2012 Olympics Results: Winners and Losers from Day 15
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Day 15 at the 2012 Olympics means that we're almost to the end of what has thus far been a phenomenal display of athletics, national pride, courage and sportsmanship.
It also means we have another series of winners and losers to talk about.
Kudos to Mexico's men's football team for defeating Brazil in the gold-medal match. It's the first Olympic medal in national history in the sport of football, and for Mexicans around the world, it's one of the proudest sports-related moments in national history.
In the immortal words of Charlie Sheen, "Winning!"
Keep reading to find out which athletes and nations ended up on our winners and losers list on the second-to-last day of the London Games.
Winner: Mexico's Men's Football Team
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Mexico had never previously won an Olympic medal in football. It hadn't won a single gold medal in London before this.
Then, the men's football team defeated the mighty team from Brazil to change history forever.
Loser: U.S. Wrestler Jake Herbert
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In case you're wondering, Jake Herbert isn't the guy on top in this picture.
Herbert had gold-medal aspirations, but he was brutally and decisively dismantled by eventual gold-medal winner and reigning world champion Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan.
Winner: American Diver David Boudia
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David Boudia has just done the impossible. He won the gold medal in men's 10-meter platform diving, defeating the Chinese duo of Qiu Bo and Lin Yue, the world's top platform divers.
It's the first medal by an American man in this event since 1992, and the first gold by an American man since Greg Louganis in 1988.
Loser: Chinese Men's Diving
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Heading into the men's 10-meter final, Chinese divers Qiu Bo and Lin Yue were considered to be the best bets for the top two spots. After all, Qiu is the reigning world champion in the event, while Lin won gold in 10-meter synchronized diving in Beijing four years ago.
They also finished one and two in the semifinals.
Then, the unexpected happened.
American diver David Boudia put together the meet of his life and stole the gold, relegating Qiu to the silver medal, while Lin fell all the way down to sixth place.
Winner: Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott
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Nineteen-year-old javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott from the tiny island nation of Trinidad and Tobago won the gold medal, defeating men with at least 10 years of training and experience more than him.
Not only that, but he won the first non-sprinting medal in his nation's Olympic track-and-field history.
It's also the nation's first gold medal of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Yeah, Walcott pretty much rocked the Olympics on Day 15.
Loser: Chaunte Lowe
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Chaunte Lowe was a favorite to medal in the women's high jump after winning the indoor world championship earlier this year.
Things didn't go according to plan, though, as Lowe failed to even clear 2.0 meters in the final, causing her to finish in the middle of the pack.
It's a disappointing finish to what has been a hyped buildup to the London Games for the 28-year-old Lowe.
Winner: Great Britain's Mo Farah
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Great Britain has had a fantastic showing as the host nation these Summer Olympics, and Mo Farah has been one of its stars.
Farah capped off a brilliant showing in the men's 10,000-meter, which earned him a gold medal, with another one in the 5,000-meter on Saturday. The Somali international defeated Ethiopians and Kenyans alike for the second-straight event to win his second gold medal of 2012.
What he's done this year is no less impressive than what Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has done. Impressive performances by both men have secured their status as the world's best.
Loser: Ethiopia's Long-Distance Runners
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Dejen Gebremeskel, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yenew Alamirew posted times in the men's 5,000-meter final that were close to a full minute behind their respective bests of the season.
No disrespect to Mo Farah, but these guys really blew it.
Gebremeskel's best time in 2012 is 12 minutes, 48.61 seconds, Gebrhiwet's best time is 12:47.53, and Alamirew's best time is 12:48.77.
They all finished the race on Saturday with times at or over 13:41.98.
After results like that, I wonder if the Ethiopian team needs to see a doctor. They underperformed so badly that the only way to rationalize their performances is to think they must be sick or something.
Winner: Allyson Felix
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The U.S. women's sprint team dismantled the field with a dominant performance in the women's 4x400-meter relay. They beat the Russian team, which finished in second place, by about three-and-a-half seconds.
Allyson Felix had a lot to do with that stunning result, posting a time of 47.80 seconds in her leg—the fastest time by far of any woman in the field.
Her performance caps off an unbelievable run for her at the London Games that saw her win three gold medals in four events—including the world-record time set by the 4x100-meter relay team.
Winner: Usain Bolt
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I kid. Allyson Felix is awesome, but there will never be anyone to compare to Usain Bolt
Bolt and the Jamaican sprinters blew the competition away in the men's 4x100-meter relay on Saturday, setting a new world record for the gold medal.
Bolt is now 3-for-3 once again, equalling his gaudy performance of four years ago. He is now the unquestioned greatest sprinter of all time, and all I can say is this: I hope he comes back in 2016.
Loser: Bernard Lagat
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Like his Ethiopian counterparts, U.S. distance runner Bernard Lagat failed to come anywhere close to his best in the final, finishing in fourth place and outside medal contention.
This is a huge disappointment after Lagat's recent success in the World Championships, and it's likely going to be the last chance he gets to win another Olympic medal. He'll be 41-years old by the time the Rio Games roll around, and I don't see him coming back.
END
There you have it, folks. The highs and lows of Day 15.
A thanks would be nice, throughout all this thread not ONE member has said thanks or clicked my thanks button & it has taken a LOT of work to provide this thread for you and its' content - from a peeved Ladybbird 