American Paige McPherson,21,won the bronze medal in the women's 67kg,or welterweight,taekwondo class Friday.McPherson took the United States' eighth Olympic medal in the fighting sport,defeating Slovenia's Franka Anic 8-3.McPherson,the pride of Sturgis,South Dakota,was raised by her adoptive parents in a family of adopted children.
Kicking seems to be the heart of taekwondo,although punching may also yield points.It's not a sport the masses are too familiar with yet,but it's definitely exciting to watch-and listen to,as the competitors are quite vocal with their battle cries,if you will.
There is a definite culture of respect underpinning the fierce contests,with competitors and officials bowing to each other at various points.
The Bahamas won their first gold medal in history Friday,upsetting the US men in the 4x400 meter relay.The US had won gold in the relay at every Olympics since 1984.
In the overall London Olympics medal count Friday,the US was first,with 94 total and 41 gold;China was second,with 81 total and 37 gold;and Russia held third place,with 63 total and 15 gold medals.
Update:In Olympics action Saturday,Mexico took the gold in men's soccer,beating Brazil 2-1.It was Mexico's first medal of any kind in soccer.
Russia took both gold and silver in the women's 20 km race walk,as Elena Lashmanova,20,bested the defending gold medalist Olga Kinistina,27.It was a thrilling finish on the Mall in London,with Lashmanova slowly yet steadily reeling Kinistina in,finally eclipsing her in the final moments of the race.Lashmanova blazed a new world record of 1:25:02 in the process,extinguishing the old record of 1:25:08.
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