CHINA DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 olympics 3

Shved leads Russia King James holds court in London to a bronze fi nish By JULIAN LINDEN in London Reuters over Argentina In an Olympic sport played by giants, LeBron James towers By AGENCE FRANCE- NBA star Manu Ginobili, the above everyone else. PRESSE in London top scorer at the Olympics, led He may not be the tallest Argentina with 21 points while player on the fl oor but there is NBA-bound Nocioni added 16 and Carlos no doubt that King James holds scored 13 of his game-high 25 Delfi no had 15 in a losing cause. court. points in the fourth quarter Shved scored every Russian Aft er winning his fi rst NBA to power Russia over Argen- in a 7-2 run late in the championship tina 81-77 on Sunday to win third period that produced a with the Miami the Olympic men’s 71-66 lead, but Nocioni and Heat in June, bronze medal game. Ginobili sank back-to-back James would have Th e bronze was the fi rst for 3-pointers to put Argentina on been forgiven for Russia playing under their own top 72-71 with 2:45 to play. skipping the London Olym- fl ag in the sport since the break- Shved and Delfino traded pics and spending his summer up of the Soviet Union. three free throws each but break lazing on the beach. Shved, a 23-year-old guard Russia went back on top when He has already achieved who will play for the NBA Min- Fridzon sank two free throws every honor in the sport of nesota Timberwolves next sea- with 56 seconds remaining to basketball, including a gold son, sank a 3-pointer in the fi nal his team ahead 76-75. medal with the US team at seconds to give Russia a 79-77 Ginobili, who had been fl at- Beijing four years ago, and is edge. tened to the court by a Victor rich beyond his wildest dreams Andres Nocioni missed a Khryapa shoulder blow only but the thought of skipping the 3-pointer for Argentina and aft er moments earlier, answered with Games never entered his mind. a scramble for the loose ball, the a reverse layup, only to have Committed to the Olympics, Russians found Shved fi nish seizing command James won a bronze medal at for an uncontested fast break of the game with NBA style. Athens in 2004 then gold at layup that sealed the triumph. A Kirilenko slam dunk Beijing and now London in Argentina went home emp- opened a 12-2 run that put what may be his last appear- ty handed after having won Russia ahead 61-50 with 1:16 ance at the Games. Olympic gold in 2004 and beat- remaining in the third period. “It has been a great ride (but) ing Lithuania for the bronze in But Argentina replied with a I don’t know if I am going to be 2008. 12-1 spurt, Ginobili scoring fi ve a part of the 2016 (Olympics),” Andrei Kirilenko, who will points in the span that pulled said James. join Shved at Minnesota next the South Americans even at “We’ve had ups and downs, season, scored 20 points while 62-62 with 7:02 to play, setting but thankfully there have been CHRISTIAN PETERSEN / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Fridzon had 19 for Russia. up the dramatic fi nish. more ups than downs.” LeBron James of the US dunks in the men’s gold medal game against Spain at the North Greenwich Arena in London on Sunday. With a star-studded team The US won 107-100. packed with NBA players, the US was one of the hottest In addition to winning his NBA players fi rst went to the to London was simple. Th e kid ging and high fi ving his team favorites in London to win fi rst NBA title against the Okla- Games. that used to play basketball to mates and bouncing around gold whether James was there homa City Th under and sec- “It has been a great ride for bring some stability to his trou- like he was auditioning for or not. ond Olympic gold medal, he me. I could have never scripted bled upbringing, just wanted to Dancing With the Stars before It duly delivered, beating a was named as the Most Valu- it this way,” James said. play ball with his pals. draping himself in the Ameri- gallant Spain 107-100 in Sun- able Player during the NBA “I’ve had many dreams about From the start of the tourna- can fl ag. day’s final, with James the regular season for the third it, winning an NBA champion- ment, it was clear James was “We have an incredible team, standout player of the tour- time. ship and then following it up having fun. Unlike the NBA we love when it gets tight,” nament in a team that had an He also won the MVP award with a gold medal being part of playoff s, he was not shoulder- James said. embarrassment of talent. for the fi nal. Only Michael Jor- so many great teams. ing the burden of expectation, “That’s when our will and By winning, James capped dan, whom LeBron is constant- “I’m fortunate to be in this happily switching from off ence determination shows, it was the a golden summer where he ly and unfl atteringly compared position and healthy. I’m happy to defense and sharing the ball same in 2008 we played against SERGIO PEREZ / REUTERS cleaned up the four biggest with, completed the same rare that I am able to do this for our with his All-Star team. those guys (Spain), who are a Russia’s Alexey Shved (right) and teammate Andrei Kirilenko team and individual honors in grand slam, at the 1992 Bar- country.” When the fi nal buzzer went, great team and much respect celebrate victory against Argentina after their men’s bronze the sport. celona Olympics when active For James, the lure of going James leapt into the air, hug- to them.” medal match on Sunday.

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