Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt used a strong second half to overtake his competitors and win gold in the 1oo-meter dash in an Olympic-record time of 9.63 seconds Sunday in London.
Bolt was in sixth place at the midpoint before he blew away the field.
“I executed, and that’s the key,” Bolt said. “I stopped worrying about the start. The end is what’s important.”
Jamaica took 1-2 in the event, as world champion Yohan Blake captured the silver medal in 9.75 seconds. American Justin Gatlin was third in 9.79.
MORE TRACK: RICHARDS-ROSS RACES TO 400 GOLD
American Sanya Richards-Ross, who faded down the stretch four years ago and settled for bronze, won the women’s 400 in 49.55 seconds, giving the U.S. team its first gold of the London Games.
Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, the defending champion, was second in 49.70, and American DeeDee Trotter was third in 49.72. …
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius was unable to reach the final of the 400 meters, as the South African finished last in his 400 heat.
BASKETBALL: U.S. WOMEN WIN IN RECORD ROUT
Only days after the U.S. men’s basketball team set a record for points in a game, their female counterparts tied the U.S. Olympic mark in a 114-66 blowout of China.
Former UConn star Diana Taurasi scored 22 points to lead the way. The Americans also set a U.S. Olympic record for assists (33) and baskets (52).
TENNIS: MURRAY WINS GOLD IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD
Britain’s Andy Murray rolled to a victory in the men’s tennis title match, beating Swiss star Roger Federer, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. Murray became the first Brit to win singles gold since Josiah Ritchie in 1908, when the matches also were held at Wimbledon. …
In women’s doubles, sisters Venus and Serena Williams won their third career doubles gold medal.
GYMNASTICS: MARONEY FALLS TO SILVER IN VAULT
American vault standout McKayla Maroney committed a rare mistake, falling on her landing in her final attempt and settling for a silver medal behind Romania’s Sandra Izbasa. …
In the men’s pommel horse, Hungary’s Krisztian Berkl won a tiebreaker over Britain’s Louis Smith for the gold medal.
MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The U.S. women’s soccer team takes on Canada in the semifinals, with the winner meeting Japan or France for the gold medal (2:45 p.m., NBC Olympic Soccer Channel).
The U.S. men’s basketball team plays its final preliminary-round game, and it should be a challenge against a talented Argentinian squad led by Manu Ginobili (5:15 p.m., NBC Olympic Basketball Channel).
On the track, the men’s 400 and 400 hurdles champions will be determined (part of NBC’s primetime coverage, 8 p.m.).
In gymnastics, the women’s uneven bars, men’s rings and men’s vault individual champions will be determined (part of NBC’s primetime coverage, 8 p.m.).