Pope Francis sends a message to Catholics in France ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, and praises sport for creating opportunities to bring people together and engender fraternity.

By Devin Watkins

As France prepares to host the 33rd Olympic Games in the summer of 2024, Pope Francis has sent a message to French Catholics to urge them to get involved in the sporting event.

The Popes message was signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and released on Tuesday.

Paris hosts the Summer Olympics on 26 July to 11 August 2024, along with 16 other cities across metropolitan France and Tahiti, an island within French Polynesia.

In his message, Pope Francis expressed his hopes that the Olympics may be an occasion for profound and fruitful encounter between people from all walks of life, belonging to different peoples, cultures, and religions.

The Pope said it should be a joy to welcome the whole world to France for the Games, as well as a responsibility.

He invited Catholics in France to join forces to make the unique event a positive experience for everyone.

You will be invited to become volunteers, to open your churches, schools, and homes, said the Pope.

Above all, open your hearts, he added. By the gratuitousness and generosity of your welcome and dedication, you will bear witness to Christ who lives in you and who shares His joy with you.

In conclusion, Pope Francis urged Catholics in France to find ways to help integrate people with disabilities and the poor and marginalized into this beautiful festival of sport.

The Pope said he hopes the 2024 Olympic Games may offer the opportunity, through sport, to bear witness to an authentic expression of fraternity, which the world greatly needs.

And he wrapped up his message by extending his Apostolic Blessing upon the Olympic organizers and volunteers who will take part in the quadrennial sporting event.

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Pope: 2024 Olympics a chance to bear joyful witness to Christ - Vatican News

FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, has chosen to ban Russia men's basketball from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. On Tuesday, FIBA announced that Russia would not be allowed to participate in the qualifying tournament this year.

In its announcement, FIBA cited the International Olympic Committee's recommendation that Russia and Belarus be prohibited from participating in team sports in 2024.

"Following the IOC recommendations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions published on 28 March, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided to not allow the registration of the Russian men's national team in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments 2023," FIBA said in its press release.

Bulgaria will take the place of Russia at the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament this summer.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last year, FIBA has suspended it from international play. Now, neither Russia nor Belarus will be sending basketball teams to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The last time Russia sent basketball teams to the Olympics was at the 2012 Games in London. The men's team won bronze, and the women's team finished fourth.

While athletes from those countries won't be able to participate in team sports, the IOC has laid out plans that would create a path for individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate under a neutral flag.

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FIBA bans Russia men's basketball from 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris - CBS Sports

For Magaly Meynadier, next month will not only be a shot at redemption following a long recovery, but a "special" chance to don the national jersey and represent her nation.

Meynadier, now 31 and an integral part of the Luxembourg women's basketball squad, still remembers the first time she paraded with fellow athletes while thousands of fans cheered.

It was at the Games of Small States of Europe (GSSE), a biennial sporting event featuring nine small European sovereign states.

"When it [GSSE] happened in Luxembourg, we were in the big football stadium and we all had to go around and people were cheering for us, Meynadier tells Euronews, reminiscing about her first games in 2013 as a part of the gold medal-winning side.

Representing one's nation is a great achievement, even more so when it comes to countries with smaller populations, which can be significantly disadvantaged in major global tournaments.

That is the case with Malta, Iceland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Montenegro, Cyprus, Andorra, Monaco, and Meynadiers Luxembourg the nine nations that will show up in Malta in May to compete in the 19th GSSE.

Spots at the Olympics come at a premium and the competition to win is fierce. Only a few countries manage to qualify with full squads, and can end up dominating the medals tally.

For nations with a limited talent pool to work with, qualifying for the sporting gala is tough, and reaching the podium even more of a long shot.

And that's wherethe GSSE comes in.

Founded by eight independent Olympic committees in 1984, the rules to participate in the games are simple an Olympic committee has to be independent, a member of the European Olympic Committee and should represent nations with populations of less than a million.

Montenegro joined in 2009 with the Olympic committees of the Vatican City and Faroe Island are actively seeking to tick the boxes to join the mix.

In addition to having a handful of Olympic sports, the games also follow similar opening ceremony rituals to their 'full-sized' Olympic games: with a Parade of Nations, artistic displays, and speeches.

But that is not the only reason why competing athletes prefer to term it the tiny Olympics.

Throughout the entire process of preparing, racing and being there, the Olympic spirit shines bright and that's what makes it special, Icelandic swimmer Anton McKee tells Euronews.

Mckee, 29, has competed in multiple GSSEs over the years and won 10 medals in the 2015 games held in Iceland.

The most special thing is that for many athletes from countries that are underrepresented, it's their time to shine, he adds.

Despite the affable nature of the games, the GSSE is becoming more competitive.

Now, most countries send athletes to win medals rather than just to participate. In the beginning, it was different. But now it is definitely to compete for medals, Julian Pace Bonello, President of the Maltese Olympic Committee, tells Euronews.

By providing a platform for athletes to compete, the GSSE plays a part in stepping up the level of the competing countries. San Marino's heroics at the Tokyo Olympics, winning two silvers and a bronze to become the smallest country by population to win an Olympic medal, is a testament to that.

We never say that the GSSE is the end of the road. We say it's the stepping stone to being able to compete at a higher level, Bonello adds.

As an athlete, McKee agrees that the GSSE helped him in competing in several international championships, including the Summer Olympics: GSSE was one of the breakout meets for me as an athlete. Being able to get the medals by going up against swimmers that I thought I couldn't beat was proving to myself that I was one of the best swimmers of that calibre.

The sense of competitiveness also reflects in the medal tally. McKees Iceland has won the most gold medals, dominating aquatic and athletic sports.

As the Maltese capital of Valletta prepares to host its third GSSE, the organising committee is keen on tapping into the positive impacts that sporting events are capable of bringing.

Facilities that were made for the 2003 games in Malta bolstered the country's sporting capabilities and helped to spark interest among the locals.

"When it's your turn to host the games, you have the government come on board. You'll get additional funding, you'll get facilities upgraded, you get new facilities which are not only for the games, they will be used after the games are over," MOC president Bonello explains.

The biennial host cities also take the opportunity to exhibit the local culture and national identities. The mascot for the 2023 games, Lampuka, is derived from Puka, a dorado fish native to the waters of Malta. The 2019 games in Montenegro hadSmokvi, the energetic fig as the mascot with the slogan "How Big We Are".

