London 2012 Olympics live coverage: Day 12

7:26am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News By Simon Farr

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  • All the results and reaction from Day 12 of London 2012.
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  • Tell us about your Olympic experiences by leaving comments below, email us at olympics@london.newsquest.co.uk and tweet using #LondonersGames

9:32pm

That brings our coverage of Day 12 of London 2012 to an end.

Join us tomorrow for all the action from Day 13 which could see Harrow's Andrew Osagie crowned the men's 800m champion and it's the clash of the Jamaican titans - Usain Bolt and Johan Blake - in the men's 200m final!

9:26pm

They will now face New Zealand in the bronze medal match.

9:25pm

And it's all over for Britain's women in the hockey, they have come up just short in the semi final, going down 2-1 to Argentina.

9:21pm

For the record Aries Merritt of the US won the 110m hurdles final.

9:19pm

Game on....

 

 

9:19pm

So close but yet so far for Team GB's Lawrence Clarke , who finishes fourth in the men's 110m hurdles final - a brilliant performance but he looks disappointed not to have grabbed a bronze.

9:14pm

9:03pm

9:01pm

USA star Allyson Felix  storms to victory and grabs gold in the women's 200m.

8:57pm

25mins to go and Great Britain's women are still trailing 2-0 to Argentina

8:49pm

We're back underway at the Riverbank Arena...Team GB need a big second half performance here if they're going to contest the gold medal.

8:45pm

And just to bring you up to speed with the progress of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers AC's South African athlete Willem Coertzen , he is currently in seventh. Remember Daniel Awde was forced to pull out earlier after sustaining a knee injury.

8:38pm

8:37pm

And that second goal, a brilliant individual effort on the stroke of half-time, was hugely contested by Team GB. They felt the ball had gone out but it clearly hadn't. Our girls will have to find something special now...

8:35pm

8:30pm

British sprinter Christian Malcolm finishes third in the final 200m semi-final heat and is out of the competition - and with that he announces this will be his last Olympics.

8:26pm

Just under 10 mins to go in the first half of the women's hockey semi final and Team GB still trail to that Argentinian penalty corner.

8:20pm

And, just like Monday comes after Sunday, Bolt eases into the 200m final to set up another showdown with Johan Blake .

8:14pm

Four time Olympic champion and the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt , is up next...Surely he'll join his training partner and friend in the final???

8:11pm

Jamaica's Johan "The Beast" Blake  strolls to victory in the first 200m semi-final.

8:07pm

8:07pm

Argentina have taken the lead against Team GB in the semi-final of the women's hockey.

8:06pm

8:00pm

Laura Weightman joins Dobriskey in the 1500m final after finishing seventh in heat two of the semi after a photo finish! Close call!

7:51pm

Lisa Dobriskey sails through to the final of the 1500m but Hannah England is out.

7:47pm

 

7:46pm

Britain's Hannah England and Lisa Dobriskey are now bidding to make the final of the 1500m.

7:35pm

There is good news for Team GB in the men's hurdles, Lawrence Clarke has sneaked into the final as one of the 'fastest losers' - I've never liked that phrase!

7:30pm

 

7:26pm

He told the BBC: "I got a rubbish start and that's what let me down...I don't know what happened. I'm gutted."

7:26pm

Sutton's Andy Turner finished fourth in his heat in a time of 13.42 and is sadly out of the Olympic Games.

7:23pm

Here goes Turner...

7:23pm

Don't forget to send us your views and photos from the Games via the email olympics@london.newsquest.co.uk or tweet us using #LondonersGames.

7:20pm

Later this evening is the semi-finals of the women's hockey, with Team GB vying for a shot at gold. Oh, and did I mention a certain Mr Usain St. Leo Bolt is in action in the 200m semi!?

Looking for the double: Usain Bolt will run both the 100m at 100m relay at Crystal Palace in three weeks

7:17pm

And Clarke finished third in that first heat and has given himself a chance of reaching the final. Our attention now turns to Andy Turner ...

