Aug. 11, 2008

Olympic Gold! Jones, US Win 4x100 Relay

BEIJING - Dramatic doesn't begin to do it justice.

Former Wolfpack swimmer Cullen Jones, with teammates Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak, shocked a worldwide audience and sent the American contingent into a frenzy with a stunning upset win over heavily favored France to take Olympic Gold in the 4x100 meter relay on Monday, Aug. 11. Undeterred by prognosticators, as well as less than flattering statements to the press from some of its competitors, the U.S. foursome posted a world record time of 3:08.24 to bring home the top prize.

Jones (47.65) swam the third leg of the race, while Phelps (47.51) began and Weber-Gale (47.02) went second. But it was a jaw-dropping world-record performance by Lezak (46.06) in the final leg that put the United States on top.

Ward Wins Bronze Medal In Beijing

BEIJING - Incoming Duke freshman Rebecca Ward won a bronze medal in the Individual Women's Fencing Sabre competition Saturday at the Fencing Center in Beijing at the XXIX Summer Olympic Games.

Seeded No. 2, Ward was upset by teammate and No. 5 seeded Mariel Zagunis in the semifinals, 15-11. Ward and Zagunis are from the same club in Oregon and Zagunis is the defending Olympic gold medalist.