2007年VOA标准英语-Africans Have Golden Day in Osaka Athletics

By David Byrd
Osaka, Japan
25 August 2007

Two Africans and an American have captured gold medals on the first day of the World Athletics¹ Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Luke Kibet of Kenya, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba and American Reese Hoffa were winners.

Kenya's Luke Kibet celebrates as he wins the Men's Marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, 25 Aug. 2007

Kibet finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 2:15:59 seconds.  The Kenyan is the first men's marathon world champion from his country in 20 years.  Kibet said that his victory was driven by a promise he made before coming to Osaka.

"I'm happy, because it is a long time for Kenya to get a gold in marathon," he said.  "But when I came from Kenya I told them 'we are going and I will try to get a gold in marathon.'  But I am happy because I have won."

Qatar's Mubarak Hassan Shami took silver, one minute, 19 seconds back with Switzerland's Viktor Roethlin taking the bronze.

In the men's shot put, American Reese Hoffa, won the gold medal with a toss of 22 meters, four cm. American Adam Nelson won the silver while Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus took bronze.

Hoffa says he was relieved when the competition was finally over.

"I know there is a lot of expectation on myself being the world number one, and having the best throw in the world, and pretty much a big expectation to throw it 22 meters," he said.  "I am just glad I could execute and win."

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's 10,000 meters title with a season's best time of 31:55.41 seconds. Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse won the silver with American Kara Goucher taking the bronze.

At one point the Ethiopian looked like she would drop out because of stomach trouble, but was able to regain² her form and eventually sprinted⁴ to the win. Speaking through a translator, Dibaba said she could not let down her country.

"Yes, I almost interrupted the race, but because I am representing my country, I just hung in there, but I was feeling very sick," she said.

Three more gold medals are up for grabs on Sunday in the women's shot put, the men's 20-kilometer walk and the marquee sprint³ event, the men's 100-meters.

1 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

2 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

3 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

4 sprinted   

v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sprinted for the line. 他向终点线冲去。
• Sergeant Horne sprinted to the car. 霍恩中士全力冲向那辆汽车。 来自辞典例句