7:15pm

Are you refreshed and ready for more Olympics action!? I am, with an exciting night in store staring with the men's 110m hurdles semi-finals and Team GB's Lawrence Clarke ...

5:41pm

We'll have more live updates from the evening session at London 2012, with Britain's women look to secure a place in the hockey final and the chance of gold at about 8pm. 

We'll also bring you Andy Turner 's quest to secure a place in the final of the 110m hurdles from about 7.30pm and updates from the BMX.

Make sure you join us later.

5:36pm

Team GB's women hockey team will face the Netherlands  in the final if they can beat Argentina later tonight, after The Oranje beat New Zealand in a nerve-shredding shoot-out!

5:31pm

Bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz  has spoken of his pride today following his exploits in the Olympic high jump final last night.

Click here to read his reaction in full.

5:17pm

The world's number one golfer Luke Donald says watching London 2012 has inspired him to go for gold at Rio 2016.

Golf becomes an Olympic sport in four years time and the Beaconsfield star says watching the magnificent achievements of Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis has got him itching to be a part of the greatest show on earth.

Click here for the full story.

World number one Luke Donald

5:10pm

Ticket update:

A record 2.1 million Paralympic tickets have already been sold with three weeks still to go - and more will go on sale next week, organisers say.

With over 600,000 tickets purchased in the last month, the total number of Paralympic tickets sold has now surpassed the previous record of 1.8 million tickets sold in 2008 for the Beijing Games.

Seb Coe said: “We are absolutely delighted with how the British public has responded so far to tickets for the Paralympic Games.

"The Olympic Games have shown us that the UK has taken the Games to their heart and with the tickets sold so far and more still to come I look forward to even more people getting the chance to join in and to form memories that will last a lifetime.”

2.5 million Paralympic tickets had been put on sale in total.

4:58pm

Olympics fan Joe Bracher (left) from Epsom is proudly wearing Team GB colours in Stratford today with three friends and is looking forward to tonight’s athletics session.

Joe has devoted a lot of time to watching the Games over the last couple of weeks and was pleased to finally make it into the Olympic Park today.

“I booked a week-and-a-half off work specifically for the Olympics,” he explained.

“I have been to the cycling road race, boxing, beach volleyball, weightlifting, men’s doubles badminton and the triathlon.”

He added: “I am here to see the athletics and I am particularly looking forward to seeing Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt. I also have a massive soft spot for the javelin ever since Steve Backley was competing.”

Olympic blog - fans

4:53pm

Russia have pipped Britain's tearful trio of Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush in the match-racing quarter finals after a fierce battle on the Weymouth water.

4:47pm

Most people feel a sense of national pride because of the success of the British Olympic team, according to a new study.

A quiz of 2,000 adults by Freeview also revealed that two out of five had cried during the Games, with Jessica Ennis's gold medal topping the tearjerker moments.

Most of those questioned said they believed London 2012 was shaping up to be the best ever Olympics.

Seven out of 10 said Team GB athletes had replaced music stars and footballers as role models.

A similar number had been cynical about the event before it started, but 85% said they now felt genuine pride.

Ilse Howling, managing director of Freeview, said: "In living rooms up and down the country, tears are being shed on a daily basis as the summer of sport shapes up to be the greatest of our lifetime."

Spectators gathered at the Park Live big screen to watch Jessica Ennis in action

 

4:45pm

And just as I say there's not much going on for Brits to get excited about, Shanaze Reade puts in a solid ride to qualify fifth fastest in the opening time trial, while Liam Phillips was 12th fastest.

4:40pm

And it’s currently 2-2 between Holland and New Zealand in the first of the women’s hockey semi-finals. Team GB will face the winner in the final, if they can beat Argentina tonight.

4:36pm

Team GB's match-racing crew of Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush are going head-to-head with Russia in a quarter-final decider at the sailing in Weymouth.

4:32pm

It's all gone a little quiet from a Team GB perspective, but a couple of things for British fans to mull over...

4:14pm

 

3:58pm

The individual showjumping dream is over for Scott Brash and Nick Skelton  after both riders were handed time penalties in the final.

