Beijing

BEIJING (AP) -- Michael Phelps jetted off from his Olympics of a lifetime on Wednesday night, zooming into a future that includes newfound celebrity status, oodles of money and a possible redo four years from now at the London Games. The swimmer who won a historic eight gold medals and set seven world records in Beijing was departing on an overnight flight to London, where he'll help in the handover of the Summer Games from China to the 2012 host city during Sunday's closing ceremonies.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) -- The wife of an American killed in Beijing is starting to talk and walk short distances while recovering at the Mayo Clinic. A statement posted on the Web on Monday by Barbara Bachman's three daughters also says the funeral for Todd Bachman is on hold until their mother is well enough to attend. The Bachmans were in China for the Olympics when they were attacked at a tourist attraction August 9th, apparently at random. The attacker killed himself. Their daughter Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman is a former U.S. Olympic volleyball player and their son-in-law, Hugh McCutcheon, coaches the U.S. men's volleyball team.

BEJING (AP) -- A spokesman for the U.S. Olympics Committee says the condition of the woman who was attacked on the opening weekend of the Olympics has improved. Darryl Seibel told The Associated Press on Monday that Barbara Bachman's condition has been upgraded from critical to stable. Mrs. Bachman was with her husband, Todd Bachman, when they were attacked by a Chinese man at an ancient monument in Beijing on Saturday. Bachman, the father of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, was killed.

BEIJING (AP) -- With help from British star power, China concluded its debut as Olympic host Sunday after 16 days of near-flawless logistics and superlative athletic achievement -- coexisting awkwardly with the government's wariness of dissent and free speech. A spectacular closing ceremony opened with torrents of fireworks and included a pulsating show-within-a-show by London, host of the 2012 Games. From a stage formed from a red double-decker bus, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page played classic rock hit "Whole Lotta Love" and soccer icon David Beckham booted a ball into the surrounding throng of athletes on the stadium floor.

BEIJING (AP) -- The Netherlands has won the gold medal in women's water polo, stunning the United States 9-8 behind seven goals by Danielle de Bruijn. She scored the winner with 26 seconds remaining. The Americans came to Beijing ranked No. 1, and on Thursday night looked as if they might get the gold that eluded them in Sydney and Athens. They had several chances to tie it up in the waning seconds, but Elsie Windes missed an outside shot and Brenda Villa couldn't put home the rebound.

BEIJING (AP) -- Henry Cejudo, the 21-year-old wrestling prodigy who had wrestled in only one world-level senior tournament before Beijing, has won the Olympic gold medal in men's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling. Cejudo, crying the moment the match ended and wrapping himself in an American flag, defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan 2-2 on a tiebreaker and 3-0 in the best-of-three match. Cejudo was 31st in last year's world championships, his only prior tournament at this level. Cejudo, the son of undocumented Mexican aliens who bypassed a college career to try to become an Olympian, assures the United States of winning a freestyle wrestling gold for the ninth consecutive Olympics at which it has competed.

BEIJING (AP) -- Don't doubt this U.S. men's basketball team -- and sure don't challenge them, either. Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's U.S. Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 on Wednesday night. The United States will play defending champion Argentina or Greece on Friday night for a spot in Sunday's gold medal game. Locked in what looked like another tough game in Australia, the Americans sent the Aussies' upset hopes down under with a 14-0 burst to open the second half, featuring nine points from Bryant.

BEIJING (AP) -- Samuel Wansiru pulled away over the final few miles Sunday to become the first Kenyan in the storied running history of that nation to win an Olympic marathon. The 21-year-old negotiated the 26.2-mile (42.15-kilometer) course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds. It was just the third marathon for Wansiru, also known as Wanjiru, who twice broke the world half-marathon record last year.

BEIJING (AP) -- President Bush reveled in the spectacular opening moments of the Olympics on Friday, but a burgeoning crisis stole some of his attention as Russia and Georgia neared the brink of all-out war. Buoyant from his pep talk to U.S. athletes, Bush got a coveted spot inside China's National Stadium and cheered their entrance to an extravagant opening ceremony. "Go for it! Give it all you've got!" the president had urged America's competitors. Bush, a big sports fan, plans to spend much of the weekend watching basketball, swimming and other competitions.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Allen Pettner already has proved that he is one of the top javelin throwers in the country. Now, he gets the chance to see if he belongs among the world's best next month in Beijing. "My goal has been to make the Olympics," said Pettner, a former All-American thrower for Hagerstown Community College and a native of Mercersburg, Pa. "I don't feel that that's out of reach. " His personal best throw of 239 feet, 9 inches has him seeded 17th of 24 competitors at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. The top 12 from tonight's preliminary round advance to Sunday's final.

