Hosts dig deep,find gold

Rowing has long been one of the countrys best sports at the Olympics,with Britain winning a gold medal at every summer games since 1984. Glover and Stanning ensured that run continued at London 2012. With Britains two princes,William and Harry,watching on among a jubilant crowd,Glover wept on the podium as the gold medal was placed around her neck. A grinning Stanning looked around,taking in the cheers and the size of their achievement. We realized people were waiting for that, Glover said.

Britain had been growing increasingly frustrated. Big gold-medal hope Mark Cavendish flopped in the mens road race,fellow cyclist Lizzie Armitstead had had to settle for a silver in the womens equivalent and diving poster boy Tom Daley narrowly missed making the podium after a big blunder. We were mildly aware of the expectations, Glover said. We were kidding ourselves that it wasnt happening. But as soon as we crossed the line,we realized there was a lot of expectation on us.

The two had only been spares for the countrys eight boat just two years ago.

If I can do it,take the chance, said Glover,who only took up rowing five years ago after seeing an advertisement in a paper seeking Sporting Giants to help the British Olympic team ahead of the London Games. In not just rowing,but anything.

And when it rains,it pours. Later in the day,cyclist Bradley Wiggins was in a class of his own,his perfect position on the bike unmatched by his rivals. After crossing the line and walking towards the throne installed to welcome the race leaders,Wiggins got back on the bike,cycling on the course again,his arms raised in celebration. He was quickly surrounded by dozens of fans before riding his way back towards the Palace,where he was awaited by his wife and two children.

Ringside view

Curse of Cameron

On a day when hosts Great Britain broke their gold medal drought by winning golds in cycling and rowing,it was wondered whether British Prime Minister David Cameron8217;s absence had anything to do with it. With the PM away in Northern Ireland to promote the Olympics,the Curse of Cameron 8211; whereby the PM jinxes Britain8217;s medal hopes though his attendance 8211; was held at bay. It was reported that the weather improved as well.

Another Armstrong

Kristin Armstrong of the United States won her second straight Olympic time trial gold medal beating silver medalist Judith Arndt of Germany by more than 15 seconds. Armstrong covered the 29-kilometer 18-mile course south of London in 37 minutes,34.82 seconds. Arndt finished in 37:50.29,while Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia posted a time of 37:57.35 to add another bronze medal to the one she captured in Sunday8217;s road race. The famously stoic Armstrong let a smile slip as she crossed the finish line,slowing to a stop and then slumping over her bike. She rested just enough to catch her breath before heading to the victory stand.

Precious sleep

British weightlifter Jack Oliver was in for a torrid time as he overslept and almost missed his event. 8220;I was meant to be up at six o8217;clock,go downstairs and have a nice pre-weigh-in shower and a bit of a stretch,8221; Oliver said. 8220;At five past seven I hear a banging on the door,looked at my phone and thought,I8217;m in trouble! I8217;m going to have a very angry coach!8221; the English athlete said. Despite the rude awakening,Oliver got dressed in 30 seconds,managed to catch a later bus to the London Excel arena and arrived in good time for the pre-competition weigh-in.

Computer Meltdown

The top technology officer for Los Angeles is pleading with city workers to stop watching the Olympics online at work,saying it could cause a municipal computer meltdown. Reports said that city tech guru Randi Levin sent an email yesterday asking workers to stop watching the London games because the city was experiencing a high volume of traffic. City officials say watching yesterday8217;s women8217;s gymnastics and soccer competitions live on the Internet causes a tremendous amount of bandwidth to be tied up. That means city computers might be working at a snail8217;s pace under the strain.

All covered up

Ghada Hassine of Tunisia today became the first Olympic weightlifter to compete in a newly approved 8216;unitard8217; covering most of her body. Rules requiring lifters to wear a costume that doesn8217;t cover the arms and lower legs were changed last year. The U.S. had petitioned for a change on behalf of a Muslim lifter. Hassine,19,wore the unitard under the traditional weightlifting outfit and a hijab covering her hair as she participated in the B group of lower-ranked lifters in the women8217;s 69-kilogram category.