Brazil vs. Mexico for Soccer Gold

OUCH . . .

Bad Day at the Office

Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela (#469) goes over her handlebars in the semi-final heats of the women's BMX competition

Latvia is a BMX Powerhouse

Maris Strombergs of Latvia (far right, wearing red, white and blue) takes the lead in a semi-final heat in men's BMX.  He would go on to win the gold medal.

Gold Medal Ceremony

The US women are all smiles as they take snapshots before the medal ceremony

After receiving their gold medals, the US women are all business as they all place their hands on their hearts for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.

The US Women Celebrate

Full Time. USA over Japan 2-1

No one ever believes he (or she) did anything wrong

Soccer is a Contact Sport

Gold Medal Game: USA vs. Japan

Yuki Ogami was a force all night for Japan.  Photo above - she attracts the attention of three US defenders as she heads a ball.  Photo below - she beats Hope Solo only to hit the crossbar in a bid to tie the game in the first half.  

Gold Medal Women's Soccer: USA vs Japan

In a rematch of the 2010 World Cup finals, the US women drew first blood on Carli Lloyds header at the eight minute mark of the first half

Things you don't see on TV

A janitor, complete with Olympic rings on his back, takes off his shoes and vacuums the ring 1.5 hours before the first fight of the afternoon. 

Irish eyes are smiling

Katie Taylor (red) of Ireland takes a shot in the kisser from Chorieva Mavzuna of Tajikistan.  Irish fans were out in force and extremely LOUD at ExCel Arena.  Despite taking this shot, Taylor would go on to win and advance to the gold medal bout.

First Time as Olympic Event: Women's Boxing

American Marlen Esparza (in blue) lost to Ren Cancan (in red) of China.  This single picture tells the entire story of the fight - Ren was the taller fighter and had greater reach. 

The final score was 10-8 in favor of Ren

God Save the Queen

Why I love the British national anthem:

1.  It's short.
2.  We Yanks have our own lyrics to go with the tune so I can sing along while it's playing.

The Olympics is taking it's toll on me

A couple of my toe nails have turned black and blue from all the walking with a heavy pack on my back . . . had a pinched nerve or pulled muscle in my neck from hauling gear and/or hunching over to look into the camera and have a twitch above my left eye.  Home stretch now.  Closing ceremony on Sunday. 

Fans in Greenwich Park watching the big screen TV cheering Andy Murray's win over Roger Federer

Sat up high for Usain Bolt's 100m victory

I shot Usain Bolt straight on in Beijing so I thought I'd try shooting him from up high this time.  Didn't work out.  Bolt turned to his left (toward the infield) and there was no picture to be made from my vantage point.  You win some, you lose some. 

Serera Williams demolishes Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1

Serena won the first eight points of the match and the rout was on.

What you may have missed on TV is that Serena left the court right as the match was suppose to start.  If it was a bathroom, it would have been very odd since the players were on the court no more than 10 minutes before Serena disappeared.  Sharapova jogged in place and hit a couple of practice serves during the delay.  When Serena reemerged onto the court, the chair umpired announced, "Time."  Instead of walking onto the court, Serena sat down, and took a slow, deliberate drink of water and the crowed booed.  I don't think any of this behavior was accidental.  It's my guess that Serena was trying to get Sharapova off her game.  It worked.

Sharapova won only one game and had only two break points the entire match.  She was struggling just to win points, let alone games.

Robson/Hewitt win a thriller and the home crowd goes wild

After each team won a set at 6-3, the match was decided by a mini-set in which the team that wins 10 points first with at least a 2-point margin, wins the mini-set and the match.  Down early in the mini-set, the British team of Robson/Murray came back to win 10-8 over the Australian duo of Stosur/Hewitt.  Center court stadium, with the roof closed due to showers, erupted when the home team won.

Mixed Doubles Quarter-finals: Brits vs Aussies

 Andy Murray of Team GB

Laura Robson of Team GB

 Tim Hewitt of Australia

Sam Stosur of Australia

For the Last Post of the Day, a Kiss from Maria

Sweet Dreams!

A Victory and a Finals Date against Serena Williams

Sharapova won in a deceptively tough 6-2, 6,3 match vs. Maria Kirilenko that took 1.5 hours.  She will face Serena Williams on Saturday in the gold-medal match.

Personal note:  After the match ended, I left my shooting spot and headed to the photo workroom to upload my photos to the newspaper.  To reach the photo workroom I had to walk through a short tunnel.  As I as walking through, Maria Sharapova was walking in the opposite direction.  My heart skipped a beat as I practically rubbed elbows with the career grandslam winner.

Emotions

 Disappointment

Elation

Ladies and Gentlemen (Okay, more for the gentlemen than ladies) . . .

Maria Sharapova . . .

MARIA x2

Sharapova vs. Kirilenko on Court 1 at Wimbledon.  

 Poor Maria Kirilenko.  When playing Sharapova, she will always be the other Maria.

First photo in the newspaper this Olympics

Keith Sanderson, competes in the 25m rapid fire pistol competition on August 2, 2012.  Photo published in the San Antonio Express-News.

Shooting the shooters

In 2008, my first solo assignment was to shoot Houston-local Glenn Eller competing in the double trap competition.  He went on to set an Olympic record and win gold.  He competed today in London but did not advance to the finals.  

Eller looks out into the firing range after shooting as the judge raises two flags to indicate Eller missed both targets in the first round of the double trap shooting qualifying round at Royal Artillery Barracks.  Eller missed qualifying for the finals with a score of 126.