Radcliffe Backs Banned Russian Petition

Getty Images

Paula Radcliffe is backing a petition that wants Russia's athletes banned from competition until money won by their drug cheats since 2009 is repaid.

It has been signed by the former world marathon champion and a number of other athletes, agents and promoters.

They believe the money belongs to sportsmen and women "whose earnings were reduced by cheating athletes".

Russia is suspended from international athletics because of widespread cheating and corruption.

It hopes to get the ban lifted in time for the 2016 Olympics, which begin in Rio de Janeiro on 5 August.

The online petition, which went live on Tuesday, had attracted 149 signatures by 14:00 GMT on Thursday.

Among them are marathon world record holder Radcliffe, Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton, London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel and Berlin Marathon race director Mark Milde.

Kenya's Edna Kiplagat, the 2011 and 2013 world marathon champion and Germany's Irina Mikitenko, who won the London Marathon in 2008, have also signed it.

"It's an extremely good idea," Bitel told the BBC's World Service. "There are many, many athletes around the world who've been affected.

"To try to leave it up to individual athletes and individual events to sue the Russian athletes who doped, that is just not practical."

Russia's Liliya Shobukhova won the London Marathon in 2010 and claimed a hat-trick of Chicago titles before being stripped of those victories for doping irregularities.

Bitel says he is determined to recover the money Shobukhova won by winning in London.

"Our intention is that someone who cheats shouldn't get away with it, but we have started the process and will pursue her so far as we can," he said.

Related articles

• Marathon training plan: tips from 10 inspiring runners including Kelly Holmes
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Deep with Veterans but Rich With Talent
• Senegal will not extradite IAAF bribery suspect Papa Masata Diack
• Trio appeals life bans in Russian doping case
• Diack's son questioned by Senegalese police

Sarah Tait 1983 - 2016

Australian London Olympics silver-medallist rower Sarah Tait has died after a battle with cancer, aged 33.

Tait, who captained Australia’s rowing team at the Beijing Olympics and was in the women’s eight when Sally Robbins famously stopped rowing before the finish of the final in Athens 2004, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2013.

The West Australian also won a gold and silver medal at the 2005 World Rowing championships, as well as a bronze in the same competition in 2011. She won her Olympic silver medal in the pairs in 2012.

Tait, who is survived by her senior national coach husband Bill and two children, stepped away from rowing in February 2014 to fight the disease.

Rowing Australia CEO, Rob Scott, paid tribute to Tait’s ability to act as a role model to both past and present athletes. “She was one of the most determined and passionate rowers in our sport and she will be deeply missed by everyone in the rowing community,” he said in a statement. “The entire Australian rowing community sends its thoughts and best wishes to Bill, the children and Sarah’s family at this tragic time.”

Scott’s views were echoed by Australian team head coach, Chris O’Brien. “Her spirit for rowing was paralleled with her dedication to her family and friends,” O’Brien said.

“Sarah was one of rowing’s most successful and impressive female athletes who has left a permanent mark on our sport. I was personally inspired by Sarah’s pursuit of success in sport and life. She will be sadly missed.”

#RIP

Related articles

• Strength Coach Roundtable Podcast Recap
• Olympic hopefuls compete at NZ rowing champs
• Adelaide Frenzies For Second Season Of Paige Rowe
• 7 Signs You Should Stop Exercising Immediately
• Three, Two, One And Back In The Room...
• The real battle was not to fall out - with each other

Profile - Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor is a Lightweight  from Bray, Co. Wicklow, who began boxing in 1998. 

Taylor comes from a family with a boxing background - her coach at the St. Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray is her father Peter - who was 1986 Irish senior light heavyweight champion. His daughter has won Three Consecutive AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships

In 2012 Katie Taylor was awarded for the second time the honour of Sportswoman of the Year for winning gold in the European and World Championships and retaining her title.

It was 2001 when Katie first made Irish boxing history in the first officially sanctioned women's bout ever held in Ireland, where she fought 16-year-old Alanna Audley of Belfast at the National Stadium in Dublin in the first of three female contests on a sixteen-bout amateur card. 

Katie won over three 90-second rounds by 23-12. Irish Amateur Boxing Association President Dominic O'Rourke called the event "a momentous day for Irish boxing."

Katie then returned to National Stadium on 1 March 2002 to fight Candy Berry of England as part of a show that featured an Ireland vs. Canada senior men's tournament. Katie won this match.

