Three alumni, who once wore the red and black on Wolverine athletic teams, and a track coach are competing at 2012 London Olympics, which run from July 27 to August 12.
For a recap of our Olympic coverage, read our latest story: "Wolverines finish Olympic competition."
For a in depth look at the athletes and their journey to the Olympics, read our story from July:
"3 alumni, track coach to compete in London Olympics."
U.S. men's water polo loss to Croatia dashes hopes for Hudnut's second medal
Published August 11
By Grant Nussbaum
The Croatian men’s water polo team defeated Peter Hudnut ’99 and the United States team 8-2 in the Olympic quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 8, ending the U.S. team’s quest for gold. The U.S. is currently competing in consolation rounds, where they lost to Spain 8-7 and will play either Hungary Australia for seventh place on Sunday, August 12.
Croatia took a 5-0 lead in the first half and would not give it up. The United States scored two goals coming out of halftime in the third quarter, but the stifling Croatian defense would not give up any more goals for the rest of the game.
The U.S. team entered the 2012 London games looking for redemption after losing in the gold medal match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to Hungary. The team went 2-2 in preliminary play and was tied for fourth in Group B before facing Croatia.
Sanchez grabs second career gold in 400 meter hurdles in emotional victory
Published August 6
By Lucy Putnam
Felix Sanchez won gold in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 47.63 seconds on Monday, August 6. This is the second gold for Sanchez and the first for his home country the Dominican Republic in the London Olympics so far.
Felix finished the race 0.28 seconds before American Michael Tinsley and became at 34 the oldest athlete to win gold in a race measuring 400 meters or less.
Sanchez told the Associated Press that he was very emotional about winning a gold medal in honor of his late grandmother, who raised him as a child.
Sanchez won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles in 2004 in Athens. However, days before he had a chance to defend his gold medal in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics, Sanchez injured his foot and his grandmother passed away. Sanchez did not advance out of preliminary heats to even compete in the final in Beijing. Sanchez said that both the injury and the tragedy affected his performance.
Tears flowed from Sanchez's face as he stood atop the Olympic podium during the playing of the Dominican national anthem. He wrote the word "Abuela," Spanish for grandmother, on his spikes before the race.
"After [the 2008] Olympics, I made a promise that I was going to win a medal for her," Sanchez said. "I've been really emotional all week, thinking about her."
U.S. men's water polo team falls to 2008 Olympic champion Hungary
Published August 6
By Grant Nussbaum
Hungary’s men’s water polo team handed Peter Hudnut ’99 and the United States an 11-6 loss in the final preliminary round match on Monday, August 6. Hudnut scored a goal in the fourth quarter with his only shot of the game.
Monday’s game was a rematch of the 2008 Olympic gold medal game, where Hungary took home the gold while the U.S. won silver. The three-time defending champion Hungarians got the better of the U.S. once more Monday, as they took a 4-0 lead early and never gave it up.
With the defeat, the U.S. team has now lost two consecutive games and is tied for fourth seed in Group B with Hungary. However, the United States has still clinched a spot in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament, where they will face Croatia on Wednesday, August 8.
U.S. men's water polo team loses first match to Serbia
Published August 4
Printed with permission of USA Water Polo/Jeff Cable.
By Patrick Ryan
The U.S. men’s water polo team’s unbeaten streak ended with an 11-6 loss against Serbia on Saturday during pool play. Despite the loss today, the team already secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 record.
Peter Hudnut ’99 and the men’s squad dropped into second place in Group B, now trailing Serbia.
Serbia scored the game’s first three goals and opened up a commanding lead, which they did not surrender.
The U.S. moves on to play Hungary, the three-time defending champions, on Monday.
Sanchez wins preliminary races, posts best time in season to qualify for finals on Monday
Published August 4
By Lucy Putnam
Track and field assistant coach Felix Sanchez qualified Saturday, August 4 for the Olympic final in the 400 meter hurdles.
After winning his first round heat on Friday, Sanchez shed 1.48 seconds off to win his semifinal the next day, clocking in at 47.76 seconds for a personal best this season.
