Rare Gold Thai Python bred by Thai zoo

A zoo in Thailand has become the world's first to succeed in breeding the very rare "Gold Thai python" (Molur Bivittatus) with 30 healthy baby pythons.

The Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo would distribute the baby pythons to zoos nationwide after one year so the public could learn about this species which is unique to Thailand.

The "gold Thai python" once lived in dry evergreen forests in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Prachin Buri and Sa Kaew. But as its habitat was encroached by humans, the python, now protected by Thai law, was said to have dropped to less than 100 in number. This type of python grows to six metres in length by the age of 5. It reproduces in December to February, its pregnancy lasts two months.

Male Twin Elephants born in Surin, World's first!

The world's first male elephant twins were born in Surin's Tha Lad area yesterday.

After 21 months of gestation, 35-year-old Phang Thong Khun delivered the first baby elephant at 1.09 am and his brother at 3.09 am amid a cheering crowd, mahout Prapai Mokhom said.
The twins have yet to be given names, he said.

The sire was a clever bull named Plai Pus Deen.

A veterinarian at Surin Elephant Hospital said the twins were strong and each weighed 70-80 kilograms. The owner should give the mother more nutritious food so it could produce more milk for the twins, he said.

This is the second set of elephant twins for Thailand, after females named Phang Jum and Phang Jim were bred 15 years ago.

Mong Thongdee wins 3rd place in Origami Airplane Contest

Mong Thongdee, a twelve-year-old stateless who was born in Thailand to Myanmar migrants, has won 3rd place in the individual event (paper dart contest) at the All-Japan Origami Airplane Contest in Japan on Sunday.



He and his team won the first place in the team event in the same competition in Makuhari, near Tokyo, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009.

Mong, 2008 Thai origami airplane champion and one of nearly half a million stateless people in Thailand who legally cannot leave and return to the country, was granted a temporary passport exceptionally to take part in the contest in Japan with paper planes that can fly for 12 seconds at a time.



The Interior Ministry initially rejected his application to have a temporary travel document to go to Japan on the grounds that he is stateless boy.

However the ministry changed the position after several people, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, personally stepped in.

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn wins junior Wimbledon girls' title

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand won the girls' title at Wimbledon on Saturday, using a steady serve to beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.



The Chiang Mai-born, 17, became the first Thai to win a Grand Slam singles trophy. Previously she collected two doubles titles from the 2008 junior US Open and this year's French Open.

Noppawan, who ended the 2008 season as the top junior player, settled score over the French Open junior champion who easily beat her in two sets in a warm-up tournament on grass in Roehampton last week. She finally made amends at the All England Club losing the final to Laura Robson of Great Britain in the final a year ago.

Noppawan landed 69 percent of her first serves against Mladenovic on Court No. 1, far better than her opponent's 40 percent.



Although Noppawan had only nine winners in the match, she was helped by Mladenovic's 39 unforced errors.

Noppawan, who won the girls' doubles title with Elena Bogdan of Romania at the French Open, is also still alive in the doubles competition at the All England Club. She is playing with Sally Peers of Australia.

Noppawan lost in the Wimbledon girls final last year, but then won the girls' doubles title at the U.S. Open with Sandra Roma. In December, she was named girls' ITF World Champion.

Tamarine Tanasugarn wins Ordina Open

Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand has become the first player to successfully defended her title in the U$220,000 Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands after she beat Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 7-5 in the final.



Tammy, the 32 year old Thai ranked No. 47 in the world, relied on her experience to beat the young rival for her third career title.

Tammy beat Dinara Safina, the current world No. 1, in last years' final. Tammy underlined her supremacy over Safina once again in the semi-final on Friday to record her first win over a world No 1, proving too much for the Russian.

iPhone 3G launches in Thailand: Officially!

TrueMove today announced that it will launch iPhone 3G in Thailand on January 16, 2009. That's a very good move by True Move!



The iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone plus 3G, Wi-Fi and built-in GPS, and iPhone 2.2 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs thousands of third party applications available through the Apple App Store.

Pre-registration for Thailand's first official iPhone 3G is now available at www.truemove.com. Only customers who successfully complete the pre-registration process will be able to collect their iPhone 3G at the launch event from January 16-18, 2009 at the Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon shopping complex.