Katie competed in the 60-kg division of the international Norway Box Cup in Oslo, defeating Ingrid Egner of Norway by 36-20 in the semi-final and Josefina Tengroth of Sweden in the final. Katie's strong performance in this tournament also earned her the Best Boxer of the Tournament award.

In February 2004 Katie topped the bill in an event sponsored by the Fermoy Boys/Girls Amateur Boxing Club. The full house of boxing fans at the Fermoy Rowing Club didn't see the rising Irish star for long, however, as she dispatched unbeaten Welsh opponent Lorna Cooper in just 30 seconds. "It was enough to let fans see just how good she is," insisted tournament organizer Pat Flynn, adding "she is an exceptional boxer and will take a lot of beating in the European championships later in the year."

June 2004 she competed in the Third International "Italia" Women's Tournament in Rome. Katie defeated Emanuela Pantani of Italy by a 22-6 margin in the quarter-final, Eva Wahlström of Finland by 39-25 in the semi-final and 2002 world 60-kg champion Jennifer Ogg of Canada by 31-28 in the final to win both her 60-kg division and the Best Boxer of Tournament award.

At the Third Women's European Boxing Championships in Riccione, Italy, Katie suffered a setback when she lost to reigning 63-kg world champion Yuliya Nemtsova of Russia by a 27-12 score. Taylor, who was Ireland's only representative in the tournament, had boxed well against a strong opponent and was surprised by the margin of victory awarded to the Russian. "It was most definitely a much closer fight than the score would suggest. I actually thought that I did enough to win." she said.

At the 20th Ahmet Comert Cup tournament on April 2005 in Istanbul Katie defeated Cindy Orain of France but lost her next fight to home-standing Gülsüm Tatar of Turkey by a 27-21 decision.

Katie then made more Irish boxing history again at age 18 in May 2005 when she became the first Irish woman to win a Gold Medal at the Senior European Championships. 

Competing in Tønsberg, Norway, she stopped Eva Wahlström of Finland in the third round of their 60-kg lightweight final. Taylor held a 19-17 points lead when the contest was stopped after Wahlström suffered an eye injury. Taylor had opened her campaign with an impressive second round RSCO-2 stoppage over Lucie Bertaud of France, followed by a stirring semi-final clash with defending European champion Gülsüm Tatar of Turkey. At the end of this rematch with the Turkish boxer, the computer scoring was a 12-12 draw but Taylor won by 29-28 in countback (amount of punches thrown).

On March 11, 2006 at the National Stadium in Dublin Katie again faced Dina Burger of Switzerland. Katie made an excellent start building a comfortable lead and impressing ringsiders with her hand speed and footwork. Her Swiss opponent fought back strongly in the second and third rounds but Taylor came away with a 22-11 verdict

On March 18, 2006 in Cork, Katie won a close decision over Canadian National Junior Welterweight Champion Katie Dunn.

Katie began her run at the world title in 2006 with an excellent showing at the Witch Cup Tournament in Hungary in August 2006. She defeated Edina Pezdany of Hungary in her quarter-final bout, Marlene K. Nielsen of Denmark in her semi-final and then won the Gold Medal over Eva Wahlström of Finland.

At the 2006 European championships in September 2006 in Warsaw, Poland, Katie won her second European Gold medal in a row with a second round stoppage of reigning world champion Tatiana Chalaya of Chechnya. This time Taylor made short work of Chalaya, winning on the 15 point mercy rule with the scoring at 18-3. Katie also won the Best Boxer award in this tournament.

The win capped a big week for Katie who came through the tougher half of the draw to reach the final. She had qualified for the final with an 18-15 points win over her arch rival and reigning world silver medalist Gülsüm Tatar of Turkey.

At the 2006 Venus Box Cup in Denmark in October 2006, Katie won her preliminary over Elena Gorshkova of Russia by a 36-20 score, then stopped Marlene K. Nielsen of Denmark in her quarter-final and Romanian Florina Popa on the 15-point rule (17-2) in her semi-final to set up a 60-kg final with Lucie Beataud of France. She then had to pull out of the competition because of an injury to her nose, looking ahead to competing in the Fourth AIBA Women's Senior World Championships in India a little under a month later.

Her return to the AIBA World Championships at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, India saw Katie win five bouts in a row to take the 60-kg Gold Medal.

