We've seen allegations of "cheating" shooting referees, gymnasts competing under the minimum age of 16 and anger at the choking smog.

Away from the distractions, Narre Warren North synchronised swimmer Coral Bentley, Harkaway middle-distance runner Jeff Riseley and former Endeavour Hills basketballer Andrew Bogut were all in action last week.

Riseley's dream of going to the Beijing Olympics was fulfilled when he ran in the 1500m men's race last Friday week.

The 21yearold's Olympic debut time of 3:53.95 was well short of his personal best 3:36.03. He finished last in his heat and was visibly upset with the result.

Nevertheless, Riseley's recent international achievements have given him top ranking in Australia and he is certainly young enough to have a tilt at the London Games in 2012.

Synchronised swimmer Coral Bentley's Olympic debut ended with seventh place in the final of the teams event at the National Aquatic Center - the Water Cube.

The eight Aussie girls were pitched against the Russians, gold medalists in Sydney and Athens, European fancy Spain and home-town favourites China.

The Australians performed well in company of stiff oppostion to score 41.75 points, seven points from the bronze medal.

Favourite Russia, the last to compete, performed a flawless routine with 50 point scores in technical merit and artistic impression.

Their performance dropped Spain to second and China to third.

An injury to Andrew Bogut saw the NBA star play only 11 minutes of Australia's final Olympic clash.

The Boomers had the near-impossible task of beating the dominant US team in the quarter-finals. While not disgraced, they copped a 116-85 belting.

Bogut would have been disappointed, scoring just four points as foul trouble set in.

He landed awkwardly on his ankle early in the third term.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian told The Sydney Morning Herald the injury "wasn't good".

"He wouldn't be able to play the rest of the tournament if we were still alive.

"He had some problems with his ankle coming in and now it's the other one."

Fortunately for Bogut, an MRI scan later revealed the injury wasn't as serious as first thought.