. 1129 GMT: More from Bolt: "Definitely the trials woke me up. Yohan gave me a wake-up call. "He knocked on my door and said 'Usain, this is Olympic year, wake up' so I'm happy and I'm grateful for that moment because after that I refocused and I got my head together." 1122 GMT: Usain Bolt has today told Jamaican team-mate Yohan "The Beast" Blake he has no chance in the London Olympic 200m even though Bolt's training partner was the big man's closest rival in last night's high speed 100m. Blake won the world 100m title last year after Bolt was disqualified for a false start and beat Bolt in both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican Olympic trials. But Bolt says "I'm not going to let him beat me again. I've said that to him already." Only a 200m victory, he says, willl cement his claim to "greatest" status. "I think I have to wait until the 200m and then my fans have got to say 'yes he is' and me has got to say 'yes he is' so I'm never going to say I'm the greatest until after my 200m," Bolt asserted. 1109 GMT: AFP's Pirate Irwin has been delving into the background of ATHLETICS 10,000m winner Mo Farah of Team GB. Born in war-torn Somalia, Farah came to England aged eight after being brought up in Djibouti. Farah praises two major influences in particular: school sports teacher Alan Watkinson and British runner Paula Radcliffe. Watkinson spotted his athletics potential and Radcliffe paid for driving lessons so he could drive out to training at Windsor, Farah revealed, according to Irwin. What a shame Radcliffe had to scrap plans in yesterday's women's marathon because of a foot problem. Farah is expected to go for a second in Saturday's men's 5,000m final. 1101 GMT: Another disappointed group are the Australian SWIMMING squad. Swimming Australia president David Urquhart has announced a review after the much-heralded team won just one gold medal, with six silver and three bronze in the pool in London -- their lowest tally since Barcelona in 1992. They were also without an individual gold medallist for the first time since the 1976 Montreal Games as the sole gold came in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay. "We must do everything possible to get Australian swimming back on top," Urquhart says. "This is not a time for blame and scape-goating, this is an opportunity to make the changes required to rise to the international challenge." 1054 GMT: India HOCKEY coach Michael Nobbs has apologised today for his team's embarrassing Olympic performances, admitting they have let down the entire nation. The eight-time Olympic champions have lost all four of their preliminary round matches in London and are in danger of finishing last in the 12-team tournament. "They've let themselves down, they've let us down, and they've let the Indian people down too, and I apologise for that because it's something we've got to fix," Nobbs says. 1051 GMT: Just a bit more about Isinbayeva, ahead of her big moment tonight: She has suffered some bitter defeats during the last three seasons, failing to record a height in a tear-stained 2009 world championships in Berlin and coming just sixth in last year's worlds in South Korea. However, the 30-year-old world record holder sailed through qualification at the London Olympics, needing only two vaults to secure safe passage to the final. 1048 GMT: AFP's Tom Williams has taken his seat ready to report on the GYMNASTICS competition. He tweets: "To the O2 again, to see if Britain's Beth Tweddle can complete her medal collection with an Olympic honour. She's in the uneven bars final." 1042 GMT: In theory at least, Russian legend Yelena Isinbayeva should cruise to the ATHLETICS pole vault gold tonight after world champion Fabiana Murer and Svetlana Feofanova, who won silver in Athens and bronze in Beijing, all failed to qualify for the final. "I jumped well, but the weather was difficult for pole vaulting," the double gold medallist said of the swirling winds inside the Olympic Stadium after Saturday's qualifying. 1039 GMT: FOOTBALL is another sport reaching a decisive stage. The women's football finalists will be decided when World Cup winners Japan tackle France at Wembley this evening and defending champions the United States meet Canada at Old Trafford. 1031 GMT: No problem in the men's 800m heats for world record holder and favourite David Rudisha, as the Kenyan wins the race easily. 