Font ResizeLONDON -- Five things to know about Thursday, Day 6 of the London Olympics:
--Gabby Douglas lights up gym with another gold.
--One more time: Phelps takes 200 IM again.
--Ann Romney "thrilled" by horse’s performance.
--Quite the host: Cameron takes Russia’s Putin to judo match.
--Probe into Olympic badminton flap widens.
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Now this is fierce.
Gabby Douglas became the third straight American to win gymnastics’ biggest prize when she won the all-around Olympic title on Thursday. She finished with a score of 62.232, about three-tenths ahead of Viktoria Komova of Russia.
It’s her second gold medal of the London Games, coming two nights after she and her "Fierce Five" teammates gave the United States its first Olympic team title since 1996.
Douglas brought the house down with her energetic floor routine, and U.S. pals Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross jumped to their feet and cheered when she finished. Douglas flashed a smile and coach Liang Chow lifted her off the podium.
Michael Phelps also had a smile on his face after he added to his medal collection with his first individual gold medal of the London Games.
The U.S. star set the tone right from the start to become the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three straight Olympics, capturing the 200-meter individual medley for his 20th career medal -- and 16th gold. Teammate
Americans Rebecca Soni (200 breaststroke) and Tyler Clary (200 backstroke) also won. Soni lowered her own world record with a time of 2 minutes, 19.59 seconds in the final.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands took the 100 freestyle, clocking 53.00 to improve on her own Olympic record.
Ann Romney was on hand to watch her horse in dressage at Greenwich Park, and said she was thrilled by Rafalca’s performance.
The wife of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was in the VIP section of the stadium for Rafalca’s Olympic debut, watching literally from the edge of her seat as the 15-year-old, German-bred mare completed the 7-minute Grand Prix test.
She and Rafalca’s other two owners gave horse and rider Jan Ebeling a rousing standing ovation and a wave as they left the arena. Their score of 70.243 percent put them in 13th place with half the 50 competitors still to go.
"She was consistent and elegant," Romney told The Associated Press. "She did not disappoint. She thrilled me to death."
Rafalca has been the source of political jokes and Democratic ads questioning how Mitt Romney can presume to know the problems of ordinary Americans when he inhabits the rarefied world of dressage.
JUDO
Kayla Harrison tried to keep it together. Once the national anthem started, so did the tears.
Harrison defeated Britain’s Gemma Gibbons to win the United States’ first judo gold medal in Olympic history, taking the 78-kilogram title.
The 22-year-old Middletown, Ohio, native who lives in suburban Boston went to the medal podium determined not to cry. After one note of "The Star-Spangled Banner," she succumbed.
"I’m just so honored to be America’s first gold medalist, and so happy to realize my dream," she said.
Tagir Khaibulaev of Russia won the men’s 100-kg gold, beating Beijing champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia with a match-ending ippon throw.
ROWING
The United States defended its title in the women’s eight, maintaining its six-year dominance of the high-profile event.
The Americans won in a time of 6 minutes, 10.59 seconds. Canada finished a half-length behind in second and the Netherlands took the bronze.
The U.S. hasn’t lost a competitive race in the eight since winning the world title in 2006.
New Zealand picked up its first gold of the London Games when Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan won the double sculls final at Dorney Lake. Italy and Slovenia grabbed the next two spots on the podium.
South Africa captured its first Olympic rowing gold when its closing charge was enough to take the lightweight men’s four. Britain edged Denmark for silver.
CANOE
Britain took the top two spots in canoe slalom, upsetting the three-time defending champions from Slovakia.
Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott won the gold, followed by teammates David Florence and Richard Hounslow.
Slovakian twins Pavol and Peter Hochschorner settled for bronze. It was a stunning defeat for the Hochschorners, who have also won the last three world championships and are ranked No. 1.
Emilie Fer of France was the surprise winner in women’s kayak slalom. Australia’s Jessica Fox took the silver, and the bronze went to Spain’s Maialen Chourraut.
ELSEWHERE IN LONDON
It was all China in men’s table tennis, with Zhang Jike beating teammate Wang Hao 4-1 in the singles final. China has claimed 22 of 26 gold medals since pingpong was introduced at the Olympics in 1988. ... Ki Bo-bae added the individual archery title to the women’s team gold she won with South Korea. Ki edged Aida Roman of Mexico in a sudden-death shoot-off to claim the top singles spot. ... British shooter Peter Wilson won the double trap gold. Hakan Dahlby of Sweden grabbed the silver, and Vasily Mosin of Russia was awarded the bronze. ... Kim Jiyeon of South Korea grabbed the fencing gold for women’s individual sabre.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
