Photograph by Vincent Laforet for NEWSWEEK

The word "Judo" is derived from the Japanese meaning of "the Gentle Way."  Relative to Chinese Throwing Stars and Nunchucks, sure the sport must look tame to the true hard core Bruce Lee fans. But word to the wise: should you cross any of these Judoka in a dark alley, drop everything and run like hell!  Just look at that Olympic move in the frame above—now that'll leave leave a mark on just about anybody I know!

Seriously, while the athletes I photographed today were incredibly disciplined and sportsmanlike, the last place you ever want to find yourself is in the death grip of any one of the Judokas. More to the point: avoid any close contact with them if at all possible—especially if it involves your face. I saw quite a few foreheads split open today.  So many in fact, that I became an expert on predicting just how long it would take for the blood to gush out. Once you witness the clear and painful contact that leads to the pro-forma halting of the bout, you may start your countdown: 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi, and just like clockwork, on 4, blood will squirt out onto the mat.  In spurts.  It's really quite a sight.

Ange Mercie Jean Baptiste  (ironically, her two first names when translated mean: Angel and thank you in French) of Haiti (below) was obviously a veteran at this. As soon as her forehead was split open and without missing a beat, she turned to the judge to pause the match so that she could do her thing in peace.

Photograph by Mike Powell for NEWSWEEK

I’m not one for walking around with ear buds plugged in my head all day, shutting the world off. But during the Games a little music helps things along and keeps you in a good mood. I go to my comfort foods at this time, flavours that have seen me through the last few Games. During the day Jamiroquai, I first heard him while in Nagano before the Winter Olympics and he saw me through some pretty awful weather standing on the side of mountains during delays. At night, during late night editing sessions, I go to Miles Davis. For some reason he helps me stay up at night, probably because 3am is only time you should be listening to jazz, it’s just the right time.

I started the day at Beach Volleyball as sport that grew up on the beaches of my adopted Southern California and made it’s way to the big show. These athletes are remarkable to photograph, as close to the grace of dancers you’ll find in any sport that isn’t judged. The height they get out of sand is beyond my comprehension. You can tell from the pics that I am enamored by the serve and you’d be right. I’ve seen so many spike and block in your face shots that they all start looking the same. Not that I won’t shoot them but tonight this is where my head was. The serve shot of Ana Paula is my favorite shot of the Games so far.

Lisbeth Trickett of Australia. Photograph by Donald Miralle for NEWSWEEK

 

 

 

Gold Medalist Rebecca Adlington and Bronze medalist Joanne Jackson of Great Britain. Photograph by Donald Miralle for NEWSWEEK

 

Garrett Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps freak out... Photograph by Donald Miralle for NEWSWEEK

 

Phelps get another Gold with a Little Help from Some Friends

One of the most exciting swimming races I've witnessed at the Olympics was the Men's 4X100 Freestyle Relay at the Sydney Games in 2000, where after much hype the Australians with a back-half anchor leg from Ian Thorpe out-touched Gary Hall Jr. and the Americans and taunted them with air guitars to spite Gary Hall Jr.'s words that the Americans were going to "smash the Aussies like guitars". Then there was the Men's 4X200 Freestyle Relay, an event dominated by the middle-distance strong Australians for years, and at the Athens Olympics Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay, and Klete Keller passed the Australians as the new kings of middle distance. But the BEST swimming race I've seen was today at the Water Cube in Beijing. After the Men's Team from the USA set a New World Record in Prelims with the "B" Team, the expectations were high and the stage was set for the fastest heat ever. The race started at lightning speed with Eamon Sullivan of Australia leading off with a new World Record in the 100M Freestyle in 47.24 and Michael Phelps of the USA leading off in a new American Record time of 47.51. Then it got interesting. Sprint sensation Garrett Weber-Gale of the USA brought the Americans back the lead in the second leg splitting under World Record time with a 47.02, touching the wall just .43 one-hundreths of a second ahead of France. The lead shifted again in the third leg when Frederick Bousquet of France spilt under WR time with a 46.63, passing Cullen Jones and giving the French just a .59 one-hundreths of a second lead over the USA. Sprinting veteran Jason Lezak of the USA entered a full body-length behind the ex-World Record Holder Alain Bernard of France going into the final turnand it looked like the French not only had the Gold Medal wrapped up but also a New World Record. What happened next was unbelievable. Lezak didn't give and and slowly started to reel in Bernhard, who started to spin and falter in the last 10 meters. With two strokes left to go into the wall, Bernhard made the cardinal mistake as a sprint freestyler in he looked over at Lezak inside the flags. With the entire Water Cube shaking like there was an earthquake, Lezak passed Bernhard and out-touched him to the wall by .08 one-hundreths of a second setting a New World Record at a 3:08.24. Phelps went into his ballistic relay jube with Garrett Weber-Gale right behind him flexing the guns. It was awesome.

Other notable swims in day that saw five World Records fall at the pool were Kosuke Kitajima's new World Record and Gold Medal in the Men's 100M Breaststroke, Lisbeth Trickett of Australia set a New World Record in the Women's 100M Butterfly en route to gold, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe set a New World Record in the Women's 100M Backstroke in the Semi-Finals, and Great Britain's scored it's the first British women’s swimming Olympic gold medal in 48 years when Rebecca Adlington passed a fading Katie Hoff of the USA in the final meters.

More Splashes at the Cube

The Chinese Men's Team took the Synchronized 10M Platform with Germany landing the silver in a brilliant display of diving prowess. Here are some photos: