(BEIJING, August 21) — Spain and Germany fought back from the brink of defeat to set up the gold medal match in the Men’s Hockey competition at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium on Thursday, August 21. World champions Germany, trailing by a goal four minutes from the end, overcame the Netherlands 4-3 in the penalty shootout after the sides drew 1-1. Spain went 2-0 down against defending champions Australia but fought back brilliantly to snatch a 3-2 win in the second semifinal.

The Spaniards, seeking their maiden gold medal, showed character after conceding goals in the first minute of both halves. Des Abbott and Eddie Ockenden gave Australia a 2-0 lead, but had no answer to the individual brilliance of Spanish forwards, Eduard Tubau, who scored twice to equalize, and Santiago Freixa, who netted the match-winner two minutes from time.

Asafa Powell sprints. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Two-time sprint gold medalist Usain Bolt led Jamaica to the Men’s 4 x 100 meters win with a new world record at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Friday.

Trinidad and Tobago took the silver in 38.06 seconds and Japan won the bronze in 38.15.

Asafa Powell (L) sprints as Usain Bolt shouts. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Yuliya Chermoshanskaya of Russia celebrates. (Photo credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 22) — Russia took the Women’s 4x100m Relay gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a time of 42.31 seconds.

The coveted gold medals will be worn by Evgeniya Polyakova, Aleksandra Fedoriva, Yulia Gushchina and Yuliya Chermoshanskaya.

The Athens 2004 silver medal team was comprised of Olga Fyodorova, Irina Khabarova, Larisa Kruglova and Yuliya Tabakova.

The silver went to reigning world championships bronze medalist Belgian team, this time made up of Olivia Borlee, Hanna Marien, Elodie Ouedraogo, and Kim Gevaert, in a time of 42.54s.

Barcelona 1992 bronze medalists Nigeria took bronze again, this time with Franca Idoko, Gloria Kemasuode, Halimat Ismaila, and Oludamola Osayomi running in a time of 43.04s.

The United States and Jamaica were expected to go head-to-head for the gold, but the United States was disqualified in the semifinal, while the Jamaicans stumbled in the second changeover, taking Great Britain with them.