Rio Olympics

Stories 41 - 51 | << Prev 

Michael Phelps Tries to Break 2,168-Year-Old Record Today

He tied the record for individual Olympic gold medals this week

(Newser) - Michael Phelps will try to break an ancient Olympic record this week. The swimmer has won 21 Olympic gold medals, 12 of them in individual events—and those dozen personal medals mean Phelps has tied an Olympic record that had been held for 2,168 years, Deadspin reports. Olympic historian...

US Women's Gymnastics Dominates for Gold Medal

Team USA was more than 8 points ahead of 2nd-place Russia

(Newser) - The US women's gymnastics team won gold and gave retiring national team coordinator Martha Karolyi a fitting sendoff in the Olympic finals Tuesday, putting on a two-hour display of precision and class, the AP reports. Their score of 184.897 was more than eight points points clear of silver...

Dutch Gymnast Booted From Rio After Night Out

He broke team rules against drinking: ambassador

(Newser) - Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder was probably celebrating making the final of the men's rings event when he went partying in Rio on Saturday. Unfortunately for the former world champion, drinking—and even leaving the Olympic Village at night, apparently—is against team rules. "It's terrible for...

No Choice Left, Athletes Turn to 'Ugly' Self-Policing

Because Olympics officials are too soft on doping: Columnists

(Newser) - Team USA's Lilly King may have drawn more attention with her public dissing of Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova than with the gold medal she won . It was "equally triumphant and ugly, an appropriately uncomfortable ending to an awkward saga that will be repeated throughout these Games," writes...

Lilly King Settles Russian Feud, Wins Gold

She defeats Yulia Efimova

(Newser) - This one will surely be seen as a victory for clean athletes over the dopers. No doubt that was Lilly King's take, reports the AP . The feisty American swimmer stared down Yulia Efimova, a rival at the center of Russia's doping scandal, and then beat her in the...

Woman Raises Cash for Her Uber Driver to Watch Son in Rio

Ellis Hill is scheduled to fly to Rio next week

(Newser) - Ellis Hill's son is competing in shot put in the Rio Olympics next week—and thanks to one of Hill's Uber passengers, Hill will be there to watch him do it. Hill was driving Liz Willock from the Philadelphia airport to her hotel last week when Willock mentioned...

Cyclist Has Cracks in Spine After Crash on Risky Descent

Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten tweets she'll be OK

(Newser) - A female Dutch cyclist suffered a horrific crash on a steep hill Sunday that left fellow cyclists and spectators fearing for her life. As it turns out, Annemiek van Vleuten cracked three vertebrae and sustained a concussion, reports Reuters . "I am now in the hospital with some injuries and...

Vietnam Wins Its 1st-Ever Olympic Gold Medal

Thanks to air pistol shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh

(Newser) - Vietnam won its first-ever Olympic gold medal on Saturday courtesy of shooter Hoang Xuan Vihn, the AP reports. Hoang rallied to beat hometown favorite Felipe Almeida Wu on the final shot of men's 10-meter air pistol. Wu trailed by as many as 2.3 points, but moved 0.2...

Bullets, Explosion Mark Beginning of Rio Olympics

A man was shot and killed as crowds were leaving the opening ceremony

(Newser) - It's been an eventful first two days for the Rio Olympics, but probably not in the way organizers were hoping. Brazilian police say an officer shot and killed a 22-year-old man who was attacking people as they left Maracana stadium Friday following the opening ceremony, USA Today reports. According...

WVU Sophomore Pulls Upset for US' 1st Olympic Gold

Ginny Thrasher wins women's 10-meter air rifle

(Newser) - The first gold medal of the Rio Olympics went to a 19-year-old college sophomore from Virginia. Ginny Thrasher placed first in the women's 10-meter air rifle, the first event of these games, on Saturday, USA Today reports. Thrasher is competing in her first Olympics and—according to West Virginia ...

One Big Star of Opening Ceremony: Gisele Bundchen

 Rio Opens the Games 
olympics
Aug 5, 2016 9:15 PM CDT

Rio Opens the Games

Michael Phelps carries in US flag

(Newser) - With fireworks forming the word "Rio" in the sky, hip-wiggling dancers, and supermodel Gisele Bundchen shimmering to the tune of the "Girl from Ipanema," Rio de Janiero welcomed the world to the first Olympic Games in South America with a serious message: Let's take better care...

Stories 41 - 51 | << Prev 
Most Read on Newser