体坛英语新闻：Olympic champions shine at Commonwealth Games

GLASGOW, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford led three reigning Olympic champions to gold medals at the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.

The 27-year-old produced a leap of 8.20 meters to claim victory over South African Zarck Visser, who took silver with 8.12m.

It is Rutherford's fourth major championship medal. He won silvers at the European Championship in 2006 and the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"It's never an easy road and after what happened last year with injury I wasn't sure if I could carry on jumping. Now I've managed to come away with another title," he said.

"I think a few people had written me off thinking I was a one-hit wonder. But I'm here again and will be here again many more times. I'm super happy. I want to keep going out there jumping far and winning medals."

Kirani James, the Olympic champion in the men's 400m, gave Grenada its first Commonwealth Games gold in his favorite event.

The 21-year-old James finished ahead of Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and Trinidad's Lalonde Gordon.

New Zealand's twice Olympic champion and four-time world champion Valerie Adams showed her dominance in the women's shot put, winning a third Commonwealth title with 19.88m.

Canada's Derek Drouin won the men's high jump to add to his Olympic bronze. Kenya swept the women's 3,000m steeplechase with Purity Cherotich Kirui leading home Milcah Chemos Cheywa and Joan Kipkemoi. In heptathlon, there was a Canadian one-two through Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Jessica Zelinka.

Australia's world silver medalist Kim Mickle won the women's javelin with a throw of 65.96m.

In the opening day's diving competition in Edinburgh, Canadian pair Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion captured title in the women's synchronized 10m platform.

England took the day's other two golds with Jack Laugher in the men's 1m springboard and the women's 3m synchronized springboard title went to Alicia Blagg and Rebecca Gallantree.

In gymnastics, England's Max Whitlock won the men's individual all-around final while Claudia Fragapane led an English 1-2-3 in the women's event.