Similarly, there are positives for athletes too.

The spotlight on the Luxembourger women's basketball team significantly increased following the 2013 triumphant home games. For a team with many part-time athletes, Magaly Meynadier says the interest has helped the team compete and increased the participation of women in different sports.

"After what we did in Luxembourg, we could see that the people were coming to actually watch us when we were playing at home. It is not the only gold that weve won, but it was very nice to see the growing interest in the womens basketball team," she says.

Francesco Sansovini vividly remembers the moments he became a GSSE gold medalist in 2019.

Sansovini, then 19, ran the final leg of the men's 4x100 metre relay, with a strained hamstring threatening both his performance and confidence. The Sammarinese sprinted despite the stinging pain, with the thought of bringing the medal home.

He ended up crossing the finishing line first, and the gold medal hangs in his bedroom.

"Every morning, I see the gold medal and aspire to do better in Malta," he says.

Since countries show up with full squads at the GSSE, single athletes like Sansovini also compete in relays - a feat made impossible due to quotas in other major tournaments.

Like San Marino, GSSE Iceland also gets to send full rosters, and that is what makes the games particularly special for Anton McKee.

"In GSSE, the relays are one of the most exciting aspects racing with your teammates and racing against other countries. There's something special about it. You forget your own ego and aspirations. You just want to win a race as fast as you can for your team and your country," he says exuberantly.

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Faster, higher, smaller: Europe's 'tiny Olympics' you've probably never heard of before - Euronews

Russias ban from international basketball has lasted long enough that its mens and womens five-on-five teams cannot qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics under current rules.

FIBA, the sports international governing body, said Tuesday its executive committee will not allow Russia into an early round of Olympic mens qualifiers that it would have otherwise been eligible for.

A FIBA press release stated that the committee acted after the IOC recommended last month that teams of Russian and Belarusian athletes should remain barred from international competition, as they have been since March 2022.

The IOC recommended possible returns only for individual athletes who do not support the war.

Russias mens basketball team last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, winning bronze with a roster that included since-retired NBA veteran Andrei Kirilenko. Russia was 12th at the last FIBA mens World Cup in 2019.

Russias womens basketball team was already eliminated from 2024 Olympic contention, as rules stand, when it was left out of a draw for a European qualifying tournament.

Russias women also last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, finishing fourth with a team that included Becky Hammon, who is now the Las Vegas Aces head coach.

Russian teams in 33 basketball, which made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, could still qualify for the Paris Games if the ban is lifted. A 33 team of Russian women, playing as the Russian Olympic Committee rather than Russia due to the nations doping violations, took silver to the U.S. in Tokyo.

In gymnastics, the ban on Russian athletes has already run long enough to preclude them from qualifying full teams for Paris, though individual Russian gymnasts can still qualify should the ban be lifted. Teams of Russian gymnasts won the Olympic mens and womens titles in Tokyo.

Russia has also traditionally been strong in Olympic team events in artistic swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball and handball.

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Russia basketball teams banned through Olympic qualifying - Home of the Olympic Channel

Posted on April 18, 2023 (Press Staff Photo by Juno Ogle)Lilly Fernandez, of Silver City, left, throws the shot put as fellow contestant Beverly Woods, of Deming, watches Saturday during the Senior Olympics at Fox Field. The competitive games for older adults saw track and field events Saturday including sprints and longer distance runs, shot put, high jump, javelin and soccer accuracy.

By The Daily Press StaffThis spring, tens of thousands of athletes from across the country compete, seeking the coveted gold medals of greatness promised at the National Senior Games aka the Senior Olympics.Started in 1970 by a small group of seven people in St. Louis, Mo., to promote healthy adult lifestyles through fitness and sports, the Senior Olympics has since grown into a nationwide organization that last year saw over 12,000 athletes compete at the national games hosted in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which included people hailing from Copper Country the southwest corner of New Mexico.Copper Country Senior Olympics offers 38 events from air gun to racquetball and huachas to pickleball and for the die-hard Olympiad fans there are the more traditional sports of cycling, bowling, basketball, and softball with myriad track and field events tossed in to appeal to any fitness level.The best thing about the Senior Olympics is anyone can compete no matter where you live even interstate residents so if you are a snowbird baking in the Arizona desert or a Texan whos apt to wander the West, you can register and compete in Copper Country.In the U.S., the senior competitors bracket is expanding at an exponential rate as the last of the baby boomer generation once our nations largest population demographic crosses over the age threshold of 50 years to qualify and compete in the games. Currently, seniors are the fastest-growing population in New Mexico, which promises to flood the field with competitors who seek the glory of a gold medal.Demings Beverly Woods has been competing for about 25 years and dreams of bringing home the gold. She has participated in shot put and cycling at the local and state levels, and she holds three New Mexico records.Currently, Woods is registered to compete at this years National Senior Olympics, scheduled for July in Philadelphia, Pa. Competitors must qualify in local and state competitions to qualify for the national games.Last year, I was second in shot put at the national games, and I brought home the silver medal in shot put, Woods said of her continuing quest for glory, which has netted her seven gold and two silver medals over her Senior Olympics career. Woods trains at the gym and rides her bicycle in between a little exercise at home.Use it or lose it, is what I say, Woods noted of her reason to keep participating in the games. The Senior Olympics helps motivate me to stay more active.Studies have found seniors engaging in physical activity can improve their overall physical health, and regular exercise has shown to increase balance and dexterity two important aspects that can keep seniors on their feet and lower their chance of falls and subsequent injuries thus extending their lives.Most Senior Olympians report the positives of physical activity is only one of numerous reasons they compete.Ive always been a sports fanatic, Silver City Senior Olympian Fidel Quintana admitted, but there are other things I like about participating like the comradery.One of Fidels favorite memories is running the 100-yard dash against his brother, Mario.He was 10 years younger than me, but it was still a close race, Fidel said of the unforgettable footrace. He regularly trains at Silver City Fox Field for his races and plays horseshoes for which he took home the national bronze medal at Bataan Memorial Recreational Park.Last year we had 132 participants, and this year we are hoping for more now that COVID restrictions have backed off, Mario said.For more information, visit grantcountysenior.wix.com/Olympics or on Facebook at bit.ly/3xn06aZ.