On November 18, 2006 she stopped US champion Caroline Barry by a 16-1 score on the 15 point mercy rule in the first round. On November 19 she again beat Eva Wahlström of Finland, this bout being stopped at 19-4 on the 15 point mercy rule in the second round. On November 21 in the quarter-final Katie beat Florina Popa of Romania 20-5, also on the 15 point mercy rule in the second round. On November 22 in the semi-final Katie defeated the defending world champion Tatiana Chalaya of Chechnya for the second straight time, by an impressive 23-6 margin (the mercy rule was not invoked and the bout went the distance).

In October 2007 Katie was crowned 60-kg champion for the third year in a row after a victory over Sandra Brugger of Switzerland. 

Katie Taylor was awarded the Irish Times/VHI Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2007 at the Western Hotel in Dublin on January 18, 2008.

In March 2008 in the 60-kg division at the Women's International Tournament held in Russia, Katie defeated Gulsum Tatar of Turkey 16-5 in her preliminary bout and went on to win the division and the "Best Boxer in Tournament" award.

Katie was awarded the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Female Boxer of the Year for 2008 in Moscow on December 12, 2008. Her spectacular success in 2008 also led to her being named as the Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year for 2008, repeating the honor she received in 2007.

On March 21, 2009 at the O2 in Dublin, Katie won a 27-3 win over thee time Pan American champion Caroline Barry of the United States on the undercard of a pro WBA super bantamweight world title fight between Bernard Dunne of Ireland and Ricardo Cordoba of Panama. Speaking after the fight, Taylor, said she was stunned by the welcome she received from Irish boxing fans. She said: "I couldn't believe the reception I got - it was an amazing experience for me. I knew it was going to be a tough fight and well done to her for never backing off."

On April 19, 2009 in the 60-kg division of the women's Ahmet Comert Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, Katie defeated Ozlem Dinc of Turkey by a 5-1 margin to win yet another gold medal. She was also voted best female boxer and best boxer (male or female) of this prestigious tournament.

Katie Taylor's impressive athletic accomplishments are not limited to boxing - she has is also a key player in Irish Women's soccer! She competed in last season's Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Women's Senior Cup Final where her club were runners-up to Dundalk.

Katie has always dreamed of Olympic gold:

Taylor was born on June 2nd 1986 and is the current Irish, European, and world women's boxing champion in the 60kg division. She has also played Gaelic football and represented the Republic of Ireland in association football. Regarded as the outstanding Irish athlete of her generation, she bore the flag for Ireland at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London, later boxing her way to an Olympic medal in the lightweight.

Taylor studied at St. Kilian's Community School Bray from 1999 until 2005. Her two older brothers, Peter and Lee, and older sister, Sarah, also attended St. Kilian's.

Related articles

• Katie Taylor shows a tender touch on hospital visit
• Katie's Next Step
• Irish delight as Katie Taylor wins Olympic boxing gold
• Katie Taylor Encapsulates Everything About an Irish Champion

Brazil Will Now Target Rio 2016

Brazil's wait for a first ever Olympic gold medal in football goes on after a shock 2-1 defeat to Mexico at Wembley on Saturday.

Oribe Peralta gave Mexico the lead after just 28 seconds following woeful defending from Manchester United's Rafael da Silva.

Mano Menezes could have expected that blow to jolt his side to life but the expected riposte never came as Brazil struggled to find any of their much-vaunted rhythm throughout.

And when Hulk allowed Peralta to run unmarked to head home a second-half free-kick, it seemed to confirm that the Brazilians had wilted under the expectation of success.

That's a worrying sign for Menezes given that he is hoping to rely on many of these players to help Brazil win the World Cup on home soil in 2014.

His players did at least show some fighting spirit and a dramatic comeback looked a real possibility when Hulk ran clear to score right-footed in injury-time.

The Porto forward then crossed in the dying seconds only for Chelsea's new signing Oscar to head over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

That was the last chance of the game and the Brazil players soon slumped to the ground in unison as Mexico claimed an unlikely gold medal to send their pockets of supporters into a state of delirium.

Mo Farah Wins Olympic Gold Double

Mo Farah completed an epic Olympic double as he added the 5000m gold to his 10000m crown on Saturday night.

Seven days after claiming Britain's third gold in the space of 45 minutes on 'Super Saturday' in the longer distance, Farah produced another brilliant performance to send the Olympic Stadium into wild scenes of celebration once again.

