Beijing Games: Day 16

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 25, 2008

Beijing Games: Day 16

Culminating a three-year mission to end years of embarrassing international performances, the U.S. men's basketball team survived a huge challenge from Spain to win 118-107 in the gold-medal game Sunday.

Pau Gasol and Spain were within four points with just over two minutes to go, but the U.S. pulled away and reclaimed the hoops gold medal.

Kobe Bryant had 20 points and made a couple of key assists late in the game.

LeBron James and Deron Williams celebrate along with Carlos Boozer.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski and team USA with their medals -- the first U.S. gold in men's basketball since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Luis Scola of Argentina drives to the hoop against Ksistof Lavrinovic of Lithuania in the bronze medal game. Argentina won 87-75.

Samuel Kamau Wansiru of Kenya celebrates after setting a new Olympic record in the marathon with a time of two hours, 6.32 minutes.

Marathon runners pass the portrait of chairman Mao on Tiananmen Square during the final day of the Beijing Games.

Ryan Millar and the U.S. volleyball team won the gold on Sunday, defeating defending champion Brazil to complete a perfect run through a tournament shadowed by a grisly attack on the in-laws of the team's coach at a Beijing tourist site.

William Priddy (far left) and the Americans claimed their third gold medal with a 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 victory in the final. Top-ranked Brazil, a two-time gold medalist, settled for the silver medal.

Hungary's head coach Denes Kemeny gets thrown into the pool by Norbert Madaras (left), Norbert Hosnyanszky (top) and Gabor Kis after beating the U.S. for gold in water polo.