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Olympics photos: The gold medallists of Day 1

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Gold medal winner China's Sun Yang waves with silver medal winner South Korea's Park Tae-hwan, right, and United States' Peter Vanderkaay

The gold medal winners of the London Olympics thus far.

Sun Yang the first Chinese male swimmer to win Olympic gold arrived poolside with an air of studied nonchalance, headphones clamped over his ears and goggles on, but it did not take long for the composure to break.
 
Three minutes and 40.14 seconds, to be precise, just 0.07 outside of the world record for the 400 metres freestyle set by Germany's Paul Biedermann back in the bodysuit days when technology boosted the times.
Sun looked up at the big screen and erupted. Mission accomplished.
 
- London Olympics 2012 - Complete coverage
 
The man carrying the burden of expectation for a billion people had delivered, beating South Korea's reigning champion Park Tae-hwan into second place with Peter Vanderkaay taking bronze for the United States.
 
When it came to the medal ceremony, he was in such a hurry to step up that he had one foot already on the podium before his name was called.
 
"This is the reward for all my efforts," he said through an interpreter afterwards.
 
"Today I was so impatient, eager to get on the podium. If I cry, it's really because I worked so hard, I get up so early and work so late."

Vino spoils British road race party

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Kazakhstan's Alexandr Vinokurov celebrates

Old school cycling prevailed on Saturday as former doping cheat Alexandre Vinokourov upset Britain's plan to set up a big sprint finish for world champion Mark Cavendish when he claimed gold in the Olympic road race.

Colombian Rigoberto Uran took silver with Norway's Alexander Kristoff coming home third to win the bronze medal eight seconds behind.

A rider of instinct, Kazakhstan's Vinokourov, who was suspended for two years in 2007 for blood doping, cleverly slipped into a 32-man group that the British team failed to rein in on the way back to central London from Box Hill.

Phelps misses the Olympic podium in 400 IM

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Thiago Pereira of Brazil, gold medalist Ryan Lochte of the United States and bronze medalist Kosuke Hagino of Japan celebrate with their medals

Michael Phelps failed in his first medal bid at the London Olympics, shattering the overpowering mystique he created with his unprecedented eight gold medals at Beijing.

Phelps didn't even make it to the podium in the 400-meter individual medley at the Aquatics Centre on Saturday, the first full day of competition at the games. He was fourth behind winner and fellow American Ryan Lochte, who was ahead of the world record but faded on the last lap.

Lochte was more than three seconds ahead of Brazil's Thiago Pereira. Japan's Kosuke Hagino claimed the bronze.

China's Ye Shiwen sets a world record

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
United States' silver medalist Elizabeth Beisel, left, China's gold medalist Ye Shiwen, center, and China's bronze medalist Li Xuanxu, right, pose for photographers

It was a wild night at the pool, with Ye Shiwen setting a world record to win the women's 400 IM.

The 16-year-old Ye trailed American teenager Elizabeth Beisel but pulled away in the freestyle leg to win gold in 4 minutes, 28.43 seconds. She beat the mark of 4:29.45 set by Stephanie Rice at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beisel settled for silver in 4:31.27, while Li Xuanxu gave China another medal by taking the bronze in 4:32.91. Rice was sixth.

China wins four of the 12 gold medals

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
China's Yi Siling celebrates after winning the gold medal

China won four of the 12 gold medals on offer and Italy collected two on the opening day, when Queen Elizabeth II was among the thousands of spectators who flocked to the Olympic Park on a sunny day in London.

Chinese shooter Yi Siling had the distinction of being presented the first gold medal of the 30th Summer Games with a victory in the women's 10-meter air rifle.

Elisa Di Francisca strikes gold for Italy

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Italy's gold medalist Elisa Di Francisca shows off her medal

The Italian fencers swept the medals in the women's individual foil, with Elisa Di Francisca beating Arianna Errigo for gold, and Italy's men won the archery team gold medal at Lord's, beating the United States and South Korea.

Jin Jong-oh of South Korea takes home gold

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Jin Jong-oh

Other gold medalists included Jin Jong-oh of South Korea in the men's 10-meter air pistol.

Mingjuang won another gold for China

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST

Four-time world champion Wang Mingjuang of China in the women's 48-kilogram weightlifting class.

Sarah Menezes won gold for Brazil

Last updated on: July 29, 2012 19:17 IST
Sarah Menezes of Brazil holds up her gold medal

In judo, Sarah Menezes of Brazil took the women's 48-kilogram event and Arsen Galstyan of Russia the men's 60-kilogram.

Australia stormed to a surprise victory in the women's 4x100 metres freestyle final at the London Olympics on Saturday.

The Australian quartet of Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger won gold in a combined time of three minutes, 33.15 seconds.

The Netherlands, who had won the gold at the last Olympics and the previous two world championships, flashed home to finish second and grab the silver medal in 3:33.79.

The United States finished third to provide Colorado teenager Missy Franklin with her first Olympic medal and Natalie Coughlin her 12th, matching the record for an American female athlete at the Olympics.

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