But they can still leave London 2012 with their heads held high after their earlier team gold.

3:31pm

Travel update:

TfL is reporting a good service across the Underground lines, for those of you beginning to plot your route home from work or to/from the Olympics.

 

3:26pm

Marlow's Louisa Sawers and Rachel Cawthorn plus Jess Walker from Flackwell Heath were the nearly crew again at Dorney Lake today.

They teamed up with Angela Hannah in the Canoe Sprint K4 final, but were unable to break their recent trend of just missing the medals with a fifth place finish.

Click here to read more.

3:13pm

Team GB's women's 470 crew Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark have guaranteed themselves an Olympic medal and will take on New Zealand for gold in Friday's final.

I hope you've got a good system for keeping count because I'm struggling to keep up with all these medals for Britain's athletes!!

2:59pm

Shanaze Reade  is about to begin her campaign for Olympic gold in the BMX event and battle has commenced in the final of the individual showjumping, with Scott Brash and Nick Skelton in joint first place!

2:54pm

Teachers, what do you make of the Prime Minister's comments?

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us via olympics@london.newsquest.co.uk, tweet us using the #LondonersGames or simply leave a comment below.

And don't forget to send us your photos from the Games if you're at any Olympic event today!
 

2:51pm

Meanwhile, David Cameron has launched a stinging attack on teachers by claiming they do not want to "play their part" in building a "competitive ethos" in schools.

The Prime Minister said more needs to be done if Britain wants to build on the success of Team GB, which has amassed 48 Olympic medals and counting.

He told LBC 97.3 FM radio that money was not the problem but changing the culture of non-competitive, 'prizes for all' sport in schools.

His comments have sparked anger for education leaders. Click here for more.

2:44pm

Tube cleaners will be out on strike tomorrow with a protest at the heart of the Olympics - Stratford station.

The 48-hour action over pay will see pickets from 6am at depots across the capital, along with a midday protest at Stratford.

The action is set to last until Saturday morning.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "With the eyes of the world on the London Olympics, the many millions enjoying the events around the globe must not forget the London transport cleaners on minimum pay rates doing some of the dirtiest jobs in often appalling conditions with no Olympics recognition and reward whatsoever."

2:41pm

2:40pm

Scott Brash and Nick Skelton both jumped clear rounds to advance to the final round of the individual showjumping at North Greenwich Arena.

Click here for more.

2:36pm

Nicola Adams and her moment of glory.

Nicola Adams

2:29pm

2:28pm

RE: 11.45am

2:20pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Michael Pantlin says

If the AWOL Cameroons are not doing what they were given permission to come here for why is it difficult to kick them out when they are found? The Olympics end well before November at the end of the first week of September.

2:27pm

Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester described the success of the British dressage team yesterday as “a very special moment” for the sport on these shores.

Barnet-born Hester was part of the trio that claimed gold for Team GB in Greenwich Park riding Uthopia, a horse he part owns.

It was this victory which saw the number of British gold medals hit the magical 20 mark, surpassing the lauded total from Beijing four years ago.

Click here for more.

2:19pm

Tim Brabants, who lost his Olympic crown in the K1 kayak 1000m this morning, says he is "not done yet".

The 35-year-old Walton star could only finish eighth and admitted he was 'outclassed' as he relinquished his hold on his title.

But the Teddington resident has vowed to bounce back.

He said: “I am really disappointed with myself, and feel bad for my coach who spent so much time trying to get me into the best shape I can be in. I'm not sure what happened, but I wasn't in it from the start.

"I'm not done yet, you can't go out with an eighth place in the Olympics. We won't make any decisions right now, because we work on a four-year cycle. But I'm an ageing athlete, and life moves on.”

2:10pm

And if that excitement wasn't enough, check out the Mayor of London Boris Johnson doing The Bolt...Word's fail me.

 

2:06pm

Haringey CPC's Nicola Adams has boxed her way to victory in her semi-final against India's Mary Kom and is guaranteed at least silver in the women's fly category!

