LONDON - Canada claimed its first medal on an entertaining Day 2 of the London Olympics that saw three world records fall and a man lift three times his own weight.
Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel won bronze in the women's synchronized three-metre springboard on Sunday, giving Canada the fast start it wanted in London.
Heymans made Olympic history in the process. The 30-year-old from St. Lambert, Que., became the first female diver and first Canadian summer Olympian to win a medal at four straight Games.
"I couldn't have ever imagined diving in four Games, or being in this position at 30," Heymans said.
The early medal took pressure off Canada's Olympic team, which was looking to start strong out of the gate after not winning a medal at the 2008 Beijing Games until the eighth day. The result caught the attention of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who congratulated the duo in a statement.
"Across the country we watched as you competed, and our hearts filled with pride as you won a place on the Olympic podium, the first one for Canada in these Games," he said.
It was a good day for the host country as well. Britain won a silver in the women's road race and bronze in the women's 400 freestyle swimming event.
Michael Phelps won his 17th career medal, but it might not have been the colour he and his teammates wanted. The Americans were upset in the final of the men's 4x100 freestlye relay, finishing second to France. The Australian team, thought to be the biggest threat to Phelps, Ryan Lochte and the star-studded U.S. crew, failed to win a medal.
Two world records in the pool fell Sunday. Dana Vollmer of the United States won the 100-metre butterfly in 55.98 seconds beating the old record of 56.06 seconds held by Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom.
Later, Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa finished the men's 100 breaststroke in 58.46 seconds, denying Japan's Kosuke Kitajima an Olympic threepeat. The previous record of 58.58 was held by Australia's Brenton Rickard.
Women's weightlifter Zulfiya Chinshanlo broke the first record of the day. The 19-year-old from Kazakhstan won the gold medal in the women's 53-kilogram category by lifting 131 kilograms in her second attempt, beating her own record by one kilogram.
In men's weightlifting, North Korea's Om Yun Chol joined an exclusive group of weightlifters who have lifted three times their body weight in the clean and jerk.
The 20-year-old Om cleared 168 kilograms in the clean and jerk in the men's 56-kilogram category — and immediately gave all the credit to late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
"How can any man possibly lift 168kg? I believe the great Kim Jong Il looked over me," Om was quoted as saying by the Olympic News Service.
Britain's famously chaotic weather made an appearance Sunday, playing havoc with the women's road cycling race and postponing several tennis matches, including Canadian star Milos Raonic's Olympic debut.
British police have also been busy early at these Games. Officials said police arrested 182 activists on bicycles who tried to breach the Olympic Park's security cordon during the Games' opening ceremony.
Police confirmed that a 35-year-old Portuguese man, a 34-year-old Italian man and a 51-year-old man from east London will appear in court accused of public order offences.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said eight people have been charged with attempts to illegally resell London Olympics tickets, including seats at Friday's opening ceremony.
After two days of competition, China leads the medal standings with 12 (six gold, four silver, two bronze). The United States is second with 11 (three gold, five silver, three bronze) and Italy continues its impressive early showing with seven (two gold, three silver, two bronze).
Canada won't be in contention for any medals in Day 3 of the Games, but the women's basketball team will be in action, along with Raonic and several swimmers.
Note to readers: This is a corrected version of an earlier story, which had stated that Heymans and Abel won gold.