Roared on by a capacity 80,000-strong crowd, the 29-year-old Londoner hit the front with 700m remaining and was never headed, covering the last lap in under 53 seconds to hold off Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel to win in 13 minutes and 41.66 seconds. Thomas Longosiwa of Kenya claimed bronze.

Just five men in Olympic history had previously taken the 5,000m and 10,000m titles at the same Games - Emil Zatopek of the old Czechoslovakia in 1952, Vladimir Kuts of the USSR in 1956, Finland's Lasse Viren in 1972 and 1976, Miruts Yifter of Ethiopia in 1980 and Kenenisa Bekele, also of Ethiopia, at Beijing four years ago.

Farah's victory also meant Britain have won four track and field golds for only the third time since the Second World War, matching the haul from Tokyo in 1964 and Moscow in 1980.

Farah had looked understandably tired in the heats on Wednesday, after which Gebremeskel acknowledged that running a fast race might be the only way to deny Farah victory.

However, if that was the plan it was curiously ignored as the 15-strong field set out at an incredibly slow pace - with more than one lap taking 73 seconds - 20 more than Farah's closing lap to win the 10,000m.

It took until the midway point of the race for the pace to be wound up but Farah was able to respond and move up to second behind Gebremeskel with three laps to go.

With 700m remaining the 29-year-old hit the front and still led at the bell, at which point he crucially refused to give up his prime position on the inside and accelerated again to stay ahead of the pack.

Gebremeskel, the fastest man in the world this year, briefly closed on Farah down the home straight, but the home favourite was not to be denied a fabulous triumph - and even had the energy to celebrate with a few sit-ups on the track.

Thrilled

Farah said: "It's just unbelievable. "The American guy (Galen Rupp) tried to come past me, but I knew I just had to hold on to it. I had great support from the crowd. It means a lot to me."

He was watched by wife Tania, pregnant with twins due imminently, and daughter Rihanna.

"Those two medals are to my two girls that are coming. They're not born yet hopefully," Farah said. "They're twins so there's one for each. They could arrive any day."

As for his short-term future on the track, Farah said: "I don't know what's going on. I'm taking one race at a time.

"The Olympics doesn't come round often. It's all worked out well. I'm just amazed. Two gold medals - who would have thought that? I just want to thank everyone who's supported me.

"All my coaches from previous years and all the people who've been involved in my life. I can't thank everybody enough.

"I want to say particularly to my wife, with her carrying twins, it hasn't been easy but I didn't want to know about it.

"If anything happens she promised she wouldn't let me know so I'm glad it all worked out well."

He added: "It's been a long journey grafting and grafting, but anything is possible."

View from the Olympics - Dawn Fraser

“The Olympics remain the most compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself.”

Dawn Fraser 

(Australian swimmer, 3-time winner of Olympic Games.)

USA Relay Clock New World Record

Pointing the baton at the clock showing the world-record time of 40.82 seconds, Carmelita Jeter anchored the United States on Friday night to its first Olympic gold medal in the women's 4x100-metre relay since 1996.

Tianna Madison, 200-meter champion Allyson Felix and Bianca Knight gave the U.S. a big lead heading into the anchor leg by Jeter, who already owned a silver medal from the 100 and a bronze from the 200 in London.

Their final time cut more than a half-second off the old record of 41.37 run by East Germany in 1985.

Jamaica won the silver medal on Friday in a national record of 41.41 seconds, with 100 champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart bringing the baton around.

The bronze went to the Ukraine in 42.04.

With Knight approaching for the final handoff, Jeter took nine strides, reached her hand back and took a perfect exchange. Jeter was staring at the clock as she covered the final 10 meters and used the stick in her left hand to make sure everyone else also had their eyes trained on the bright orange numbers on the trackside clock.

Afterward, the quartet of champions paused to watch a replay of their record performance on the scoreboard at 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium. When Jeter was shown crossing the finish line, Knight punched the air.

The perfect trip around the track ended a string of disappointments for the U.S. in the event. At Beijing four years ago, the Americans didn't even reach the final because Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams bobbled the last exchange in the semifinals.

That marked the first time since 1948 that the U.S. wasn't involved in the women's 4x100 medal race at the Summer Games.

Broken Leg for Mitchell in Relay Heat

Manteo Mitchell of the USA has revealed he ran the last 200m of the Olympic men's 4x400m relay heats with a broken left leg.

