USA has big day on court, pitch and in pool

Georgia stays despite crisis
Beyond China, too, distant crises spoiled the Games’ intended spirit of international harmony.

Georgia’s team offered to withdraw over the conflict with Russia in South Ossetia. But President Mikheil Saakashvili sent a message overnight instructing them to stay “in the best interest of the country.”

After Phelps thrilled the Water Cube, Australia’s Stephanie Rice followed suit to smash the world record and win the same 400m individual medley event for women.

Park Tae-hwan won the men’s 400m freestyle to give South Korea a second gold while Zhang Lin became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic swimming medal with his silver.

The Netherlands took an unexpected gold in the women’s swimming 4x100m freestyle relay.

China came second in the medal table in Athens but aspires to outstrip the United States this time. As expected, given its strength in the first sports, China had taken an early lead with three golds versus the United States’ two by midday on Sunday.

Guo Wenjun gave the hosts their latest gold in the women’s 10m air pistol.

Recalling the high-profile doping cases of Athens, the International Olympic Committee ruled Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou could not compete in Beijing despite completing a ban.

In what the IOC called a “scandalous saga,” Thanou and fellow runner Costas Kenteris missed a drugs test on the eve of the Athens Games, overshadowing the opening.

Bush went to church and then met Chinese President Hu Jintao for private talks he has repeatedly said he uses to talk frankly about human rights. “I enjoy our conversations,” Bush said.

Hu thanked Bush for his fourth trip to China, the most by a sitting U.S. president. “This is a true testament to the importance you place on relations with China,” he said.

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