TrueMove, part of True, Thailand’s only fully-integrated communications company, is able to deliver an unrivaled iPhone 3G experience via its multi-platform network comprising 3G, Wi-Fi, and EDGE/GPRS.

Additionally, TrueMove is the country’s leader in wireless Internet services with over 16,000 hotspots nationwide, covering Bangkok and over 50 provinces. As a special feature for iPhone 3G customers, TrueMove will enable auto-login to the Wi-Fi network, so customers only need to login with their username and password once and can then automatically access the TrueMove Wi-Fi network whenever they enter a hotspot.

Pricing Plans and Tariff

TrueMove is offering very attractive 24 month price plans specially tailored for iPhone 3G. Interested customers can subscribe to a TrueMove iPhone 3G package with zero Baht upfront payment and monthly bundled package fees inclusive of TrueMove services, starting from as low as 1,399 Baht for iPhone 8GB (for payments made by credit card only), and 1,599 Baht for iPhone 16GB (for payments made by credit card only). The price plans contain several options to meet customers' needs while including voice, data as well as Wi-Fi access.

Below is a list of packages and their prices (excluding VAT)



* Bronze package is not eligible for pre-registration. Registration possible on launch day and pick up at True and TrueMove shops at a designated date and time.

Thai Futsal Team runners-up in 5s Futsal Championship

Thailand's Futsal team finished runners-up in the Thailand 5s International Futsal Tournament yesterday after a 2-2 draw with tournament winners Argentina at Nimibutr Gymnasium.



Thailand and Argentina had each won two matches and drawn one, but Argentina won on a better goal difference.

Thailand's fut5al coach Jose Maria Mendez said he was pleased with his team's performance because of Argentina's pedigree and that he had high hopes for the future.''I believe Thailand can become the top Asian futsal team,'' he said.

Thai men may be the usual underdogs at the 11-a-side game, where they currently lie 114th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, but on the futsal court they are one of Asia's finest sides. Thailand is currently ranked 12th in the Futsal World Rankings, and 3rd amongst Asian countries.

Futsal is the official FIFA version of five-a-side football and has become Thailand's favorite sport. Thailand's futsal twins Ekaphan and Ekapong Suratsawang are stars of the national futsal team.



Thailand will play in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 in Brazil from 30 September to 19 October, 2008, under Group B. Thailand have qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup for a third time.

WBC Boxing Rankings: Official Ratings for September 2008

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has one of the most prestigious ratings in the boxing world. The Ratings Committee is formed by over 20 people from 16 countries around the world in order to have world representation. WBC title fights are of a high standard of quality, making the ratings of the WBC number one.



29 Thai boxers are currently in the rankings list with 15 of them in the top 10. Thai boxer Oleydong Sithsamerchai is the current WBC Strawweight world champion. Strawweight, also referred to as Minimumweight or Mini Flyweight is the lightest weight category in professional boxing where boxers may weigh no more than 105 pounds or 46.7 kilos.



Below is the WBC Official Ratings for all divisions released for September with results up to August 31:

Heavyweight (over 200 pounds)

CHAMPION: SAMUEL PETER (NIGERIA)
1. Vladimir Virchis (Ukraine)
2. Juan Carlos Gomez (Cuba)
3. Alexander Dimitrenko (Ukraine)
4. Chris Arreola (US) AMERICA
5. David Haye (GB)
6. Oleg Maskaev (Kazakhstan)
7. Andrew Golota (Poland)
8. James Toney (US)
9. Kali Meehan (New Zealand)
10. Travis Walker (US) NABF

Cruiserweight (200 pounds)

CHAMPION: VACANT
1. Rudolf Kraj (Czech)
2. Giacobbe Fragomeni (Italy)
3. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (Poland)
4. Matt Godfrey (US) NABF
5. Herbie Hide (GB) INTL
6. Jean Marc Mormeck (France)
7. Jean Marc Monrose (France) EBU
8. Johnathon Banks (US)
9. Wayne Braithwaite (Guyana) LATINO
10. Alexander Alexeev (Uzbekistan)

Light Heavyweight (175 pounds)

CHAMPION: ADRIAN DIACONU (ROMANIA/CANADA)
1. Joe Calzaghe (GB)
2. Glen Johnson (US)
3. Silvio Branco (Italy) LATINO
4. Chris Henry (US) NABF
5. Roy Jones (US)
6. Braimah Kamoko (Ghana)
7. Alexey Kuziemski (Poland)
8. Shaun George (US)
9. Dawid Kostecki (Poland)
10. Antonio Brancalion (Italy)

