Olympics: While You Were Sleeping - Day seven

New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale after taking gold in the Olympic Games men's single scull rowing at Eton Dorney. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A quick bite of the best of the action from day seven at the London 2012 Olympics.

Just in case your loved one booked you both a romantic night in a remote retreat with no Sky TV, radio or internet connection, you've just got back to civilisation and have switched on your smartphone, let me have the pleasure of informing you that New Zealand won two gold medals in 39 minutes overnight. That's right. TWO GOLD MEDALS!

Hamish Bond and Eric Murray made no contest of the pair, just as predicted, while Mahe Drysdale erased his Olympic agony by adding a hard-fought gold to the bronze he won in Beijing four years ago. Magnificent, stirring stuff at Eton Dorney.

Cyclists join the medal party
That was followed by the men's team pursuit, who recovered from a shaky early ride against Australia to secure bronze in a ride-off against Russia. Spearheaded by Jesse Sergent, the TP finished in 3m 55.952, more than 2s up on Russia. The Britons again dominated, winning in world record time.

The women's team pursuit look destined to finish out of the medals after qualifying fifth fastest behind Great Britain, USA, Australia and Canada. The Brits set a world record, much to the delight of Wiggo, who was in da house. Natasha Hansen, in her first Olympics, dipped out in the semifinals of the keirin.

Federer close to elusive gold
Roger Federer and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro played one of the epic tennis matches in Olympic history, with the Swiss winning the semifinal 19-17 in the third set after a marathon 4h 27m. He will face either Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray. Maria Sharapova is through to the final of the women's draw, where she will face Serena Williams.

Men's 49er crew have superb day
New Zealand interest in the sailing can pretty much be restricted to the 49er, the men's and women's 470s and JP Tobin, who had a rest day, in the RS:X. Blair Tuke and Peter Burling had the best day, posting a 7th, 2nd and 1st. They're in second with five races to go. Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie got their 470 campaign off to a solid start, with a 7th and a 2nd to lie 2nd overall. A 5th and 4th by Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders sees them in eighth overall, but that should change once they can discard their day one disqualification.

Black Sticks have mountain to climb
Captain Dean Couzins seems resigned to New Zealand's fate as also-rans in the men's hockey. "The semifinals are gone which is really disappointing because your work so bloody hard towards stuff. It's hard to take," he said after they lost 5-1 to the Netherlands overnight. They weren't as bad as that scoreline suggests. Honestly. And they can actually make the semis if they win their remaining two matches by bucketloads.

New Zealand's swimmers desperately need Lauren Boyle to restore some damaged pride in the 800m free this morning after another night of shallow returns in the pool. The men's medley relay team fell short of qualifying for the final by 0.06 seconds, while Hayley Palmer is 23rd fastest of 73 swimmers in the 50m free.

And also...
Weightlifter Richie Patterson lifted a combined total of 336kg but fell short of what he thought he was capable of in the in the men's 85kg division. Patterson had hoped to lift 200kg in the clean and jerk but could manage only 186kg.

Shooter Ryan Taylor, competing in the men's 50m prone rifle, finished 25th.

Sarah Cowley's struggles in the heptathlon were best demonstrated by a high jump of 1.8m - her season best is 1.91m. Cowley, who has the shot put and 200m this morning, is a distant 24th on 1963 points.

The Football Ferns - what a dreadful name - were beaten 2-0 by the USA in their quarter-final.