2:04pm

As seems to be the norm at the moment, it's great news for Team GB from Greenwich Park, where two riders have made clear rounds in the first phase of individual showjumping.

Both Scott Brash on Hello Santos and Nick Skelton on Big Star, already gold medal winners at this Olympics, made it through to the final round with no penalties. Only four other riders acheived the same feat.

Team mate Ben Maher on Tripple X picked up four penalty points after knocking down a fence, meaning he is unlikely to challenge for a medal this time.

2:03pm

Apologies for the delay, I've had some computer issues but we're back online now - and I have some good news to bring you from the Team GB camp...

1:19pm

Here's more on the sad news that Daniel Awde has been forced to withdraw from the decathlon.

1:08pm

1:02pm

Desperate news coming from the Olympic Park, Woodford Green’s Daniel Awde has been forced to pull out of the decathlon after picking up an injury in the long jump.

12:56pm

Sophie Hitchon  has made the hammer final!

12:26pm

Farmers in Lane End, Bucks, are hoping their milk will give Team GB's hockey team the edge in their quest for gold. Click here to read the full story.

Lane End farmers

12:12pm

Daniel Awde registered two no jumps in his first attempts at the decathlon long jump after overstepping the line.

His third was better, landing at 6.83m, but the athlete, who is competing with tape on his leg, stayed in the sand a long time holding his knee.

There are now concerns he may not be able to continue in the competition. Fingers crossed the physio can work their magic before the third event...

12:07pm

Team GB's Lynsey Sharp through to 800m semi-finals.

12:03pm

Just in case you missed any of yesterday's action, here's a quick round-up on the fortunes of some of our athletes, click on the links to read more:

Old Loughtonians' Harry Martin was a relieved man after Great Britain edged into the Olympic semi-finals.

Enfield's Robbie Grabarz won bronze in the long jump last night.

But fellow Enflied athletes, sprint duo Margaret Adeoye and Abi Oyepitan, missed out on a place in the final of the 200m.

And there was also heartache for Woodford Green's Tiffany Porter in the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles.

11:54am

Seven Cameroon athletes - who have visas that last until November - have disappeared during the Games, Olympic organisers say.

Five boxers, a female football player and a swimmer went missing at the weekend from the Olympic Village, with rumours they may have done so for economic reasons.

The disappearance has been reported to the Metropolitan Police.

But LOCOG said that, as the athletes were legally entitled to stay until November this year, an investigation was "difficult".

11:46am

When Olympic mascots attack!!

London 2012 mascot Wenlock ambushed the LOCOG daily press conference today, dancing around to a jaunty song.

Not all the hacks looked pleased to see him, but he made a virtue of hugging the most cynical ones.

Wenlock

11:33am

London 2012 by numbers, so far...

624 medals have been won so far in the Games by athletes from 73 countries.

200 gold medals have been won so far - two thirds of the 302 available throughout the Games.

There have been 99 Olympic records and 38 world records.

Nine sports have now finished.

There were 530,000 spectators yesterday and today the 2,000,000th visitor is set to visit the Olympic Park.

11:28am

The success of Team GB at these Games appears to have caused a surge in ticket sales for the Paralympics, with LOCOG saying more than 500k tickets being sold in the past 12 days of the Olympics!

11:17am

Readers, send me your photos of you doing the 'Mobot ' and I'll put the best ones in this blog! #LondonersGames

11:14am

Is Greenwich Park the most enchanting of all the London 2012 venues? Games organisers have put out this stunning picture of the showjumping arena...

Greenwich Park Olympics

11:10am

One of our reporters at the Olympic Park, Matt Bass, has been mixing it with gymnastic royalty!
 

11:07am

11:01am

10,000m Olympic champion Mo Farah has booked his spot in the 5,000m final after snatching third in the heats - but he was made to work hard for it!

Will we see the 'Mobot' once again after Saturday's final? Here's hoping!

10:58am

The Olympic Park is packed out every day and often includes people wearing some rather strange costumes.

