The women's soccer team was completely outplayed by Brazil for most of the day, but the U.S. still pulled out a gold-medal victory. Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time to lift the Americans over the Brazilians 1-0. But the U.S. needed stellar goalkeeping by Hope Solo to win gold for the third time in four Olympics.

It caps a rather surprising run for the Americans, who opened the Olympics with a lackluster loss. They also played the tournament without top scorer Abby Wambach because of a broken leg she suffered in the team's final tuneup for Beijing.

The U.S. softball team failed in its bid for a fourth consecutive gold medal, losing to Japan 3-1 in the final. The Americans had beaten Japan twice in the past week, including a 4-1, nine-inning victory the day before. p>This was the sport's final appearance in the games for at least eight years. The Americans' 22-game Olympic winning streak was snapped as Japan pitcher Yukiko Ueno handed them their first loss since Sept. 21, 2000 at Sydney.

The United States women's water polo team also settled for a silver medal after a stunning 9-8 loss to the Netherlands. The Americans erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the fourth quarter before the Dutch scored with 26 seconds left.

In track, LaShawn Merritt led a U.S. sweep in the men's 400 meters, upsetting teammate and defending champ Jeremy Wariner. Merritt's time of 43.75 seconds was nearly a full second ahead of Wariner's.

David Neville dove headfirst across the finish line to earn the bronze and complete the sweep.

Merritt's victory came after the U.S. men's and women's 400-meter relay teams failed to advance out of the first round because of dropped batons.

First, men's anchor Tyson Gay, part of the American team that won the relay at last year's world championships, did not get the baton from third-leg runner Darvis Patton on Thursday night.

Then, about 25 minutes later, women's anchor Lauryn Williams flubbed her exchange with Torri Edwards - the metal stick dropping to the ground.

Unlike the men, who stopped racing, Williams scrambled back on the wet track to pick up the baton and finish the lap around the track. The United States, of course, was eighth and last in the heat.

It marks the first time in history the U.S. has gone 0-for-6 in the sprint races: the men's and women's 100s, 200s and 400 relays.

The U.S. women's basketball team advanced to a fourth consecutive gold medal game despite struggling on offense for the first time at Beijing.

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and Tina Thompson added 15 as the United States rallied for a 67-52 win over the Russians. The U.S. trailed 38-33 three minutes into the third quarter before scoring the next 12 points.

The Americans had averaged 99 points in their first six games before earning the right to take on either Australia or China for gold on Saturday.

It's two straight beach volleyball gold medals for the U.S. duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. The Americans played through a steady rain to beat China 21-18, 21-18.

Walsh and May-Treanor did not lose a single set in Beijing. They ran their winning streak to 108 matches in a row.

IOC president Jacques Rogge criticized Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt for showing a lack of respect to other competitors after his record-breaking gold medal performances in the 100 and 200 meters. Bolt showboated after his stunning achievements in winning the two sprints, but Rogge looked down on it, saying: "That's not the way we perceive being a champion."

(NBC, early Thursday, U.S. time): Only four days are left in the Summer games. And it's a big one in Beijing after the Americans continued a perfect winning streak on the sand.

After rain delays that have upset schedules, track and field will try and get in as many events as weather permits.

The talk of the track is the amazing Usain Bolt, who sprinted into the history books last night. And on the sand, the golden girls of beach volleyball continued their perfect run.

They call her six feet of sunshine, but Kerri Walsh, with beach volleyball partner Misty May Treanor, battled a torrential downpour, and tough Chinese opponents, to clinch the gold.

"It's fun, We don't get to see rain very often and play in it. You just don't want to look up too long," said May-Treanor.

The Californians have never lost an Olympic match. Afterwards, May-Treanor hugged her dad and spread some of her late mother's ashes on the court.

On the track, the emotion was jubilation for the fastest man in the world. With ease, Bolt broke the world record in the 200, and became the only athlete to post the world's fastest times in both the 200- and 100-meter races.

"I've written history, so I'm happy with myself. I'm really proud," said Bolt.

The historical race had a bizarre end. The second and third place finishers were disqualified for lane violations, moving defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford up to second, and Walter Dix to third.

It'll be another full night at the Birds Nest, weather permitting. Defending champion Jeremy Warnier's fiercest competition may be from teammate Lashawn Merritt in the 400. American men also face off in the 110-meter hurdles, and the women in the 200-meter final.

"I think we're just about explosive every time we step out there," said Muna Lee.

Rain showers have already cancelled the BMX final and threaten other events. The U.S. women are scheduled to take on Brazil in the Gold medal soccer game.