Mitchell began the race for the United States, who went through to Friday's final as the second fastest team despite Mitchell's injury.

"As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark, I felt it break." Manteo told the USA Track and Field website.

"I didn't want to let the three guys or the team down, so I just ran on it."

Mitchell still managed to finish the opening lap in 46.1 seconds as the US team, also featuring Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum, went on to set a qualifying time of two minutes, 58.87 seconds.

"It hurt so bad," the 25-year-old added. "I'm pretty amazed that I still split [close to] 45 seconds on a broken leg."

USA Track and Field chief executive Max Siegel said: "Manteo has become an inspiration and a hero for his team-mates.

"Without his courage and determination to finish, Team USA would not be at the starting line in the final. The team has rallied around him and we are all looking forward the final days of competition."

The US men's team are the defending champions and have won every 4x400m Olympic title that they have contested.

Rudisha Races to New World Record

David Rudisha broke the world record over 800 metres as he sensationally stormed to Olympic gold on Thursday night.

The Kenyan stormed through the first lap in 49.28 seconds before powering to victory in one minute 40.91 seconds.

That took exactly one tenth of a second off his previous record as all eight finalists set a season's best, personal best or national record.

Teenager Nijel Amos of Botswana claimed silver in a national record of 1:41.73 ahead of Kenya's Timothy Kitum, with Britain's Andrew Osagie taking 0.71s off his personal best despite finishing eighth.

Amazingly, Osagie's time would have won gold at the last three Olympic Games, while it also took him fourth on the British all-time list behind Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Peter Elliott.

Coe's world record of 1:41.73 - the exact time run by 18-year-old silver medallist Amos tonight - stood for 16 years before it was first equalled and then broken by Denmark's Wilson Kipketer, while Rudisha then broke it twice in seven days in 2010.

The softly-spoken 23-year-old won the world title in Daegu last year and had even spoken about the possibility of facing Usain Bolt in the 4x400m relay in London.

That cannot happen after this morning's heats saw Kenya disqualified and the Jamaican quartet fail to finish due to injury, but it is a mouthwatering prospect.

Osagie, who has now improved his personal best seven times this season, said: "Oh wow, that was some race to be a part of. I would love to have been watching from the sidelines.

"I think an athlete like David Rudisha deserves so much respect, even though you're trying to beat him. And when he performs like that in the third round of an Olympic Games, there's not really many people that can beat him, but I am so happy I got to be a part of the Olympics this year. It was such a big achievement for me.

"To run a personal best in the final is unbelievable. I think any major championships I would have got a medal with that time. My aim this Games was to run 1:44 flat in the final and hopefully that was going to be enough to be up there. Unfortunately I've run a little bit quicker and finished right at the back of the field.

"It's just one of those things, next year I am going to come back, I'm going to be strong and faster. This is my first sort of international season where I've managed to last from May until the championship so it bodes well for the future for me.

"Going into this season my PB was 1:45:3 and I've now run 1:43.7. It's a big jump if you look at it like that, but I've always been there or thereabouts, working my way up this season."

London 2012 chairman Coe, who was watching in the crowd, paid tribute to Rudisha.

He said: "That was simply an unbelievable performance. David Rudisha showed supreme physical and mental confidence to run like that in an Olympic final.

"Instead of just doing enough to win the race he wanted to do something extraordinary and go for the world record as well.

"Rudisha's run will go down in history as one of the greatest Olympic victories. I feel privileged to have witnessed it in London."

Taylor Gold Makes Olympic History

Katie Taylor added Olympic gold to her four World Championship titles at London 2012 - but she was made to work hard for her 10-8 win over Russia's Sofya Ochigava amid an extraordinary atmosphere at ExCeL.

With the decibel levels surely hitting new heights, Taylor set about business in her usual way, pushing forward and flinging right hooks at Ochigava, a tough, two-time former world silver medallist.

But it soon became clear Taylor was in for a test as the Russian matched Taylor's strength inside and clinched up close to prevent the overwhelming Irish favourite from getting off her usual array of big shots.

Taylor's frustrations continued in the second, which Ochigava edged to take a 4-3 lead at the halfway stage, but the Bray star stayed patient and scored with a right to the Russian's chin and a superb countering left which turned the fight her way.

