Sports & Competitions

As rivalries go, the United States and New Zealand are not known for being particularly antagonistic. But it was still heartwarming to see them come together on the Olympic track in Rio Tuesday. The scene: the first round of the women’s 5,000 metres. The pack of runners is clogged. New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin tries to […]

RIO DE JANEIRO — The day before the women’s gymnastics team final, a Twitter user suggested Simone Biles and her coach Aimee Boorman were their sport’s equivalent to Walter Payton and Mike Ditka. “Sounds about right,” Payton’s son, Jarrett, chimed in on Twitter. Never mind that the Chicago-born Boorman doesn’t smoke cigars, has never thrown

For the New York Daily News, the mugging of US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro was important enough news to warrant a front-page banner headline: “ROBBED AT THE OLYMPICS.” Today’s front page: ROBBED AT THE OLYMPICS – Ryan Lochte, teammates held up at gunpoint https://t.co/ZVicRp2Zfh pic.twitter.com/KgGduhJsb7 — New York Daily

In 1948, the US territory of Puerto Rico competed as an indepedent nation in its first Olympics. Thank the International Olympic Committee for that. The IOC has the power to determine which states get to compete as independent nations. Call it “sports sovereignty” or “Independent … enough.” And while Puerto Rico has competed for the

RIO DE JANEIRO — As soon as the national anthem finished, signaling the end of the medal ceremony for the women’s 4×100 medley relay, Dana Vollmer sought her family in the stands. The Granbury, Texas, native and her parents shared a long hug. “We almost didn’t have to say any words,” Vollmer said. “Just holding

RIO DE JANEIRO — U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas was criticized in some quarters for not placing her hand over her heart during the playing of the national anthem and then got hit hard for a seeming lack of support for teammates Simone Biles and Aly Raisman during their all-around final event. Douglas responded at length

RIO DE JANEIRO — Ryan Lochte and three other U.S. swimmers were robbed early Sunday morning by individuals posing as armed police officers, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. The four swimmers — including Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen — were in a taxi from France’s hospitality venue to the Olympic Village when

RIO DE JANEIRO — Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock rolled to an upset victory in the mixed-double final Sunday, beating fellow Americans Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram 6-7 (3), 6-1, 10-7, denying Williams a chance to become the first five-time champion in Olympic tennis history. Williams has won four gold medals since 2000 and another

RIO DE JANEIRO — The last time, Michael Phelps plunged into an Olympic pool. Two more laps and then, the rest of his life. One last time, he heard the crowd push him to an Olympic victory. The man who has won more medals than any other Olympian wasn’t looking to lose, and Phelps did

RIO DE JANEIRO — The man who beat Michael Phelps recently turned 21 but could pass for 16. He became the first athlete from Singapore ever to win an Olympic gold medal after a pre-race visit from his nation’s prime minister. He moved to the United States when he was 13 to attend the Bolles