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RIO DE JANEIRO -- An entire nation rose to its feet on Day 8 of the 2012 Olympic Games in London as Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis-Hill all won gold on what became known as Super Saturday. Now, it celebrates Wonderful Wednesday.It is still early days at the 2016 version of the quadrennial showpiece and, while some of the better-known British athletes have already slipped up, the team showed off its depth on Day 5 as its rising stars set Team GB on course to surpass the medal totals of the last two Games.Just days ago you could have asked ordinary sports fans which athletes they knew from diving and canoeing and Tom Daley would have likely been the only name coming back. Now, add Chris Mears, Jack Laugher and Joe Clarke. On Wednesday, they etched their names in Team GB folklore and became the new headliners.At the same stage in Beijing in 2008, Britain had seven medals. In London it was nine. And you dont need a historian to remind you the team has already beaten the gold medal return of one -- courtesy of Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave in the coxless pairs -- from the debacle in Atlanta 20 years ago.Those waking up on Thursday morning in Britain will see Team GB are in a tie for 5th overall in the Rio medal table, and 9th when colours are factored in: three gold, three silver, six bronze.Athletes and spectators alike would have been forgiven for thinking the Games were back in Britain, as Wonderful Wednesday started wet and windy and rarely changed. Fans at outdoor venues may have had to show a bit of the famous British stiff upper lip, but it was all worthwhile as shooting, diving, canoeing, gymnastics and cycling all came to the fore.Its not hard to argue that rowing would also have joined the medal rush, in the mens quadruple sculls, if the poor weather hadnt postponed the action at Rios Lagoa neighbourhood for another day.Tour de France winner Chris Froome got the medal count going with bronze in the time trial and, while he would have fancied his chances of gold, he was happy with the same podium finish that he achieved in London.From the Pontal roads to shooting in Deodoro, where Steven Scott beat compatriot Tim Kneale to take the bronze in the double trap. After, the friends ended their temporary rivalry to hug in celebration and consolation.Just 17 minutes later, at 3.46 p.m. local time, Clarke battled his way to gold in the mens K1 canoeing. By 4.40 p.m. Sally Conway had taken bronze in the womens 70kg judo having narrowly missed out on a place in the gold medal match. Then came Britains biggest triumph with Laugher and Mears winning Britains first ever diving gold in the 3m synchronized springboard.As they sat assessing their triumph, news of success elsewhere reached them. The team is really strong out in Rio and the medals are fantastic, Laugher said. To be able to add to that is a dream come true.In the diving camp we have added to the medals Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow got [in the 10m synchronised diving on Monday] and there are a lot of good vibes in there. Its our most successful Olympics ever [in diving] and we have more individual events to come. There are hopefully more medals as well.Just 90 minutes later, Max Whitlock won Britains first individual mens all-around gymnastics medal since 1908; the one and only Games in which Great Britain topped the medal table.That Team GB have won more medals today makes it even better, Whitlock said. We are very strong, were such a big team, and hopefully we can go back to the village and everyone be proud of our achievements.It was a memorable day, one on which the team came alive.Credit must go to the sports and the individual athletes, British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney said. It was a pleasure to watch their performances and we are incredibly proud. We wont get carried away, but today has been a nice day for British sport.Thursday could bring more success with the start of track cycling, the sport in which Britain won seven golds, a silver and a bronze last time out. Other medal hopes include Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley in rowings double sculls, David Florence in the C2 canoeing, and Natalie Powell in the womens 78kg judo.There is womens individual all-around gymnastics, too, and gold potential in rugby sevens. Beyond that there is more reason for optimism with Andy Murray, canoe sprints and track and field holding high hopes.Now, whos up for Thantastic Thursday? Well work on the name... Wayne Chrebet Womens Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Joe-Namath-Jersey/ . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. LaDainian Tomlinson Jets Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. LeVeon Bell Jets Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.VANCOUVER -- Martin Rennie had things easy the past couple of weeks. But after having the luxury of keeping his lineup intact for two games, the Vancouver Whitecaps coach has no shortage of tough decisions to make heading into an important Major League Soccer game Saturday in Portland against the Timbers. Suspensions, a potential injury-induced absence and the need to kick-start a club that has lost its past two games will force the Vancouver coach to act. The fifth-place Caps (9-7-5) are seeking their first-ever MLS win over the Timbers (8-3-2), who are tied for second, as both clubs try to keep pace in a tight Western Conference. The starting goalkeeper choice ranks at, or near, the top of Rennies decisions list as the coach contemplates whether to give newcomer David Ousted his first start of the season or keep going with Brad Knighton. The second-year goaltender has lost his past two games after helping the Whitecaps go unbeaten in their previous six. But Rennie does not regard his goalkeeper pick as a difficult decision. "Its a lot better than our centre backs are doing, for example, where we dont have any choices (after several injuries)," said Rennie. "Its nice to have choices. "Not only that, but (former No. 1 and now No. 3) Joe Cannon is a great goalkeeper and (No. 4) Simon (Thomas) is a good goalkeeper, too. Its a good position for us." Ousted, a 28-year-old former Danish Superliga star, signed in June and did not become eligible until an international transfer window opened July 9. If the Greve, Denmark native gets the call, he will be the third goalkeeper to go between the posts for the Whitecaps this season after Knighton, 28, wrestled the starting job away from Cannon, 38. "I think that (Knighton) has been doing well and (Ousted) is looking really sharp now," Rennie said. Ousted spent the past three seasons with Randers FC in the Danish Superliga, earning 35 clean sheets in 103 appearances. He is eager to play after honing his craft in practice and watching games from the bench. Although he is willing to be patient and wait for his chance, the goalkeeper has found it very difficult to watch. "I hate being on the bench," Ousted said. "I always have. I think every footballer wants to play, and Im the same.dddddddddddd. I want to play every time." Portlands Weld-Jen Field is known for being a hostile environment. The Whitecaps have never beaten the Timbers there or anywhere else since the two clubs entered MLS in 2011. But the Caps earned a home tie against Portland in May. "If there was some good spectators there and a couple of boos in there, thats something I thrive on," Ousted said. "I love that. It just makes me play even better. So Im not nervous getting in there. Im just waiting for my chance to prove myself." Coach Rennie also has a potentially tough call to make up front as striker Kenny Miller battles a groin injury suffered in a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia last weekend, when the Whitecaps played down a man for all but eight minutes. Depending on Millers availability, Kekuta Manneh, 18, the clubs top draft choice (fourth overall) this year, is a candidate for his second start of the season. "It would be great to start the game," Manneh said. "Its a big game for the club, and everybodys looking forward to it, and its a really important game for us. So, if it is a matter of playing one minute or 90 minutes, I will try to add as much as I can and try to be a big part of the team." The Gambian speedster has excelled while coming off the bench, producing two goals and an assist in just 274 minutes of playing time in 12 appearances. Midfield also appears to be a concern as Jun Marques Davidson and Gershon Koffie serve one-game suspensions. Davidsons suspension stems from the red card he received for head-butting a Philadelphia player in the back last weekend. Fortunately, he avoided further punishment from the leagues disciplinary committee. Koffies ban is due to yellow-card accumulation. Despite the need for changes, Rennie still likes his clubs chances against a Portland squad that lost two of its four games in July but has suffered just a league-low three losses. "If we execute well, weve shown that weve got a good chance against any team," said Rennie. NOTES: Centre back Brad Rusin is slated to play after recovering from a hip injury that forced him out of the game against Philadelphia. ' ' '