University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Olympic Roundup - Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012
August 07, 2012 | Bruin Athletics, Olympics
Aug. 7, 2012
UCLA's All-Time Olympic Medal-Winners
It was another big day for UCLA Olympians, as Dawn Harper earned UCLA's second medal of the 2012 Olympic Games, and the USA Women's Water Polo team advanced to Thursday's gold medal match after an 11-9 overtime victory over Australia. UCLA has now totaled 243 Olympic medals - 119 Gold, 65 Silver, 59 Bronze.
Track & Field
2008 Olympic Champion Dawn Harper came away with the silver medal in the 100m hurdles in an extremely close race that was decided by a photo finish. Harper ran a big lifetime-best of 12.37 for second-place, narrowly missing gold by .02 seconds.
Running out of lane four, Harper got off to a great start, battling with fellow American Kelli Wells and Australian Sally Pearson down the stretch. Harper and Pearson pulled away and came to the line at nearly the same time. After a few minutes of officials looking at the photo finish, Pearson was deamed the winner as Harper took home silver and Wells earned bronze.
In the semifinal round, Harper breezed past the field with what was then a new lifetime-best of 12.46. Her time was .37 seconds faster than the second-place finisher and the second-fastest time in the semifinal round.
In the women's javelin, former Bruin Brittany Borman finished eighth in group A and 15th overall with a throw of 194-5. She was the top American finisher in the javelin.
Women's Water Polo
Guided by former UCLA head coach Adam Krikorian, Team USA remained unbeaten, defeating Australia in double overtime, 11-9 in the semifinals on Tuesday to advance to the gold medal match. Former UCLA standout, Courtney Mathewson scored first for Team USA, cutting a 2-0 lead for Australia to one with 1:30 left in the first period. She also picked up a steal in 16 minutes. Another Bruin all-star, Kelly Rulon, played in 13 minutes and won one sprint for Team USA.
Australia was held scoreless in both overtime periods. Team USA battled back from a penalty called with just one second left in regulation, an error that allowed Australia to tie the match at 9-9 and force extra time. The United States called a timeout without possession of the ball in the final second of the fourth period leading to the penalty call.
For the third time in program history, the U.S. Women's Water Polo Team will play for an Olympic gold medal. Team USA will face Spain in the finals, which beat Hungary 10-9 in the other semifinal. The gold medal match will take place on Thursday, Aug. 9 at Noon PST. Spain and the U.S. were in the same pool (Group A) and played to a 9-9 draw back on Aug. 1. Team USA led Spain 9-6 late in the fourth period, but surrendered three goals in the final 2:49 to settle for the tie.
Women's Volleyball
UCLA Hall of Fame volleyball player Karch Kiraly is an assistant coach for the U.S. women's team, which won its quarterfinal match against the Dominican Republic in three sets (25-14, 25-21, 25-22). The U.S., which has won all six of its matches in London, faces Korea in the semifinals on Thursday at 7:00am PT.
UCLA Olympian Reception in London
UCLA Alumni in the UK will host a reception for UCLA Olympians, alumni and friends in Bloomsbury, UK on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7:30pm BST. The event will take place at the October Gallery, London WC1. Confirmed guests include 1976 U.S. Olympic medalist and women's basketball legend Ann Meyers Drysdale, 2000 Olympic gymnastics medalist Tasha Schwikert and UCLA Gymnastics Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field. For more information or to RSVP, CLICK HERE.
Coming Up Wednesday
Track & Field - Qualification rounds for men's pole vault (Yoo Kim) and women's hammer (Jessica Cosby) begin at 2:00am PT. Watch online here: Pole Vault | Hammer.
Men's Volleyball - Team USA (coaches John Speraw, Mike Sealy) faces Italy in the quarterfinals at 8:00am PT. Watch live on NBC or online at NBCOlympics.com
Men's Water Polo - Team USA (Adam Wright, Chay Lapin) will face Croatia in the quarterfinals at Noon PT. NBC will have delayed coverage at 2:00pm PT, but you can watch live online here.
Men's Basketball - Team USA (Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook) plays Australia in the quarterfinals at 2:15pm PT. NBC Sports Network will air the match live. NBCOlympics.com will also have online coverage.