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Copper Country Senior Olympics opens monthlong event schedule - Silver City Daily Press and Independent

SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- A champion figure skater and University of Minnesota student had to put her dreams to compete in the Olympics on pause after a devastating injury last summer.

Now, she's back on the ice at Shakopee Ice Arena thanks to determination and a physical therapist who put in the extra work to get her there.

Eugenia Garza started her week practicing at Shakopee Ice Arena. She did endless spins, jumps and dips, a moment that felt impossible to get back to last July.

"I was doing a program, one of my routines, and I just hit my toe pick, and I tripped and fell straight on my kneecap," Garza said.

Her journey to represent Mexico, her hometown, at the World University Games came to a complete stop.

"To have all that momentum just stop, just stop and do nothing for three months while you heal," Garza said.

This all could have defeated Garza's spirit and drive, if she was left to recover alone.

"It was really hard to come back. It felt a little hopeless at times, but I had a great support system," she said.

Part of her support system was Hanwen Wong, a physical therapist at M Health Fairview. As a former dancer, Wong knew this sport needed a specific treatment plan to bounce back to peak performance.

"Eugenia is actually my first figure skater [patient]," said Wong, "I did my homework, I watched videos, I asked her as many specific questions as I could, like when you're landing this particular jump, are you on this side of your foot, or the inside, where is your weight?"

Both Wong and Garza commited to healing and being back to peak performance level, and it worked.

"It made me feel a lot more confident that we were going to get me back to a place where I was ready to go compete," Garza said.

Her coach, Lorie Charbonneau, was amazed by her turnaround.

"To see her skating skills and even the spins still at a world-class level, is really remarkable," Charbonneau said.

Next up for Garza is that she'll be competing in the Mexican Open International in May. Her long-term goal is to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games.

Marielle Mohs is thrilled to be telling stories in her home state of Minnesota. She grew up in Eden Prairie and South Minneapolis.

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U of M ice skater, recovering from devastating knee injury, has her sights set on Olympic glory - CBS News

JOHN PYEAssociated Press

BRISBANE, Australia In the 12 months since becoming president of the organizing committee for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, Andrew Liveris has refined his vision of what the Summer Games will look like in nine years.

He foresees a bit of Barcelona, a little dose of London and lot more of what makes Australia and the Oceania region tick.

As well as helping establish a board containing 22 people, including stakeholders from three tiers of government, and recruiting CEO Cindy Hook, Liveris has been asking plenty of questions and benchmarking previous Olympic hosts to get a sense of where Brisbane will be similar and where itll be different.

A year in, I see well use the best of Barcelona and the best of London, but we are developing something which actually is going to be very unique and hopefully seen as very much us, Liveris said in an interview with The Associated Press.

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Liveris, a former chairman of the Dow Chemical Company a former top Olympic sponsor said local organizers had already conducted about 2,500 branding interviews and the feedback embodies what he describes as the lifestyle superpower of Brisbane and the surrounding coastal cities of southeast Queensland state.

Whats coming out is the warm, generous hospitality of the people ... and then the amazing nature that we live in that we maybe take for granted, he said.

Some of Australias top tourism destinations, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast, are in Queensland state and will offer backdrops for Olympic events.

Addressing the general assembly of the Oceania National Olympic Committees in Brisbane on Tuesday, Liveris said those characteristics were shared across the region. And he emphasized how sports, tourism and business across Oceania could benefit from Brisbane hosting the Games.

Australia has already hosted the Olympics twice, at Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000. Brisbane, Australias third-biggest city, was awarded the 2032 Games in July 2021 as the preferred candidate selected to fit the IOCs so-called New Norms reforms which aim to avoid excessive spending and potential white elephant projects.

Brisbane is central to one of the fastest growing regions in the country, is an established gateway to people from the Pacific, and was already in the process of reshaping itself with construction of a new subway rail line and a new metro system due for completion next year.

The federal government and Queensland state have already agreed to a 50-50 funding split on a deal worth about 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.7 billion U.S.) to build or remodel venues for the Olympics, including a revamp of the Gabba Stadium the states long-time cricket and Australian rules football headquarters and construction of a 17,000-seat downtown indoor arena.

Both major projects will adjoin the new transport infrastructure.

Well blend a Melbourne, which was an urban games, to a Sydney, which was a warm, hospitable beautiful environment games, Liveris said. We can be both, because were recreating our center. The center of this city will be nothing like it is now. This is a very livable city, but (the Olympics) will make it a livable city for the 21st century.

Brisbanes Olympics follow Paris next year and Los Angeles in 2028. Organizers will start revising their plans with the IOC in June and have them finalized within 18 months.

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Brisbane Olympics leader marks 1 year in long run up to 2032 - Fremont Tribune

The sky is the limit for Lizzie Deignan, who returns to racing eight months after the birth of her second child and continues to raise the bar for her own cycling career and pave the way for future athlete mothers across all sports.

The Olympic medallist and former world champion has revealed her hopes to compete at the upcoming Tour de France Femmes and World Championships in Glasgow, along with the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.

And there is no cap on her competitive dreams, also suggesting that if organisers RCS Sport launch women's versions of Milan-San Remo and Il Lombardia, she would attempt to add them to her tally of victories alongside Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Lige-Bastogne-Lige, to capture all five of cycling's Monuments.

"The things that motivate me obviously the same objectives like the World Championships and Olympics, but it'd be exciting for me to take part in the Tour de France and also new opportunities that I hope are still going to come," Deignan said ahead of Flche Wallonne, her first race since October of 2021.

"I'm the rider with the most Monuments at the moment. So I'd like to try and go for new Monuments. We don't have, or maybe we do, but we don't know yet. Milan-San Remo and Lombardia. So I would love to be able to aim for five Monuments in my career, that would be special."

Deignan won the road world title in 2015 and the Tour of Flanders in 2016, and then went on to show the world what athlete mothers can do when given the opportunity winning Lige-Bastigne-Lige and Paris-Roubaix, all after the birth of her first child in 2018.

Competing at Flche Wallonne and Lige-Bastogne-Lige in April was a surprise to Deignan, who initially planned on starting her comeback to racing at La Vuelta Feminina on May 1. However, due to illness and crashes among her teammates at Trek-Segafredo, the team asked if she could prepare to be ready for the final two Ardennes Classics.

"I planned to have a bit longer to prepare for and to start in the Vuelta. I just thought that would have been an easier, nicer transition. But you know, professional sport isn't about what's easier or nicer all the time. At the end of the day, I'm a teammate, and it's important for me to support my teammates," Deingan said.

