Sports & Competitions

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

RIO DE JANEIRO — A look back at day seven of competition at the Rio Olympics. ——— We love the Canadians If you have to have a country next door, you would want it to be Canada. Everybody loves them. They talk like we do but with some funny affectations, eh! And they are just

RIO DE JANEIRO — Among the 32 events contested at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, none came with less drama than Katie Ledecky’s final race of the Summer Games. The 19-year-old’s biggest competitor in the 800-meter freestyle Friday — the clock — hung from the stadium’s rafters high above blue and green seats. The question wasn’t

RIO DE JANEIRO — A completely transformed Michael Phelps came to his fifth Olympics determined to do it right. If London 2012 was drudgery then Rio 2016 would be joyful, a final chance to savor his life as the greatest swimmer of all time, an amphibian Olympian unlike any other. Phelps didn’t intend to be

RIO DE JANEIRO — Elliotte Friedman ran his hands through his head and hair. It was 4:10 p.m., and he had just signed off from the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. He looked exhausted. And he was. A sleepless night will do that to you. And he had to be back on the air to call the