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U.S. contend with Olympics of surprise
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A dedicated U.S. team produced a series of surprises in the Athens Olympic
Games despite some disappointments from the track and field and tennis.
Without a single sample of doping, the U.S. are contended with the
performances of the delegation, said Robert Condron, director of media service
of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
"Lots of good things happens to our
teams," Condron told Xinhuaon Thursday. "In gymnastics, we won the gold medals
in men's and women's all-around events. That's our best shows ever in Olympics."
Paul Hamm and Carly Patterson won the men's and women's all-around
events respectively for the first time for the U.S.
In fencing, Mariel
Zagunis won the first gold medal for U.S. women's fencing with a victory in the
individual sabre. Sada Jacobson took the bronze.
"We've never won a
medal in women's fencing, let alone a gold medal. We have many team events still
left. We are very pleased the way we done here," Condron said.
Condron
said the happiest moment for him in the Athens Games came from eight medals from
swimming sensation Michael Phelps and the three-peat Olympic title of the
women's softball.
"But the losses of Venus (Williams) and Andy (Roddick)
disappointed me. They've tried hard," Condron said.
Neither players
advanced into the quarter-finals of the tennis tournament here.
Marion
Jones finished seventh in the women's long jump after the preliminary round,
while Allen Johnson toppled in the men's 110m hurdles.
"Other countries
have done well, like Ukraine. It's good for the track to have the world
involved."
"We probably don't have the strong team we usually have, but
weare very dedicated to helping clean up doping in sports. Sometimes you suffer
because of that. But our goal is to have every American competing without
performance-enhancing (drug)."
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(Editor:Arthur YU) (From:xinhuanet)
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