"I could see that they were struggling in terms of filling the spots because of bad luck with crashes and sickness, and it would be silly for me to be at home training when I can get the same things I need from racing.

"It just means that I'm, obviously, not going to be as comfortable in starting or as prepared as I would have liked. But the Vuelta is only two weeks away. So it's not like I've been called up two months early, it's just two weeks.

"There's a little bit of a gap in my preparation in terms of the real intensity that I would have liked to have had before these races, but I'll just use the races for intensity. There's no pressure on me to be there in the final or to have a result. It's really about just doing what I can for the team, and I'm more than happy to do that."

Deignan suggested that she and Lucinda Brand will be in support roles at both Ardennes events, while Elisa Longo Borghini, Shirin van Anjooij, Amanda Spratt and Gaia Realini will play more active roles as contenders in both races.

As for reunion with her Trek-Segafredo in Huy, Deignan said it's felt "secure," "safe," and "welcomed back," even if the cycling world seems somewhat unchanged in her absence compared to the magnitude of changes at home now managing a family with two children.

"It's really strange to be back at the same hotel we always stay in. Like, you know, nothing has really changed here, but so much has changed in my life outside of it," Deignan said.

"It's nice and familiar, it's like I've never been gone, really, I suppose. You know, it was just nice to see everyone with the same smiling and happy faces."

Deignan feels prepared enough to start racing again but said that it's taken a little longer to gain her power back this time due to a more challenging second pregnancy, though she expects it will return quickly once the racing begins.

"Physically, I'm good. Like training has gone well. And all of my endurance numbers are good. I feel physically fit, but in terms of the top-end, race-punch fitness, I don't have that, and I cannot ignore that. I haven't made those steps yet in training to be here to win a race. I hope physically that I'm strong enough to support the team," she said.

She hinted at some curiosity about how her power and strength would stack up against competitors, given the growth in depth among the peloton since she last raced.

"It'll be nice to see some of my competitors, but it's just gonna be a brutal introduction for me, like, I'm not naive. It's going to be difficult. So I don't think I'll be riding around chatting," Deignan said.

She's watched the races this spring where SD Worx have dominated the one-day racing with 11 victories and is curious to gauge her performances against the field throughout the rest of the Ardennes and into the bigger goals this summer.

"The last time I had a year away from racing, there was a definite jump in the strength of the peloton. I knew my numbers in training coming back were competitive in terms of comparison to myself, but it had dropped in terms of where it was in the pecking order in the peloton, so I'm curious to see if that's happened again," Deignan said.

As an athlete and mother, Deignan's ability to manage a family and world-class cycling career has served as an inspiration to many other women in sports. Asked who inspires her, Deignan said she looked up to British rower Helen Glover.

Glover's rowing career has spanned nearly 15 years and includes two gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016 and three world titles between 2013-2015.

"She's got three kids under the age of three or something ridiculous. So yeah, I think, you know, she's proven to be a phenomenal force to be reckoned with in rowing and a huge inspiration to me," Deignan said.

In previous interviews, Deignan has said that she also looked up to now-retired American track and field athlete Allyson Felix as an athlete, mother and role model.

"I think something about managing the chaos of having more than one child, and it's just helpful when you see that it is possible because there are moments, obviously, particularly in the middle of the night, where you think you've bitten off more than you can chew and it's great when there are examples that you can follow."

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Tour de France, Worlds, Olympics, Monuments - The sky is the limit ... - Cyclingnews

Updated April 18, 1 p.m. | Posted April 17, 12:48 p.m.

A stellar run at Mondays Boston Marathon has qualified Minnesota native Emma Bates for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Elk River marathoner finished fifth and was the first American woman to cross the finish line in Boston, running the race in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds, a personal best and the second-fastest ever for an American woman in the Boston Marathon.

Overall, defending champion Evans Chebet won the marathon on Monday, surging to the front at Heartbreak Hill to spoil the much-anticipated debut of world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and win in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 54 seconds.

Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000 meters, won the women's race in 2:21:38 to complete the Kenyan sweep. Amane Beriso of Ethiopia was second, 12 seconds back, followed seven seconds later by Israeli Lonah Salpeter.

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Kipchoge finished sixth just his third loss ever in a major marathon to go with 12 victories. Scott Fauble was the top American, finishing seventh. Chebet is the first back-to-back winner since Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot won three in a row from 2006-08.

Evans Chebet, left, and Hellen Obiri, both of Kenya, pose on the finish line after winning the men's and women's division of the Boston Marathon, Monday, in Boston.

Charles Krupa/AP

"In a marathon anything can happen," Obiri said of the men's race. "It was a strong field, and everybody was there to race."

Chebet was in a lead pack that dropped Kipchoge around Mile 20, shortly after he missed his bottle at a water station. A threesome pulled away with about three miles left, with Gabriel Geay of Tanzania winning a footrace for second, 10 seconds behind the winner and two seconds ahead of 2021 winner Benson Kipruto of Kenya.

"Most of them blew up. Even Eliud Kipchoge blew up," Fauble said. "I almost caught him."

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race in a course record time his sixth victory here and American Susannah Scaroni won her first Boston title despite having to stop early to tighten a wheel that began to wobble on the bumpy pavement.

"It's better to pull over losing that time tightening it," she said. "The speed you lose when your wheel is (loose) is much greater than the time you would lose by not tightening it. I was disappointed. I just tried to get back to the ... pace as quickly as I could."

For the first time, the race also includes a nonbinary division, with 27 athletes registered.

Kipchoge had been hoping to add a Boston Marathon victory to his unprecedented running resume. The 38-year-old has won two Olympic gold medals and four of the six major marathons; Boston is the only one he has competed in and failed to win. (He has never run New York.) He also broke 2 hours in an exhibition in a Vienna park.

Fighting a trace of a headwind and rain that dampened the roads, Kipchoge ran in the lead pack from the start in Hopkinton until the series of climbs collectively known as Heartbreak Hill. But to the surprise of the fans lined up along Boylston Street for the final sprit, he wasn't among the three leaders.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Marc Fucarile points to spectators while crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, in Boston. Fucarile, who lost his right leg in the bombing at the race ten years ago, completed the race as a hand cycle powered athlete.

