Beijing
12 August 2008
Most of the winners on the fifth full day of competition at the Beijing Olympics will come from sports not widely followed. But as VOA's Jim Stevenson reports from the Chinese capital, their victories will mean as much as the gold medals claimed in more well-known events.
Years of steady aim will culminate in a trip to the top of the medal podium for one athlete in the women's 25-meter pistol final at the Beijing Shooting Complex.
The finalists in men's and women's judo may not be household names, but two will take home a gold medal in the women's 70-kilogram and men's 90-kilogram finals.
"Baseball is an American sport," he said. "We were very disappointed at the vote last time [to eliminate the sport]. With the vote coming up in 2009, we feel that our performance in the 2008 Olympics will go a long way. Baseball needs to be in the Olympics."
Highlights will undoubtedly again come from the Olympic swimming pool. Women will swim in the 200-individual medley final and 200-meter freestyle final. The men will race in the 200-meter butterfly and 4x200 meter freestyle relay final. American Michael Phelps will be in both races, after winning gold in his first three events.