Olympic round up: Bucher through to semis

Bucher (right) heading for the semi-finals Keystone

Switzerland's André Bucher has cruised into the semi-finals of the men's 800 metres, coming second in his heat behind the Moroccan runner, Khalid Tighazouine.

The fastest man this year over the 800 metres distance, Bucher barely had to break into a sweat to pass his first qualifying test. His time of 1’46″51 was the ninth fastest in the heats overall.

Two of Bucher’s main rivals for the 800 metres gold medal, Juri Borsakovski and Wilson Kipketer, ran around a second faster than the Lucerne runner during the qualifying heats. But Bucher said he wasn’t too concerned about qualifying times.

“Everything will be different in the semi-finals,” Bucher predicted. “For the finals a time of around 1’44” will be necessary.”

Bucher added that he wanted to have enough strength to be able to run a time of under 1’43” – his own best time is 1’42″92.

“Whether I will need a time like that in the final is another question,” Bucher continued, “but I’ve got to have that capability in my legs.”

In other Olympic news, Markus Wiesner has been knocked out of the trampoline event.

The 23-year old Swiss sportsman finished 11th out of 12 competitors in the qualifying round, and did not make it into the final.

The gold medal was won by Russia’s Alexandre Moskalenko, silver by Australian Ji Wallace and bronze by Canada’s Mathieu Turgeon.

In sailing, Switzerland’s Marazzi brothers are 15th in the overall standings of the Olympic Star (two-handed keelboat) competition after two races.

Flavio and Renato finished 13th in the first race and 14th in the second.

Leading the standings are the Spanish duo José Maria van der Ploeg and Rafael Trujillo.

swissinfo with agencies