Spoiler alert: LGBT Watch at the Olympics is a regular feature tracking the nearly two dozen LGBT athletes at the London 2012 Olympics. In the U.S., NBC is tape-delaying much of the games on its local stations, yet live-streaming on the Internet. Some of the results listed below may not have yet been broadcast in your area.
Playing like heavyweight champions, the United States won the gold medal in women’s soccer with a hard-fought 2-1 thriller over Japan on Thursday at the London 2012 Olympics.
A total of 80,203 people packed London’s historic Wimbley Stadium, the hallowed home of British football, and loudly cheered for the two best teams in soccer. It was the biggest crowd to ever see a woman’s soccer match in Olympic history.
The Americans won their third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics and their fourth overall since 1996. The U.S. won the silver medal in 2000.
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Japan won the silver and Canada, which beat France 1-0, took home the bronze.
For the Americans, the victory was sweet redemption after losing a heartbreaker to Japan on penalty kicks in the 2011 World Cup championship.
Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the U.S., in the 8th minute and the 54th minute, to power the Americans to a 2-0 lead. Yuki Ogima scored in the 63rd minute for the only other goal.
U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo was sensational in the game, making three spectacular saves against Japan. Two of her saves came in the first half after the U.S. had taken a one-goal lead, when Japan put intense pressure on the net. Both shots were deflected by a leaping Solo, hitting the crossbar and bounding away.
Megan Rapinoe, the lesbian who started as a midfielder, was shifted to the left side in this game and seemed out of her element. She played solidly, but didn’t collect any statistics in the box score. U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who is also a lesbian, substituted for Rapinoe with the fresh legs of Lauren Cheney in the 57th minute. Rapinoe cheered her mates from the sideline seats.
After the game, Rapinoe wrapped herself in the U.S. flag and wept tears of joy.
Women’s basketball
The United States roared from behind at halftime to defeat Australia 86-73 in the semifinals of women’s basketball.
Next up is the gold medal game against the winner of Russia vs. France.
Seimone Augustus, the only out athlete on the U.S. team, again came off the bench and played almost 16 minutes. She scored eight points in four-of-six shooting, collected one offensive rebounds and three defensive rebounds, and doled out one assist.
Individual dressage
The two gay men competing in individual dressage finished in the Top 10 but did not win medals on Thursday in London.
Carl Hester of Great Britain rode his horse Uthopia to a fifth-place finish, while Edward Gal of the Netherlands rode Undercover to a ninth-place finish. Hester won a gold medal for Great Britian in team dressage.
