VOA标准英语2008年-New World Records Highlight Olympic Action Wedn

A cascade¹ of swimming records has fallen in the Beijing Olympic pool. Wednesday began with four world records set in the first four events on the schedule. VOA's Jim Stevenson has highlights from the fifth full day of competition.

World records are always impressive accomplishments². With so many being set in swimming at the Beijing Olympics, it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of the results.
　
United States' Michael Phelps swims to win gold and set new world record in men's 200-meter butterfly final, 12 Aug 2008

But what stood out Wednesday was the victory by American great Michael Phelps in the men's 200-meter butterfly. That win gave Phelps his fourth title of the games and a record 10th career gold medal. He says every win has been special.

"When you have an Olympic gold medal, it stays with you forever," Phelps said. "That never leaves your side. You are always an Olympic gold medalist. Birthdays happen every year. Christmas happens every year. You know, you only get to be an Olympic gold medalist so many times."

Phelps added a fifth gold thanks to a record shattering performance in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay. He and three teammates clocked the first sub-seven minute performance ever (6:58.56), chopping more than four and a half seconds off the previous best. Phelps has three races remaining on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
　
Stephanie Rice poses with her gold medal after the women's 200m individual medley³ medal ceremony in Beijing, 13 Aug 2008

The top accolade⁴ in the women's 200-meter individual medley went Australian Stephanie Rice, whose world record of 2:08.45 minutes edged Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.

"The last 50 [meter] was a great challenge," Rice said. "I mean, we were both battling it out. And that is sort of what the Olympics is all about. It is about the challenge. I was trying not to look over because I knew she was right there. I just tried to close my eyes and concentrate on all the hard [practice] sessions we have done. And really just focus on my own race."

Italian Federica Pellegrini expressed her relief after lowering her own world record with a time of 1:54.82 minutes to win the women's 200-meter freestyle race.

"When I win, I say 'finally, finally.' Because this 200 meters [race], really I have been expecting to win this competition for the last four years. So for me, this is like I redeem⁵ myself," Pellegrini said.

American gold came on the Beijing streets, where Kristin Armstrong rolled to victory in the women's road-cycling individual time trial. Fabien Cancellara of Switzerland won the men's event.
　
Chinese team celebrates after winning the gold in the women's team final of the artistic⁶ gymnastics event, 13 Aug 2008

Inside, the Chinese team claimed its first ever women's gymnastics title ahead of the United States and Romania. Wang Feng and Qin Kai completed a Chinese sweep of the synchronized⁷ diving events with a victory off the three-meter springboard.

Chen Ying added to the Chinese total by winning the women's 25-meter pistol event. That victory gives the Chinese six shooting medals in these Games.

China's Liu Chunhong won the women's 69-kilometer weightlifting gold medal. South Korean Sa Jaehyouk had the best lift in the men's 77-kilo division.

Men's individual foil gold went to German fencer Benjamin Philip Kleibrink. Compatriot Britta Heidemann took the women's individual epee title.

Masae Ueno won Japan's third gold medal in women's 70-kilo judo⁸, needing less than one minute to defeat Anaysi Hernandez of Cuba. Ronda Rousey earned bronze to claim the first Olympic medal in women's judo for the United States since the event was put on the official schedule in 1992. Irakli Tsirekidze of Georgia was the 90-kilo men's champion.

Georgia added a gold from 74-kilo Greco-Roman wrestling. Lee Chang-hwan of South Korea set an Olympic record in his second-round archery win, scoring 117 of a possible 120 points.

Elsewhere, the U.S. women's softball team were again dominant⁹ in their second game of the Olympic tournament. Cat Osterman recorded only the second complete game no-hitter by an American in Olympic softball history on the way to a 3-0 victory over Australia.

And in beach volleyball, a pair of Georgian players: Cristine Santanna and Andreeza Chagas, topped Russian duo Natalia Uryadova and Alexandra Shiryaeva, 2-1, in a women's preliminary pool-C match.

 

1 cascade   

n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下

参考例句：

• She watched the magnificent waterfall cascade down the mountainside.她看着壮观的瀑布从山坡上倾泻而下。
• Her hair fell over her shoulders in a cascade of curls.她的卷发像瀑布一样垂在肩上。

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 medley   

n.混合

参考例句：

• Today's sports meeting doesn't seem to include medley relay swimming.现在的运动会好象还没有混合接力泳这个比赛项目。
• China won the Men's 200 metres Individual Medley.中国赢得了男子200米个人混合泳比赛。

4 accolade   

n.推崇备至，赞扬

参考例句：

• Four restaurants have been awarded the highest accolade of a three-star rating.四家餐馆获授予三星级餐馆的最高荣誉称号。
• The Nobel prize has become the ultimate accolade in the sciences.诺贝尔奖已成为科学界的最高荣誉。

5 redeem   

v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等）

参考例句：

• He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。
• The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

7 synchronized   

同步的

参考例句：

• Do not use the synchronized keyword in Managed Objects. 不要在管理对象上使用synchronized关键字。 来自互联网
• The timing of the gun was precisely synchronized with the turning of the plane's propeller. 风门的调速与飞机螺旋桨的转动精确同步。 来自辞典例句

8 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

9 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。