Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

'Sunshine' on a cloudy day

BEIJING -- The Chinese and the wretched Beijing weather were no match for Misty May-Treanor and "Six Feet of Sunshine."

May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball today, playing through a steady and sometimes driving rain to beat China's Wang Jie and Tian Jia 21-18, 21-18 and extend their win streak to 108 consecutive matches.

In repeating their Athens victory they did not lose a set in seven Olympic matches, playing through smog and swelter and a drenching gold medal game that soaked their skimpy uniforms.

"The rain makes it better," Walsh shouted afterward, unable to contain the California girl enthusiasm that earned her the nickname "Six Feet of Sunshine." "We felt like warriors out there. The pressure of playing China made it pretty intense."

Earlier, Xue Chen and Zhang Xi won China's first beach volleyball medal, beating Brazilians Talita and Renata 21-19, 21-17 for the bronze.

Walsh put an early end to China's chances to add a gold when she quick-hit May-Treanor's pass between Wang and Tian. The Americans dropped to their knees on the wet sand, hugging each other before shaking hands with the officials and running to the stands to embrace their friends and families.

They were still celebrating, wrapping themselves in U.S. flags, as organizers worked through the rain to set up the podium for the medal ceremony at the Chaoyang Park venue.

"Ever since the ball dropped in Athens, we've wanted to repeat as Olympic champions," May-Treanor said. "No one's ever done it."

It was no day to be at the beach. But the 12,200-seat venue was packed, the dancers in bikinis jiggled to rock music and the players pressed on without concern for the weather. The wet and heavy ball forced them to bump-set instead of doing it over their heads, and the sometimes driving rain made it difficult to look up to receive passes.

TRACK AND FIELD -- It wasn't just men's 200-meter winner Usain Bolt that made Jamaica proud on Wednesday -- Melaine Walker won the women's 400-meter hurdles in 52.64, with American Sheena Tosta getting the silver in 53.70.

Aksana Miankova of Belarus won the women's hammer throw at 250-5½, Bernard Lagat advanced to the 5,000-meter final Saturday night and three Jamaicans and three Americans were among those advancing to tonight's women's 200 finals.

SOFTBALL -- The U.S. will play Japan for the gold medal after Japan beat Australia 4-3 in 12 innings to advance.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL -- The U.S. men beat Serbia 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12, remaining undefeated and earning a spot in the semifinals against Russia.

MEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL -- The loss in the tournament opener seems like ancient history for Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, especially now that the Americans are playing for the gold medal. They took only 41 minutes to rout Georgia 21-11, 21-13 in the semifinals, then watched Brazil's No. 2 team beat its best, the 2004 gold medalists.

KAYAK -- American Rami Zur failed to qualify for the finals of the men's 1,000-meter single kayak (K-1).

TABLE TENNIS -- All three members of the Chinese squad advanced easily in women's singles, especially Zhang Yining, the defending gold medalist and top-ranked player in the world. Two U.S. players -- Gao Jun and Wang Chen -- also stayed alive.