lingzi
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LONDON —Summer Mortimer and Benoit Huot wrapped up their individual races in
the pool Thursday after winning almost a third of Canadas medals and over half
the countrys gold so far at the Paralympic Games. Pat Angerer Womens Jersey . Mortimer added
bronze to a collection that already included two gold and a silver by finishing
third in the womens 100-metre freestyle. The 19-year-old from Ancaster, Ont.,
will swim the backstroke leg of a medley relay on Friday, but Mortimer is
already Canadas most decorated Paralympian in London. “It still hasnt hit me,”
she said. “I think other people make a bigger deal out of it than I do just
because of my background in sport. “Its a pretty cool feeling. Im really
grateful for the experience. Im really happy Canada allowed me to come here and
perform for them.” Huot, swimming his third race in as many nights, was fourth
in the mens 100 freestyle in what was his final race in London. The Montreal
swimmer caps his fourth Paralympics with a complete set of gold, silver and
bronze for a career 19. Huot, 28, won the 200 individual medley in world-record
time on the first day of competition in London. He also took silver in the 400
freestyle and bronze in the 100 backstroke. “I am leaving London with a big
smile on my face,” Huot said. “I knew this race was going to be the toughest.
Its the one Ive trained for the least. Eighty-five per cent of training was
focused on the medley.” Mortimers bronze was Canadas lone medal on Day 9. With
three days of competition remaining, the Canadian team was at 22 medals and
assured of a 23rd when the mens wheelchair basketball team defeated host Britain
69-52 in their semifinal. Canada faces defending champion Australia for gold
Saturday. But just four gold tied Canada for 21st, so the team is unlikely to
hit its objective of a top-eight finish in the gold-medal count in London.
Patrick Anderson of Fergus, Ont., led Canada with 17 points, 11 assists and nine
rebounds in wheelchair basketball. Saturdays final is a rematch of the 2008
gold-medal game in Beijing where Australia prevailed 72-60. Canada won gold in
both 2004 and 2000. The final day of sailing was cancelled due to high winds and
medals were awarded based on current position. That hurt Canadas medal chances
with two boats in fourth after Wednesdays round. Paul Tingley of Halifax was the
defending champion in the single person keelboat. He finished just off the
podium, as did the two-person keelboat team of Victorias John McRoberts and
Stacie Louttit. “Obviously theres disappointment in coming fourth,” McRoberts
said. “But to be honest, the other countries sailed better than we did. Im still
proud of where we finished. We ended up being the top Canadian sailing team at
both the Olympics and Paralympics.” The mens wheelchair rugby team bounced back
from a loss to Australia to beat Belgium 58-50. Canada faces Sweden on Friday
with the winner advancing to the semifinals. Mortimer and Huot earned seven
medals between them and own three of Canadas four gold. The fourth came from
wheelchair sprinter Michele Stilwell of Nanoose Bay, B.C. Mortimer set world
records en route to winning the 50-metre freestyle and the 200 individual
medley. She was second in the 100 backstroke. Shortly after trying out for
Canadas 2008 Olympic swim team, Mortimer suffered catastrophic injuries to her
feet and lower shins in a trampoline accident. She hit cement instead of the
sponge pit. Eight screws inserted in her feet and a metal plate in her left foot
continually give her pain. Mortimer has clubbed feet and races in the S10
classification, which is for athletes with the least severe physical impairment.
“The way I look at it is I look at the other classifications and other athletes
and I see their stories and what they do and I dont think Im on the same level
as them,” Mortimer explained. “Im so in awe by all the athletes, humbled and
inspired by each and every one on the team and who Ive met around the world.
“Maybe eventually over time Ill start to give myself the same credit, but I look
at them and I think theyre rock stars.” Mortimer intends to swim again in Rio de
Janeiro in 2016. “I would like to say so,” she said. “Life has its ups and
downs. You never know whats going to happen. Ill take it year by year. Mentally
Im 100 per cent set on it.” She has to decide if shell wants surgery to try to
relieve the pain in her feet. “The fact Im walking is a miracle in itself,” she
said. “When I get back, I have to sort out my life stuff first and figure out
some swimming stuff. I have to figure out eventually when I can fit in the
surgery.” Huot says its 50-50 whether hell race in Rio, although hes tempted to
continue to the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto. “Family, girlfriend,
kids, work, who knows?” Huot said. “Theres so many variables.” The International
Paralympic Committee has awarded the 2013 world swim championships to Canada
with the host city yet to named. Andrew Luck White Jersey . Evans finished the
2012 Tour de France despite being ill through much of the race. He was unsure if
he would recover in time to contest the Olympic road race and time trial. Johnny Unitas Jersey . Sanchez was among a
group of five riders who broke away on the final ascent of the day, the Mur de
Peguere, as the three-week race entered the Pyrenees on Sunday. He then made his
decisive move 11 kilometres (7 miles) from the finish to claim his fourth Tour
stage win. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/coby-fleener-jersey
. Avril signed his tender Sunday and will make $10.6 million this season as
franchise-tagged player. Coby Fleener Jersey . New NHL Players
Association executive director Donald Fehr was in Chicago for meetings. He says
negotiations will begin after Wednesdays meeting of the NHLPAs executive board.