Charles Krupa/AP

A dozen former champions and participants from 120 countries and all 50 states were in the field of 30,000 running 10 years after the finish line bombing that killed three people and wounded hundreds more. The race also included 264 members of the One Fund community those injured by the attack, their friends and family and charities associated with them.

The city marked the anniversary in a ceremony on Saturday.

A robotic dog named Stompy belonging to the Department of Homeland Security patrolled the start line before the race began, trailed by photographers capturing the peculiar sight. Officials said there were no known threats.

At 6 a.m., race director Dave McGillivray sent out a group of about 20 from the Massachusetts National Guard that hikes the course annually. Capt. Kanwar Singh, 33, of Malden, Massachusetts, said it's a special day.

"Ten years ago, the city came to a halt. It's an incredibly strong comeback, as a group together," he said. "I tell people, never bet against Bostonians."

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Minnesota native gets a shot at Paris Olympics after stellar Boston ... - MPR News

Students from Chico High and Chico State teamed up with special ed students on the hardwood for a Special Olympics.

CHICO, Calif.- A special Olympicsbasketball camp was held at Chico State in the Acker gym on Monday.

Students from Chico High and Chico State teamed up with special ed students on the hardwood.

The camp taught them some basketball basics like shooting and passing.

It also helped them make connections with other special ed students.

"It was just a cool experience to see all the smiles on kids faces, the kids in the class, our student athletes, just to be able to play the game we all love and everybody had a great time so it was a really great experience," Greg Clink, Chico State Men's Basketball Coach said.

This is the second year of the event, it was a big success thanks to all the volunteers, coaches, and the students themselves.

The next event is the Chico High mini special Olympicson May 3.

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Chico High and Chico State students team up for Special Olympics - Action News Now

COO Hilary Woodring said, "At WOW Carwash, we are committed to giving back to our community. We are proud to support organizations like the Special Olympics that make such a positive impact."

LAS VEGAS, NV, April 18, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- During Q1, members voted for their favorite charity and selected the Special Olympics as their cause of choice. A portion of every non-promotional recurring membership charge went directly to the organization, and the result was an impressive donation of $803.65 from WOW Carwash on behalf of their membership!

Chief Operating Officer Hilary Woodring said, "At WOW Carwash, we are committed to giving back to our community. We are proud to support organizations like the Special Olympics that make such a positive impact."

The funds raised will support athletes who participate in the Special Olympics, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The money will further help athletes reach their full potential by providing them with opportunities to train and compete in a safe environment surrounded by friends, families, volunteers, and coaches.

The mission of the Special Olympics is to empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of society through sports. This donation from WOW Carwash shows how committed they are to help make that mission happen.

Director of Marketing D.J. Wonnacott added, "We are thrilled to have been able to make this contribution to such an important cause. The Special Olympics do so much to bring joy and opportunity into people's lives, and it was an honor for us to be able to play a part in supporting them."

WOW Carwash knows that giving back is just as important as providing top-notch car care serviceswhich is why it partners with charities like the Special Olympics on a regular basis. With this generous donation, WOW Carwash has once again shown its commitment to making a positive impact in its community each day.

A premium carwash experience exclusively for you. WOW's smart technology quickly and affordably cleans your car while minimizing your impact on the environment and supporting our local communities.

WOW Carwash provides affordable, eco-friendly washes that reflect its environmental dedication while investing strongly in local community causes and organizations to promote a brighter tomorrow. WOW operates multiple locations with a blueprint to grow and invest into new communities and neighborhoods.

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WOW Carwash Makes a Splash with Donation to Special Olympics - 24-7 Press Release

Associated PressApr 13, 20233 Minute Read

LONDON -- American and British boxing officials are among the leaders of a breakaway group launched Thursday with the aim of saving boxing's place at the Olympics.

The new federation, to be called World Boxing, is a rival to the 77-year-old International Boxing Association, which has been suspended from organizing the sport at the Olympics amid longstanding concerns about fair judging and the IBA's ties to Russia.

"Amateur, Olympic-style boxing was facing elimination from the Olympic Games," said USA Boxing president Tyson Lee, who is on the interim board of the new organization. "I can speak for the United States and many other national federations. We have a vested interest in maintaining a pathway to the Olympic movement and somewhere along the line that turned out to not be a priority for IBA."

World Boxing will be based in Switzerland and have a board consisting of athletes and officials, including Lee and GB Boxing chief executive Matthew Holt. Lauren Price of Britain, a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. of the United States are on the board as athlete representatives.

Elections for a president and a new board are planned for November.

"This is about the future of the sport," Holt said. "Our status on the Olympic program is on life support and we, as an organization, need to breathe new life into it. We want to operate in the best interests of the boxers."

A standoff between the IBA and the International Olympic Committee meant boxing was left off the initial program for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Boxing is part of next year's Paris Olympics, but it will be organized by the IOC.

The IOC suspended the IBA in 2019 after years of concerns about its finances, governance and claims that fights at the 2016 Olympics were manipulated. Current IBA president Umar Kremlev took over in 2020, bringing financial backing from Russian state gas company Gazprom.

The IOC wants Russians to compete as neutral athletes in Olympic sports following the invasion of Ukraine, but Kremlev's IBA has allowed them to fight at the world championships with national flags and anthems, drawing another rebuke from the IOC.

The United States and Britain were among more than 10 countries that announced boycotts of the recent women's world championships and upcoming men's world championships because of Russia's position and wider concerns about the IBA. Kremlev said officials who backed a boycott were "worse than hyenas and jackals."

World Boxing interim secretary general Simon Toulson said the new organization was operating with a budget of 900,000 euros ($994,000) this year, without naming any specific funding sources. That's a small fraction of the resources at the IBA, which offers up to $200,000 for gold medalists at the traditionally amateur men's world championships and $100,000 at the women's world championships.

The new organization says it is reaching out to national boxing bodies around the world but is not taking on members yet. None of the national bodies whose members are involved have quit the IBA, they said.

Toulson added that "we've had no contact with the IOC regarding the setting up of this organization" but hoped to soon. The IOC told The Associated Press in a statement that it "takes note of the latest developments."

The World Boxing board also includes Dutch official Boris van der Vorst, who challenged Kremlev for the IBA presidency last year but was barred from the vote for "prohibited collaboration" in his campaign. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that it had been wrong to bar him, but no new vote was held.