Sanchez, who won a gold medal in 2004 Olympics, looks to bring back a second to his native Dominican Republic from the final race on Monday, August 6.
U.S. women's soccer team eliminate New Zealand with Riley '06 from tournament in quarterfinals
Published August 3
By Grant Nussbaum
The U.S. women's soccer team defeated the New Zealand squad with Ali Riley '06 in the quarterfinals 2-0 on Friday, August 3, ending their shot at a medal.
Riley, a defender, played the entire game for New Zealand and had one shot on goal.
The United States took the lead early with a goal in the first half, and put the game out of reach with a second goal in the last three minutes of regular time. The U.S. team will face Canada in the semifinal round of the tournament on Monday, August 6.
US water polo team with Hudnut '99 leads group after 13-7 win over Great Britain
Published August 2
Printed with permission of USA Water Polo.
By Patrick Ryan
Peter Hudnut ’99 and the U.S. men’s water polo team continued their strong play on Thursday, August 2, defeating Great Britain 13-7 in preliminary group play.
The Americans took a commanding 7-0 lead in the second quarter and beat the host country in convincing fashion.
In 7:32 of playing time, Hudnut recorded two fouls and one assist.
The US now leads Group B in points as the only undefeated team and will play Serbia on Saturday, who stand 1 point back. Serbia had a draw with Montenegro on Thursday.
New Zealand women's soccer squad with Riley '06 advances to quarterfinals
Published August 1
By Grant Nussbaum
Ali Riley ’06, a member of the New Zealand national women’s soccer team, shared in her team’s victory over Cameroon 3-1 on Tuesday, July 31. With the victory New Zealand clinches a spot in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament, where they will face the United States team on Friday, August 3.
Riley drew two fouls in the win.
Riley, a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand, is competing in her second Olympic games as a defender for New Zealand’s soccer team, after they placed tenth at the 2008 Beijing games.
Sanchez to compete in first round of 400 meter hurdles on Friday
Published August 1
By David Lim
Track and field team assistant coach Felix Sanchez, a 2004 Olympics gold medalist, will wear Dominican Republic colors on the starting blocks Friday, August 3 in the preliminary round of the 400 meter hurdles.
Sanchez, nicknamed “Super Felix,” won the first gold medal ever for the Dominican Republic and hopes to medal again in his specialty. Sanchez qualified for the 400 meter hurdles at the 2008 Olympics, but he was unable to medal because of an injury.
Osborne '05 out of competition after rowing team misses semifinal spot
Published August 1
Printed with permission of US Rowing.
By Grant Nussbaum
Alex Osborne ’05, a member of the U.S. men’s Olympic quadruple scull rowing team, failed to reach semifinals Monday, July 30 by less than a second in the repechage.
The repechage is an elimination round between the teams that placed last in their qualifying heats on Saturday, July 28. Switzerland beat out the United States by 0.72 seconds in the four-man team race to claim third place and the final spot to advance to the Semifinal round. New Zealand and Italy took first and second, respectively.
Osborne had competed in several international rowing competitions, including the 2011 World Rowing Championships, but rowed in the Olympics for the first time in the 2012 London games.
Hudnut '99 and US water polo start strong in quest for gold
Published August 1
By Patrick Ryan
The U.S. men’s water polo team, with Peter Hudnut ‘99 on its roster, prevailed in a 10-8 comeback victory over Romania in preliminary group play. The 2-0 team is now tied atop Group B with gold-medal favorite Serbia.
Hudnut is one of the returning players from the 2008 Olympic men’s water polo squad, which won silver.
“In a sport like ours, you don’t win a silver medal,” Hudnut told ESPN. “You lose the gold-medal match. I didn’t come back for a silver medal. This is about our team’s final stand together. This is our last chance.”
Trailing 5-3 in the second quarter, the team rebounded and scored four unanswered goals to rally ahead and defeat the Romanians.
The U.S. continues pool play against Great Britain on Thursday after Serbia defeated the host country 21-7. The team will play Serbia on Saturday.