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Big Moments From the 2012 Olympics

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Aug 10, 2012 4:33 AM
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Allyson Felix
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Michael Steele/Getty Images

Proving Herself

Sprinter Allyson Felix—the subject of controversy because an opponent dropped out of a planned tiebreaker event back in the States, allowing Felix to compete in the event by default—opened her Olympics by winning her 100-meter preliminary heat with a time of 11.01 seconds. No one can say she didn't earn a spot in the semifinals. (She'll also compete in the 200 meters.)


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Paul Gilham/Getty Images

One for the Books

Missy Franklin continued her delightful Olympic debut by swimming the 200-meter backstroke in 2 minutes, 4.06 seconds—a world record, that's all.


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Al Bello/Getty Images

The Little Mermaid

Though she may be too young to have ever listened to a record, 15-year-old Katie Ledecky had no qualms about breaking Janet Evans' 23-year-old U.S. record in the 800-meter freestyle.


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Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Shaken, Not Stirred

Asjha Jones and the rest of the U.S. women's baskeball squad shook off a slow start and held on to beat the Czech Republic, 88-61, and push their Olympics winning streak to 37 games.


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MARTIN BERNETTI, LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

Two Stoked Girls

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in the championship singles match—ensuring that each will win her first Olympic singles medal, be it gold or silver—after savoring their respective semifinal victories.


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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Not Squirrely at All

Gabby Douglas may be nicknamed the "Flying Squirrel," but she was nothing but the picture of grace and strength in winning gymnastics all-around gold—it'll make a nice book-end with the team gold she won with the rest of the U.S. squad.


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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Ballin'!

New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony was the lead scorer for Team USA with 37 points during their record game against Nigeria.


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Tyler Clary/Getty Images

Biting on Gold

U.S. swimmer Tyler Clary earned himself a gold medal for the 200-meter backstroke.


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Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Judo Queen

Kayla Harrison helped bring the U.S.' first-ever gold in judo after winning in the women's under 78-kilogram division.


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LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Third Time's an Extra Charm

Michael Phelps won his 16th career gold medal and his 20th medal overall with his 200-meter individual medley victory. That winded fellow behind him is silver medalist Ryan Lochte.


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MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

World Class Swim

Rebecca Soni's 2-minute, 19.59-second time in the 200-meter breaststroke was enough to win gold and top her own world record, set the day before in her qualifying semifinal.


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CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/GettyImages

Relaying to First

Team USA swimmers Shannon Vreeland, Dana Vollmer and Missy Franklin celebrate after watching Allison Schmitt secure them the gold in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final.


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FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages

Golden Shock

American swimmer Nathan Adrian was practically stunned when he realized that he was a gold medal winner for the men's 100-meter freestyle final.


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Danell Leyva Flips to the Podium

This Cuban-American cutie wins bronze in the Men's Individual All-Around Gymnastics Finals.


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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Suffering Defeat

Venus Williams was very displeased after losing the third round of Women's Singles Tennis to Germany's Angelique Kerber.


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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Celebrating Victory

Meanwhile, sister Serena Williams beat Russian opponent Vera Zvonareva in the third round of Women's Singles Tennis.


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ADEK BERRY/AFP/GettyImages

Playing to Lose

The Korean women's badminton found themselves in the middle of a controversy for reportedly throwing matches.


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FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP

Record Breaker

After giving some underwhelming performances, Michael Phelps scores gold as part of the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final and breaks the record for most medals, winning his 19th one.


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Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Good Luck Goggles

Tony Parker and his post-brawl eyewear seem to working out for France, who win against Argentina.


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Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Top of the Heap

The U.S. women's gymnastics team of Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross beat Russia by 5.066 points to win USA's first women's team gold since 1996.


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Stanley Chou/Getty Images

Gooooooaal!

During the U.S. game against North Korea, Abby Wambauch becomes the first non-British woman to score at Old Trafford stadium—which led to their victory and Hope Solo doing the worm. 


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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Andy Roddick Falls Short

The second round of the Olympics prove to be the last for this tennis player, who was defeated by Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 player in the world (so that's not too bad).


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Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Ye Shewin may be in the middle of a brewing controversy, but that didn't stop the Chinese swimmer from winning her second gold medal in the Olympics for the Women's 200-meter Individual Medley final.


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Team Phelps

Shaun White and rumored girlfriend Bar Refaeli join Michael Phelps' mom Debbie and family in celebrating the swimmer's record 19th medal—and his first gold in London!


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