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Usain Bolt and beyond: Six of the best from a great day ahead

 

Thursday 09 August 2012 05:45 EDT
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Bolt will go for his second gold medal of these games in tonight's 200m
Bolt will go for his second gold medal of these games in tonight's 200m (Reuters)

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1. Bolt's stroll sets up a date with destiny

The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, last night cruised to victory in his 200m semi-final after barely having to make any effort at all in the second half of the race. The performance set up the tantalising prospect that he may beat his own 200m world record of 19.19sec set at the Berlin World Championships in 2009.

"It's all about going through as easy as possible – that was the aim, so I'm happy," he said. "I'm ready – this is my favourite event. I'm looking forward to it. I know what I can do. I never doubt myself." "I believe there is a lot more to come from Usain Bolt. I don't think he ran the bend or the home stretch that hard – he was very relaxed," said BBC pundit Michael Johnson.

He will need to fight off a challenge from his Jamaican teammate and training partner, Yohan Blake, who posted a time 0.17 seconds faster than Bolt's 20.18 seconds yesterday, but Bolt was cruising and will be faster tonight.

2. It's wet and wild as swimming goes outdoors

After Britain's disappointing medal haul of just a silver and two bronzes in the Olympic pool, Keri-Anne Payne, 24, will take to the waters of the Serpentine in Hyde Park in a bid to win gold for in the 10km open water swim. The 24-year-old is hotly-tipped for gold but will have to content with elbows and kicks as she battles her way through the crowded field.

3. Can Britain win another track gold?

Team GB's Andrew Osagie will hope to win a medal in the 800m final at 8pm. He qualified second in his heat on Tuesday, with a time of 1:44.74 behind the world record holder and favourite for gold, David Rudisha, of Kenya.

4. Decathlon final for an all-round hero

US athlete Ashton Eaton will aim to win the decathlon final. The hotly-tipped favourite broke the Olympic record for the 100m sprint that had stood for 44 years yesterday with a time of 10.35s.

5. The football season? It's not starting just yet

In women's football, Japan and the US will contest the final for the gold medal at Wembley Stadium at 7.45pm. The bronze medal match will see Canada play France, and kicks off at 1pm at the City of Coventry Stadium.

6. Beach volleyball climax

The men's beach volleyball competition reaches its conclusion at 9pm, where world champions Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti of Brazil will face Germany's Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann.

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