Super Middleweight (168 pounds)

CHAMPION: VACANT
1. Carl Froch (GB) BBBoC/COMM
2. Jermain Taylor (US)
3. Jean Pascal (Haiti/Canada) LATINO/NABF
4. Jeff Lacy (US)
5. Fulgencio Zuñiga (Colombia)
6. Jurgen Brahmer (Germany)
7. Karo Murat (Germany) EBU
8. Andre Ward (US)
9. Anthony Mundine (Australia)
10. Alejandro Berrio (Colombia)

Middleweight (160 pounds)

CHAMPION: KELLY PAVLIK (US)
1. Marco Antonio Rubio (Mexico) FECOMBOX
2. Enrique Ornelas (Mexico) NABF
3. David Lopez (Mexico) LATINO
4. Domenico Spada (Italy) INTL
5. John Duddy (Ireland)
6. Miguel Espino (US) CABOFE
7. Sebastian Zbik (Germany)
8. Gennady Golovkin (Kazakhstan)
9. Giovanni Lorenzo (Dominican Republic)
10. Mahir Oral (Turkey-Germany)

Super Welterweight (154 pounds)

CHAMPION: SERGIO MORA (US)
1. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mexico)
2. Sergio Martinez (Argentina)
3. Ricardo Mayorga (Nicaragua)
4. Alex Bunema (Congo)
5. Yuri Foreman (Belarussia) NABF
6. Vernon Forrest (US)
7. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Mexico) AMERICA
8. Zaur Baysangurov (Russia) EBU
9. Andrey Tsurkan (Ukraine)
10. Alfred Angulo (Mexico) LATINO

Welterweight (147 pounds)

CHAMPION: ANDRE BERTO (US)
1. Luis Collazo (US)
2. Miguel Cotto (Puerto Rico)
3. Jackson Osei Bonsu (Belgium) EBU
4. Jesus Soto Karass (Mexico) AMERICA/NABF
5. Carlos Baldomir (Argentina)
6. Miguel Rodriguez (Mexico)
7. Selcuk Aydin (Turkey) INTL
8. Luis Carlos Abregu (Argentina) FESUBOX
9. Said Ouali (Morocco)
10. Bongani Mwelase (South Africa)

Super Lightweight (140 pounds)

CHAMPION: TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US)
1. Devon Alexander (US) AMERICA
2. Junior Witter (GB)
3. Ajose Olusegun (Nigeria) ABU/COMM
4. Francisco Figueroa (US) NABF
5. Jungbum Kim (Korea) OPBF
6. Edner Cherry (Bahamas)
7. Randall Bailey (US) LATINO
8. Cesar Cuenca (Argentina)
9. Gianluca Branco (Italy) EBU
10. Demetrius Hopkins (US)
11. Sirimongkol Singwangcha alias Sirimongkol Singmanasak (Thailand)

Lightweight (135 pounds)

CHAMPION: MANNY PACQUIAO (PHILIPPINES)
1. Edwin Valero (Venezuela)
2. Jose Armando Santa Cruz (US)
3. Antonio Pitalua (Colombia)
4. Anthony Peterson (US) NABF
5. Amir Khan (GB) COMM
6. Randy Suico (Phil) OPBF
7. David Diaz (US)
8. Antonio Demarco (Mexico)
9. Yuri Romanov (Belorussia)
10. Miguel Angel Huerta (Mexico)
11. Yodsanan Sith Yodthong alias Yodsanan 3-K Battery (Thailand)
39. Saddam Kiatyongyuth (Thailand) ABCO

Super Featherweight (130 pounds)

CHAMPION: VACANT
1. Humberto Soto (Mexico)
2. Francisco Lorenzo (Dominican Republic) CABOFE
3. Urbano Antillon (US)
4. Thong Por Chokchai (Thailand) ABCO
5. Sergey Gulyakevitch (Belorussia) EBU
6. Robert Guerrero (US)
7. Rocky Juarez (US)
8. Roman Martinez (Puerto Rico)
9. Ray Beltran (Mexico) AMERICA
10. Takashi Uchiyama (Japan) OPBF

Featherweight (126 pounds)

