2012 Olympics Results: Winners and Losers from Day 4

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Day 4 at the 2012 Summer Olympics saw more gold medals handed out in swimming. Big American names were in the pool, with Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt and Missy Franklin in competition, among others.

The women’s soccer team also took to the field again in its last group match, and April Ross and Jen Kessy had their second match of their tournament.

All of these teams and individuals were favored to at least make the medal podium—or just win, in the women’s soccer and beach volleyball teams’ cases. Did any of them make this list of winners and losers?

Click through to find out, and come back everyday to see a new list of winners and losers from Olympic competition.

Winner: Zara Phillips (and Her British Equestrian Team)

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Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has weathered the media hype all week long, pushing it aside to win a silver medal in the team eventing equestrian event. This is Phillips’ first appearance at the Olympics.

Of course, this was a team effort, and Phillips’ teammates have been overlooked while she has been in the spotlight. William Fox-Pitt, Nicola Wilson, Mary King and Tina Cook all deserve as many accolades as Phillips will receive for this silver medal.

Loser: Andy Roddick (U.S. Tennis)

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Novak Djokovic dominated Andy Roddick in their second-round men’s singles tennis match on Tuesday, winning 6-2, 6-1. Djokovic played a near-perfect game, converting on all four break points, serving 100 percent on the second serve and hitting 14 aces.

Roddick, meanwhile, hit the ball decently but could only manage 12 total winners all match. He never led in either set, and Djokovic played him right off the court. Roddick’s play as of late has been on a steady decline, bringing up questions of whether or not he will retire soon.

Winner: Alaaeldin Abouelkassem (Egypt Fencing)

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Egypt’s first medal of the 2012 Summer Olympics came when Alaaeldin Abouelkassem won silver in the men’s individual foil fencing competition. He lost, 15-13, to China’s Sheng Lei in the final. His silver medal is also the first-ever African fencing medal.

On the way to the final, Abouelkassem defeated former world champions Peter Joppich of Germany and Andrea Cassara of Italy, who is ranked No. 1 in the world. Before the Olympics, Abouelkassem had to train in Alexandria instead of Cairo because the Egyptian capital is in political upheaval following the Arab Spring.

Loser: China Men’s Basketball Team

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While much of China’s Olympic team is enjoying success at London 2012, the men’s basketball team is not. After losing its second group game, 73-54, to Russia, China sits at the very bottom of Group B.

The Chinese have the worst point differential of any team in the tournament, a minus-35, after shooting 37.5 percent from the floor against Russia. The Chinese also had 16 turnovers and managed just three offensive rebounds the whole game.

Winner: U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team

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The American women’s gymnasts did what the men couldn’t do. They kept their cool, hit their routines and will take home a gold medal in the team competition.

It was a night in vast contrast to the previous one, when the men crumbled under the pressure. The women didn’t, and they won the first U.S. gold in women’s team gymnastics since Atlanta 1996.

Loser: Russia Women’s Gymnastics Team

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On the other side of the coin, the Russian gymnasts faltered enough to allow the U.S. to win. Russia had expectations of gold, but they couldn’t get it done in London, finishing second to the U.S.—just like last year at the World Championships.

It was on the floor that Russia lost the medal. It had the sixth-best team score in the exercise, with Anastasia Grishina receiving a dismal 12.466 and Ksenia Afanasyeva earning a 14.333.

Winner: Ye Shiwen (China Swimming)

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Even amid allegations from an American coach that she may be doping, China’s Ye Shiwen went out on Tuesday and won her second gold medal. She won the 200-meter individual medley to go along with her 400 IM gold, breaking the Olympic record in the process.

Ye has carried herself well during a difficult time, and she didn’t fold, even with the world’s eyes firmly fixed on her—not bad for a 16-year-old.

Loser: Stephanie Rice (Australia Swimming)

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Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice started strong in the women’s 200-meter individual medley, but she couldn’t sustain it and ended up in fourth place. In the process, she had a front-row seat as Ye Shiwen of China broke her Olympic record.

That makes it two races, the 400 IM being the other, in which Rice could not defend her 2008 gold medal. The 24-year-old is likely not finished with swimming, so she could give it another shot at Rio 2016, but this has been a disappointing Olympics for her.

Winner: Michael Phelps (U.S. Swimming)

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Well, he finally did it. Michael Phelps set a record with his 19th career Olympic medal, making him the most decorated Olympian in history. He did it in style, too, swimming the fastest leg of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay for the Americans, who smashed the rest of the field in the race.

The day didn’t start off too well for Phelps, who was outreached at the wall by South Africa’s Chad le Clos after leading the entire 200-meter butterfly race. But, like a true champion, Phelps dusted off his disappointment and delivered for his team in the relay.

Loser: Hungary Men’s Water Polo Team

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Three-time defending Olympic champion Hungary lost again in men’s water polo, this time to Montenegro by one goal. Hungary’s opening loss to Serbia was its first since the 2000 Summer Olympics, and it snowballed into a second loss on Tuesday.

The disappointing result puts Hungary at the bottom of Group B with Britain, which has also yet to win in its first two attempts in London. Up next for the Hungarians is a big rivalry match with Romania, so it doesn’t get any easier for the stricken defending champions.