Reuters Sports News Summary

08/09/2016 0:58

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

U.S. add to Venezuela's misery with a Rio rout

The United States men's basketball team continued to steamroll toward a third straight Olympic gold medal as they thumped Venezuela 113-69 on Monday, adding a bit of sporting misery to the recession-ravaged country. An upset victory over the U.S. would have done nothing to improve conditions in Venezuela, where food and medicine are running scarce and annual inflation is in triple digits, but it certainly would have lifted the nation's spirits.

Hosszu wins 100m backstroke to claim second gold

Katinka Hosszu of Hungary won the women's Olympic 100 meters backstroke on Monday to claim her second gold of the Rio Games, edging out Kathleen Baker of the United States. Canada's Kylie Masse and China's Fu Yuanhui tied for bronze, with the top four separated by just 0.31 seconds.

Tearful Franklin laments finishing 'so far behind'

If there is anything that could wipe the smile off the face of the obstinately upbeat American swimmer Missy Franklin, it is a 13th place in a semi-final for the four-time Olympic champion. Swimming's golden girl of the 2012 London Games not only lost her smile, she broke down in tears after a dreadful showing in the women's 200 meters freestyle on Monday that dashed her hopes for a place in the final.

King denies tearful Efimova in 100m breaststroke

Lilly King of the United States won the Olympic gold medal in the women's 100 meters breaststroke on Monday, denying Russia's Yulia Efimova who was greeted with resounding boos from the Rio de Janeiro crowd. Katie Meili of the United States took the bronze, with London 2012 champion Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania fading in the second length to finish seventh.

Murphy maintains U.S. streak in 100m backstroke

Ryan Murphy won the men's 100 meters backstroke gold at the Rio Olympics on Monday to extend United States swimmers' run of domination in the event to six successive Games dating back to Atlanta in 1996. China's Xu Jiayu took the silver -- his country's first male Olympic medalist in backstroke -- and David Plummer, making his Games debut at the age of 30, secured the bronze for the United States.

Have faith, it's getting cleaner, says Bolt

Usain Bolt waltzed in to sprinkle a bucket of stardust over Rio on Monday, and while there were Samba smiles and dancing girls, the biggest name at the Olympics could not escape the ever-present specter of doping. Bolt is seeking to secure a "triple-triple" in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100m relay and was his usual show-stopping self as top billing in an eye-catching Jamaican team news conference at Barra's massive Cicada des Arts theater.

Tennis: Williams stays alive in second-round singles

U.S. tennis powerhouse Serena Williams dispatched France's Alize Cornet in two sets on Monday, ending a streak of weak family performances that saw older sister Venus eliminated from singles on Saturday and the pair knocked out in doubles on Sunday. The younger Williams, a 34-year-old four-time Olympic gold medalist, had a slow and frustrating start against Cornet before turning the momentum to win 7-6 (5), 6-2, picking up the pace in the second set after the first ran over an hour long.

Cool temperatures, few mosquitoes make Games Zika-free, so far

So far, at the Olympics many feared would be the Zika Games, so good. With as many as one million people expected to attend the spectacle, half of them foreigners, Rio de Janeiro has not turned out to be the Zika hothouse some athletes and visitors feared as the virus wreaked havoc in Brazil earlier this year.

Archery: American Kaminski sees silver lining in Rio

When form, motivation or confidence threaten to wane, United States archer Jake Kaminski takes comfort from a two-word reminder inked on the back of his left hand. "I am," a simple but open-ended affirmation, is a permanent reminder for the dual silver medalist to believe in himself as he slogs away at the training range or raises his bow for a clutch shot during competition.

Phelps ready to reclaim that lost butterfly gold

The Rio Olympics may be a swansong for Michael Phelps but the American swimming great is showing no signs of going gentle into the night. On Monday, the 31-year-old proved he is in fighting form for his 200 meters butterfly rematch with Chad le Clos, the South African who four years ago denied him a third consecutive gold medal in the event.

08/09/2016 0:58