CHAMPION: OSCAR LARIOS (MEXICO)
1. Hector Velazquez (Mexico)
2. Elio Rojas (Dominican R)
3. Guty Espadas Jr. (Mexico)
4. Yuriorkis Gamboa (Cuba)
5. Gamaliel Diaz (Mexico)
6. Cholatarn O. Piriyapinyo (Thailand) ABCO
7. Leonilo Miranda (Mexico)
8. Jorge Solis (Mexico)
9. Takahiro Aoh (Japan)
10. Juan Carlos Burgos (Mexico)
40. Thongchai Thai Tor Silachai (Thailand) YOUTH / Interim

Super Bantamweight (122 pounds)

CHAMPION: ISRAEL VAZQUEZ (MEXICO)
1. Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
2. Toshiaki Nishioka (Japan)
3. Naphapol Kiattisakchocchoi (Thailand)
4. Jhonny Gonzalez (Mexico)
5. Bernabe Concepcion (Philippines) NABF
6. Ricardo Cordoba (Panama)
7. Akifumi Shimoda (Japan)
8. Wethya Sakmuangklang (Thailand) OPBF
9. Saenghiran Singwancha (Thailand)
10. Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Thailand)

Bantamweight (118 pounds)

CHAMPION: HOZUMI HASEGAWA (JAPAN)
1. Vusi Malinga (South Africa)
2. Alejandro Valdez (Mexico)
3. Rolly Lunas (Philippines) OPBF
4. Simpiwe Vetyeka (South Africa)
5. Carmelo Ballone (Belgium) EBU
6. Yonnhy Perez (Colombia) NABF
7. Eduardo Garcia (Mexico)
8. Kohei Ohba (Japan)
9. Abner Mares (Mexico)
10. Sasha Bakthin (Russia)
21. Medgoen Singsurat (Thailand)
26. Pungluang Sor Singyu (Thailand) YOUTH
33. Fahpetchnoi Sor Chitpattana (Thailand)

Super Flyweight (115 pounds)

CHAMPION: CRISTIAN MIJARES (MEXICO)
1. Jorge Arce (Mexico)
2. Caril Herrera (Uruguay) LATINO
3. Devid Lookmahanak alias Devid Nakornluang Promotion (Thailand) ABCO
4. Kohei Kono (Japan) OPBF
5. Evans Mbamba (South Africa) INTL
6. Chatchai Sasakul alias Chatchai Singwangcha (Thailand)
7. Masibulele Makepula (South Africa)
8. Nobuo Nashiro (Japan)
9. Everardo Morales (Mexico) ABMH/NABF
10. Daigo Nakahiro (Japan)
14. Pramuansak Phosuwan (Thailand)

Flyweight (112 pounds)

CHAMPION: DAISUKE NAITO (JAPAN)
1. Ponomrunglek Kratingdaeng (Thailand)
2. Julio Cesar Miranda (Mexico)
3. Koki Kameda (Japan)
4. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam alias Pongsaklek Sitkanongsak (Thailand)
5. Bernard Inom (France) EBU
6. Denkaosan Singwangha (Thailand)
7. Oscar Ibarra (Mexico) NABF/Interim
8. Omar Salado (Mexico)
9. Ivan Pozo (Spain)
10. Manuel Roman (Mexico) AMERICA
14. Ratanapol Sor Vorapin alias Anucha Phothong (Thailand)
22. Wandee Singwangcha alias Wandee Chor Chareon (Thailand) ABCO
30. Chatchai Sor Thanayong (Thailand)

Light Flyweight (108 pounds)

CHAMPION: EDGAR SOSA (MEXICO)
1. Juanito Rubillar (Philippines)
2. Cesar Seda (Puerto Rico)
3. Omar Niño (Mexico)
4. Adrian Hernandez (Mexico) AMERICA/NABF
5. Munetsugu Kayoh (Japan)
6. Noknoi Sitthiprasert alias Noknoi Krathingdaeng Gym (Thailand) YOUTH
7. Sonny Boy Jaro (Philippines)
8. Manuel Vargas (Mexico)
9. Kompayak Porpramook alias Suriyan Satorn (Thailand) ABCO
10. Eric Ortiz (Mexico)
38. Thaminkhao Sor Tharnthip (Thailand)

Strawweight / Minimumweight (105 pounds)