Heading into the last with a 7-5 lead, Taylor still had a fight on her hands as the Russian muscled forward, landing two clean rights, making the wait for the verdict a surprisingly anxious one for Taylor and her fans.

The chaotic stands were already a heaving patchwork quilt of green, white and orange when the comeback win was confirmed.

After hugging her Russian opponent Sofya Ochigava, Taylor embraced her father and trainer Peter and then saluted her devoted fans.

She then unfurled an Irish tricolour and draped it round her shoulders, prompting more bedlam in the crowd.

Irish boxing hero Barry McGuigan hugged the lightweight gold medallist as she descended from the ring.

After Taylor departed, the "Clones Cyclone", with tears in his eyes, paid tribute to the fans.

"You've been incredible," McGuigan said on the microphone, speculating that there was no one left back in Ireland.

South Africa and Pistorius Earn Reprieve

Double amputee Oscar Pistorius's historic Olympic campaign gained a reprieve as South Africa were given a place in Saturday's 4x400m relay final on appeal.

Pistorius, 25, thought his adventure had come to an end when second-leg runner Ofentse Mogawane fell on the bend into the home straight after tangling with Kenya's Vincent Kiilu.

However, Kenya were subsequently disqualified, prompting South Africa to appeal.

"The Jury of Appeal met and agreed to advance the South African team to the final, even though they did not finish the race, considering that they had been severely damaged in the incident with Kenya," said the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in a statement.

"South Africa will run as an additional team in lane nine."

Before the appeal had succeeded, Pistorius said: "I was standing there and I took my eyes off the screen and kept them on the straight and obviously just as I took them off it must have happened.

"He's not the biggest of guys and initially I thought he was maybe pushed in behind someone and then I just carried on looking and he didn't come out.

"It's really tough at the moment. I feel sorry for my team-mates, they're a phenomenal group of guys.

"It's just really disappointing for us because we came off a second place at the world champs last year and a national record and we've got more or less the same team."

Murray Earns Roger Wimbledon Rematch

Andy Murray set up another Wimbledon showdown with Roger Federer - only this time for a gold medal - with a superb 7-5 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Olympics.

The British number one is now certain of at least a silver but could go even better than that if he can defeat the man who denied him a maiden grand slam at SW19 last month.

The 25-year-old from Scotland simply picked up from where he left off in his quarter-final victory over Nicolas Almagro, creating two break-point chances in Djokovic's opening service game.

Although he wasn't able to capitalise on either of those occasions, Murray seized his opportunity in the 12th game when he produced a curling forehand pass to take a 1-0 lead in a high-quality encounter.

Murray had to save break points in both his first two service games at the start of the next as the second-seeded Djokovic piled on the pressure.

Again in the ninth the home favourite found himself under pressure but, just as he had in the opening set, the world number four found some of his best form when his rival was serving to stay in the contest.

A fine return sent him to 0-40 in the 12th game and he produced another to seal a superb victory, much to the delight of a raucous Centre Court crowd.

Federer, meanwhile, had to do it the hard way to reach the final, recording a remarkable 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 19-17 victory over Juan Martin Del Potro in a match that lasted four hours and 26 minutes.

The contest surpassed Rafael Nadal's victory over Djokovic at the Madrid Masters in 2009 as the longest three-set men's singles match in the Open era.

Del Potro's record on grass was not particularly impressive, while he had faced Federer five times already this season and lost all of them.

The eighth seed had snuck through the draw rather unnoticed but was immediately on form in the first set. Federer was a bit error-prone, and he paid the price as Del Potro broke for 5-3 and then served it out.

The second was a very tense affair, with break points for both men, but it was Del Potro who was looking the more dangerous as he pushed Federer back with his thunderous forehand.

But the world number one hung on, showing the cool temperament that has helped him to 17 grand slam titles, and in the tie-break it was Del Potro who cracked.

Federer saved two break points at the start of the decider but from there it was he who began to threaten more. His rival would not yield though, finding big serves and even bigger groundstrokes when he needed them most.

Pressure

The Argentinian saved a break point at 7-7 and then picked up a sore hip with a full-length diving volley to hold on in the 17th game. Yet he was finding it harder and harder to withstand the pressure and he finally cracked at 9-9, shanking a forehand to leave Federer serving for the match.

That looked to be that, but surprisingly Federer could not take his opportunity and was promptly broken back to love.

