Olympics roundup

By Compiled from Times wires

Ethiopian takes drama out of this marathon

SYDNEY, Australia -- With the wind gusting to 40 mph, Gezahgne Abera of Ethiopia tucked into a pack of 10 runners on the marathon course. At 101/2 miles, his feet became tangled, and he fell, scraping a knee and shoulder.

This was his fifth international marathon, and two had ended in an adventure. In December, Abera slowed at the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan, believing he had won, only to be told he had a quarter of a mile left. He sped up, caught a runner who had passed him and won anyway. In April, he finished in a near dead heat with Kenya's Elijah Lagat and took second in the closest Boston Marathon ever.

Sunday, there would be no such suspense. After he fell, Abera climbed to his feet, sheltered behind teammate Tesfaye Tola until the 25th mile and then burst into the lead to win the gold medal in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 11 seconds.

Eric Wainaina, a Kenyan who trains in Japan and who won the bronze medal in 1996, kept surging in an attempt to break the Ethiopians, but he had to settle for second in 2:10:31. Tola won the bronze in 2:11:10.

Ethiopia has won four men's marathons in the Olympics, more than any other nation. "I couldn't believe it," Abera, 22, said. "It's not only for me, but for the whole of Ethiopia, a new upsurge."

CANOE-KAYAK: After a six-hour delay because of high wind, the finals were held. Birgit Fischer continued to make history, winning the women's pairs for her second title in Sydney and seventh of her career.

Fischer has won at least one gold medal at all five Olympics in which she has competed, including the past four. Her first gold came in Moscow in 1980.

Norway's Knut Holman beat Bulgaria's Petar Merkov in the 500-meter K-1 for his third career gold. Merkov won his second silver medal in Sydney despite reports he tested positive for a banned substance this summer.

EQUESTRIAN: Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands rode the timed jump-off with no rails down in 50.65 seconds to take the gold. Countryman Albert Voorn had a better time but one rail down to win silver. He was barely faster than Khaled Al Eid of Saudi Arabia, who also had one rail down and won bronze. The top American was Margie Goldstein Engle of Wellington, who was 10th.

MODERN PENTATHLON: Stephanie Cook of Britain won the first Olympic modern pentathlon for women. Emily de Riel of the United States won the silver and Kate Allenby of Britain the bronze.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS: Favorite Alina Kabaeva of Russia made a rare mistake and mishandled the hoop, allowing teammate Yulia Barsukova to win the all-around title. Kabaeva finished third.

TEAM HANDBALL: Denmark defended its women's gold medal by coming back from a six-goal deficit to beat Hungary 31-27.

VOLLEYBALL: Yugoslavia, which lost to Russia in four games to start the Games, was relentless in the gold medal match, cruising to a 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 victory.

WATER POLO: The Hungarians won their record seventh men's gold medal -- but first since 1976 -- with a 13-6 victory over exhausted Russia.

WRESTLING: Four years after winning three freestyle gold medals, the United States was shut out for the first time since Mexico City in 1968. Americans won two silvers and two bronzes in eight classes.

Russia took two gold medals Sunday, Adam Saitiev at 187 pounds and David Moussoulbes at 286.