Bad day today but the final day could bring gold at last

The penultimate day of the 2008 Olympics was not a good one for Ireland as coincidentally both competitors dropped out during their events.

Robin Seymour was in the Men's mountain biking and although he was not considered to be a medal threat he failed to even finish the race. Seymour dropped out on lap two France's Julien Absalon took his mountain bike status to new heights when he became the first rider to defend the men's Olympic cross country title.

At the Birds Nest Alistair Cragg couldn't finish the final of the 5000m because of injury. Cragg began the race near the head of affairs but after a couple of slow laps, struggled to cope with the stiff pace set by Bekele, who dictated the final virtually from the gun. Cragg said "If I could have physically finished the whole race, I would have. I was hurt the whole way," he said afterwards."My hip got tighter and tighter and I was running like a crab." Kenenisa Bekele matched the feats of the great Miruts Yifter in 1980 and his countrywoman Tirunesh Dibaba at this Olympics by adding the 5,000 metres to the 10,000 metre crown he won six days ago.

Whats on Tomorrow?

Tomorrow is the final day and Ireland has only two athletes left and one is on the verge of creating history.

First up is Martin Fagan in the men's marathon on Sunday morning, the marathon begins at half past midnight tonight Irish time. Fagan has no realistic chance of a medal but he will have his personal goals in mind.


Ken Egan's gold medal fight in the Light-Heavyweight division is scheduled for 8.50am. Egan was the only Irishman to emerge from the bronze medal fights last Friday. Irish champion for eight years running, the 26-year-old will look to seal his place as one of the most successful Irish boxers ever. He defeated Great Britain's Tony Jefferies by a score of 10-3 in the semi-final and now faces Xiaoping Zhang. Egan will have to face a boisterous home support, the Chinese boxers have been passionately supported in their matches so far. Zhang won his semi-final on a count back.
Egan has a great chance but may be fighting handicapped against the Chinese, it may depend on a previous fight where another Chinese fighter is going for gold, if China don't get a gold in that fight the chances of a gold for China in Egan's fight will increase, if you know what I mean.

Tomorrow also sees the climax of the Men's Basketball and Handball events. The finals of the two most exciting team sports at these games are not to be missed and in particular, the US basketball team who have been exceptional as I expected and I can't see anything changing as they are so close to the gold that the have worked so hard for, not to say that Spain have not but there is no way Spain will win, they may get close but the US are too good and want it too much.