Reuters Sports News Summary

08/12/2016 3:56

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Two suspects held in possible Rio Olympics plot : police

Police arrested two people on Thursday suspected of supporting Islamic State in planning a possible attack during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Police had arrested 12 people before Thursday's operation, all suspected of collaboration with Islamic State militants. Brazil's federal police said three others have been interrogated and later released. The two arrested on Thursday were Brazilians, but police did not provide names or other details.

Swimming: Manuel sees gold as boost for black community

As an African-American swimmer, Simone Manuel has carried a weight on her shoulders every time she steps onto the starting blocks. The gold medal placed around her neck on Thursday could help to lift it.

Oleksiak and Manuel tie for 100m free gold

Canadian Penny Oleksiak and Simone Manuel of the United States were inseparable at the finish and even more united in joy after a stunning 100 meters freestyle dead-heat rewarded both with Olympic gold on Thursday. Both women, one 16 and the other 20 and very much part of a new wave in swimming, touched the wall in 52.70 seconds as the crowd gasped at the times flashing up on the scoreboard.

Gymnastics: Diminutive Biles stands tall among greats

When Simone Biles stood on her bare feet ready to mount the balance beam on Thursday, it seemed like she would need to get on her tiptoes to peer over the 1.25 meter (4.1 feet) apparatus. But what the 1.45 meter Biles lacks in height, she more than makes up in stature.

Boxing: Hernandez poised to end U.S. medal drought

The U.S. men's boxing team will be assured of its first Olympic medal since 2008 when Nico Miguel Hernandez faces Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan in the semi-final of the light-flyweight competition on Friday. The rules of Olympic boxing guarantee that the losing semi-finalists both receive a bronze medal, meaning that whatever the outcome of Hernandez's bout it will mark an end to the medal drought that plagued U.S. boxing at the 2012 London Olympics.

Swimming: Lochte not ready for retirement yet

Ryan Lochte's last individual event at the Rio de Janeiro Games, and possibly of his Olympics career, did not end the way he wanted to. Whether it is enough motivation to push his body for a further four years through to the Tokyo Games in 2020 only remains to be seen.

Chinese swimmer Chen fails doping test: Xinhua

Chinese Olympic women's swimmer Chen Xinyi tested positive for a banned substance at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 7, state media said on Friday citing the country's swimming association, the latest doping scandal to mar competition at the Games. Controversies over doping overshadowed the build-up to Rio and, far from dying down as events got under way, have flared anew as U.S. and Australian competitors have branded their Russian and Chinese rivals as drug cheats.

Gymnastics: Coronation complete as Biles wins all around gold

As Simone Biles stood locked in a tight embrace with her team mate Aly Raisman, waiting for her final score to come up on the big screen, the concerned look in her eyes suggested she had no idea who would be crowned Olympic all around champion. The American, however, was the only one still in the dark in the brightly lit Rio Olympic Arena on Thursday as the hollering cheers and standing ovation that greeted her final tumbling pass on the floor exercise confirmed what everyone knew long before the judges' verdict came up -- Biles was the new champion.

Phelps writes new page with four wins in same event

Michael Phelps of the United States won the Olympic 200 meters individual medley on Thursday to capture the 22nd gold medal of his career and become the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Games. Japan's 400 IM champion Kosuke Hagino won silver and Wang Shun of China took bronze, both moving dramatically through the field on the final length after turning in fifth and seventh place.

Swimming: Murphy completes U.S. backstroke double

Ryan Murphy completed a backstroke double and extended a U.S. winning streak on Thursday, adding the Olympic men's 200 meters gold to the 100 title he won earlier in the week. The U.S. men have now won the event for six successive Olympics dating back to Atlanta in 1996.

08/12/2016 3:56