With China still beating out the United States for both gold medals and the overall medal count, and even our best gymnast-- the best in the world!-- faltering yesterday, most of the highlights of Monday's Olympics broadcast weren't so much about Americans taking the podium. Instead we had some spectacular performances by American teams in non-medaling games, then some victories for non-Americans, including one very emotional sprinter. Before you start thinking you'll never hear the Star-Spangled Banner at the Olympics again, though, there was also a great moment for one American track & field star seeking redemption after her performance in the Olympics four years ago. Check out the 5 best moments below, and click on each image for a link to video.
#5 Russell Westbrook Scores A Massive Dunk
The Dream Team has, once again, been dominating all of their competition in the men's basketball contests, so the fun of watching them isn't so much suspense over the outcome, but watching these NBA superstars show off for each other. So click the image above to see what NBC is calling a "spectacular" dunk from Russell Westbrook.
#4 Gabby Douglas Falters On Uneven Bars
It's no fun to highlight moments when our favorite athletes falter, but it was truly shocking to see Gabby Douglas-- winner of the individual all-around gold medal just a few days ago-- come in 8th place on the uneven bars competition, after modifying her routine to be more complicated and failing to complete it. The gold in uneven bars went to Russia's Aliya Mustafina, who you might remember finished with a bronze medal in the individual all-around. You can listen to the shock in the announcers' voices, and see her own heartbreaking disappointment, by clicking the image above.
#3 Alex Morgan Scores A Last-Minute, Game-Winning Goal
The American women's soccer team has been dominant at the Olympics this year, but that doesn't mean they can't include a little drama. During last night's match against Canada, Alex Morgan scored the winning goal well into overtime, allowing the team to move on to a medal-winning match against Japan-- the team that memorably defeated the women at the World Cup match last year. Check out the dramatic last-minute kick by clicking the image above.
#2 Sanya Richards-Ross Takes Gold
Winning a bronze medal is something most of us can't even dream of, but when Sanya Richards-Ross placed third in Beijing running the 400 meters, she vowed to return to London and win it all. Of course, she did, with a thrilling last-minute sprint to the front of the pack-- you can watch the American sprinter's victorious race by clicking the image above.
#1 Felix Sanchez Celebrates An Emotional Victory
Sanchez is no stranger to Olympic victory, having won the gold medal in hurdles at the Athens games in 2004, but last night's victory seemed to mean even more to him. He carried a photo of his grandmother pinned inside his bib, and clearly had her on his mind while accepting his gold medal, bursting into tears as he listened to his country's anthem. It was a fantastic Olympic moment, and you can watch his victory by clicking the image above.
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