Sports & Competitions

US Olympians receive payouts for medaling, and Michael Phelps has cleaned up

Most know that U.S. Olympians who perform well tend to get millions of dollars in endorsement deals, but did you know they also get big payouts just for medaling in the games? The U.S. Olympic Committee pays American athletes $25,000 for gold medals, $15,000 for silver medals and $10,000 for bronze medals. That means swimmer […]

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Sports & Competitions, USA

Simone Manuel laments police brutality after historic Olympic win

Simone Manuel, who became the first black female swimmer to win an Olympic gold, said her victory Thursday night was particularly important to her because of the issues black Americans face today. The 20-year-old swimmer took home the gold in Rio after tying for first place with 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak in the 100-meter freestyle.

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

Olympic women’s all-around champions: A Christian, a Jew and a Muslim

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — In a world awash in religious and sectarian tensions, the three Olympic victors in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition delivered a multi-faith mosaic on the medals podium Thursday in Rio, with a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim taking gold, silver and bronze respectively. US sensation Simone Biles, 19, added

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

Penny Oleksiak wins Canada’s first gold medal in Rio, cementing her star in Olympic history

RIO DE JANEIRO – On the weekend, when she started on what quickly turned into an epic Olympic journey, Penny Oleksiak became Canada’s darling, a teen sensation to capture a nation. On Thursday night at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium, it was time to share her with the world. Not only did the 16-year-old Toronto swimmer

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International, Sports & Competitions

Michael Phelps wins 200 IM showdown with Ryan Lochte for 22nd career gold medal

RIO DE JANEIRO — The final showdown between longtime rivals Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley instead turned into another display of Phelps’ dominance at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on Thursday. Phelps touched the wall almost two seconds ahead of Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who finished second, to win his fourth gold

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

Israeli athletes at Rio Olympics endure ‘shocking’ hostility, taunting by Muslim nations

The 2016 Olympic Games have been billed as an opportunity to put politics aside in the spirit of international camaraderie, but that’s not necessarily how it’s working out for Israeli athletes. Animosity toward the 47-athlete delegation has already triggered a reprimand from the International Olympic Committee and alarm from Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League,

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

Sportsmanship be damned – this gold medal was personal for Michael Phelps

RIO DE JANEIRO – Michael Phelps continues to define greatness in ways other swimmers or other athletes can only dream of. His own greatness. He came back to these Olympics because he couldn’t get defeat out of his mind. That rare defeat. A defeat that so consumed him he couldn’t live with it. He came

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International, Sports & Competitions, USA

Saudi Judo Competitor Forfeits Match ‘to Avoid Israeli’

A Saudi judo competitor pulled out of her first-round match at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro on Sunday, ahead of a prospective second-round bout tie with an Israeli rival. However, Israeli and Saudi accounts offered different reasons for Joud Fahmy’s withdrawal. Israeli press reports claimed Fahmy decided to leave the competition because she

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International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

NBA star Stoudemire arrives in Israel, discusses Jewish roots

Amar’e Stoudemire, the NBA basketball star who just signed with Hapoel Jerusalem, said that he has always wanted to be in Israel, and play basketball there – and he is now realizing his dream. In his first press conference since arriving in Israel at the end of last week, Stoudemire explained his transfer to Hapoel

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Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA