2008 Beijing Games Day 10

Nastia Liukin of the U.S. swings into the air in the women’s uneven bars.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nastia Liukin flips into her dismount in the women’s uneven bars individual event. She scored 16.725.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chinese gymnast He Kexin also scores 16.725 on the uneven bars, tying with Nastia Liukin of the U.S. He wins the gold because of a tiebreaker rule.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nastia Liukin receives the silver medal in the uneven bars.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Is there a look of disappointment on the face of Nastia Liukin? She shares the medal podium with China’s He Kexin, gold, and Yang Yilin, bronze, for the women’s uneven bars individual event.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

China’s He Kexin steps onto the medal podium to receive her gold at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Elena Isinbaeva talks to her coach before the women’s pole vault. She sets a world record and wins the gold in the event.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Elena Isinbaeva of Russia pole vaults her way to Olympic gold.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Elena Isinbaeva waves to the audience after winning first place in the women’s pole vault.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. pole vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski clears the bar in the women’s pole vault final. She takes home the silver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Germany’s Carolin Tamara Hingst celebrates after clearing the bar in the women’s pole vault final. She finishes sixth in the event.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Yulia Golubchikova lands on the mat feet up, just missing the bronze in the women’s pole vault.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. discus thrower Stephanie Brown Trafton goes on a victory lap after winning a gold medal.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kenyan Pamela Jelimo rounds the turn toward the finish to win the woman’s 800-meter race.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Angelo Taylor of the U.S. crosses the finish line in a flourish, winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Gold medalist Angelo Taylor, right, and fellow American Kerron Clement, a silver medalist, take a victory lap after placing first and second in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USA beach volleyball player Philip Dalhausser, left, blocks a spike by Germany’s Eric Koreng in the second set of a men’s beach volleyball quarterfinal match at Beijing’s Chaoyang Park.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA’s Todd Rogers, right, and Germany’s Eric Koreng battle for the ball at a men’s beach volleyball quarterfinal match. The United States won the match 2-0 and will advance to the semifinals.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA beach volleyball player Todd Rogers spikes the ball past Germany’s Eric Koreng in the second set of a men’s beach volleyball quarterfinal match at Beijing’s Chaoyang Park. The U.S. team of Rogers and Philip Dallhausser advanced to the semifinal match after beating Germany 2-0.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA players Philip Dalhausser, left, and teammate Todd Rogers celebrate their win against Germany in a men’s beach volleyball quarterfinal match at Beijing’s Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA player Jesse Smith stretches to help defend a shot by Germany’s Heiko Nossek, who soon after scored a goal during a men’s water polo Group B prelim at Beijing’s Yindong Natatorium. The United States held on to win 8-7.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA’s Tony Azevedo fires off a shot before Germany defender Thomas Schertwitis can get to him at a men’s water polo Group B prelim at Yindong Natatorium. Azevedo didn’t score, but the Americans won 8-7.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The force of two players wrestling for the ball creates a storm of whitewater in front of the USA goal as Germany presses the offense in a men’s water polo Group B prelim at Yindong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. water polo player Adam Wright kisses his fist after scoring a goal on a penalty shot in the second half of a men’s Group B prelim at Beijing’s Yindong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Amy Rodriguez of the U.S. and Japan’s Homare Sawa battle for possession of the ball in a semifinal match at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium. USA beats Japan, 4-2, to advance to compete for the gold in women’s soccer.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Carli Lloyd, left, Lindsay Tarpley, both on the U.S. women’s soccer team, and Japan midfielder Homare Sawa go head to head to head for the ball in a semifinal soccer match.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s soccer’s Heather O’Reilly is bowled over by Japan’s Kyoko Yano in an Olympic semifinal soccer game at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)