CHAMPION: OLEYDONG SITHSAMERCHAI alias Kittipong Jaikajang (THAILAND)
1. Pornsawan Por Pramuk alias Pornsawan Kratingdaeng Gym (Thailand) ABCO/Interim
2. Ganigan Lopez (Mexico) LATINO
3. Yasutaka Kuroki (Japan)
4. Katsunari Takayama (Japan)
5. Pigmy Muangchaiyaphume (Thailand) ABCO
6. Erik Ramirez (Mexico)
7. Juan Hernandez (Mexico) NABF
8. Omar Soto (Puerto Rico) CABOFE/USNBC
9. Teruo Misawa (Japan)
10. Mohamed Rachman (Indonesia)
12. Wanheng Menayothin (Thailand) YOUTH
21. Lookrak Sor Katika (Thailand)

This list is compiled by me from the source: World Boxing Council :: WBC Official Site

Pamela Jelimo wins Golden League's $1 million jackpot in 800m

Saturday Nation reports that Kenya's Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo became the first sole winner to win the IIAF Golden League's million dollar jackpot on Friday night, with her sixth straight 800 meters win at the Van Damme Memorial, in the last race of the series.


(Photo credit: Getty Images)

The 18-year-old Jelimo was a clear winner in the race to finish in a time of 1:55.16 for a meet record, almost four seconds ahead of world champion and fellow Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei, who finished in 1:58.85.

Jelimo made history be becoming the first Kenyan woman to win a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics.

To take the jackpot, athletes had to win their competition in each of the six top meets of the European Golden League circuit, which ended in Brussels on Friday.

Somjit wins gold, second for Thailand

Thai boxer Somjit Jongjohor (Thai: สมจิตร จงจอหอ) won his first Olympic gold medal by defeating Andris Laffita Hernandez of Cuba by 8-2 during their Men's Flyweight (51 kg) final boxing match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 23, 2008.


(Photo credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The bronze medals went to Georgy Balakshin of Russia and Italian Vincenzo Picardi, seen in the photo above.

Somjit, 33, earned Thailand's second gold medal in the Olympics. He has been waiting for this day since 12 years and finally realized his dream. This is his last boxing contest, after which he would continue his boxing career as a coach.

Somjit fought really well, and by the end of the 2nd round he was leading 6-0. One of his punches connected so solidly with Laffita Hernandez's face, that Channel NBT ran the punch replay repeatedly for 3 or 4 times after the match was over. Earlier, when the match was about to begin, I was just watching the 6 pm Thai National Anthem being played by NBT, and during the medal ceremony I listened to the Thai Anthem a second time live from Beijing.


(Photo credit: AP)

This was his 5th match in the Olympics and he displayed his superiority in every match, winning by a clear margin. He was older than every opponent he faced and won a combined 39 points and conceded only 7 points.

Somjit's Road To Success in Olympics:

1. Defeated Eddie Valenzuela of Guatemala 6-1
2. Defeated Samir Mammadov of Azerbaijan 10-2
3. Defeated Anvar Yunusov of Tajikistan 8-1
4. Defeated Vincenzo Picardi of Italy 7-1
5. Defeated Andris Laffita Hernandez of Cuba 8-2

Somjit held the portrait of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej during the announcement of the winning boxer.


(Photo credit: AP)

During the Olympic medal ceremony, he jumped onto the podium in style.


(Photo credit: AP)

Featured Blog of the Day at FuelMyBlog!

My blog "HaPPi Like a HiPPo" has been featured as blog of the day at FuelMyBlog.com today!


The above picture I received from FuelMyBlog is my award award for the occasion :)

Blog of the day features a different blog every day, and today is my day.
If you liked my blog please vote for me by clicking on the image below:

Let this blog enjoy the limelight for today!



Below is a screenshot from FuelMyBlog with my blog displayed on the top left-hand corner under "Blog of the Day".

Bolt strikes again, ligths up Bird's Nest with 200m WR

Usain Bolt of Jamaica has done it again! He rocked the Bird's Nest by winning the Men's 200m final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 20, 2008, in a world record time of 19.30 seconds. He was 0.66 seconds faster than the silver medalist Shawn Crawford of United States.


(Photo credit: Nicolas Asfouri)


(Photo credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Usain Bolt did on land what Michael Phelps did in the water. The only difference is that Bolt has fewer events to dominate and fewer world records to smash.