In response, IBA secretary general and chief executive George Yerolimpos said "rogue world governing bodies and orchestrated coups are nothing new to sport, and like any well-governed organization, there are mechanisms put in place to protect the organization, its members, and in the end, the athletes."

Yerolimpos said in the IBA's statement that participants in the new group could face IBA sanctions.

"For those involved in the creation of the rogue international boxing organization and the nations who claim to be members of it, there is no doubt that the IBA will reserve its rights to claim damages from any person who is harming the IBA's activities and reputation, and/or trying to achieve exclusion of the IBA from the Olympic family," he said.

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New boxing organization hopes to salvage Olympic future - ESPN

ESPNApr 13, 20233 Minute Read

Kylian Mbappe said he hopes to fulfil his dream to play for France at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Mbappe, who was born and raised in the French capital and captains Paris Saint-Germain and the national team, said he wants to play in the tournament next summer, although it is not certain he will appear.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

"I don't know if I'll be there. But, in any case, I hope to be there," Mbappe told France TV Sport. "Everyone knows that I've always dreamed of playing the Olympic Games."

The Games are scheduled to take place between July 26 and Aug. 11 -- starting just 12 days after the Euro 2024 final and ending just days before the start of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, which will be delayed due to the Olympics.

"It doesn't depend on me. There are a lot of factors that come into play, and we will have to study them all," Mbappe added.

"I will not force to do them [the Games] either. They're not in the FIFA calendar. If people do not want me to do them, that will mean that I must not do them."

Olympic football regulations state that only three players over the age of 23 are permitted to play in the tournament. Mbappe is 24-years-old.

Mbappe has already helped France to the World Cup title in 2018 and was close to defending their crown in Qatar, where he scored a hat trick to stage a dramatic comeback in the final over Argentina, only for the team to lose on penalties.

Last week, he criticised PSG on social media for using his image in a video to promote season-ticket sales for next season.

However, the France forward has held talks with head coach Christophe Galtier, and on Wednesday said he has no intention of leaving the club.

"The next step? Winning the Champions League," Mbappe told France 3. "I have already made a final, semifinal, quarterfinal, round of 16 ... I have done everything but win. That's all I need. Where [I want to do it]? In Paris. I'm a Parisian and under contract. So it's PSG."

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Kylian Mbappe: My 'dream' is to play at Paris Olympics - ESPN.co.uk

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. The Special Olympics Kentucky Area 5 Track and Field meet returned to Bowling Green High School in Bowling Green on Saturday. The Area 5 Meet included more than 125 athletes from Allen, Barren, Christian, and Warren counties.

This is the first of four weekends of the Special Olympics area track and field season, which concludes May 14 in Louisville.

The Area 5 Track and Field meet was one of eight regional meets held statewide this year. In all, more than 900 athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state are expected to participate in area track and field competitions this year.

We always want to create an atmosphere that celebrates these athletes to give them the same amount of recognition that any athlete in our community gets, Cameron Levis said. We want them to feel like athletes that are recognized in our community for being athletes that are amazing at what they do, that can accomplish great things. We want to celebrate that every year. So thats our goal when we come together is just to celebrate the amazing things that our athletes in the Special Olympics movement can do.

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Special Olympics hosts Area 5 Track and Field Meet in Bowling Green - wnky.com

Olympian Chad Le Clos competed at the 2023 South African Championships which concluded over the weekend.

Over the course of the competition, 31-year-old Le Clos claimed titles across the 200m fly, 100m fly and 100m free with times as follows:

Splitting 24.83/26.54 in the 100m fly on his home soil, Le Clos beat out 19-year-old Matt Sates who settled for silver in 51.91. Both men dipped under the qualifying standard needed for this summers World Championships.

When all was said and done with several other international competitions taking place over the weekend, Le Clos highest world ranking of 7th at the moment rests with his 100m fly.

Reflecting on his RSA Championships results, Le Clos said, Im really happy with the week. I was a little nervous for some reason, Matt and I have these ding-dong battles in the final 10 metres and its always super-close.

Im delighted with the time and the result and now we try and win this race next year at the Olympic Games. Now Im confident I can win.

Tonight I was finessed, I was controlled, hit my strokes, hit the turn well and I thought he was coming so I just put my head down so Im over the moon. But now we push on to the Olympics theyve got a lot of trouble coming their way. Thats what I can promise you.

At the 2020 Olympic Games, Le Clos wound up placing 18th out of the 100m fly heats with a time of 51.89. The following year in Budapest, Le Clos dropped the event entirely before finishing 4th at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in 51.61.

Weve detailed, however, since then that Le Clos has been on the rebound after addressing mental health issues as well as changing up his coaching environment.

He ended the year with high notes in short course, topping both the 100m and 200m butterfly podium at the 2022 Short Course World Championships.

However, Le Clos 2.0 will indeed still have his work cut out for him to vie for gold in Paris 2024 in the long course 100 fly. He may be confident with his non-international performance but his lifetime best of 50.56 has already been surpassed by 4 active swimmers Caeleb Dressel(USA),Kristof Milak (HUN),Shaine Casas(USA) andMatt Temple (AUS).

The first two men in Japanese history have also now been under the 51-second threshold at non-Olympic meets already this season Naoki Mizunuma and Katsuhiro Matsumoto as a sign of how quickly this event has grown competitively worldwide.

Add to that the emerging Olympic-level talent in the form of Josh Liendo of Canada,Jacob Peters of Great Britain,Simon Bucher of Austria andDiogo Ribeiro of Portugal and Le Clos will need to produce something truly special to have his Paris in-pool performances match his positive outlook.

But, he does have time to prepare both mentally and physically, with Paris 2024 still over 450 days away.

See the article here:

Le Clos 'Confident' He Can Win 100 Fly At 2024 Olympic Games - SwimSwam

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has come under heavy criticism in recent days over the decision to remove its competitors from the Athletes Village at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games once theyre done competing.

The new restrictions will still allow the athletes to be in Paris after theyre done competing, just not in the Village.

The AOC claims the move was made in order to prevent distractions from the athletes who still have to compete and points to the teams results in Tokyowhen such restrictions were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemicas the reasoning behind the decision.

The learnings from Tokyo were absolutely positive that for the athletes who are competing in the second week, reducing the load on the village by athletes who have finished was positive for both their preparation and their health, saidMatt Carroll, the chief executive of the AOC.