1022 GMT: Mind you, in the men's 400m on the flat, defending champion LaShawn Merritt has done even worse, failing to make it out of the heats. Grenada's world champion Kirani James will be amongst the favourites for that final tonight, though Puerto Rico's Javier Culson remains the man to beat. 1018 GMT: At least, Jackson is right to be fearful about fellow Welshman Dai Greene's prospects in tonight's 400m hurdles, final after the world champion finished fourth in his semi-final. 1011 GMT: After the 'What's-his-name' gaffe, ATHLETICS TV analyst Colin Jackson tries to say something more sensible on Twitter. I'm not sure he's succeeded: Colin R Jackson‏@crj22ster "I am dreading 400mh final for the men, and @DaiGreene running.. My voice will be gone!! I am loving #London2012 can we have a London2013!" 1002 GMT: AFP's Parul Gupta managed to get tickets for yesterday's TENNIS men's singles bronze medal match on Wimbledon Court Number One between Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina and Serbia's Novak Djokovic. After Del Potro's 7-5, 6-4 victory, Parul and a friend try to battle their way onto Henman Hill to see the gold medal match between Scotland's Andy Murray and Swiss legend Roger Federer. Here's what happens: "Murray is leading 6-2, 6-1, and dozens of people have lined up to get to the hill, but the volunteers will not let any more people in for 'health and safety reasons'. Tempers rise, with some people shouting at the volunteers. The hill is overflowing with people. One cameraperson has returned, saying he could not shoot anything. "Finally, it's all over. Some people have started to leave after Murray wins in straight sets. We finally manage to get in. Standing on my toes, I just about manage to get a glimpse of the big screen showing Murray getting the gold medal. My friend manages to finally get a table, so we can watch Murray and Laura Robson play mixed doubles. "Murray-Robson have to settle for silver, but the crowds don't seem to be so disappointed. Britain has already won the gold. "The fans just can't have enough of Murray draped in the British flag. A few ardent fans hang around for a closer glimpse of the man of the moment. Murray returns to the ground once again; there's a mad scramble for him. My friend's niece is among the lucky children to get his autograph." 0953 GMT: Team GB seems less than hopeful about Tiffany Porter's 100m hurdles prospects: 'Porter through but doubts persist' 0946 GMT: In the ATHLETICS women's shot put, New Zealand's defending world and Olympic champion Valerie Adams is the big favourite. However, it emerged today that Adams' dream was almost shattered by blundering officials who forgot to put her name on the entry list. "The matter was dealt with swiftly and has been fully resolved," says a New Zealand Olympic committee spokesman. 0940 GMT: At the BASKETBALL, Patrick Mills hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Australia an 82-80 victory over previously undefeated Russia, Jim Slater reports. Mills is mobbed by his teammates as the crowd explodes in a huge cheer. Boomers (the Aussies) wave their thanks to crowd after it's over. Slater says: "The outcome doesn't change anything in medal playoff picture. Russia had already clinched top seed in Group B. Aussies still 4th. But they are happy!!" 0937 GMT: Pearson praises the enthusiam of this morning's spectators in the Olympic Stadium. "It's nice to have support from the crowd, especially when you are on the other side of the world," the Australian said. 0933 GMT: Back in ATHLETICS, women's 100m hurdles favourite Sally Pearson, the Beijing silver medallist, wins her heat by several metres in 12.57 seconds. 0930 GMT: AFP's Jim Slater checks in from the BASKETBALL court: "Unbeaten Russia will need a late comeback to finish off Australia. The Aussie Boomers are up 77-72 with 4:18 to play... "Fans are just singing the last couple of verses of Wonderwall." 0927 GMT: Blade runner ATHLETE ‏@OscarPistorius tweets: "I woke up this morning overwhelmed by the 1000's of messages of well wishes. Thank You for making this 1 of the Greatest moments of my life!" The South African double amputee who runs on carbon fibre blades made it through to yesterday's 100m semi-finals before being eliminated. 0920 GMT: In TABLE TENNIS, China and South Korea are battling at the ExCel centre for a place in the women's final. Japan and Singapore meet later in the day to contest the other place in Tuesday's final. 