International Olympic News Roundup

A round-up of the latest news, views and gossip from the 2012 Olympic Games in London, featuring stories from other Nations:

USA Coach angry at gymnastics ruling:

The coach of reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber says it's an "injustice" that the American won't be included in Thursday's Olympic all-around finals.

Wieber finished 4th in the qualifying event on Sunday but will miss a chance of winning Olympic gold because international rules only allow two competitors per country in the finals.

Her team-mates Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas finished ahead of Wieber, leaving the 17 year old athlete on the outside of a major competition final for the 1st time in her career as an elite gymnast.

John Geddert, her coach, called the rule ridiculous, saying it penalises countries that have deep rosters.

New role for Jackson:

Australian boxing team captain Luke Jackson hopes to be back at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brasil, as an assistant coach after announcing his retirement from the sport.

The 27-year-old went out in the round of 32 stage in the men's lightweight competition on Sunday.

This was after losing to China's Qiang Liu. He said afterwards that he had been offered a role in the Australian coaching set-up.

"That would be something I would be really interested in," he said. "Don Abnett is a great man. To be back at Rio as assistant coach would be the dream, where I can share my experiences with the guys. The boys respect me and I respect them."

Jackson said he had always planned to retire after the London 2012 games.

He missed out on the Beijing Olympics and then spent 2 years out of the sport with a stress fracture in his back.

Alshammar in a lot of pain:

Swedish swimmer Therese Alshammar has decided to skip the 100m freestyle at the Olympics because of a pinched nerve in her neck. She might still swim the 50m event but is waiting on the results of a medical test on Tuesday.

The 50m freestyle heats & semi-final are scheduled for Friday, with the final taking place on Saturday.

Alshammar, who has won 2 silver medals in her Olympic swimming career, missed out on the 4x100m freestyle relay where Sweden were disqualified from the final after Gabriella Fagundez dived in too soon for the anchor leg.

Ihab Almatbouli, a Jordanian boxer creates history:

Ihab Almatbouli made history on Monday as Jordan's 1st Olympic boxer and he marked the occasion by reaching the last 16 of the light-heavyweight division with a 19-7 win over Nigeria's Lukmon Lawal.

The 26-year-old hails from the Palestinian camp of al-Baqa'a, a 100,000-strong settlement just north of his nation's capital Amman. This area was set up in 1967 to house refugees who fled the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the Arab-Israeli War.

Almatbouli's win will have been big news in his home town, where friends and family including his 5 brothers gathered in cafes to watch his bout live on television, and in the venue itself, where he was cheered by team-mates & supporters.

Almatbouli will now face Cuba's top seed Julio Cesar De La Cruz in the last 16. When interviewed he said: "Everybody back home will be proud. With this achievement hopefully I can become a role model. Despite a difficult life I never stopped doing my sport and it is a dream to be here at an Olympic Games."

New Zealand disappoint in the rowing:

New Zealand's hopes of qualifing for the final of the women's quadruple sculls at the Olympic rowing regatta were dashed when the oar of one of the crew broke with around 400m remaining in their repechage race.

The Kiwis, who won a bronze medal at last year's World Championships in Slovenia, were 3rd at the time, with four boats going through.

Fiona Bourke was left stranded on Dorney Lake.

They finished last, a clear 30 seconds behind the winning boat of the Australian women's crew.

Bourke looked distraught as her boat crawled past the finishing line.

Off-court battle for a Ugandan Badminton athlete:

Badminton world number 93 Edwin Ekiring was given plenty of support by the crowd at Wembley Arena on Monday.

Although Ekiring was beaten 21-10 21-8 in 26 minutes by Hong Kong's 16th seed Wong Wing Ki, appearing at the Games was a remarkable comeback.

The 28-year-old has survived 2 serious car accidents before the games. The 1st when he was 10, claimed the life of his mother and left him in a coma for 3 months.
Then 3 years ago, he was knocked down by a car while cycling home from training, breaking his arm, ankle, knee and some ribs and he was told he would never play badminton again.

But he defied the odds and was back in action eight months later.

Ekiring, who also lost his opening game on Saturday, now intends to make the most of his Olympic experience and stay at the Olympic village.

USA Basketball star Bryant watches volleyball compatriots:

The empty seats saga that has dogged the London Olympics was alleviated at Earls Court by an unexpected appearance from basketball star Kobe Bryant.

The USA and LA Lakers shooting guard called in to watch his female volleyball compatriots as they saw off reigning champions Brazil 3-1.

Destinee Hooker said: "It was pretty cool to have him here and when I won a kill (a successful block), I looked over and he was standing with his arms stretched out celebrating with me."