BEIJING (AP) -- With help from British star power, China concluded its debut as Olympic host Sunday after 16 days of near-flawless logistics and superlative athletic achievement -- coexisting awkwardly with the government's wariness of dissent and free speech. A spectacular closing ceremony opened with torrents of fireworks and included a pulsating show-within-a-show by London, host of the 2012 Games. From a stage formed from a red double-decker bus, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page played classic rock hit "Whole Lotta Love" and soccer icon David Beckham booted a ball into the surrounding throng of athletes on the stadium floor.

BEIJING (AP) -- Samuel Wansiru pulled away over the final few miles Sunday to become the first Kenyan in the storied running history of that nation to win an Olympic marathon. The 21-year-old negotiated the 26.2-mile (42.15-kilometer) course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds. It was just the third marathon for Wansiru, also known as Wanjiru, who twice broke the world half-marathon record last year.

BEIJING (AP) -- Put up a net, put American men in action and watch out. At these Olympics, that's becoming an unbeatable combination. From volleyball to water polo to basketball, the guys in red, white and blue made their country proud Friday. Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers got it started by winning gold in beach volleyball. Then the U.S. indoor volleyball squad continued its surprising, emotional run by beating Russia and advancing to the gold-medal match for the first time since 1988.

BEIJING (AP) -- The Netherlands has won the gold medal in women's water polo, stunning the United States 9-8 behind seven goals by Danielle de Bruijn. She scored the winner with 26 seconds remaining. The Americans came to Beijing ranked No. 1, and on Thursday night looked as if they might get the gold that eluded them in Sydney and Athens. They had several chances to tie it up in the waning seconds, but Elsie Windes missed an outside shot and Brenda Villa couldn't put home the rebound.

BEIJING (AP) -- Don't doubt this U.S. men's basketball team -- and sure don't challenge them, either. Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's U.S. Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 on Wednesday night. The United States will play defending champion Argentina or Greece on Friday night for a spot in Sunday's gold medal game. Locked in what looked like another tough game in Australia, the Americans sent the Aussies' upset hopes down under with a 14-0 burst to open the second half, featuring nine points from Bryant.

BEIJING (AP) -- Michael Phelps jetted off from his Olympics of a lifetime on Wednesday night, zooming into a future that includes newfound celebrity status, oodles of money and a possible redo four years from now at the London Games. The swimmer who won a historic eight gold medals and set seven world records in Beijing was departing on an overnight flight to London, where he'll help in the handover of the Summer Games from China to the 2012 host city during Sunday's closing ceremonies.

BEIJING (AP) -- Henry Cejudo, the 21-year-old wrestling prodigy who had wrestled in only one world-level senior tournament before Beijing, has won the Olympic gold medal in men's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling. Cejudo, crying the moment the match ended and wrapping himself in an American flag, defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan 2-2 on a tiebreaker and 3-0 in the best-of-three match. Cejudo was 31st in last year's world championships, his only prior tournament at this level. Cejudo, the son of undocumented Mexican aliens who bypassed a college career to try to become an Olympian, assures the United States of winning a freestyle wrestling gold for the ninth consecutive Olympics at which it has competed.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) -- The wife of an American killed in Beijing is starting to talk and walk short distances while recovering at the Mayo Clinic. A statement posted on the Web on Monday by Barbara Bachman's three daughters also says the funeral for Todd Bachman is on hold until their mother is well enough to attend. The Bachmans were in China for the Olympics when they were attacked at a tourist attraction August 9th, apparently at random. The attacker killed himself. Their daughter Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman is a former U.S. Olympic volleyball player and their son-in-law, Hugh McCutcheon, coaches the U.S. men's volleyball team.

BEIJING (AP) -- It's official now. This is NOT Japan and the 2006 World Championships, not to mention Athens and the 2004 Olympics. This is Beijing and the 2008 Olympics, and the U.S. is back in men's basketball. These Americans, who looked so lost two years ago at the World Championship in Japan, appear to have found their Olympic way in China. Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to a 92-69 victory Thursday night to clinch a spot in the medal round.

BEIJING (AP) -- LeBron James and his teammates easily shoved Angola aside. Now come the teams that can push back. Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, James dominated the game with his size and strength on both ends, and the U.S. Olympic team wrapped up the easy portion of its schedule with a 97-76 victory Tuesday night. Dwight Howard added 14 points and James finished with 12 for the Americans, who had another rough night from 3-point range but don't appear to be stoppable in the open court.