Federer had a few sticky moments of his own but prevented Del Potro creating a match point, and in the 35th game he finally broke through again to lead 18-17.

An exhausted Del Potro buried his face in his shirt, and this time it was the crucial blow, although there was still time for Federer to miss a simple volley on his first match point before clinching it when his opponent netted a backhand.

The 30-year-old said: "It was a big match, obviously. It was very tough from start to finish. Juan Martin did so well to hang in there.

"I got lucky in the second set to get back and then in the third it was so tough. I don't think I have ever played as long a set in a best of three-set match, so it was very physical at the end and so mental. Obviously I feel bad and horrible for Juan Martin but he can be very proud."

Shahrkhani Makes Olympic History

Wojdan Shahrkhani became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete at the Olympic Games when she took part in the +78kg judo competition in London.

The 16-year-old had been in the spotlight before her event began as judo officials said she could not wear a headscarf for safety reasons.

Shahrkhani wore a tight-fitting black cap for her bout which ended quickly in defeat to Puerto Rican Melissa Mojica.

"Hopefully this is the beginning of a new era," Shahrkhani said afterwards.

"I was scared a lot, because of all the crowd," she added.

"Unfortunately, we did not win a medal, but in the future we will and I will be a star for women's participation. It was the opportunity of a lifetime."

The contest appeared to be an overwhelming experiencing for the Mecca-born teenager.

“She hugged me and said: 'Daddy, I did this.' I was so proud”Ali Shahrkhani

Despite only being qualified as a blue belt in judo, she wore the higher black belt to compete.

The two women engaged in a slow-moving fight, a tentative Shahrkhani on the defensive and seeming cautious about attempting to throw Mojica.

The bout ended when the Puerto Rican grabbed Shahrkhani with a secure grip on her collar and flipped her into a match-ending ippon.

Mojica said afterwards that everyone had a right to their own religion and should be given an opportunity in judo.

Shahrkani is one of two Saudi Arabian females competing at London 2012. The other is American-born 800m runner Sarah Attar.

Shahrkhani did not qualify for her Olympic spot but was invited by the International Olympic Committee to compete as the organisation wanted to bring Saudi women to the Olympics for the first time.

Her father, Ali, a judo referee, told The Associated Press he "cried like a baby" watching his daughter compete.

"She was happy and smiled when she finished the fight," he said. "She hugged me and said: 'Daddy, I did this.' I was so proud."

Hoy Adds to Olympic Medal Collection

Sir Chris Hoy claimed his fifth Olympic gold as Great Britain's men's team sprint squad romped to victory inside the London Velodrome.

After witnessing Team GB's men's team pursuit quartet set a world record in their qualifying heat, Hoy, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny progressed to the final of the three-man, three-lap team sprint in a world record time of 42.747 seconds.

If that wasn't enough though, the British trio then clocked another world record in a stunning finale, finishing in 42.600secs.

In a repeat of the final four years ago in Beijing, France's Gregory Bauge, Michael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau had to settle for silver, finishing in 43.013.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were part of the capacity crowd, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who witnessed Hoy's historic achievement.

The 36-year-old from Edinburgh, competing in his fourth Games, won one-kilometre time-trial gold in Athens in 2004, three titles in Beijing and has now drawn level with Sir Steve Redgrave as the Briton with the most Games golds.

Kenny now has a second Olympic gold and third medal in all, while for Hindes it capped a remarkable period after a rapid rise to prominence, not least on Thursday after he fell to the track after a wobbly start to qualifying.

Bronze went to Germany (43.209), with world champions Australia (43.355) fourth.

Hoy must now wait until Tuesday's final day of the track programme to compete in his second event, the men's keirin, after being overlooked for the sprint, which Kenny is set to start on Saturday.

After climbing down from the podium, Hoy told BBC One: "It is quite overwhelming.

"We knew it was possible, this hasn't come out of the blue. We knew that if we put together our best possible race on the day that it was possible but it's easier said than done.

"We had the full support of the team behind us and we nailed it.

"That last ride I dug deeper than I have ever dug before. I didn't want to let the boys down, they have been riding so well today.

"You can't overstate what it means to us in front of our home crowd."

Unbelievable

Hoy's protégé Hindes said: "It's unbelievable, I still can't believe I am an Olympic champion, it's a dream come true."

Kenny added: "I can't believe how quick we went today.

"Phil went off so quick, we were just swinging over the back of him, trying to keep up."