0912 GMT: Controversial American-born 100m hurdler Tiffany Porter, now competing for am GB, allays fitness fears by making it through her first round heat in third place. "I was nervous. I'm glad it's all over and I can progress to the next round. I'm exited," she says. Porter had made a tearful exit at the Diamond League meeting at London's Crystal Palace last month after finishing last in her heat, citing an unspecified fitness problem. 0908 GMT: In ATHLETICS, in addition to the women's pole vault, there will be gold medals for the women's shot put, the women's 3,000m steeplechase, the men's 400m hurdles and the men's 400m on the flat. 0904 GMT: In case you were wondering, the eight sports awarding gold medals today are ATHLETICS, CYCLING, EQUESTRIANISM, GYMNASTICS, SAILING, SHOOTING, WEIGHTLIFTING and WRESTLING. So watch out for results from those. 0855 GMT: BASKETBALL men's Group B leaders Russia are already on court against Australia but you'll have to wait until 10.15 pm tonight UK time to watch the Americans as that is the time they are scheduled to meet Argentina. 0846 GMT: On the last day of SHOOTING at the Royal Artillery Barracks, firing is taking place in the men's 50m rifle three positions and the men's trap. At the BASKETBALL arena it is the last day of preliminary matches in the all-star men's event. 0837 GMT: Action is underway too in HANDBALL, where Serbia and Hungary are playing in a match that will decide the last two quarter-final berths. At Eton Dorney, defending men's singles KAYAK champion Tim Brabants of Britain could only manage fifth place in his heat but did qualify for the semi-finals. 0828 GMT: Just going back to the HOCKEY. The Olympic tournament has produced some highly skillful performances in both the men's and women's tournaments. Let's hope it raises the global profile of so-called 'field' hockey, which lives in the perpetual shadow of its icy brother sport. 0824 GMT: Most embarrassing moment of the Olympics so far: Colin Jackson's televised cry during the 100m final: "Here he comes, what's-his-name. The big man's coming through." The BBC TV analyst and former 110m hurdles world champion will be red faced about that one for a long time. 0815 GMT: What a day of drama it was yesterday. The star ATHLETICS performance was Bolt's triumph over the doubters with his clear victory over his rivals even though the top seven runners clocked times under 10 seconds - an unprecedented achievement. Then there was Andy Murray. The Scotsman's TENNIS gold medal victory over Roger Federer would on its own have made it a great sporting day, as Murray took revenge for his Swiss rival's victory in the Wimbledon final a month earlier. And Murray didn't stop there. He returned to court shortly afterwards with British youngster Laura Robson to fight a gritty battle in the Olympic mixed doubles final, though in the end they had to settle for silver. Will today be as gripping? Let's hope so. 0811 GMT: Women's HOCKEY is already underway between New Zealand and Germany at the Riverbank Arena. Take your sunglasses if you have hockey tickets. I had the privilege of seeing a couple of matches there the other day and the blue artificial turf pitch is glaringly bright even in the rain - or maybe especially in the rain. 0805 GMT: Some highlights to look forward to today: + Russian pole vault legend Yelenya Isinbayeva bids for a third Olympic gold medal + Puerto Rico's Javier Culson, undefeated in 2012, is favourite for the men's 400m + Britain's Jason Kenny and Frenchman Gregory Bauge are set to duel in men's track cycling sprint + Three-time world champion Beth Tweddle flies the flag for Britain in the gymnastics uneven bars final + A total of 18 gold medals will be won across eight sports WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on Olympic "Medals Monday", with golds up for grabs in five events in athletics at the Olympic Stadium and in array of other sports around the Olympic Park and at other venues across southern England. Usain Bolt hogged the limelight last night with his sensational run to retain his 100m title, in the wake of "Super Saturday" when Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford won for Britain in the Olympic Stadium to lift the host nation to six gold medals in a single day. But another glut of thrills and spills is absolutely certain today, so stick with us for all the live action as it happens.