Andrew Luck Youth Jersey .” Vilma has been
suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints bounty program, which
he adamantly has claimed did not exist. Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.OKLAHOMA
CITY —Kevin Durant showed LeBron James how to play the fourth quarter in the
NBA Finals. Durant scored 17 of his 36 points in another nightmarish final
period for James and his team, leading a Thunder storm that overwhelmed the Heat
and gave Oklahoma City a 105-94 victory over Miami in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
Teaming with Russell Westbrook to outscore the Heat in the second half by
themselves, Durant struck first in his head-to-head matchup with James, who had
seven points in the final quarter and was helpless to stop the leagues
three-time scoring champion. Westbrook turned around a poor shooting start to
finish with 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Thunder, keying a
strong finish to the third period that gave the Thunder the lead for good.
Durant took over from there. Scoring in nearly every way possible, Durant
finished 12 of 20 from the field and added eight rebounds. He and Westbrook
outscored the Heat 41-40 over the final two periods, showing that maybe this
time it will be offence that wins championships. James finished with 30 points,
his most in any of his 11 finals games, but had only one basket over the first
8:15 of the fourth, when the Thunder seized control of a game they trailed for
all but the final few seconds of the first three quarters. James averaged just
three points in the fourth quarters of the Heats six-game loss to Dallas last
year, taking almost all the heat for Miamis finals failure. He was good in this
one, Durant was just better. And when fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” late in the game,
they werent talking about James, the guy who won the regular-season award. They
meant Durant, who is in a race with James for his first ring—and maybe the
title of best player in the game. Game 2 is Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
Dwyane Wade had 19 points but shot just 7 of 19 for the Heat, while
Shane Battier provided some rare offence by scoring 17 points, his high this
post-season. Turning to a small lineup late in the third quarter, the Thunder
improved to 9-0 at home in the post-season. Defensive ace Thabo Sefolosha helped
defend James during the Thunders comeback, relieving Durant of the burden so he
could focus on his scoring. And right now, nobody does it better. Heat coach
Erik Spoelstra said his team, pushed to seven games against Boston in a grueling
conference finals the Heat finally won Saturday, preferred this quick
turnaround. But perhaps they ran out of gas against the young Thunder, whose
core players are all 23 and younger and look as if they could keep playing all
night. James and Wade both were bent over, hands on knees, during one stoppage
with about 7 minutes remaining. Durant kept pouring it on, racing down the court
to throw down a fast-break dunk and later adding a 3-pointer that pushed it to
87-81 with 6 1-2 minutes remaining. The Heat got within four points, but Durant
hit two quick baskets and Westbrook added another for a 10-point lead with 3:35
to go. Its been a rapid rise toward the top for the Thunder, who started 3-29 in
2008-09, their first season here after moving from Seattle. Andrew Luck Shirts. Fans were clearly
embracing the finals arrival in Oklahoma City, where cars, buildings and even
fans hair seemed to be painted some form or orange or blue. Fans standing until
the Thunders first basket didnt have to wait long, Durant knocking down a
baseline jumper 70 seconds in. He made his first three shots, including two
3-pointers, but his teammates missed their first six attempts in falling into an
early hole. Durant made sure they were fine at the end. Both superstars tried to
downplay their individual matchup, Durant insisting it was about the team and
James adamant that he didnt care about the best player in the game argument. It
was James supporting cast that stepped up bigger to start, the Heat hitting five
of their six 3-point attempts in jumping to a 29-22 lead after one quarter.
Spoelstra kept Chris Bosh as a reserve, the role he has played since returning
from a nine-game absence with a strained lower abdominal muscle. Smart decision,
as Battier hit his first three 3-point attempts in the opening minutes to spark
Miamis strong start. Durant took only one shot in the second quarter, and it
wasnt until 9 minutes had passed. By then, the Heat had built a lead as large as
13 points, keeping it in or near double digits most of the period before the
Thunder sliced it to 54-47 at halftime. Seemingly every fan was wearing the blue
shirts hung on their chairs before the game—an exception being rapper Lil
Wayne, who caused a stir during the Western Conference finals when he posted on
Twitter that the Thunder wouldnt let him into their arena, with the team saying
simply that he needed to buy tickets if he wanted to come. He did, he and his
guest both wearing black. The sea of blue around the court looked like the scene
last year in Dallas, where James struggled so badly when it mattered most. He
admitted letting his team down, vowing he would have no regrets about his
performance this time around. Unfortunately, the result was all too familiar to
the Heat. James quickly answered after Oklahoma City tied the game for the first
time at 60-all midway through the third, banking in a shot and powering in for a
layup and a quick four-point lead. The Heat pushed the lead back to five but the
Thunder kept coming, finally pulling ahead for the first time when Westbrook
darted into the lane and was fouled while scoring with 16.4 seconds remaining,
the free throw making it 74-73. Baskets by Durant and Sefolosha to open the
fourth pushed it to a five-point lead, and the Heat never recovered. Notes:
Battiers 13 first-half points equaled his high for the post-season. He and
Westbrook were also called for double technical fouls after Westbrooks basket
with about 30 seconds left in the half. ... The Thunder, 23-59 in 2008-09,
duplicated the feat of the Heat, who also reached a finals within three seasons
of a 25-win season. Miami was 15-67 in 2007-08 before playing for the title last
year. ’ ’ ’
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