Wednesday, August 1. Happy birthday horses everywhere. And a special happy birthday to yesterday's gold medallists: Barny, King Artus, Opgun Luovo, Butts Abraxxus, and dual winner Sam. To the silver medallists: Lionheart, Opposition Buzz, High Kingdom, Imperial Cavalier, Miners Frolic; and to the bronze medallists: Flintstar, Lenamore, Clifton Promise, Nereo, and Campino. And congratulations to their human support crews in the individual and team eventing.

Should I mention that High Kingdom was ridden by a descendant of the home team's reigning monarch? And how jolly must it be to be personally handed your medal by Mummy.

Not once in nineteen opportunities has Michael Phelps been handed his Olympic medal by his mum. Nineteen over three Olympiads. The Phelpster became the Olympian with the most medals in history when Team USA took gold in the 4x200 freestyle relay. Fifteen golds, two bronzes, and only two silvers - one on Sunday night in that magnificent 4x100 relay, the other earlier on Tuesday night when he was out-touched by South Africa's Chad le Clos in the 200 metres butterfly.

Could South Africa be the next Australia of swimming? Interesting thought, because Australia's not looking a lot like the Australia of swimming at this point. Things haven't been the same since Ian Thorpe missed out on his London 2012 ambitions and became a fashion plate for the BBC.

Today's Youtube do Dia is a German film on the Olympic preparations of eventing co-gold medallist Butts Abraxxus. Many happy returns of the day, Buttsy!