The swimming competition in Paris will take place during the first week of the Games, as is the norm. The new rules will require competitors to leave the Village within 48 hours of their event finishing.

We want all of the athletes to be able to perform at their best, whether they have a medal chance or not, so it doesnt matter what sport youre in. This is about performance. Its not for the wowsers, were actually doing it for the athletes who are still competing, said Carroll.

As expected, this decision has been met with plenty of backlash, with many claiming that being around the village and celebrating once youre done competing is an integral part of the Olympic experience.

Among those being outspoken is James Magnussen, a two-time Australian Olympian and three-time medalist who says the move reduces the Olympics from being the most prestigious event of an athletes career to just another competition.

As an athlete who has competed at two Olympics, I strongly believe that everyone who makes the Australian team in Paris deserves to have the full Olympic experience, Magnussen wrote for the Herald Sun.

That includes staying in the village for the closing ceremony and supporting their teammates.

Being an Olympian is not just about winning medals. It is a rare achievement that deserves to be properly celebrated no matter what result they achieve.

Most athletes only ever get to one Olympic Games, so just making the team is the reward for a lifetime of hard work. They should be allowed to soak up every moment. Sending them home early just makes no sense.

Three-time Olympic medalistGiaan Rooney echoed that sentiment.

I think its a real shame because for most people this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Rooney told News Corp. Because alcohol is banned in the village any parties all take place outside the village, but theres already plenty of noise and distraction because people are coming and going all the time.

But thats all part of the Olympic experience and its actually inspiring to see people walk around the village who have won medals. It gives everyone a lift. a lot of the best memories I have are of getting dressed up and going and supporting my teammates.

Ken Wallace, a former Olympian and the deputy chair of the Athletes Commission, said that while the athletes voices were heard, he ultimately believes this is the best decision from a performance standpoint.

I agree that being in the Olympic Village is a part of the whole Olympic Games experience but I dont agree that it should outweigh performance, Wallace said.

We all love a good larrikin (an Australian term for a boisterous, young person), but we also want to be a respectful team.

So while they may be kicked out of the village, theyre not being kicked out of Paris or being kicked out of the Olympic environment.

They can still go see other events and still be a part of that Olympic experience but we want to give every athlete that performance outcome and opportunity to compete at their very best without having any distractions around them.

Amidst the COVID-19 restrictions, Australia won 17 gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, tying their highest ever (also winning 17 in 2004), and claimed 46 total medals to tie their third-highest tally ever.

Read more from the original source:

Australian Athletes To Be Removed From Paris Olympic Village ... - SwimSwam

The Seine featuring the Alexandre III Bridge and the Eifel Tower CC 2.0. ilirjan rrumbullaku

Parisians are beginning to get excited about the idea of swimming in the Seine again. To say again is to really turn back the years, because for decades its been unthinkable.

Once the dumping site of so many houseboats and other creators of sewage and pollution, the race to prepare the City of Light for the 2024 Summer Olympics has seen the city overwhelmingly improve the quality of the water, making it all set for the triathlon, and plenty of recreation in the decades to come besides.

Despite being called the most romantic river in the world, the Seine was well on its way to being ecologically dead in the mid-2010s. Despite being immortalized in song, poetry, and art, the river had an unappealing green-brown colortypical of the waste it was subjected to.

The $2.3 billion project was started shortly after Paris was awarded the games, and by 2018 they had already passed a law to mandate the Seines many houseboats to moor by sewage accessthey had been dumping right into the river before.

A graveyard of discarded bikes, shopping trolleys, tires, and god knows what else, a water quality survey in July and August of last year found it was overwhelmingly good and ready to host swimmers like French triathlete Thibaut Rigaudeau.

We will be the testers I hope we dont get sick, Rigaudeau told ABC News Australia, adding people are already asking him questions like are you scared of swimming in the Seine? It looks disgusting.

The Seine will feature as the centerpiece of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, which for the first time in history will take place along the banks of the river and upon it, rather than in the stadium.

MORE RIVERS NEWS: Total Rejuvenation of Dead River by a Rural Indian Community Hailed as National Example

More than half a billion euros will be going to huge storage basins and other public works that will reduce the need to let bacteria-laden water spill out into the Seine when it rains, while other government money is going to improve sewage treatment plants along the banks and at the tributary of the Marne.

One storage facility is located near Paris Austerlitz train station, and may save as much as 20 Olympic swimming pools of dirty water from being spat raw into the river.

MORE RIVER CLEANUPS: Worlds Largest Oyster Restoration Is Big Success Fulfilling Virginias Promise to Chesapeake Bay Rivers

But the project is looking beyond the games for five ideal bathing spots, promising to reinvigorate the entire Parisian community with a place to go swimming in the summer heat.

Fish have also been seen in greater numbers, and if the Seine is anything like the Thames or the Mersey in England, there are indeed romantic days ahead for the city.

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Worlds Most Romantic River is Cleaned Up Ahead of the 2024 ... - Good News Network

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas The Duke It Out Boxing Club joined us live to invite the Coastal Bend to show off their boxing skills ahead of the 2023 Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament at the American Bank Center Apr. 21-23.

According to Coach Duke, the upcoming boxing tournament at the American Bank Center is one for the history books.

With 497 boxers in attendance, this year's Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament is set to be the largest yet in our region even larger than the national tournament!

The history-making doesn't end there, however. This year also marks the second consecutive year that Corpus Christi has hosted a regional Junior Olympics Tournament, which follows its over 30-year absence in the city.

While the regional tourney's tenure in Corpus Christi is still relatively new, the Duke It Out Boxing Club sure isn't.

Duke It Out has spent the last five years providing local youth with a bully-free space to grow into strong, successful individuals.

"Using the fundamentals of boxing is basically helping kids build respect, discipline, confidence and self-esteem," said Coach Joe. "We want them to be outstanding citizens and be a role model for our upcoming future generation of tomorrow."

To the coaches of Duke It Out, the Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament isn't about winning; it's about giving their kids the chance to shine and show the world the true strength of their character... but of course, they wouldn't turn down a gold medal or two, either.

Ticket information and venue rules for the 2023 Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament are available at this link here.

Contact information for prospective boxers and supporters of the Duke It Out Boxing Club are available at this link here.

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Get ready to 'Duke It Out!' Local kids' boxing club to compete at 2023 Junior Olympics Boxing Tournament - KIIITV.com

One year ago, Ilia Malinincame to the U.S. Championships as, largely, a 17-year-old unknown. He finished second to Nathan Chenin 2022 and was left off the three-man Olympic team due to his inexperience, a committee decision that lit a fire in him.

