Bolt sets world record in 200

BEIJING - Usain Bolt completed his sprint double Wednesday with a gold medal in the men's 200m.

Once again, the Jamaican blew away the field, but this time he ran through the finish and with a 19.32 broke Michael Johnson's world record.

Bolt was an astonishing 0.52 seconds ahead of Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles, who was second across the finish line but later was disqualified after a U.S. team protest that he had run out of his lane. The third man across the line, Wallace Spearmon of the United States, also was disqualified for leaving his lane.

Those rulings meant Shawn Crawford of the United States, the defending Olympic champion, wound up with the silver medal, and another American, Walter Dix, ended up with the bronze medal despite being the fifth man across the finish line.

On Saturday night, Bolt won the 100m with a world record of 9.69 seconds. He began his celebration with 20 meters to go, throwing his arms in the air and pounding his chest as he crossed the finish.

Also at the Bird’s Nest on Wednesday:
—The Jamaican flag also waved proudly for Melaine Walker, who won the women’s 400-meter hurdles. American Sheena Tosta got silver.

—Aksana Miankova of Belarus set an Olympic record in winning the women’s hammer throw.

—Bernard Lagat advanced to the 5,000-meter final, moving on the Saturday night’s medal race.

—Three Jamaicans and three Americans were among those advancing to the women’s 200 finals, which will be Thursday night.

Men's Basketball
Don't doubt this U.S. men's basketball team — and sure don't challenge them, either.

Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form.

Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's U.S. Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 on Wednesday night.

The United States will play defending champion Argentina or Greece on Friday night for a spot in Sunday's gold medal game.

Locked in what looked like another tough game in Australia, the Americans sent the Aussies' upset hopes down under with a 14-0 burst to open the second half, featuring nine points from Bryant.

LeBron James added 16 points for the Americans, who are guaranteed a chance to play for a medal. They need two more wins for their first gold medal in a major international competition since the 2000 Sydney Games.

Volleyball
The U.S. men’s volleyball team came from behind to defeat Serbia in five sets and remain undefeated in Beijing.

The 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory Wednesday night propels the United States into the semifinal round against Russia.

The U.S. team overcame tragedy to win all five of its matches in preliminary pool play. Serbia went 2-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Softball
Both the U.S. women's softball and men's beach volleyball teams are moving on to the finals to play for gold medals this week.

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Crystl Bustos of the U.S. blasted a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning — which followed a Caitlin Lowe RBI single — as the Americans powered over Japan, 4-1. Pitcher Monica Abbott, who pitched eight shut-out innings, picked up the win.

The teams were knotted in a scoreless tie, forcing the game into extra innings, until Lowe singled in Natasha Watley from second in the ninth. Two at-bats later, Bustos sent the ball flying into the left-field bleachers.

Team USA plays the loser of Australia-Canada in Thursday's gold-medal game.

Beach volleyball
The stunning loss in the tournament opener seems like ancient history for Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, especially now that the Americans are playing for the gold medal.

The guys needed only 41 minutes to eliminate Georgia in straight sets in the semifinals, then watched Brazil’s No. 2 team beat its best, the Athens gold medalists.

On the women's side, Jill Kintner of the U.S. ranked seventh in the seeding with a best time of 37.913. Anne-Caroline Chausson of France came in first with a best time of 36.660.

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