"My name is Lightning Bolt," he said. "I won't compare myself to Michael Phelps. To win eight gold medals, that's great. I'm on the track and he's in the water. You can't compare the two."

This was the best ever birthday gift for himself as his birthday falls on August 22. The 22-year-old sprint sensation, became the first person to win both the 100 and 200 meter events in world-record breaking times.

He has one event left in these Beijing Olympics, the 4x100 relay on Friday night. The world record is 37.40 set by two U.S. teams, in 1992 and 1993. It will be really thrilling to watch whether his Jamaican team will be able to smash that record as well!

Oussama Mellouli beats Grant Hackett to win men's 1500m Freestyle Olympic gold

Australian Grant Hackett's dream for a record third consecutive Olympic title in the Men's 1500 meter Freestyle was shattered as Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia proved faster than the Australian, at the National Aquatics Center, today.


(Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mellouli's time for the gold medal of 14:40.84 was an African record.

Against the expectations of many, he stuck with the two fastest qualifiers, Hackett and Canadian Ryan Cochrane, throughout the race and began to pull away with 200m left.

The lead three swimmers Hackett, Cochrane and Mellouli were never near to threatening the world record at any stage of the race with Cochrane turning in first place, at the 800m mark, in 7:51.06.


(Phot credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

It was at the 1100m mark that Mellouli made his move on the leader Hackett. He increased the pace to see if the Australian veteran and world record holder could go with him but Hackett couldn't catch up. From then on on Mellouli pulled away and swam the last 50m in a 28.45 split to ensure Hackett couldn't mount a comeback.

Hackett tried hard to close the gap in the last 100m with a last 50m split of 27.9 but it was not enough and he had to settle for the silver medal in 14:41.53.

Hackett's recent form suggested he could have been able to respond to the challenge from Mellouli but he was unable go with the Tunisian when it was needed.

Cochrane qualified second-fastest for the final in an Americas record 14:40.84 and was with the leaders throughout the race, finishing with the bronze medal in 14:42.69.

Yuriy Prilukov of Russia, who qualified third for the final in a European record 14:41.13, finished fourth.

Australia wins women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay gold, smashes WR

The final of the women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was held in the Water Cube, today, and the Australian team won the gold medal in a new world record time of 3:52.69, smashing their previous world mark of 3:55.74 set up on March 31, 2007.


(Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Australian quartet of Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones, Lisbeth Trickett and Jessicah Schipper comfortably took the glory.

The USA took silver in 3:53.30, with China fending off the British challenge for bronze in 3:56.11.



(Photo by credit: Bello/Getty Images)

Britta Steffen beats Dara Torres by 0.01 to win women's 50m Freestyle gold

Britta Steffen of Germany sealed the sought-after Freestyle sprint double as she took gold in the Women's 50m Freestyle in an Olympic record of 24.06 seconds at the National Aquatics Center today, adding to the 100m Freestyle gold she won on Friday.


(Photo credit: Ding Xu/Xinhua)

Britta Steffen, who qualified third fastest for the final in 24.43, was not the quickest off the blocks but recovered to overtake Dara Torres and finish first. Steffen touched the wall 0.01 second ahead of Dara Torres.

Dara Torres of the United States, the 41-year-old mother of one, was out to show her competitors that her age is no barrier in the splash and dash. She clocked the fastest time into the final and recorded the second fastest reaction time but could only manage the silver medal behind Steffen. Torres also set an Americas record of 24.07.


(Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Sixteen-year-old Australian schoolgirl Cate Campbell, who was not born when Torres made her third Olympic team at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, clocked an encouraging 24.17 to finish with a bronze medal.


(Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

World record holder Lisbeth Trickett (Libby Lenton) of Australia had the quickest reaction time off the blocks but did not feature in the medals, finishing fourth in a time of 24.25.

Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands, another of the pre-race favorites, finished in fifth place at 24.26.

Phelps wins historic 8th gold in men's 4x100m Medley Relay

Michael Phelps won his historic record eighth gold medal in the Men's 4 x 100 meter Medley Relay with teammates Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak. This time the American team set another world record time of 3:29.34. Phelps swam the third leg of the relay — the butterfly, which is his specialty. The event was held at the National Aquatics Center during day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China.


(Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)


(Photo credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times)

With 14 golds in total including previous Olympics, Phelps now stands alone in sports history with the most Olympic gold medals. With his 8th gold medal in Beijing, Phelps breaks his tie with Mark Spitz for most golds in a single games. With the help of his teammates, Michael Phelps surpassed Mark Spitz, 36 years after Spitz's record haul of 7 gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.


(Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Phelps's 8 Gold Medal List at the Beijing 2008 Olympics:

1. 400m Individual Medley
2. 4x100m Freestyle Relay
3. 200m Freestyle
4. 200m Butterfly
5. 4x200m Freestyle Relay
6. 200m Individual Medley
7. 100m Butterfly
8. 4x100m Medley Relay

The defending Olympic champion US team updated their world record time by 1.34 seconds. Australia won the silver in 3:30.04 and Japan took bronze at 3:31.18.


(Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Phelps admitted to being overwhelmed after achieving his feat, and was quick to pay tribute to his US team-mates.

Phelps's Quotes

"I don't even know what to feel right now," Phelps said.

"There's so much emotions going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.

"Without the help of my teammates this isn't possible.

"I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit.

"For the three Olympics I've been a part of, this is by far the closest men's team that we've ever had.

"I didn't know everybody coming into this Olympics, butI feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference."

He added: "Nothing is impossible

"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that's something I learned and something that helped me."

Vijendar Kumar beats Angkarn Chomphuphuang of Thailand

Thailand's Angkarn Chomphuphuang was defeated by India's Vijendar Kumar during their Men's 75 kg (Middleweight) Round of 16 boxing bout of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 16, 2008. Vijendar won on points by 13-3.

This is Angkarn's Olympic debut.

Vijendar 's Profile:
Born: 29 Oct 1985
Height: 182cm / 6'0"





20 August 2008 Update
Vijender Kumar creates history by defeating Carlos Gongora of Ecuador during the Men's 75 kg Quarterfinal boxing match to secure India's first Boxing medal

22 August Update
Vijender Kumar was defeated by Emilio Correa Bayeaux of Cuba during the Men's 75 kg Semifinal boxing match today. Emilio won by 8:5.

Vijender creates history for India by winning the bronze, thats a great feat!

Usain Bolt breaks World Record in men's 100m in 9.69 seconds

Usain Bolt of Jamaica has won the Men's 100m Final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.


(Photo credit: Xinhua)


(Photo credit: Xinhua)

Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix at 9.91 seconds to take the bronze.

Bolt broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Bolt came from relative obscurity to worldwide attention in the 100m at a Grand Prix event on Long Island, New York, in late May, after demolishing the field and breaking the world record in a time of 9.72 seconds, a stunning result for anyone, let alone a runner who had been seen as a 200m specialist.

Reigning world champion Tyson Gay failed to qualify after running a time of 10.05 seconds in the semifinals. Gay was the United States best chance for gold.

How the U.S. beat the French in the men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Saw this cool graphic illustration by Los Angeles Times comparatively depicting how the U.S. men's team of Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak came from behind to win the gold medal in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay.

Check out Jason Lezak in the 4th leg, he swam the fastest 100 relay split ever to catch France's Alain Bernard.

Click on the picture below to view in 100% size



Image take from LA Times.

Cielo Filho wins shock gold in men's 50m Freestyle with OR

Cesar Cielo Filho of Brazil sprang a major upset to beat his strong rivals in the men's 50m Freestyle final at the Water Cube today.


(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Cielo, who had qualified fastest for the final, emerged from a wall of white water as the jubilant and surprise winner in an Olympic record time of 21.30 seconds.

Cielo shared the bronze with Jason Lezak of the United States in the Men's 100 Freestyle final on Thursday.

In another surprise result, Frenchman Amaury Leveaux took the silver medal in a time of 21.45.


(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Thursday's 100m Freestyle champion Alain Bernard, also from France, qualified second fastest for the final but could only manage the bronze medal in the hectic finish with a time of 21.49.

World record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia displayed earlier form that suggested he could battle Bernard for the gold, but he finished the final a disappointing sixth fastest in 21.65.

An emotional Cielo Filho wipes his tears

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Athens 2004 bronze medalist Roland Schoeman of South Africa, who had the fastest reaction time off the blocks of 0.64 seconds, finished in seventh place.