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German tears after pole vault

August 6, 2012

Germany's Silke Spiegelburg missed her chance of a medal in the women's pole vault. But discus throwers and volleyballers are keeping German medal hopes alive in London.

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Germany's Silke Spiegelburg reacts in the Women's Pole Vault final
Olympia London 2012 Stabhochsprung FrauenImage: picture-alliance/dpa

German pole vaulter Silke Spiegelburg burst into tears after failing to get over the bar at 4.75 meters and had to be content with fourth place. The other two Germans in the event, Martina Strutz (4.55 meters) and Lisa Ryzih (4.45 meters) came fifth and eighth respectively.

Gold went to Jennifer Suhr from the United States (4.75 meters) ahead of Yarisley Silva from Cuba (4.75) on silver. Twice former champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia won bronze.

But discus thrower Robert Harting has kept Germany's hopes of a better medal tally in athletics alive by qualifying for the final on Tuesday. The two-times world champion managed a distance of 66.22 meters, which was bested only by Estonian rival Gerd Kanter, who achieved 66.39 meters.

New Zealand's Gemma Flynn fights for the ball with Germany's Natascha Keller (L) during their Women's group B hockey match at Riverbank Arena at the London 2012 Olympic Games August 6, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT FIELD HOCKEY OLYMPICS)
The women's hockey team could not progressImage: Reuters

Earlier on Monday the women's hockey team only managed a 0-0 draw against underdogs New Zealand. The German team needed to win by a three-goal margin to progress in the tournament.

New Zealand, on the other hand, qualified for their first-ever Olympic semifinal.

The German men's hockey team, current world champions, remain in the competition despite losing 3-1 to the Netherlands on Sunday.

The German men's table tennis team, however, has failed to make it to the last round, losing to China 1:3 in the semi-finals.

Shot put disappointing

Germany also missed out in women's shot putting, after Christina Schwanitz secured a place in the final. But she was not good enough for Nadzeya Ostapchuk from Belarus, who topped the qualifying with 20.76 meters, then went on to claim gold in the final with 21.36 meters.

Germany's Gyorgy Grozer (9, left) and Lukas Kampa (11) dive for a shot by Tunisia's Anouer Taouerghi (12) during a men's volleyball preliminary match at the 2012 Summer Olympics Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (Foto:Chris O'Meara/AP/dapd).
Germany's volleyballers are already celebratingImage: AP

Beijing champion Valerie Adams from New Zealand made silver with 20.70 meters, followed by Russia's Evgeniia Kolodko on 20.48, her personal best.

Volleyball delight

The German men's volleyball team, meanwhile, had their best result in an Olympic competition since the games in Munich in 1972, where the former East Germany fetched silver.

The current team is now through to the quarterfinals for the first time in 40 years, despite loosing 3-0 to Brazil.

In the men's beach volleyball, Germany beat the number two team Brazil to proceed to the semi-finals on Tuesday.

tj,ng/ccp (SID, dpa, Reuters)