Nimesh Ruparel from the USA had come to watch the basketball with some very unusual headwear.

He said: "I'm from Wisconsin which was known as the Dairy State.

"Fans of our football team the Green Bay Packers are known as the Cheeseheads, which is why I'm wearing this."

Nimesh Ruparel

 

10:56am

Team GB's Sophie Hitchon has just thrown a British record 71.98m in the hammer to put her in fifth place and in with a great chance of reaching the final!

10:50am

Among the fans in Stratford today are John and Beryl Roberts who had come up from Catford to watch the athletics.

Mr Roberts said: "What an atmosphere. It's completely unique."

Mrs Roberts said: "I've found this and the torch ceremony really emotional.

"Everybody is talking to each other from all nationalities."

John and Beryl Roberts

 

10:40am

10:39am

Woodford Green’s Daniel Awde smashes his personal best with a time of 10.71secs to win heat four of the 100m in the decathlon - putting him in seventh place.

10:26am

Best team ever:

Team GB’s Chef de Mission Andy Hunt claims our current crop of Olympians is the best ever and will inspire more youngsters to take up sport.

He said: “When we went into this Games, we talked about this being our most ambitious team, of it being the most diverse and largest team that we have ever fielded in over 100 years.

"And it would represent all the corners of Great Britain.

“We have surpassed all of these aims and we are now continuing to strive on and be unrelenting until the end.

"This performance will go down in history as the best team we’ve ever had and we will inspire a generation.”

9:54am

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9:47am

Tim Brabants has finished eighth in the men’s kayak single (K1) 1000m, with Norway’s Eirik Veras Larsen taking his Olympic crown.

9:42am

Croydon's medal hope Lawrence Okoye bowed out of the Men’s Discus final last night after recording three throws well below his best.

Click here to read more.

9:36am

A postbox that was painted gold in Jessica Ennis 's home city to celebrate her Olympic triumph has been vandalised.

Click here for the full story.

9:06am

9:03am

Australia’s Sports Minister will wear a Team GB shirt and row a length of Eton Dorney after she “cheerfully conceded” defeat to her British counterpart.
Senator Kate Lundy has thrown in the towel in the now traditional bet between the two sports ministers over which country will finish higher in the Olympics medal table.
Hugh Robertson MP said he would don a gold jersey and dribble a hockey ball around Australia House if Team GB finished below the Aussies.
But he can breathe easy this morning after Senator Lundy said: “I cheerfully concede I will be rowing out at Eton Dorney, we did have our medal bet on in our traditional wager. This time, you guys are on top.
“Equally if it was the other way round, I’m sure Minister Robertson would have been cheerful enough to put on a Kookaburras' shirt and dribble that hockey ball around Australia House, but that won’t be happening.”

8:26am

8:06am

Transport for London is reporting a good service on the Underground this morning.

8:04am

The rain shows no signs of easing up, so make sure you take your brolly to the Games today. Watch our weather report below...

7:56am

AFTER racking up its 22nd gold medal and 48th medal overall at London 2012 - the best performance since 1908 – Team GB is looking to add to that impressive tally during Day 12.
Fresh from his glorious gold-winning run in the 10,000m during Super Saturday, Mo Farah begins his quest in the 5,000m competition today.
Team GB face Argentina in the semi-final of the women’s hockey, while Dan Awde kicks off his decathlon campaign.
Andy Turner will be looking to secure a place in the final of the 110m hurdles tonight and the equestrian team go for individual gold in the jumping.
Boxer Nicola Adams is guaranteed a medal but is fighting for the right to contest the gold during the semis of the fly-weight category.
Shanaze Reade starts her BMX campaign, Andrew Osagie is looking to make the final of the men’s 800m and Tim Brabants defends his Olympic title in the men’s kayak single (K1) 1000m – what a day!

Comments(1)

Michael Pantlin says...
2:20pm Wed 8 Aug 12

If the AWOL Cameroons are not doing what they were given permission to come here for why is it difficult to kick them out when they are found? The Olympics end well before November at the end of the first week of September.

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