Midnight beach volleyball love for Walsh Jennings and Ross Your browser does not support iframes. RIO DE JANEIRO – It was the latest Kerri Walsh Jennings had ever played a volleyball match. She and partner April Ross hit the sands of Copacabana’s beach volleyball stadium well after midnight, their start time pushed by the three-set preliminary battle between the Swiss and China. The crowd … [Read more...]

What had Venus Williams playing at half-speed in Olympic first-round loss RIO DE JANEIRO — This is Venus Williams’ fifth and undoubtedly final Olympics. But after losing 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in a three-hour marathon to the crafty Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in a first-round singles match that had the evening crowd amped up into a frenzy for her opponent, the 36-year-old can only hope to do … [Read more...]

Gun control questions follow frustrated Olympic shooters Your browser does not support iframes. Guns are such a political flashpoint in America that even their most controlled, structured use brings questions of safety and regulation. You don’t hear Olympic rowers answering questions about water safety, but you’ll definitely hear competitive shooters fielding questions about gun safety. And … [Read more...]

The Tour de France winner almost missed his race at the Olympics (Kenzo Tribouillard via AP Photo) Journalists are never supposed to be part of the story. Except when they are. Great Britain’s Chris Froome, the defending and three-time champion of the Tour de France, was lined up for the start of Saturday’s 237.5-km road race when his name started being called over the loudspeaker. Froome … [Read more...]

Opening Ceremony stirs up debate: Who invented flight? Your browser does not support iframes. Ask any American who invented the airplane and they would say the Wright brothers, but Brazilians would have a different answer. In the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics on Friday, Brazil continued that claim by honoring Alberto Santos-Dumont, the man they credit with the invention. In 1906, … [Read more...]

U.S. women's water polo coach leaves team after death in family Adam Krikorian in 2012 (Getty Images) Adam Krikorian, the coach of the U.S. women’s water polo team, has left Rio after the death of one of his brothers.  Blake Krikorian was just 48 when he died on Wednesday. He reportedly had a heart attack while surfing in California. He was a well-known tech entrepreneur and investor. … [Read more...]

Here's why the Opening Ceremony stage was oddly shaped Your browser does not support iframes. Friday’s colorful Opening Ceremony was different from many of its predecessors, a fact that soon became apparent as the main floor was unveiled to a worldwide audience. Instead of the traditional and symmetrical oval, the main stage at the Maracana Stadium looked misshapen to the untrained eye. … [Read more...]

Michael Bisping: I think Dan Henderson is going to cheat at UFC 204 Michael Bisping will face Dan Henderson at UFC 204.After weeks of speculation, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson will see their aspirations come to fruition, as they will face off at UFC 204 in the middleweight champion’s backyard of Manchester, England on Oct. 8. The fight is layered with multiple narratives including … [Read more...]

Vanderlei de Lima lights cauldron to start Rio Games Vanderlei de Lima The Olympic torch is now lit, and the hand of Vanderlei de Lima, denied an Olympic gold 12 years ago, did the lighting. Over 95 days, 12,000 people carried the flame from ancient Greece to Rio, and the flame reached the stadium shortly before midnight local time. Gustavo Kuerten, the former No. 1-ranked tennis player in … [Read more...]

Olympic athletes plant 'Seeds of Hope' during Opening Ceremony Athletes entering Maracana Stadium were given seeds to place into black cartridges hanging on large towers during the Parade of Nations. Unlike the usual Olympics processions, athletes are being asked to participate in the Opening Ceremony by planting “Seeds of Hope.” During the Parade of Nations, every athlete entered … [Read more...]