DAY 9 of the Sydney Olympics
Saturday, Sept. 23 (Friday night EDT)
STARS
Saturday
The Russians swept the first two events as synchronized diving made its Olympic debut, beating the powerful Chinese in men's 10-meter platform and women's 3-meter springboard.
Steven Redgrave, Britain, won the gold, and made history in the process. He pulled his crew to victory in the men's fours, making him just the third person to win gold at five straight Olympics.
Rajmond Debevec, Slovenia, won the men's 50-meter rifle three-position.
Friday
American swimmers Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony Ervin tied for the gold in the 50-meter freestyle, each swimming 21.98 seconds and beating double gold-medalist Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.
Brooke Bennett, Plant City, Fla., won her second gold in the 800 freestyle in an Olympic-record 8:19.67.
David O'Connor, The Plains, Va., ended a 16-year gold medal drought for the United States in equestrian by winning the individual three-day event.
Cheryl Haworth, Savannah, Ga., got the bronze in 165 pounds-plus women's weightlifting, lifting an American-record 275 1/2 pounds in the snatch.
MEDALS
After nine of Saturday's 26 gold medals were awarded, the United States led with 42 medals (16 gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze), China was next with 32 (14, 9 and 9). Australia was in third with 31 (8, 12 and 11).
WEATHER
The temperature was 69 degrees under partly cloudy skies Saturday morning.
SORRY SATURDAY
U.S. teams in rowing and beach volleyball missed their shots at gold medals, writing a bad ending to a pair of good Olympic tales. And the three American runners entered in the 800 meters couldn't escape the first round.
SWIFT START
American Adam Nelson won silver Friday in the shot put at 69 feet, 7 inches and teammate John Godina was third with 69-6 3/4. ... Marion Jones and Maurice Greene qualified for the semifinals of the 100 meters. ... Donovan Bailey of Canada, the 1996 gold medalist in the men's 100, was eliminated in his second heat.
SOMEWHAT EASIER
Challenged in its first three games, the U.S. women's basketball team (4-0) routed New Zealand 93-42 Friday, clinching at least a tie for first place in its group.
SWEET SCIENCE
David Jackson, Seattle, couldn't make the 132-pound weight limit and was eliminated Friday. ... Jeff Lacy, St. Petersburg, Fla., advanced to the 165-pound quarterfinals. ... World 106-pound champion Brian Viloria, Waipahu, Hawaii, lost. Three Americans have advanced to the quarterfinals, six others are still in competition and two have yet to fight.
SPEAKING
"I didn't feel great. I didn't run good. It's a bad time to run a bad race." — Bryan Woodward, who along with American teammates Mark Everett and Richard Kenah failed to qualify in the 800 meters.