After the biggest year of change in U.S. figure skating in three decades, Malinin came to this weeks nationals in San Jose, California, as the headliner across all disciplines.

Though he fell on his quadruple Axel and doubled two other planned quads in Sundays free skate (the most ambitious program in history), he succeeded the absent Chen as national champion.

Malinin, the worlds second-ranked male singles skater, still landed two clean quads in Fridays short program and three more Sunday. He totaled 287.74 points and prevailed by 10.43 over two-time Olympian Jason Brown, a bridge between the Chen and Malinin eras.

This wasnt the skate that I wanted, said Malinin, who was bidding to become the second man to land six quads in one program after Chen. The Virginia chalked up the flaws at least partially to putting more recent practice time into his short program, which he skated clean on Friday after errors in previous competitions.

FIGURE SKATING NATIONALS: Full Results

Brown, a 28-year-old competing for the first time since placing sixth at the Olympics, became the oldest male singles skater to finish in the top three at nationals since Jeremy Abbottwon the last of his four titles in 2014. As usual, he didnt attempt a quad but had the highest artistic score by 9.41 points.

Browns seven total top-three finishes at nationals tie him with Chen,Michael Weiss,Brian Boitano, David JenkinsandDick Buttonfor the second-most in mens singles since World War II, trailing only Todd Eldredges andHayes Jenkins eight.

Im not saying its super old, but I cant train the way I used to, Brown said after Fridays short program. What Ilia is doing and the way he is pushing the sport is outstanding and incredible to watch. I cannot keep up.

Andrew Torgashev took bronze, winning the free skate with one quad and all clean jumps. Torgashev, who competed at nationals for the first time since placing fifth in 2020 at age 18, will likely round out the three-man world team.

JapansShoma Unowill likely be the favorite at worlds. He won last years world title, when Malinin admittedly cracked under pressure in the free skate after a fourth-place short program and ended up ninth.

That was before Malinin became the first person to land a quad Axel in competition. That was before Malinin became thestory of the figure skating world this fall. That was before Malinin took over the American throne from Chen, who is studying at Yale and not expected to return to competition.

Malinins next step is to grab another label that Chen long held: best in the world. To do that, he must be better than he was on Sunday.

You always learn from your experiences, and theres always still the rest of the season to come, he said. I just have to be prepared and prepare a little bit extra so that doesnt happen again.

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World champion skier Kyle Smaine dies in avalanche at age 31

Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Rio de Janeiro that took place August 521, 2016. The Rio Games were the 28th occurrence of the modern Olympic Games. The event marked the first time that either the Summer or the Winter Olympics was held in South America.

Rio was awarded the Games by the International Olympic Committee in 2009 over bids from Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo. The buildup to the Rio Games was beset by more problems than any other recent Olympiad. Like many 21st-century Games, particularly the 2014 Sochi Games, the Rio Olympics were plagued by massive cost overruns and construction that ran far behind schedule. Athletes, coaches, and tourists were wary of traveling to the crime-riddled city, where, in addition, an outbreak of the Zika virus led to the withdrawal of a number of prominent athletes, including golfers Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. The waterways of the city were filled with debris and so polluted that the World Health Organization suggested that athletes using the open waters should avoid swallowing it, cover any exposed cuts with waterproof bandages, and shower as soon as they leave the site. Fewer than 50 days before the Games started, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a state of public calamity, which gave authorities the ability to ration essential public services and made the state eligible for federal emergency funds. Moreover, the Petrobras scandal plunged the Brazilian economy into a recession in the run-up to the Games.

Despite all of these troubles, the Rio Games started on time and there were few significant problems over the course of the two weeks. The Games featured a new-record 205 participating national Olympic committees, with over 11,000 athletes competing in 42 sports. Notable new sports that were added for the Rio Games were golf and rugby sevens. The Rio Olympics also featured the debut of a Refugee Team made up of 10 athletes from various war-torn countries who had no permanent new home at the start of the Games.

Like the previous two iterations, the Rio Olympics were highlighted by the achievements of the greatest Olympian of all time, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, and the greatest sprinter in Olympic history, Jamaicas Usain Bolt. After returning from a short-lived retirement, Phelps expanded his Olympic record totals for overall medals (28) and gold medals (23). On the track, Bolt won the 100-metre and 200-metre races for the third consecutive Olympic Games, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat. He also won a gold as a member of Jamaicas 4 100-metre relay team, which temporarily gave him three golds in three straight Olympicsbefore the January 2017 revelation of a failed drug test by one of his 2008 relay teammates led to the earlier relay medal being stripped. Nevertheless, Bolts six total individual sprint Olympic golds still solidified his claim as the fastest man in history.

Phelps was not the only American swimmer to dominate the Rio pool. Katie Ledecky won four gold medals (the 200-, 400-, and 800-metre freestyle and the 4 200-metre relay) and one silver (4 100-metre freestyle relay). Her performance in the 800-metre final was one of the most impressive in Olympic swimming history, as she took almost two seconds off the previous world-record time and finished more than 11 seconds faster than the silver medalist. Fellow U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel won two golds and two silvers, and her win in the 100-metre freestyle made her the first African American woman to win an individual swimming gold. Americans also led the way in the womens gymnastics events, as Simone Biles became the first U.S. womanand just the fifth female everto capture four gymnastics golds at a single Games (all-around, floor exercise, vault, and team). Biless fourth gold in the team event was also significant in that the American team won with the largest margin of victory (8.209 points) in that competition since the open-ended scoring system began 2006.

In other events, the home Brazilian mens football (soccer) team won the first Olympic gold medal in the football-mad countrys history on a dramatic penalty kick in the final by star forward Neymar. The Fiji rugby sevens team won the first gold medal in that countrys history, fittingly in Fijis most popular sport, which led to the declaration of a celebratory public holiday in the country. Two Britons also had historic performances at the Rio Games: distance runner Mo Farah repeated as Olympic champion in the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre races, becoming the second man (after Lasse Virn) to do so, and cyclist Bradley Wiggins won gold as a member of the mens pursuit team, giving him eight career Olympic medals, the most in his countrys history.

The Rio de Janeiro Olympics final medal rankings are provided in the table.

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Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games | History, Medals, & Facts