Русская версияGermany's men won the hockey Olympic gold to go with their world
title with a narrow but well-earned 1-0 victory over Spain in
Beijing on Saturday, Aug.
22.
The single goal, shot by Christopher Zeller in the 19th minute, was
enough to end the spirited challenge of the Spanish. Germany could
have had at least two more goals had it not been for Spain's goalie
Francisco Cortes who denied Matthias Witthaus, and another German
shot which hit the left goalpost.
In the women's mountain biking final earlier in the day, Sabine
Spitz, who ended her race more than 40 seconds ahead of silver
medalist Maja Wloszczowska of Poland, was in a class of her own as
she cycled away from her rivals early in the 27-kilometre course
and had enough time to carry her bike across the finish line in
delight.
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With time to spare, Spitz could celebrate before the line
"I thought the Polish rider (Wloszczowska) would have been
stronger," Spitz said. "After the first downhill I saw a chance to
pass her and take the lead. My aim was to shock my opponents in the
race, but (for it) to happen that way was a big surprise."
The 36-year old made her victory look easy, but said she had to
focus throughout in order not to fall or lose her line.
"It was difficult to concentrate and control my opponents even when
leading, so it took a lot of concentration," Spitz said. "The heat
was the strongest opponent. I like the heat so maybe it was because
of that that I won. It was very hard because the weather was so hot
today."
The German provided a nervous moment on a downhill section on the
last lap, but came through unscathed.
"It was a really nervous last lap because there's always the fear
that you crash or suffer a puncture or another mechanical problem,"
said Spitz, whose last major international triumph was her world
title win in 2003.
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Spitz says she's hungry for more
Spitz, who only started racing at the relatively late age of 22,
said that her age was of no concern. She is getting hungrier all
the time.
"It's just a question of mind, I am still hungry," she said. "I
feel pure joy at what I have finally achieved after so many years
of hard work. Winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games is the
crowning glory."
No golds for Germany on the water
After many days of often surprising success, Team Germany's
paddlers suffered a disappointing penultimate day in Beijing when a
number of golden opportunities disappeared in the choppy waters of
the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
Christian Gille and Tomasz Wylenzek took the bronze in a photo
finish in the K2 500m division, just edging out the Belarussian duo
by 0.032 seconds. China's Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun were very
popular winners of the race, just ahead of Russians Sergey Ulegin
and Alexander Kostoglod.
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Gille and Wylenzek had to settle for bronze on Saturday after
Friday's silver
In the women's K2 over 500m, Fanny Fischer and Nicole Reinhardt
left their surge forward until too late as Hungarians Katalin
Kovacs and Natasa Janic won gold in a time of one minute 41,308
seconds.
Ronald Rauhe and Tim Weiskotter won the silver in the K2 500m
race, running eventual gold medalists Saul Craviotto and Carlos
Perez of Spain close at the finish.
In Friday's Women's K1 1,000m race Katrin Wagner-Augustin claimed
bronze behind Inna Osypenko-Radomska of Ukraine in first and Josefa
Idem of Italy in second place.
Germany's overall record at the Shunyi Park of two gold, two silver
and three bronze medals was the poorest result the country had
achieved in the sport since competing as a unified nation at the
Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
(Deutsche Welle)
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